Snowbird Boater Exodus Underway

A conversation among Whalers
Jefecinco
Posts: 1592
Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2015 6:35 pm
Location: Gulf Shores, AL

Snowbird Boater Exodus Underway

Postby Jefecinco » Tue Nov 01, 2022 11:34 am

A great many yachts, large and small, are traveling down from the North via the Mississippi and Tennessee Rivers, the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, the Tombigbee River, Alabama River and ICW on their way to Florida and Alabama Marinas for the Winter.

Most of these "snowbirds" can be identified by their hailing ports, state registration numbers and decks loaded with extra supplies. Some of these boats will transit via the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico between Apalachicola and the West Coast of Florida near Tampa. Hurricane Season is not over, so it takes a brave or thoughtless captain to leave the relative safety of the coastal route.

We wish them the best of luck on their long voyages and hope they enjoy the Winter with us.
Butch

jimh
Posts: 11673
Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2015 12:25 pm
Location: Michigan, Lower Peninsula
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Re: Snowbird Boater Exodus Underway

Postby jimh » Tue Nov 01, 2022 12:52 pm

Up in Northport--which is north of 45-degrees latitude--we are seeing a similar exodus of boats, but in this case from the marina docks. There isn't a boat left in any of the marina slips at our local marina, and there are just a few boats tied to the seawall there queuing up for haul out at the nearby boatyard for layup for the winter.

Ironically, we just had a week of excellent weather, completely clear blue sky, no wind, and temperatures in the mid-60-degree-F range. Even more ironic, the trailer parking lot was almost full with a hoard of fishing boats. The perch bite is very good right now. Those guys go out in early morning, when the temperature is still in the 40's. And the fair weather continues this week.

Jefecinco
Posts: 1592
Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2015 6:35 pm
Location: Gulf Shores, AL

Re: Snowbird Boater Exodus Underway

Postby Jefecinco » Wed Nov 02, 2022 10:20 am

I should have mentioned that a fair proportion of the hailing ports seen on transiting vessels are Michigan based. I believe the Chicago River is the passageway for vessels from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River.

Yesterday we prepared our Sport 13 for an outing today. As of 7:00 this morning the tides and temperatures were favorable but the predicted winds of 14 MPH are higher than we like. The 14 MPH wind from the NE does not make an unwelcome chop so much as make launching and recovering our old boat a bit more of a struggle than our old bones like. The good news is that there will be plenty of good boating days in November but December days are not as inviting.

This is now the shoulder season in Gulf Shores. The Summer visitors have left and the Snowbirds have not yet arrived. Lodging prices are at their lowest levels and the fishing is excellent. Traffic is moderate and reservations in our restaurants are unnecessary. It's the perfect time to visit and won't be matched until March.
Butch

Masbama
Posts: 355
Joined: Thu Oct 15, 2015 8:33 pm
Location: Mobile, Al

Re: Snowbird Boater Exodus Underway

Postby Masbama » Sat Nov 05, 2022 12:14 am

It is indeed the finest time of the year on the Alabama coast .