Florida CSO Trip UPDATE!

[Slim to None]

okay, i made my reservations today. site #11 in area #1. couldn't get a water site, but oh well. May 8th- 11th, thursday thru sunday. Ft. Desoto campground of course. looks like its going to be my brother, a friend and myself. not sure which boat we are bringing, either will be my 18' Sea Ark or my brother's 21' Sea Pro bay boat. hopefully my brother's boat, so maybe we can run offshore and grouper fish one of the days. i was thinking that we could have a group fish fry maybe saturday afternoon. maybe even get a "friendly" fishing tournament going for fun. so who's still planning on attending??!?! i'm going to start stock pyling some fish fillets for the trip! i should be able to load up my freezer with trout. i'm the master at trout fishing! well guys i'm exciting as all get out about this trip! i hope we get a nice group together!

[Slim to None]

Ft. Desoto website
http://www.pinellascounty.org/park/05_Ft_DeSoto.htm
003 010 011 012

[Willie]

Just looked at the link for the park....sure looks nice...............have a great time and hope you have a great turnout..................maybe some year I will join you ....Willie

[Dave]

I've got reservations for site #14, area 1. 010 Date I reserved were May 7 - 10. I think this lets me stay from Wed to Sun (7-11 - leave on Sunday)??? Don't know for sure who all's coming with me yet. I'll be pitching a tent unless I can find someone who wants to pull down a travel trailer - I'm haulin' the boat. Hope you don't snore too loud Slim ;D

Dave

[Familymanof5]

You tent guys are going to love the racoons


FM5

[Dave]

RACOONS 011 I'll bring a snare - I LOVE racoons 010 010 010

[Slim to None]

yea the racoons are bad, that's one thing i remember from when i was last there. bring lots of sturdy plastic bins for all your stuff. like the tuff rubermade ones that close tight. i keep everything in bins and then close it up under my tonneau cover on my truck bed. the trash is what can get messy.

[Dave]

I can do that 012

[NOTHING ELSE MATTERS]

You tent guys are going to love the racoons


FM5




They taste good too. ;D >:D 012

[TooTall]

RACOONS 011 I'll bring a snare - I LOVE racoons 010 010 010


Just bring some sweet juice and that snare will be well used

[FLboy3]

I know from experiance that they were bad a few years back. I was told by the rangers that they were in the process of trapping and relocating as many of them as they could. I don't remember them being as bad the last time I was there. But be prepaired to keep any food locked up in racoon proof containers. I am looking at getting a campsite in the dog area so we can take the dog. We are planning on staying for a week maybe, if I can get a good site that I can stay in for the whole week without having to move. The weekends on the water front are booked up through august. I'm even thinking of camping on the south end of shell island if they still let people camp there. Its ruffing it, but its free, and only just across the channel from the campground. Just kicking it around. The wifes not crazy about it. She likes the clean bathrooms and showers.hehe.

[Dave]

They've got SHOWERS......... 006 I'll leave my helmet at home then 010

[Slim to None]

1st SGT_ yea theres showers! i believe our sites are right next to a bath house. which is why i picked there. man this trip is going to be fun!

FLBoy- glad to hear you are going to make it!

[FLboy3]

OK guys, I just reserved site 16 for 5/8/2008 thru 5/11/2008. Looking forward to meeting all you guys. One other thing, Is that mothers day weekend. My mother is going to be pi$$.hehe. My brother will probably attend also. He has a 198 dlx he bought last year, but not sure if he will bring it or fish with me. It depends on who all comes with us.

[Slim to None]

here's a couple sat images of Ft. Desoto from google earth, in case some of y'all dont have it.
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb28/FL_SurfGator/FtDesoto.jpg

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb28/FL_SurfGator/FtDesoto2.jpg

[FLboy3]

Slim, do you know a website that shows the no motor zones around the camp grounds. I know they have one posted at the boat ramp but I thought that there might be one online.

[Dave]

Thanks Slim, that helps - I'll launch GoogleEarth and recon the area. Got any GPS (lat/lon) #'s I can plot ;D

Dave

[Slim to None]

here's what i found about the Ft. Desoto No Motor Zones:
http://myfwc.com/manatee/images/habitat/desoto.gif

[bigparrot]

We may try to make that for the day on Saturday. Look forward to meeting you all.

[rob198dlv]

Unfortunately I am not going to make this trip. Thought I was in the clear but cannot get out of work on Thursday/Friday and it is too much to drive down for one day. Hope you all enjoy the trip.

[Slim to None]

the trip is almost here!!! i'm getting excited! 011 012 015 014

[Slim to None]

a little over 20 days until ft. desoto! 014 011 i've already hit bass pro in orlando twice to stock up on stuff!

[Dave]

Looks like I'm gonna have to pull out for the May trip. 004 Teresa and I were really looking forward to it. My son and his family (lives in Mississippi) wants to come to De Soto Park with us but he can't get away 'till June, maybe July and wants to stay a whole week, since it's such a long trip for us. Regrettably, I can't make both trips so close together, but when we come down, I sure would like to meet up with some of you FL skiffers if you live close enough for us to get together.

I spoke to the park reservation guy and he said I could have someone else use the spot in my place or I could cancel and reschedule for a later date. Before I cancel, I thought I'd offer it to one of the CSO members if you want to go in my place. I've got reservations for site #14, area 1, right next to Slim to None and close to a bath house. Dates I reserved were May 7 - 10May. These dates allow check in at 11AM on Wed, 7May and check out by 1100AM on Sun, 11May.

If you want these reservations, please PM or email me to make arrangements to pay me for the spot before the 5th of May. The park reservations guy said I couldn't transfer the reservation by name but you could check in under my name for the dates I have the spot reserved. If you want to assure yourself that is the case, the ph# to the park is 727-782-2267. It's listed under reservation confirmation # 181119 and the cost is $134.40, (4 days @ $33.60 each).

I hope ya'll have a great time and catch some nice fish. Lookin' forward to a report and some pics to wet our appetite for the summer trip 012

Dave

[Slim to None]

1ST Sgt- sorry to hear you cant make it! i'm going to miss you racoon snare! at least your rescheduled trip will include more of your family. that family time is so important, especially when fishing is involved!

[218Elite08]

I have to work on Saturday, May 10. I will try to be out there on Sunday though. I'd like to see what you guys have done with our skiffs!

Brian

[218Elite08]

Who's still going? I'd like to meet you guys that will be there.

Brian

[Slim to None]

Brian- i'm still in. my brother and a friend will also be with me. the fishing reports i've been hearing from down there have been great lately! i cant wait to get down there and fish! we will be leaving sunday, so of course we have to be off our campsite at like 11am but can still stay in the park, so i know we are planning on packing up first thing then fishing for awhile afterwards. *017*

[Slim to None]

Anyone else still camping for the weekend?*006*

[Slim to None]

Weather forecast for the trip:

http://icons-pe.wxug.com/i/c/a/partlycloudy.gif
Wednesday
Becoming partly cloudy. Highs around 80 near the coast and around 90 inland. East winds 10 to 15 mph becoming onshore near the coast in the afternoon.
» ZIP Code Detail (http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=33601&hourly=1&yday=127&weekday=Wednesday)
http://icons-pe.wxug.com/i/c/a/nt_sunny.gifWednesday Night
Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 70s near the coast and in the mid 60s inland. Southeast winds around 5 mph.

http://icons-pe.wxug.com/i/c/a/partlycloudy.gifThursday
Becoming mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 70s near the coast and around 90 inland.
» ZIP Code Detail (http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=33601&hourly=1&yday=128&weekday=Thursday)
http://icons-pe.wxug.com/i/c/a/nt_sunny.gifThursday Night
Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s near the coast and in the upper 60s inland.

http://icons-pe.wxug.com/i/c/a/nt_partlycloudy.gifFriday and Friday Night
Partly cloudy. Highs around 80 near the coast and around 90 inland. Lows in the mid 70s near the coast and in the upper 60s inland.

http://icons-pe.wxug.com/i/c/a/sunny.gifSaturday through Sunday Night
Mostly clear. Highs around 80 near the coast and around 90 inland. Lows in the mid 70s near the coast and in the upper 60s inland.

[218Elite08]

I was going to go on Sunday because I have to work on Saturday. I looked at the calendar yesterday and saw it was Mother's Day. So, I will not be able to go. I'll probably go out the next weekend. I'll be looking for a fishing report! *thumbsup*

Brian