thought I'd post some local info for anyone looking for a fun day or weekend boating destination.
We went out yesterday and had a blast. Went 5 or so mls north of town to "The Old Fish House" for lunch on the water and then out into the Atlantic to play a bit. Also of interest to most, Fish House has 93 octane, non ethanol fuel too. ($5.09 per though)
Case anyone is curios, you get a mile or two offshore and no one on the beach can tell what you are doing on your boat. Wink, wink, nod, nod.
Here's a couple of pix's for your enjoyment.

On the outside.


Festivities at the sand bar in the mouth of the inlet. Bet there was 200+ boats there.






The dock at the tiki bar down town Sebastian. Awesome food, live music, deep water to dock, full bar and price reasonable.



This was nosing into Earls Hideaway. Had been a while since we went there by boat and never on the Sonic.
Was an experiment to see if we could get close enough to hear their killer bands from the boat (we could) and close enough to anchor and wade in (we could). For you custom bike lovers, they'll pull in a 100+ bikes on a nice day like yesterday.
We go within 50 yds and still showed 2' of water and did not dig up mud. There was a group on the beach w/their own cooler and chairs just hanging out. Actually waded out to see if he could help. We got twice as close as in this picture. Earls is maybe a 1/4 mile north of the tiki bar.

Killer camp grounds on both side of the inlet as well.
Enjoy!

You certainly use your boat and you certainly live in the right place to use it! I went to school in Melbourne and Sebastian Inlet is a familar place, just from the land looking out. Raise a glass (or four) at SBI for me!

Dan

Great area to play. SBI is way cool but also way expensive and has turned into a tourist trap. Last time there I think I paid $4. for a Bud Light bottle.
Having our 4th of July parade along the river tomorrow and my wife and I are walking in it for our office, handing out American flags.
Fire works that night from one of the spoil islands right by the tiki bar in the picture. Should be fun.

When I was down last winter they had changed owners (at SBI). They had cleaned the place up a bit and totally reconfigured the bar. Still had the same good feel and, lets face it, not many 'on the beach' beach bars left. I try to make it down once or twice a year. I'll PM you next time I get down and buy you one of those beers if you fill me in on the places to stay, the weather windows and the best routes from Miami to Key West. I really want to make that trip, may just tow to Melbourne and take the ICW down to South Florida and then jump off to the Keys. I've thought about that trip for too long, I want to actually make it now.

Dan

been there since I have then. As far as view and atmosphere, it doesn't get much better. We were just at the airport to watch the sky divers come down and they had pictures where they did a jump and landed on the beach in front of the SBI.
Many cool places on the I.C. but very few on the Atlantic.

I haven't given a lot of thought to your idea of a trip. We've been north to Melbourne and south to Manatee Pocket in Stuart by boat but thats it so far. I would like to do Miami to the Keys but we have been fantasizing about Riviera Beach to West End Grand Bahama. I have a really bad (expensive) case of (from my Lake Erie days) not wanting to go by boat where I can get to by car.

Heres a funny one for you though. Was at a local pub a while back and got to talking to the guy beside me. Dude was probably in his mid 50's. Told me he was camping on one of the spoil islands just offshore in the I.C. here in town. That's actually very common in our area so no big deal.
Go's on to say that he was from the West Palm area, was bored and had some some free time. Jumped in his 9' inflatable w/a 15hp motor on it and headed north! Thats probably 50 mls by boat! Said he'd run till he needed gas and stop for a night or two then head out. Had already been out for a wk and wasn't done yet! Said he had a buddy w/a pick up that was waiting on his call when he was done and would come and get him.

How cool is that?



You hit town, I'll be glad to hook you up w/whatever you want.

Miami to the keys is a blast.

Thats what I'm thinking!

Twin O/B Sonic, I thought I remembered a thread where you were down in the Largo and Tavernier area. I may be mistaken and if so my appologies. And I'm just the opposite now, if I can get there by boat forget the car!

He was, but trailered down, here is a vid of a portion of the section between Homestead, and Key largo.

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-_4V9zkVgQ[/YOUTUBE]

Wow! How many frozen chickens did you have to sacrifice to Neptune to get that water? Looks like a good day to me.

Hope to be joining you guys soon! My boat is heading to FL as I type this!!!! Gonna need a couple of wrench turning parties to get my twin 2.4's mounted and running. Then I'll begin to clean her up!