We made our first run up the San Jac river to Banana Bend. I can't believe it took us this long to make it up there. Great area, beaches, and nice run. We took about 6-8 boats up and had a blast. We will definetly be back, if I can find my way across those open areas. Once you get into the river it is no problem.

Gerrit, It is an awesome trip. I always enjoy it. BUT, after the railroad bridge, you REALLY have to watch it. Boats run aground there all the time. It is the tricky part. But I really like the run up there. Go alot. Tommy

Saw all you guys fly past the house. Nice looking rigs. Next time go to Dalmation Island. Thats where the boaters hang out, NOT Banana Bend.

Is Dalmation Island the island right past Banana Bend? Thats where we were on Saturday. Great place. We also like to go further up to Newport Beach.

We stopped at Banana Bend because that's where everyone else was at. Where is the island? We saw a bunch of boats further up the river, past the no wake area and some of the guys have gone and beached there. We saw Plum Crazy go by and head that way. I am not too sure of where I am going. Kind of following the crowd, till I get to know the area.

Tommy, it's nice to have another destination, let us know when you are going, we would like to tag along. Are you trying to tell me you have personal experience with the shallows? The area past the railroad bridge looked fairly well marked. As a matter of fact most of the main channels in the flats looked like they were marked, but typical Murphy's Law, my gps quit sometime after the bridge, so I am not too sure how much I got on my tracks.

Where you saw the boats further up past the no wake zone is where we were. Great area and only way to get there is by boat. I know Visual Contact and they had planned to come up to the island but like you, pulled into BB instead. We only make it up to San Jac a couple of times during the summer, but a great place and alot different than Conroe.

So where is the best place to launch when going out on the San Jac? I've never been... is it best to follow someone else for first time or is it marked well enough to just be careful?

Riverside is the best place to launch. Magnolia Drive off of
I-10. And yes its best to follow someone a few times. Once you leave Riverside and go under a railroad bridge you do have a few buoys where it opens up, but very easy to get off in the shallows. Once you get into the river, an easy run to Banana Bend.

Here is a satelite image of the river from Lynchburg ferry to Rio Villa.

You can see the old pre 1994 flood river banks fairly well.

Here is the run from Rio Villa to Magnolia Gardens. Newport Beach is further north.

The only bad spot is by the second trestle adjacent to Loves marina.

The main trestle is sanded up at low tide and you have to use the second and third spans from the West bank instead.