Shell Mound Point, Gulf of Mexico

Shell Mound Point is located just north of Cedar Key on the Gulf coast. It is part of the Lower Suwannee and Cedar Key National Wildlife Refuge. Directions: Take CR 24 heading towards Cedar Key. Just about 5 miles from Cedar Key turn right on CR 347. Go down to CR 326 and make a left. Down the road and on the right hand side you will come to Shell Mound Point County Park. It is a very pretty place with oak trees and pines. The camping here is $5.00 which includes your site, electricity, water and an above ground grill. There are restrooms and a shower. It is very quiet and secluded. There is also free parking here if you don't wish to camp the night. Make sure you bring insect repellent if you go during the summer time because of the mesquitos and sand fleas.

You have to remember to go out during high tide here and make sure you are back well before low tide. Around the boat ramp it turns into nothing but mud and around the grass flats the oyster bars turn into a maze that will have you paddling fast to find a way that is still passable.

A great number of the islands are part of the wildlife preserve area, and have signs posted to keep you from disturbing these areas. We paddled between Hog Island and Garden Island. There are grassy flats everywhere you look.

We kept Buck Island to our right and paddled towards Long Cabbage Island. It is just west of Buck Island and streches north and south. There are many birds thriving on these islands. There are Sanderlings, Stilt birds, sandpipers, Sea Gulls, pelicans, Ibis, wading birds and too many more to mention. If you find a sandy beach with no sign you can stop for a moment to stretch your legs on Cabbage Island. Once the tide starts going out around this area the oyster bars become quite prominent and form a maze you will have to negotiate if you are unlucky enough to get caught there.

From here we paddled northward to Deer Island. Along the way we saw dolphins and sea turtles. The fishing is good here. We talked to some one who had caught a 31 inch red fish earlier that morning, but had to turn it loose because it was over the size limit. You'll see others out here around the grass beds casting nets for mullet. Deer island is fairly a nice size with a nice sandy beach. It is about 2 miles NNW of the Put-in.

We camped the night at the County Park and the next morning put-in at the end of CR 326 where the state has a boat ramp and pier. We paddled WSW to Derrick Key. I have never seen so many brown and white pelicans all in one area before. The whole area around Shell Mound Point is a bird watchers dream. The beauty of this place will remain with you for a long time.