Directions to the hot water canal in PC?

[jonesrw]

Can anyone give me directions and some tips on fishing the hot water canal in PC? I know it's catch/relase only, don't care about that. I just need to know how to get there and where to launch.

Thanks!

[spear]

Rich, I believe it is on county road 2300 that cuts off hwy 77 north of Southport. The canal is on Alligator Bayou( there may be another Alligator Bayou on West Bay) at approximately 30 15.6 and 85 42.0 which is on the north side of North Bay and due west of Lynn Haven.(I think that is where it is because the charts show a "Stack" at that location and I have seen one there when going thru West Bay in Boats.) I do not think there is a ramp in the steam canal itself and the St Andrews Bay Chart does not show one there. The closest public ramp is McKenzie Boat Ramp at the end of McKenzie Rd and Leslie Porter Park Ramp at the foot of hwy 77. The only other restriction I know of is you cannot use any live bait other than what you catch in the canal itself. I have seen videos of people fishing right up in the water rushing out of the gates, but I have never been there myself. I have heard they catch trout, redfish, strippers, sheepshead and maybe even tarpon occasionaly. Expect to be checked by the marine patrol.

[jonesrw]

I've talked to a few folks and used Google maps. It looks like there are 2 canals going to the power plant. I'm pretty sure it's got to be one or the other. If the weather cooperates this weekend, I'm going to go and give it a shot. After all this cold weather, the fish should be stacked in there.