When you made your first left(Redfish Point 2), you have to hug the right half of the canal (up to 20 feet deep). The left side is a huge mud flat that comes to the center of the canal. Your second mistake was to try to go straight when you should have turned right after Redfish Pt. 2 then take the next left which is shallow too. The channel to get into the canal passes just to the left of the cribbon. This route is much shorter than coming in from the West Canal but a lot more tricky since there are mud flats and Oyster layden flats that are terible on a boat and motor. Any questions call BTB fishing line @504.458.9451..............Capt. Bob

what helps a lot is on googlre earth click the bottom toolbar where it says 1980 and you can pick past dates to see what areas used to look like so you can see where canals ''used to be'' and avoid running aground on low tides.

if you arent sure the color images will show color changes as the current flows (cloudy water) showing the primary path water takes and therefore the deeper areas

Keakar- that's good info to have. I need to try that myself. There's nothing better than experience for fishing certain places, especially when all you have is a map and are trying to get from point A to point B. Thanks for sharing the tip.

Great advice on the looking in past history on google maps. Keep in mind every time a major storm blows in canals change also, debri,mud ect. When exploring a new area ( new to you) I trim down and go really slow. If I hit bottom I can still trim up and get out. It also helps to have a boat that can go really shallow. I have been in 8 inches in my boat but I also have a tunnell hull. I always have my gps and when I get home I mark depth of canals I explored on my google map and keep it updated . I have noticed in past 2 years one route I run a canal has got 1.5 ft shallower due to silt ect.Just some advice.

All of you guys are right , but the best way to fish that area is slow and easy, I watch boats pass me in that area on a plan, and I have fished in there since 1978 and it does change every time

Agree with everything said on this one. First time in a canal means slow and easy especially after a storm ( Hurricane). I have had my Carolina Skiff for 13 years now and the top side looks fairly new. The bottom side however looks like some one sprayed some cat nip on it and turned a Tiger loose.
Keaker has a really good idea also. Google Earth is an amazing tool to use to look at areas now and in the past.

many canals in our area have filled in from hurricanes, I used to trawl all the canals on the south side of texico canal in golden meadow and there was at least 6 to 7 feet of water, after katrina poof 2 to 3 feet. crazy stuff, all the silt washes off the marsh tops into the canals, making us loose a lot of good winter time spots.

Thanks Capt Bob I'll try this next time.
Also great info on the google earth dates. I'm an IT guy and had no clue I could go back in time! Not saying much for my IT skills. I typically jump between satellite view and map view for a more accurate understand of the land.
Thanks for the info guys and good luck!