~ Captain Paul's response to: ~ Northshorefisher ~

That is like saying what is the best pickup truck to buy ! There are die hard consumers and loyal customers for all of the different brands and models.

All of the GPS models you listed will work with my CAPTAIN PAUL’s FISHING EDGE OF GPS WAYPOINTS if you have one of the manufacturers data (waypoints, tracks and routes) transfer programs. The transfer program can be found on their web sites. The Spartan versions are free but they all offer a more advanced program that has many more features than just transferring data.

The models you listed are near the top of the line for the different manufacturers line. Either of those listed should suit you needs very well
WITH THE PROPER MAPPING SOFTWARE.

I suggest that you go to these manufacturers web site and get the physical information on each of different units. Print out the specifications and then go over them item for item. Then check out what maps come installed in the unit. You will find that they all come ONLY with a basic map they call a base map. This is exactly what the name implies, a basic map of most of the U.S. coastline.

To get the most out of any of these units, you will have to get one of the supplemental mapping programs offered by the unit’s manufacturers. I believe that they avoid sticker shock by not including the detailed mapping as a package with the unit, as it would drive up the price $200- $300 dollars more.

Both brands offer aerial photo maps of the area you listed as part of a larger area of coverage. You will find that the detailed maps will be sold in zones or areas, such as from Mobile to Lake Charles or maybe something like Tampa to Galveston.

After you get the specifications you need, visit a stocking dealer, such as West Marine, Cabella’s, Bass Pro or any of the other advertisers in the Sportsman Magazine that sell the unit. Check out the units you narrowed down and get a hands on feel for the unit. Note the size of the screen, the definition of the screen and the ease of moving from one screen or feature to another. In addition price the cost of the supplemental mapping programs you will need to get the most out of the unit.

Let me know how you make out.

~ Captain Paul ~

~ Captain Paul's response to: ~ Ryansr.

The trash (junk) pile is located around the largest oil-gas platform in Bay Eloi.

This platform is located about 2.1 milles NNW (330° mag) from the remnants of DeadMans Island It is at or about 29° 46.175’N latitude ~ 89°22.701’W. Longitude.

Bring plenty of terminal tackle if you fish on or near the bottom. Use your depth finder to locate the larger pieces of material on the bottom.

Good Luck,
~ Captain Paul ~

~Captain Paul's Response to FishingPhysican~

Yes, you can if you have one of the Garmin transfer programs.

GARMIN data protocol requires that the data come from one of their transfer programs that can recognize a Garmin unit. They offer a FREE transfer program they call BASE CAMP as a download from the GARMIN web site at www.garmin.com. Once there search for BASE CAMP DOWNLOADS. Or they offer their TRIP AND WAYPOINTS MANAGER and their HOME PORT as for sale items as a download or on a CD. Both sell for around $30. The HOME PORT program is the most comprehensive as it lets you view any GARMIN maps you may have on a data card or in your GPS unit.

All of the programs allow you to write the data in GARMIN protocol to your GPS unit via the proper cable or to a memory card via your card reader-writer in your computer.
If you are using the memory card route, you MUST first first place a clean SPARE memory card in your unit while the unit is in an off mode.

Then turn the unit ON and do any function in the unit. Changing viewing screens would do. This causes your GPS unit to write a code which allows the GARMIN transfer program to recognize the card as a GARMIN device. Using the transfer program you then IMPORT and open the EDGE (.gdb) file, view, edit or add to it and write the waypoints to the card.

By then placing the card in your unit and using the menu feature, you can transfer all of the waypoints into the internal memory of your unit.
All Edge waypoints will appear as overlays on whatever map program you may have or use.

Use the spare data card to transfer all of your waypoints to the card and then back up them all in a file in your computer or on a thumb or DVD disk, etc.

Do this after each trip and you will always have a backup of all of your fishing info.

I am sure that you will enjoy and use the EDGE files. They will save you time and fuel getting on the fish.

Captain Paul

~ Captain Paul's response to: ~ No Mo Money ~

There are several commercial programs that can convert Loran A TD’s to a Latitude Longitude format, but the U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development Center had a program they call Position Aid. It is no longer available, but a US government, public domain program is available from the International Loran Association home page at http://www.loran.org/ Go there to download http://www.loran.org/gptotd.zip

It appears to be the old USCG Position Aid program. You can download the program and keep is in your computer as a fail safe conversion program.
You may find others by searching the internet for such a conversion program.

But the easiest way is to let your GPS do the conversion for you.

Almost all modern GPS units have a Grid Format called Loran TD or maybe just TD’s. First turn on your GPS and go to the main menu.
Go to the Configuration or GPS setup menu or what ever your unit’s manufacture calls the configuration setup for the GPS unit.
Find the POSITION FORMAT or in some cases it is called LOCATION.

In the Position Format box, Select the 'TD' mode, Then enter the Loran coordinates you want to convert to lat-lon one at a time. Once you have entered the points, go back to the Configuration menu, choose 'Position Format' again and change the format back to your normal 'Latitude-Longitude' setting. All of your waypoints you entered as TDs will now be in the lat-long format.

The Position you stated is in H,DDD,MM.mmm, ie. Hemisphere, Degrees, Minutes and Thousandths of minutes, It is the most common used in GPS units for both land and on the water. A one digit change in the last position of the decimal minutes (.00X) equals about a change of 6.2 feet, which is way below the accuracy of a standard consumer GPS unit.

Captain Paul

~ Captain Paul's response to: ~ Harlequin11 ~

Freemason Island is west of the Chandeleur Islands in Chandeleur Sound. It is about 8 miles west of one part of the Chandeleur chain and is about 8 miles WSW, 227°Magnetic from the North Islands. It is between the southern part of the Chandeleur Island barrier chain and Point Chicot. It is about 17.3 miles at a bearing of 74° (magnetic) from the Point Chicot Green # 1 marker/light.

The present Freemason Island is configured in a banana shaped island that has very little vegetation. The only vegetation is by the east end it looks like it is a small clump of mangroves. It presently is about 1.25 miles long in a west ~ east direction. NOAA Marine Chart 11363 of The Chandeleur Sound indicates that the island in now classified as a shoal, but aerial photo maps show the current island as a sliver of sand above the water. Many days the island sometimes is awash with high tides or strong winds.

I keep referring to the current Freemason Island as the original island has migrated to the south west and is now about 2500 feet to the south west of where it was before Katrina.
The east point of the present island is at or about 29° 47.193’ N ~ 88°58.086’W. The western most part of the island is now at or about 29°47.491’N ~ 88° 59.227’W.

Freemason Island was at one time in the shape of a reversed “C” about 1.7 miles in length mainly in a north to south direction. The northern most point was at or about 29° 48.342’ N. Lat. ~ 88° 58.823’ W. Long. The southern most tip was at or about 29° 47.181’ N. Lat. ~ 88° 58.872’ W. long. I mention this because the charts indicate that the water depths around the present Freemason Island vary between ten and two feet. The shallow water evidently is where the island was once located, and should be locations that hold fish.

Before you try to navigate to Freemason Island, sure that you get up to date official NOAA Marine Charts of the area. Depending from your launch point, it looks like you will need NOAA charts # 11363, Chandeleur Is; #11361, Miss. River Delta; 11371 Lake Borgne and Approaches and possibly # 11373, Miss. Sound and Approaches.

All of these approaches to Freemason Island are littered with many, many large and small oil and gas platforms as well as numerous wrecks through out the area. Use caution in the area as the charts show numerous shoals through out the entire Chandeleur Island chain of islands.

Using the remnants of FREEMASON Island as the face of a clock that is about 1.5 miles in diameter, and beginning at the 12 o’clock position, there is a wreck indicated at or about 29°48.403’ N ~ 088° 58.922’ W.
At about the 1 o’clock position one is at or about 29° 48.212 N ~ 088° 58. 386‘ W.

Continuing in a clockwise direction to the 4 o’clock position there is another one at or about 29° 47. 614’ N ~ 088° 58.386’ ~ W.

At the 5 o’ clock position one can be found at or about 29° 47. 337’ N ~ 088° 58.733’ W.

At the 7 o’clock area although a little farther from the center yields a wreck at or about 29° 47. 381’ N ~ 088° 59.707’ W.

Again continuing around the imaginary face to the 11 o’clock position you should find one at or about 29° 48.524’ N ~ 088° 59. 627’ W. These wrecks are listed as having a Position Approximate on the current charts. Any or all of them should offer cover for fish in the area.

You can access Freemason Island or what is left of it from Venice by the way of the canal at the end of Baptiste Collette in Breton Sound, which is about 33 miles @ 37°Magnetic ; from Hopedale via the Old MRGO to Gardner Island then to the Island, about 26 miles @ 74° magnetic, and from the Waveland / Bay St. Louis in Mississippi which is about 42 miles at 152° magnetic.

One of the larger shoals that I call FREEMASON SHOAL is located to the North East of the Island. The rough center of this oval shoal is at or about 29° 48.670´ N LAT ~ 088° 57.393´ W LONG. The charts show water immediately around this shoal as between 1 and two feet.

Get a current version of NOAA chart 11363 if you want to see the remnants of the Island, as the shown on the chart. USGS Topographical map titled Freemason Island will give you a decent rendition of how the island once looked. If you want to actually see the island, you better hurry as it is slowly disappearing.

Unless otherwise specified, all positions are stated as H,DDD,MM.mmm and were determined using WGS 84 DATUM. All Headings/bearings/courses are stated in statute miles and Magnetic Degrees.

Captain Paul