You asked for it, we arranged it…

Birders flock to the inlets and piers in Palm Beach County in the fall looking from shore to see pelagic species on their southbound migration. Based on strong interest from the birding community, Audubon Everglades has scheduled a fall pelagic trip and chartered a boat for the 2nd fall pelagic on Saturday, Nov 16, 2019. (Last year’s trip had to canceled due to high seas.)

A pelagic birding trip is one done traveling by boat offshore to view seabirds that rarely come ashore except to breed. Seabird (pelagic) species include tropical terns, shearwaters, jaegers, gannets and others.

You may be aware of pelagic trips offered from other east coast locations. Palm Beach County is the eastern most part of the state of Florida and is the closest land to the changing Gulf Stream. Trips from other locations must travel farther offshore to get to the Gulf Stream than we do here in Palm Beach County, hence the interest in a trip from our local area.

THE DETAILS

WHO: Space is limited — but there is a 30 person minimum. People who are current “Friends of Audubon Everglades” members will have priority to register.

If you are interested in this trip and are not yet a “Friends” member, you may want to use this link to join now:

Yes, I want to become a “Friend of Audubon Everglades” Member

WHAT: 6 hour Pelagic Trip with leaders Michael Brothers and Mitchell Harris on board.

WHEN: Saturday Nov 16, 2019

Boarding begins at approximately 6:20 am. The boat departs at 6:30 am sharp and returns to the dock at approximately 12:30 pm.

HOW MUCH: $75 per person payable with a credit card via PayPal (no PayPal account necessary) Includes the boat trip, tip for boat crew, pelagic leaders, snacks, water and fun.

(For people unfamiliar with the cost of other pelagic trips, this is a phenomenal value!)

WHERE:

Palm Beach Yacht Center 7848 S Federal Hwy, Hypoluxo, FL.

The marina is located on US 1 south of Hypoluxo Rd and north of Gateway Blvd. Use the northern entrance. Maps and directions will be provided after registration and payment.

WHY: Because it is an exceptional opportunity!

SIGN ME UP!

I am ready to go! Where do I register? How do I pay? Click on the link below:

2019 Fall Pelagic registration page

If you are not a current Friend of Audubon Everglades, you will be placed on a waitlist – please remember that Friends have priority registration. To become a Friend, click on the link above (under WHO) to guarantee a spot or wait to see if any spaces become available. Your registration fee will be refunded should you not be offered a spot from the waitlist.

Payment instructions will be sent in the registration confirmation email.

Membership priority will end at 12:00 noon on Tuesday, November 12, 2019. After that time, people on the waitlist will be confirmed, should spots be available, in the order they were received.

FAQ About the trip

Tell me more about the boat:

We have chartered a drift fishing boat from the same company we used on our 1st annual spring Pelagic trip in 2015.

Living on Island Time is a 60′ walk around boat, fully licensed by the US Coast Guard. She has a 20′ wide beam that provides for a smoother ocean ride than narrower boats.

The boat has a 41 passenger capacity and a fully air conditioned salon area.

The exterior of the boat has plenty of bench seating. and a large overhead canopy that provides shade and protection from the elements if needed.

The interior has a well maintained and clean salon area which is fully air conditioned or heated depending on the season. There is a full size table with bench seating, a microwave, refrigerator and a sink with fresh running water as well as a beautiful and clean bathroom.

The captains helm is equipped with state of the art equipment.

How far out will the trip go?

Fish tend to congregate around “weed lines” and these fish attract the sea birds that we are interested in. We will go out in search of weed lines. Please note that we don’t necessarily need to travel all the way out to the Gulf Stream itself to find weed lines.

What about Refunds?

After the trip is booked, refunds would only be given if the charter-boat operators cancel the trip due to weather and/or seas.

If for any reason the trip is canceled, those interested are welcome to join in a shore based “pelandgic” trip at the Boynton Inlet.

Have other QUESTIONS?

Email – FieldTrips@auduboneverglades.org please put Pelagic Trip in the subject line