Ebey launch in Marysville

[Stein]

I've always wondered about launching there and running into the sound instead of going to Everett.  I was hoping someone on here had some experience they wouldn't mind sharing

I have a 19' with prop, does anyone have experience there and know what sort of tides would be pushing it for depth?  I would go slow and watch the depth finder, not in a big hurry.

Any break-in problems, looks to be a somewhat sketchy area?

How busy is it, especially during busy times like openers, derbies, etc?

[cigardave]

Stein, I've got some experience but not an extensive amount as I focus on fishing the slough and not on going out to the Sound. In general, you want to avoid the extreme low because the slough is shallow downstream from Quilceda Creek and at extreme low tide, you'll likely run aground before you make it out to Priest Point.

My suggestion would be to map the channel yourself. Put your boat in the water timed on an intermediate low and with an incoming tide. Somewhere between a 4.0' and 6.0' should work well. Pull up a tide chart for Quilceda Creek. Here's a link to one... https://tides.mobilegeographics.com/locations/4658.html

At an intermediate low, you'll be able to see which major channel you should stay in and also not having so much water that you'll spend hours out there mapping it. You'll have no issues navigating out to Quilceda Creek, which is about 1.5 mi. downstream from the boat launch. It's from the creek out to Priest Point that you should start weaving back and forth to identify the channel and to waypoint it so you can follow that route on your GPS in the future.

There's a sizable sand bar directly across from the mouth of Quilceda Creek (Google Maps shows the sand bar if you zoom in where the creek meets the slough). At low tide it's obvious. At high tide, the bar is hidden from view. Stay to the right of the sand bar (stay near the mouth of the creek) as you continue downstream.

Continue to waypoint the channel (maybe every couple hundred feet) as you move downstream. And once you reach Priest Point, you should be able to refer to nautical charts to find your way out to deep water. Here's a link to the online chart that you may need.  http://fishing-app.gpsnauticalcharts.com/i-boating-fishing-web-app/fishing-marine-charts-navigation.html?title=APPROACHES+TO+EVERETT+boating+app#13/48.0157/-122.2527

Once charted, avoid the extreme lows and you should be fine. On event days, the launch is not that busy in my opinion. Again, avoid the extreme low tides when launching and retrieving your boat at the launch. It's a 4-holer if everyone stays in their lane. Hope that helps.

[full choke]

Stein, I've got some experience but not an extensive amount as I focus on fishing the slough and not on going out to the Sound. In general, you want to avoid the extreme low because the slough is shallow downstream from Quilceda Creek and at extreme low tide, you'll likely run aground before you make it out to Priest Point.

My suggestion would be to map the channel yourself. Put your boat in the water timed on an intermediate low and with an incoming tide. Somewhere between a 4.0' and 6.0' should work well. Pull up a tide chart for Quilceda Creek. Here's a link to one... https://tides.mobilegeographics.com/locations/4658.html

At an intermediate low, you'll be able to see which major channel you should stay in and also not having so much water that you'll spend hours out there mapping it. You'll have no issues navigating out to Quilceda Creek, which is about 1.5 mi. downstream from the boat launch. It's from the creek out to Priest Point that you should start weaving back and forth to identify the channel and to waypoint it so you can follow that route on your GPS in the future.

There's a sizable sand bar directly across from the mouth of Quilceda Creek (Google Maps shows the sand bar if you zoom in where the creek meets the slough). At low tide it's obvious. At high tide, the bar is hidden from view. Stay to the right of the sand bar (stay near the mouth of the creek) as you continue downstream.

Continue to waypoint the channel (maybe every couple hundred feet) as you move downstream. And once you reach Priest Point, you should be able to refer to nautical charts to find your way out to deep water. Here's a link to the online chart that you may need.  http://fishing-app.gpsnauticalcharts.com/i-boating-fishing-web-app/fishing-marine-charts-navigation.html?title=APPROACHES+TO+EVERETT+boating+app#13/48.0157/-122.2527

Once charted, avoid the extreme lows and you should be fine. On event days, the launch is not that busy in my opinion. Again, avoid the extreme low tides when launching and retrieving your boat at the launch. It's a 4-holer if everyone stays in their lane. Hope that helps.

And that is how you answer a question!

[Stein]

Thanks CD, more information than I had hoped. 

I have a new kicker I need to break in so I'll do just what you mentioned.

[Crunchy]

I launched at a questionable launch a few days ago thinking it would save me a 20 minute boat run.  Backed the boat into the water and couldnt get it off the trailer.  Backed even further into the water, and climbed onto the trailer and pushed for 10 minutes barely getting it off.  Parking was horrible, but cheap.  Won't do that again. 

[7mmfan]

The launch is a quality launch, deep enough to launch pretty much any size boat other than at the lowest of low tides. Ample parking most weekends other than if pinks are in or on the opener for crabbing. There are vagrants around, but it’s not as shady as it may look. Lots of walkers park there and walk to Ebey Slough Trail, so there’s always lots of eyes about. To boot, you can leave your rig there and walk across to 2nd Street to go to Five Rights Brewing for a cold beer.

[TLEVIN40]

Might try launch at Langus Park, on the Snohomish river.

[steeleywhopper]

We can make it out in my buddies 17ft North river prop boat on a .03 low and higher. We have done this for years and know the route. I would not suggest someone new heading out there on a really low tide as there are small specific channels you need to be in to make it work. If you have a bigger boat and your coming back on a really high tide you may not be able to get your boat under the Railroad bridge.  Map it out and watch for deadheads! There are 3 major ones near the mouth of the Quil and they will ruin your day quickly, there are also new ones that show up from time to time that will surprise you.

[BD1]

I've used nearly every usable boat launch in the area at some point. Langus I used heavily but it sounds like it started to have break-in issues. The Ebey launch is nice. We nearly ran into a huge raft of logs that for some reason was in the middle of the channel. Also got caught in a tide turn accompanied by just the right angle of wind...very intense situation. Big water can get big fast. None the less...it is a nice launch that I feel safe leaving my rig there.   

[7mmfan]

I stopped at the overlook at Legion Park yesterday afternoon to take a look. The tide was WAY out. You could clearly see the channels running across the flats out there, all the way from Priest Point to Jetty Island. It's faint, but you can see the path from Priest Point out to the green buoy. Definitely skinny, but looked like it could have been doable even at low tide yesterday. Not sure on getting to Priest Point, I haven't done that in a long time. Might consider trying to stop at that overlook at low tide with a set of binos some day, it was pretty enlightening.

[Stein]

Yeah, looks like I will be coming back in with about 4' of tide left.  Between charts, live Google Earth with GPS, fishfinder, going slow and doing it during daylight practice I think I should be fine.

[7mmfan]

I did it years ago in a 14' Smokercraft in February all the way out to Hat Island and back in the dark. I was also 17 and dumber than a rock. I'm sure you can handle it.

[Stein]

I checked it out in person at about -1' today and verified that didn't look like much fun.

[sagerat]

When the tribe made the tulalip launch off limits to the public it really sucker punched the small boat guys for fishing the bubble. Thanks Tulalip Tribe...