CyberAngler

Maybe someone can help me with this one. Why are inlets called inlets on the Atlantic coast and passes on the Gulf coast???

I dont know the exact answer to your question, but we do have inlets on the Gulf Coast. We tend to refer to inlets as smaller breaks in the land, such as Panama city has the Lake Powell Inlet known as Phillips Inlet. Most of our "Passes" are usually jettied off and dredged regularly, and have alot of boat traffic hence the name Pass. and a few of those passes are manmade as well. On the East Coast of FL you mosly have the ICW such as Indian River or Mantanzanas that runs directly behind the beach which makes the breaks in beach more like an inlet. Most of our breaks take you into a bay system such as Pensacola Bay, or St Andrews Bay, or Choctawahachee bay, giving the name Pass. Its a little info I hope it helps.

Hmm, i live in panama as well, but I have never heard of the phillipps inlet. I do know that we have or had as of right now 2 passes. The main pass by grand lagoon and the state park and the east pass down on the east side of shell island. I have heard it called the Old pass as well. But never lake powwell or Phillips. Please let me know if I am wrong or missing a piece of info. Thank you.

Philips Inlet is at the Bay Co./Walton Co. line. You take Hwy 98 west and drive over a bridge before you enter Walton County. You'll see a run down pier where the lake enters the beach. I ve lived in PC for over 20 years.

Ah, so phillips inlet is located in west bay county? Like near the intercostals?

Yea Phillips inlet is at the border of Western Bay County right on the beach. Lake Powell is between the beach and the stretch of ICW that runs from West Bay to Choctawahachee bay.

who knows

Great information