Reviews: Bobby's Fish Camp

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Nov 23, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 1

I suppose that Bobby's Fish Camp at one time was a good deal more than it is today. The restaurant is permanently closed, and the facilities are run-down and in need of repair. We stopped there because there are few dog-friendly anchorages in the lower Tombigbee River. Bobby's Fish Camp is nothing more than a short metal fuel dock that might accommodate five 35-foot boats (including the fuel dock space), and the dock only has four 30/50-amp power outlets. The power outlets are all located at the southern end of the dock, which requires either a very long power cable, or no power availability if you are at the northern end of the dock. The docks are not all that stable, tilt significantly toward the river, and have broken cleats. We were told that if there were several boats that we would have to allow boats to raft up to us for the night (no mention of how the power would be handled). The dock water consisted of a garden hose from shore that was laying on the dock with the end in the river water (we did not dare to use). There is no wake or wind protection from the river, and the local boat traffic and barges (quite understandably) do not slow as they pass the docks. When we called for reservations, it seemed very casual – if there is space you are welcome. The lady on the phone was very friendly and told us about the docking, staying away as far as possible from the fuel area, and the possibility of rafting-up. When we arrived at the dock, there was no one there and we had to call to find out where the office was (It turns out that the office is in the old restaurant). We were told that he (the owner?) would be back soon and to just watch for him. When he arrived, we walked up to the old restaurant to meet him. He was not what I would refer to as 'friendly.' He asked me how many Loopers would be coming in this evening and, when I told him I did not know, he seemed annoyed with me. It turns out that we were the only boat there that night. The Water Way Guide says there are restrooms and showers, but we did not see them and, candidly, did not look. The $2.75/foot rate is very high for virtually no amenities and less than comfortable docking. We did not buy fuel, but a sailboat that stopped for just 40 gallons while we were there said he was "stunned by the price of fuel."

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Reviewed by: John Highsmith , CAT O' MINE, on Oct 16, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 26'
Draft: 2.5'

Rating: 3

Rustic and rusty and on the expensive side for a hot shower in a plastic shed with a door that won't quite close or lock, where you must bring your own toilet paper. I got a mild
shock on touching the second power plug in dry rubber crocs...use your gloves and have 75 ft of cord. It's obvious these folks are NOT getting rich off this enterprise. The closest gas or diesel is Fairhope, not Mobile. A good many boats don't have the range to do this segment
without Bobby's, so I award an extra star for simply existing!

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Reviewed by: Paul Steindorf , Ohana, on Oct 15, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 45'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 2

The only option for fuel and electric power on this section of the waterway. Expensive for what you get, we paid $2.75 plus tax per foot. Room for three boats on the dock, others have to raft up. Staff seems to view you as an annoyance rather than a paying customer. No town or anything else in the area. If you enjoy anchoring probably best to do that rather than ask yourself why you stopped here.

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Reviewed by: Scott Gregory , My Happiness, on Sep 12, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 42'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 2

Not a fan. I couldn't say the staff were friendly, they were not rude, just there. No amenities. They had fuel, but you must trust what they tell you is the price on the pump farther up near the building. We traveled too long to look for an anchorage, next time we will know better.

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Reviewed by: William Mcnutt , Excellent Seas, on May 30, 2024
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 43'
Draft: 5.5'

Rating: 2

So, they're there. That's the most important part. For a sailboat doing five knots upstream, Bobby's Fish Camp is the first place to buy diesel since Mobile. It's been two days, plus a night running the generator so that I can use my CPAP to breathe. Yeah, I needed fuel, and they were there.

I had to pump my own, and the display on the pumps hasn't worked since the Clinton Administration; you have to trust what they tell you.

There was power and I used it. (Got to sleep WITHOUT the genset, yay!) That said, there were no visible breakers on the dock, and the power sockets looked . . . funky.

I saw no water hoses, but I didn't ask. The restaurant is closed and the store had four cases of light beer and no food at all. There was ice available, although I didn't need any.

No laundry facilities were available and the shower is in a plastic shed. It's a NICE plastic shed, but it's a plastic shed.

I found the price to be stiff, particularly for the amenities available, but as the ONLY stop for diesel between Demopolis and Mobile, I am grateful for the service that they provide.

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Reviewed by: Rhonda Coffee , Ineffable, on Dec 18, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 25'
Draft: 2.0'

Rating: 5

The Half Moon Bay of the Tombigbee waterway! It's a dock to tie up to with water, fuel, power and a shower!The private restroom/shower is located just up the hill. Randall was very helpful and friendly. It's a sight for sore eyes and a gem on the river system! I would definitely stop again. It's a right of passage for loopers, don't miss it.

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Reviewed by: Tony Green on Dec 13, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 26'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 3

Stopped here for gas. Tied up, called them on the phone and topped off our tanks; self-service and pay at the office. Dock is in good shape; fuel and power are on the down-river end. Did not see any amenities ashore. Definitely no-frills. Owner was friendly.

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Reviewed by: Chuck Reed on Dec 4, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 52'
Draft: 4.6'

Rating: 2

Good dockage for a rainy evening. Had power which was a plus and a store that sold ice and beer.

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Reviewed by: John Stiker on Nov 21, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 1

There are no amenities (bathrooms, showers, Wi-Fi, etc.) - It's cleats and shore power but bring your extension cords. The hose on the dock was one that NONE of us wanted to use to put water in our tank and I'll leave it at that. And… the owner/operator was flat out rude. The best thing about this place is that 15-20 cats/kittens that live on the grounds.

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Reviewed by: Duncan Hasell , LaLa III, on Sep 10, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 43'
Draft: 3.8'

Rating: 2

$2.75 a foot overnight and $4.92 gal diesel
But the only game in town if you want fuel.
Very quiet and peaceful.

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Reviewed by: Robert , Slow Dancing, on Aug 12, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 3

Spent on night there on my way down the river system.

This is a very basic stop. There is a short metal dock for side ties. A few power points - four I think. 50amp power worked just fine for my boat. And, fuel. No other services. There is a RV park run by the same folks right there on shore. The on-site restaurant no longer is in business.

Safe place to tie up with power, assuming you get one of the spots against the dock. I was there in May, before there was much recreational traffic in the river. So, I was the only boat there the one night.

Some reviews say there is a bathroom on shore, I did not look for it and did not notice one.

Owners were friendly. The RV park folks were quiet.

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Reviewed by: David Richardson on Dec 18, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.6'

Rating: 5

Bobby's Fish Camp was fine! We were there in November 2022 with several other boats and we did not get power since we rafted on a much larger vessel. Owner's husband was nice and accommodating. We would definitely stay there again as opposed to anchoring inside a tiny little creek or on the Tenn. Tom. Bobby's Fish Camp is what it is and everyone should know what it is and what it is not prior to stopping there. If you are in doubt just don't stop there.

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Reviewed by: Wade A. on Dec 6, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 45'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 1

Pro: Only fuel stop between Demopolis and Mobile
Con: Tired steel dock. No dockside water. power for only a few boats. Rafting often required. No restaurant or store. No garbage recepticals. Restroom is in a plastic garden shed.
Conclusion: Not worth a stop unless you need fuel. Local anchorages are more pleasant.

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Reviewed by: Brian Wicks on Dec 1, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 27'
Draft: 2.0'

Rating: 3

Friendly folks helping us Loopers with a place to fuel up, dock and provide a bathroom

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Reviewed by: Oliver Sharon , Grand Plan, on Nov 9, 2022
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 36'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 2

Bobby's Fish Camp is the only marina/fuel stop on the Tombigbee between Demopolis and Mobile. It has 150' Dock with 4 power pedestals. Each pedestal has 1 30 amp and 1 50 amp. You are one of the lucky ones if you are one of the four boats tied to the dock with power as all others have to raft to the dock boats and those rafted boats still pay $1.50 per foot regardless. We were rafted 3 wide when we were there in the first week of November. Wifi signal does not reach the dock but you can sit outside the office building and get signal there. The shower/restroom is a garden shed with the needed toilet, sink and shower. The door lock is broken but they have left a long handled screwdriver that you put through the door handle to secure the door. The owners don't answer the radio or telephone but they come around at night to get their payment and he opened the closed down on site restaurant and allowed us to watch the Alabama/LSU football game there. One of our Looper boats described it as "an anchorage that you pay for"

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Reviewed by: Graeme Walker , Confirmed Aquaholic, on Oct 27, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 54'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 3

Very basic, three docks can handle three 45+ boats but the northern most one doesn't get power unless they have an extension. Friendly enough, no other facilities, probably should have saved some $$ and anchored but the water level is lower than we like in most of them.

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Reviewed by: R. Koch on May 23, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 1

Absolute safety hazard to the boating community! Dock came apart on us as they made us raft off each other to fuel other boats. Fuel up before you pass by and anchor in Turkey Creek 2 miles north. Avoid this place at all costs!

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Reviewed by: Rob Dare , Liberty Call , on Nov 18, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 46'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 2

Overpriced. $1.50 ft with no amenities and a dock in rough shape. No help docking. Fuel was $4.34 a gallon. Lots of cats and dogs running loose so a lot of waste where we wanted to walk. Not much for walking a dog. Would anchor out next time. Restaurant was closed but has a lot of neat stuff in it.

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Reviewed by: Michael Brown , Our Plan, on Nov 7, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 52'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 3

Pretty much self service, basic service (electricity only), but essential to support Bobby's for the future of looping. The anchorages upriver look to be uncomfortable at best for craft larger than 45'. Of course, my opinion.

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Reviewed by: Jeffrey Skoda on Nov 6, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 65'
Draft: 6.0'

Rating: 2

Stop here only if you need to. In retrospect I would probably anchored out somewhere. We were fortunate that we only had one boat that needed to raft up. Most free docks are in better shape.

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Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Oct 27, 2021
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 2

Stopping at Bobby's is a piece of history. The fish camp goes back to 1956, long before most of us were born. The place seems to have stopped in the 1970's and most of the maintenance may have stopped at the same time. It's a shame that the restaurant is closed. We would love to have experienced it. We, like everyone else, were left with older docks that were not really stable, electric hookups that were questionable, and an old sign that says to call a number that you can't reach because the cell service is not sufficient for voice calls. We managed to dock ourselves, find out who to pay, (same price as Kingfisher Bay and no services) and how to manage the evening and departure in the morning from a dock that is just off the channel. We stopped because we needed to see what Bobby's was and is. We are glad we did. It is a safe and secure spot two miles for the Coffeeville Lock for an early morning departure. Next time we come through there are a couple of anchorages just upstream that look good.

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Reviewed by: Capt. Jeff Gephart on May 9, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 62'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 2

Bobby's has the very basics. The restaurant is closed, and the dock is showing its age. On a 12 day delivery, this was our most expensive stop with the least amount of service or amenities: high fuel prices and unreliable electricity. I had to switch power plugs twice to get one to work. You don't have any options other than here if you have to stop.

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Reviewed by: Capt Steve on Nov 18, 2020
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 36'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 3

The restaurant is closed permanently. Fuel (both gas and diesel) is usually available but you may have to walk up the hill and find someone to open for you. The dock is showing its age. There are limited shore power connections so you may have to share.

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Reviewed by: Dan Flaherty , Nora J, on Mar 29, 2019
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 1

Great service at restaurant. Terrible service at gas dock

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