Cruising the coast of MS, Al, LA, and TX

There should be plenty of depth from Apalachicola to New Orleans . I don't go west of there. Apalachicola is always a good overnight spot with plenty of good eateries and Scipio Creek Marina should be able to accommodate your boat. Not much in Panama City for Marinas since hurricane Michael but Bay Point is back open and has transient slips. Destin and Ft. Walton both have decent Marinas right on the ICW but I have never stayed at any of them. Both The Wharf Marina and Homeport Marina are on the ICW in Orange Beach, Al. Lulu's Restaurant is attached to Homeport and the Wharf has an ampatheatre that usually has performers every weekend from spring through fall. Lulu's usually has a long wait but Tacky Jacks is right across Portage Creek. The Wharf is a bit pricey if you're there during an event. If you want to go up Mobile Bay, Dog river is worth stopping at and you can get a ride to the battleship USS Alabama. The Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola is also a great place to spend a day if you like aircraft. There are few marinas in Pensacola but I know nothing about them. Dauphin Island won't have enough water for your draft( or mine either anymore) but an interesting place. In Mississippi the Biloxi Small Craft Harbor should be able to accommodate you and they are next to the Hard Rock Casino and Hurricane Katrina Museum. Gulfport Municipal Marina is also a nice marina and the Mississippi Marinas are reasonably priced. We haven't been west of there in a few years.

There is a Katrina Museum??
Showcasing What??

No idea, I've never visited. I just know it's there....or was a few years ago.

Are you looking for adventure or desperate (really desperate) to write a new chapter about something.
Cuba may offer more boating options.

There are lots of boats west of Mississippi, there must be something going on over there other than fishing the oil rigs.

Agreed.
I worked on boats around Orange Beach and Pensacola. Have customers from NOLA. There are many local spots that do well for the locals, cater to the locals, offer some good entertainment to the locals, support the GOM and industries.

IMO, these are not cruising grounds.

Further west, Local spots get thinner till Brownsville.
Ship breakers, scrap yards and a boarder town supporting some fishing fleets. English is not the common language.

PC is blessed by its bay and bayous. Some ICW passages. Mobil, Pensacola and other places are also blessed.
IMO; They still poorly support the residential boaters much less care for a transient.

When I was young, dumb and full of stuff, I was offered lots of work out there.
All go the same answer; It sux out there, NO..

Sad because I do admire Texas. Just no room for me on the coast.

The municipal yacht harbor on the lake just west of lakefront airport reopened a couple of years ago. I've heard it's pretty nice but I have visited it yet.