boating on florida waterways is based on the personal experiences of the author.
Boating on Florida Waterways
BOATING DESTINATIONS
(Jewfish Creek--South to Key West)
This section will cover guidelines for navigating south on Florida Waterways, from Jewfish Creek to Key West, the majority of the routes we have actually sailed. Underlined words are links to related pages along with personal comments.
REMEMBER--Navigation Marker numbers often change.Jewfish Creek to Marathon
(Refer to Charts #11451, 11463 and 11449)Hereafter, the ICW actually starts to curve to the west, I will refer to directions as they appear on the charts. The sign just south of the Jewfish Creek Bridge indicates that the ICW from that point south has a controlling depth of less than 5 feet.
All courses set out work for us - - - You MUST check and verify your own course.JEWFISH CREEK TO BUTTONWOOD SOUND..... After you come through The Jewfish Creek Bridge, you will see two marinas that have transient dockage. The first one to the left is in the Anchorage Resort and theone on the right is Gilbert's Marina. We have seen boats anchored just outside of the Anchorage Resort. (See photo to the right) After navigating through the channel markers you are now in Blackwater Sound. Continuing on the ICW in Key Largo , you will find that the area is wide with plenty of deep water.
We have spent pleasant evenings anchoring at Sexton's Cove and off of Angler's Park on the S.E. Coastline of Blackwater Sound. (Both these areas are identified on Chart #11451 The Italian Fisherman Marina (Sroll to second Marina) is also in the Angler Park area.
When traveling about 219º on the ICW, Dusenbury Creek comes into view. Just follow the markers in this winding mangrove lined channel through Tarpon Basin and Grouper Creek to Buttonwood Sound. We often see boats anchored in Tarpon Basin but we have not done so in deference to the mosquitoes. Also we have heard but not confirmed that holding is poor in this area.
BUTTONWOOD SOUND TO STEAMBOAT CHANNEL.....It is a straight run from Grouper Creek across Buttonwood Sound to Bakers Cut. At this point (as in much of the Keys) pay close attention to the depths. Line up the markers both South and North when you are able to. Deep and shallow water are on both sides of the channel. Follow the long string of markers (Do not get confused by the sharp southerly change of direction at Lighted Green Marker #61. Check your chart for the sequencing of the marker numbers. The marker shows up as a definite sharp change of direction, which is confusing, but you should be able to follow, if you are careful. The next markers take you back to your approximate original course through Ramshorn Cut and then on through Cowpens Cut. At Ramshorn Cut, lighted #71, ignore the small green & red private markers to the east. We have seen boats, including ours get grounded on both side of the cut so WATCH YOUR DEPTHS.
After Cowpens, the water is usually deep up to Steamboat Channel which also experiences frequent shoaling. If you wish to stop for the night or to explore the area of Islamorada, continue on course from Cowpens to approximately one statute mile past Lighted Red Marker #78 to turn into Plantation Yacht Harbor. The Marina is approximately on a course of 160º. Here too watch your depth. (On chart 11463, Plantation Yacht Harbor appears to the immediate west of the intersection of 24º 58 min. and 80º 34 min.) Watch for the tiny ornamental lighthouse at the entrance. You enter between the breakwater and the first long concrete pier. Call the dock master for a berth assignment. The City of Islamarada bought the property and has constructed a Public Park. The Marina is still operating A beautiful park, complete with an olympic sized swimming pool, ball fields, tennis courts, skate and bicycle paths and a doggie park have been added to the property. The restaurant is gone for now. Shopping and restaurants are across the street.You might enjoy visiting
the "Rain Barrel" just south of the marina , an Artisan Village with many interesting items to view or buy. Across the street is "Treasure Village", a shopping complex, consisting of arts, crafts, and other type stores. A MUST SEE is the giant sculpture of a lobster at the entrance. (See photo to the left)
Cowpens anchorage is right outside of the Plantation Yacht Harbor. (See photo to the right) If anchored there, you can dinghy into the park.
STEAMBOAT CHANNEL TO MARATHON..... Like many of the other channels, navigate carefully. The shoaling shifts frequently, depending upon storms and wind. Follow the course for the ICW, as set forth on charts 11463 and 11449, to Bowlegs Cut. If you turn to the east tat Green Marker# 91A, you can anchor and dinghy to Lignumvitae Key, a State Botanical and Historic site. You are only allowed to tour the park with a ranger so check to find out the schedule. Check to find out about mosquitoes, especially in the summer. I highly recommend this side trip along with Indian Key State Historic Site. Indian key is on the ocean side of the Keys. Though not advisable, it can be reached through Indian Key channel with a fixed bridge of only 27' clearance. This is a narrow channel with flats on either side, making passage a little tricky.
Even though, it is a longer route, the more prudent way would be to continue south to Channel Five. and backtrack to Indian Key Anchorage. (Marked on Chart #11449) If you don't care to take your own boat or dinghy, there are tour boats leaving from land. ( See description in the Indian Key Link.) After navigating through the shallows of Bow Legs Cut, the water deepens again. At this point, if you wish, you may continue on an approximate course of 244º from Bow Legs Cut to Old Dan Bank.You may leave the ICW on a course of approximately 210º from Bow legs Cut to the bridge at Channel Five which takes you to the Atlantic Ocean. (Vertical clearance 65' fixed) (Click Here if you wish to continue on the ICW to Old Dan Bank.) This is the best channel to take if you want to go to Hawk's Cay Marina, a resort marina on Duck Key, where we have enjoyed vacationing on our boat.
When you go through Channel Five Bridge, check Chart #11449 if you wish to anchor at Long Key Bight, directly to the west. Follow all of the markers on the ocean side of Channel Five to avoid the shallow areas. After turning to the west, you will skirt Long Key State Park. If you have a dinghy, it is fun to explore the shallows along this part of the coastline. There are small beds of coral that has been washed in from the tide, creating several interesting shallow water snorkeling spots. However it is against the law to take anything out of the park.
Continuing into Marathon, There are many reefs and shoals marked on the chart. Many of these are excellent spots to scuba-dive or snorkel.You may continue on this route all the way to Key West and beyond, but if you wish to return to the ICW, you have three choices. You might swing into Boot Key Harbor, a good anchoring area, or to Faro Blanco Marina Ocean Side, and then through Knight Channel Bridge. (vertical clearance 19' fixed) You may go directly through Knight Key Channel to the bridge, or if you can't fit under the bridge, continue to Moser Channel Bridge, (vertical clearance 65' fixed) and then turn N. E. or W. depending upon where you want to go.
Faro Blanco Marina, Bayside, where we also have spent pleasant vacations on our boat. They also have an oceanside facility.
Continuing on the ICW, Chart #11449 shows two alternate routes. The route that you take will depend upon whether you wish to continue to Key West through either Moser Channel or B'hia Honda Channel to the Atlantic Ocean and then down Hawks Channel to Key West or take the Gulf of Mexico route through the Big Spanish Channel and then southwest to Sawyer Key and possibly to Key West. (We have only taken the route through Big Spanish Channel to the Gulf and southwest as far as Sawyer Key AND HAVE NOT GONE THE ENTIRE DISTANCE TO KEY WEST but we have been told that you are able to follow this route to Key West.) PLEASE check this out on the charts before attempting this route. Also at the time that we navigated Big Spanish Channel and the Gulf, there were no shore facilities. This is a more remote area and the scenery looks much like the Florida Keys probably looked before they were developed.(BE ADVISED--Some of the older charts show the ICW going all the way to Key West. THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE. After the cut off to B'h ia Honda or Big Spanish Channel, the inland water is riddled with shoal areas)
VIA HAWKS CHANNEL....The route that you will take to Hawks Channel will depend on the height of your boat. Knight Key Channel has a fixed clearance of only 19 ft., Moser Channel has a fixed clearance of 65', and B'hia Honda Bridge has only a 20' fixed clearance. Click Here if you wish to skip this presentation and go directly to Big Spanish Channel.
Knight Key Channel is at the westerly tip of Marathon on the north side of Marker #17B. To go to Moser Channel or B'hia Honda Bridge, continue on the southern alternate route, 251 degrees, as shown on chart 11449.
You may wish to anchor at B'hia Honda State Park on either side of the bridge in order to explore this beautiful natural area. If your boat fits under the B'h ia Honda Bridge (Clearance 20' fixed), you may access the ocean through it. There are many reefs (marked on the charts) to explore but one of the most beautiful is Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary. Looe Key is shown on chart 11445, approximately 4 1/2 miles south of the west tip of the Newfound Harbor Keys
We have only personally navigated this route further west to Big Pine Key . The National Deer Refuge, (See photo at left) on Big Pine Key is the only place in the world to see the tiny Key Deer in the wild. Newfoundland Harbor is a popular anchorage on the ocean side of Big Pine Key. (Check your chart for location) I am not going to give detailed information from this spot, because we have not cruised it but you can easily follow the charts to Key West.
VIA BIG SPANISH CHANNEL.....From The ICW, north of Knights Key Channel set your course to approximately 257º and follow the courses on the charts #s 11449, 11445 & 11448 to and through Big Spanish Channel and the open Gulf. Be sure to go all the way to the head marker before turning southwest. (see chart # 11448) Shortly after you turn southwest, watch for the Content Keys. We did not scuba dive this area but we know that many Dive Tours take their divers to the Content Keys when the water in the Atlantic Ocean is too rough. From here on it is hard to tell where you are without referring to the charts or GPS readings because there are so many small mangrove covered Keys that it is hard to tell them apart. After passing the Content Keys, you might want to anchor for a while at Sawyer Key (just past Cudjoe Channel) and explore the area with a dinghy. At the time that we did this, part of Sawyer Key was private and guarded. We were able to swim to the beach of the other section but I don't know what the present situation is. This is as far as we personally have sailed (as stated earlier) so I am not giving further directions to Key West. If you wish to continue PLEASE consult other references.
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