Just west of the Florida Key’s Inside Route’s intersection with Channel Five, one of the most important transition routes from Hawk Channel to the Inside Route (or the other way around), cruisers’ can visit the Fiesta Key – KOA Campground Marina. This is a small, quite place, with a stone breakwater enclosed harbor. Don’t look for major restocking facilities around here, but otherwise, Captain Dalton is quite right about it being a good place to “hang out for a few days.”

We have stayed here several times. Always enjoy the friendly staff and lovely surroundings. Spent much of our visit 3 years ago, watching a 300+ lb sea turtle in the inlet to the marina. He came and went at his leisure on a daily basis, as did my husband and myself. A cool place to hang out for a few days or weeks away from the cold weather in Virginia.
Dot Dalton

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Florida Keys Marina Directory Listing For Fiesta Key/KOA Marina

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Fiesta Key/KOA Marina

Another GREAT article by our very special Florida Keys correspondent, Captain Charmaine Smith Ladd. And, in this missive, Captain Charmaine is asking for input from fellow Florida Keys Cruisers. Please read on, and if you have any knowledge of the channel across Channel Key Pass, please click the “Comment on This Posting/Marina/Anchorage/Bridge” link below, and share your information.

May 11, 2011
Channel Key Pass (ICW through Channel Key Banks) – Navigational Conundrum
N 24 48.768 W 80 54.708 (Green #5 & #7 and Red #8)
by Charmaine Smith Ladd

The weather in the Keys has been in the high 80s. Not a bad thing when there is wind to blow off the waters and keep one comfortable while aboard. A few weeks ago, looking at the extended forecast it became apparent the wind would be saying goodbye for a while. That’s the time when flags which otherwise fly proudly become as limp as last week’s wilted flowers. Hardly a breath of wind to lift anything. Marinas and Harbors can get quite stifling during such times, unless one has the option and decides to run air conditioning.

September Sea has that option. But instead of closing the boat up and turning on the central air, we find it much more adventurous to leave the confines of marinas and Harbors and head offshore in search of cooler days and nights. Most probably wouldn’t think it…but it’s a great time to take off for adventure even when the seas are calm and the breeze is gone.

Florida Bay was our choice this time, as it would be calmer waters for anchoring in the event any weather happened to surface. Gorgeous waters say hello to coolness! There seems to always be air out here in the Bay, even if it means going five to ten or more miles offshore. It is worth it. Not only for cooling off, but how one can cool off is what is so wonderful about getting away: the farther one goes the more one gains with total privacy, solitude, and no irritations. LOL

We’ve been out and about for over three weeks and loving it. When we departed Boot Key Harbor (Marathon), we took the Atlantic side and sailed on the last day of wind before the calm…and it was a glorious sail. There’s nothing quite like the sound of movement along the water and not spending a dime on fuel. It’s as Green as it gets! At Channel Five we crossed over into Florida Bay. Glorious backwater areas!

We recently had to pick up some supplies so we headed back towards Marathon. We normally don’t take the Bayside route as we draw 5’8. The waters of Florida Bay average 7-9 feet, mostly 7-8 this far inshore, whereas traversing the Atlantic one doesn’t have to constantly watch the depth sounder. But we decided to do it, as it was new territory for us between Channel Five and Seven Mile Bridge, via the Bay. When charting our course, we came across an unusual navigational aid configuration along the ICW at Channel Key Pass:

Look at the included chartlet as if your boat draws 5’8. All depths on the chart are optimal, as the tide does not fluctuate feet but only inches in Florida Bay. How would you have plotted your course in this scenario? I’d like to get some of your comments as this is an ICW Route and many of you have probably been here. I’m sure there are other areas along the ICW that are just as confusing. But this one really makes little sense to me.

What do you make of it and how would you have handled it? You can see my track (in black) through the Pass (channel markers) but after doing so and finding my keel within a very few inches of touching bottom; in hindsight perhaps I should have gone with my first inclination: going outside the red marker and navigating the 7 ft. waters to its starboard. But then again, imagine making this choice at night. That would be scary to come up to two lit channel markers and decide to go around them instead of between them!

This just goes to show how one must be alert at all times. Even after plotting my course, I had no idea what those markers would actually look like when approached. The view from the water actually looked more confusing than the chart… as the chart is correct and the markers are exactly where indicated. The markers are not directly across from each other but create more of an “S” curve as you pass through. Navigating the “S” curve brought September Sea precariously close to the shoal on port (Green #7). Perhaps I should have gone outside Red #8, as the chart shows the water consistently deeper there. I did watch a sailboat do just that about an hour later, long after we had passed through.

There must be some history of these channel markers. Perhaps it was for fishing boats to easily navigate between the two shoals. But if that were the case, then why such a narrow opening and “S” curve rather than moving the red marker closer to the northernmost shoal and creating a much wider and easier to navigate passage? Anyone out there have an idea of why this is set up in such a confusing manner? This writer would love to read what you think.

In the meantime, we aboard September Sea will be cool and comfy offshore. Of course I had to time this article while in internet range, so at this moment we are much much closer to shore than we prefer (well, I did need to get those supplies too, so it’s all good). It is so different near shore…very, very warm day! As soon as I click “Send” we’ll weigh anchor and be underway offshore again. Coolness, here we come!

Charmaine Smith Ladd
SSECN Special Correspondent, Florida Keys
“Bringing you the low down from down low!”
http://www.SeptemberSea.com

We have been through Channel Key Pass a number of times, most recently about a week ago. I agree that the position of the marks looks pretty strange, but we always follow them, and we have not seen anything less than about 6.5 feet.
Unless I have specific knowledge I always follow the marks rather than the chart or the purple line. The soundings were taken many years ago and rarely get updated. The marks may have been moved since the chart was created.
Our boat needs somewhere between 5.2 and 5.4 feet to avoid fraternizing with the bottom, depending on how much water, fuel, and beer are on board. We made it from Marathon to Miami and back within the last few weeks. Channel Key Pass was one of the easy places for us. The skinniest water was found in two places. The worst was near Isla Morada, between marks 80 and 86. We could not find anything more than about 5.6 feet, even though the tide was up and the wind was light. The other place was at mark 50, just north of Grouper Creek. We were not much more than a boat length from the red mark when the alarm suddenly went off. A quick jog even closer to the mark quickly restored about 9 feet of water. We have been through there before without incident. I don’t know if there is shoaling or if we were simply a few feet closer to the existing shallows.
Gene Fuller
Punta Gorda
Yorkshire Rose, Catalina 42

According to the USCG out of Marathon, the vertical clearance in Moser Channel of the Seven Mile Bridge is 65 feet.

Is the 7 mile bridge clearance 63′ 0r 65″ as my chart shows? Please verify & thank you. Our Lord’s Blessings & Fair Winds
Ed & Bonnie aboard Almost Heaven

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Florida Keys Bridge Directory Listing For Seven Mile Bridge

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Seven Mile Bridge

This anchorage lies off the inside/ICW route,  just west of  Channel Five. We note that Captain Ron says other guide books suggest dropping the hook in Jewfish Hole (just to the west).  Follow the link below to these water’s listing in our “Florida Keys Anchorage Directory,” and you will see that we have chosen a slightly different position, where cruisers will be partially sheltered by a shoal just to the east. Note either of these anchor down spots are fair weather only anchorages.

The “desired” anchorage according to the guides is Jewfish Hole. Heavy grass/weed bottom. Only a heavy plow has a chance to dig in. Danforth type anchors just skid along the bottom for a good chunk of “salad fixins.” I would not anchor here in any sort of blow as your holding will always be tentative. The only positive is that there is a campground there with ice, fuel and a quik mart.
Ron

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Florida Key Anchorage Directory Listing For Jewfish Bush Banks Anchorage

Another great article from our regular Florida Keys correspondent, Charmaine Smith Ladd. Who knew this small facility had so much to offer?

May 6th, 2009
Fiesta Key Marina, RV Park & Campground
MM 70, Long Key
Florida Keys
24° 51.061 N  80° 47.749W
by Charmaine Smith Ladd
On Long Key, amidst 28 acres of lush tropical trees and foliage, is a little known place (formerly a KOA Campground) called Fiesta Key.  You would think yourself in the Bahamas as you look around at the quaint, brightly colored island setting with the laid-back charm.
Touting a small marina (jet ski rentals too) and ship’s store, an Olympic-sized fresh-water swimming pool, hot tubs, motel rooms, waterfront bar and grill, internet access, two complete laundry facilities and much, much more, Fiesta Key is a great place to go for a not-so-far-away getaway. 
The marina is for very small boats only.  However, immediately west of Fiesta Key, one can anchor at semi-protected Jewfish Hole.  A fair-weather anchorage in the winter, Jewfish Hole offers good year-round protection from the East and Northeast (via the shallows outlining Fiesta Key).
The good folks at Fiesta Key are quite hospitable.  They were so nice to us as they allowed us to dispose of our trash, gave us access to potable water, and were extremely gracious in every way.  Our dinner there was very reasonably priced, delicious and served with a smile. The people working at Fiesta Key like their jobs and it shows!
Just let them know you’re anchored out and what you need.  Their fees are nominal and their warmth genuine.
Having access to the amenities of Fiesta Key and knowing that its staff is both friendly and helpful sure gives a new twist to the anchoring out experience.  When is the last time you anchored out and were able to get all your laundry done all the while with an ice cold beer in hand and an eye on the Marlins game?  
Fiesta Key is a wonderful escape from the hustle of marina and mooring life to a quiet anchorage with all the anchoring space for as much solitude one could ever want…yet also offers you a taste of the nightlife, dinner out, and all the social minglings if you so desire.  It’s all there for you at Jewfish Hole Anchorage and Fiesta Key Marina, RV Park, and Campground.
Charmaine Smith Ladd, SSECN’s Regional
Correspondent for the Florida Keys,
bringing you “The Low Down from Down Low.”

Click Here To View the Florida Keys Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Fiesta Key Marina