How tricky is the Pass between Key Biscayne and Key Largo on the ICW??

[Sounder]

I am diving my boat down to Key West (From FT. Lauderdale) for Thanksgiving and was studying the maps. A question that came up with the Complexity that exsisted going from Key Biscayne to Key Largo (Florida Bay) on the ICW?? I have all of the Navioncs Chip on my GPS and can follow the little red line but is there anything else I should watch out for???

Sounder

[Glen E]

the route is easy:
straight down the middle of bisc Bay to featherbed cut (N25 31.513 W80 13.580) - no water on either side of this cut!

featherbed to the #8 bouy (N25 24.030 W80 15.350)
from there you're never out of sight of the next bouy right into Key Largo...

[Auburn1]

You need to watch those channel markers near the featherbeds, but my Navionics Gold chart has them dead-nailed. When heading south as you go under Card Sound Bridge keep in mind the channel takes a sort-of-surprise left, so pay attention. Also heading south you'll need to use the Navionics display to find the mouth of Jewfish Creek if you aren't familiar with Card Sound. Its an easy trip, its well marked if your chart is off.

[First Light]

Yea, lots of shallow water in that area, but good info above, plus if you have electronic charts you should have no problems, and the ICW is well marked. One area to be careful of is as you approach Anglefish Creek <- will be to your east/obviously (access to Atlantic) and you will see some of the houses at Ocean Reef Club, the ICW narrows considerably due to converging flats, so as you get into southern Biscayne Bay just be mindful of this.

[Wahzoo]

First Light is right, it you drift to far off ICW in southern part of the bay it's shallow. Bigger boats kick up even right on the line. Depending on your size, there is a draw bridge a Gilberts. Opens on the 1/2 hour or if you can raise the tender. Again, don't know how big your boat is, but there is a Citco just south of Gilberts that has street prices on the water where you can top off, (gas only). PM me if your interested & I'll give directions...


Good Luck & Happy Thanks Giving...