FL Keys Local Knowledge

L

Laguna Al

Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2004
RO Number
15865
Messages
69
Hi there,
Staying in Islamorada this week. We are thinking about renting a small center console to run around the Bay side tomorrow. Looking for any local information that might be helpful, places to go, 'boat only' beaches, etc. I have the plotter on my computer with all of the charts that I have been studying in addition to a hand help GPS that I was planning plugging some courses into. Anything to look out for and anything that might be helpful (compass headings, beaches, nice places to drop the hook and snorkel, etc.) We will most likely be renting out of Tavernier Creek. We would like to hit the Lor-e-lei for lunch (if it's not out of bounds), as my girlfriend really enjoys it there.
Cheers[:-shades]
 
A nice submerged sandbar to go to is the Holiday Isle sandbar. It is on the "ocean side" of what is officially called Whale Harbor Channel. As you are heading seaward, it is best to anchor on the left side / red side of the channel. This is just off the Holiday Isle Resort. I think about 0.5 to 1 mile out the channel is the best area, if I recall. BTW, they also rent boats there at Holiday Isle.

Have fun.
 
Some pics of the Holiday Isle Channel (Whale Harbor Channel) sandbar.

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The best beach action is at the sand bars as noted. It is also fun to go over to Shell Key or Lingnum Vitae Key on the inside and explore around, you can only get there by boat. Ditto historic Indian Key on the out side from them. Call Lorelei's and they will tell you how to get your boat in there; there is a right way and wrong way. We also enjoyed boating in to the Worldwide Sportsman and eating at the outdoor restaurant there. We anchored out for a few days off Lorelei's and used the Whaler to get around. It was a lot of fun. Ditto grabbing a mooring off the aforementioned Keys.

If you are renting up in Tavernier, make sure they will allow you to roam to these destinations, and get their advice as well.

George
Hatteras 56MY
Boston Whaler 130 Sport
 
Be careful of the shallows, there is alot of grounding in the bay side. Also, be sure to have a divers flag if your going to snorkle or dive, cops there are hairy about that. I sure wish I was there!
 
Sounds like a great time!
Grounding down there is a lot friendlier than grounding up here. Up here the sand's a lot lumpier - and solid. And the bikinis have a lot of wool plaid. Send back some pictures Al!
 
If you visit that bar on a weekend, you are lucky to be able to beach on the bar--VERY CROWDED. BTW The first time I went down with SCUBA was at Islamorada--in 1958 in the channel in front of the big hotel; back then the only structure was a small motel. The area was called Pelican Cay.
 
seabug -

I took those photos on a weekend with perfect weather. It's not always crowded. The biggest crowd is in early May, when they have the bartenders and hospitality convention down there.
 
Thank you for the feedback. Back home up north now. We ended up getting a boat last Saturday as the winds were pretty strong during the week. We rented out of Tavernier and had a nice run down to Whale Harbor...poked around a bit there and ended up anchoring in a small bay on the north side of Whale. Headed out and poked around Wahoo's and then cruised up to Snake Creek and had a drink at the Island Grill. Went back out and cruised back up to tavernier ocean-side. North wind was gusting about 10-12 knots. It was nice and calm on the bay side, ocean-side had about 2-3 footers on our way back inside the reef. All in all we had a wonderful time. We didn't get down to Lor-e-lie, I understand it is only a couple miles past Whale Harbor but it was difficult to find on the chart so we decided to save it for next year.

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Loerlei is at the southern end of Matecumbe Bight, a little east of the channel between the Bight and Little Basin (where World Wide Sportsman is). You were almost there! Glad you had a good time anyway. it's pretty hard not to down there
 
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