First trip to the Florida Keys with your boat? A few tips to protect you and your boat on the water. 

@keithgilliam4973 - thanks for watching and the positive comments. It is so hard for people down here to slow down and use a little caution and they feel pressed for time. I've dragged more boats off of sandbars this year than ever before.

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching.

Thanks, and thanks for watching!

@zacharymiller3184 - yes you can. Just keep an eye out, the channel veers to the left after you pass Johnston Key. On a low wind day its easy to see. Thanks for watching.

Definitely!!

@kevinlynch6799 - next time I run Pine Channel I will record the course on Navionics and make it public - I will share the link to the route here. I have not run it since the last big tropical storm came through and sand bars tend to shift so I don't want to give you anything that might be outdated.

@@lowerkeysliving Running Pine Channel and sharing the route would be absolutely amazing! I too found the two buoys at the north end of Cudjoe Channel missing and the unmarked slot to Cudjoe Basin almost closed and sent notifications to Navionics.

Thanks for watching!

🐬

Thanks for watching!

Thanks for the tip!! I will definitely try that next time out! Thanks for watching.

@ljflo9148 - Do you want to fish or just head out to the sand bars for some fun? If you're coming to the Lower Keys I can recommend a few people. If you're visiting the upper keys (Key Large, Tavernier) I can give you a few places to look at. Thanks for watching.

​@@lowerkeysliving Thanks for the quick response! We are mainly looking to fish . We are heading there next week and haven't decided upper or lower yet but are looking forward to the adventure!

@danlillard5837 Thanks - let us know if there is any specific information you'd like to know about the Keys. Thanks for watching.

@fairwind8222 He definitely learned a hard lesson. Thanks for watching.

Thanks for watching!!

@winstonsmith4003 - Thanks for checking in - I've been on the water everyday the last few weeks both in Cudjoe Bay and Venture Out Bay, plus the gulf side. I have seen no signs of the "spinning fish" syndrome. I was out lobstering in Cudjoe Bay yesterday for several hours and everything look perfectly healthy and normal. Loads of lobster, sea turtles, sharks and rays. It all look healthy to me. The was some of this same thing happening this time last year. With massive rains we are forecast to get tonight and tomorrow maybe whatever is causing the problem will get flushed out. I know people are seeing for Key Biscayne all the way to Key West. The first report I heard about it this year was in Key West about 6 weeks ago. A saw tooth shark in Geiger Key Marina. I was going to do a video on it, but I honestly have not seen it. Thanks for watching.

That is definitely the way to go - just be aware a lot of charts still show channel markers that are no longer around (after Irma and Ian). I've only run out the Bahia Honda Channel once, kept just West of Big Spanish Key, with my 27' center console with a 22 inch draft. Had no problems. If you find a "neighbor" during your visit that has run it before see if you can look at his/her gps track of the route. Good luck, have fun and thanks for watching.

@antoniolopez-uw8nz - Thanks for watching. Stop by the marina on Lower Sugarloaf next to the lodge. Ask them to show you the route to Marvin on a GPS. Or if you're up for it, rent a boat from them. Their GPS units will be loaded with routes to all the great spots. Take along a handheld GPS an record the tracks as you go. That will take the worry out of the trip. Congratulations on the new home!

Thanks for watching, the shallow water gets easily churned up. Try and follow behind someone, but far enough back, so if they get stuck you know to go to the other side of the stakes :-)

@banksjeep - I'll start with that you'll be OK on the Atlantic side. I'm assuming the 1' is with the engine trimmed up all the way. The KOA has a great deep water ramp and sits right on the Bow Channel going out to the Ocean. Just be careful with the Bow rider going into waves. Cudjoe Bay, where KOA is located is between 4 - 5 feet all the way across so plenty of fun in the bay on wavey ocean days. On flat days you can shoot right out to the lighthouse. Does your boat have a fixed Top, or fold down bimini? You can get under the BOW channel bridge right in front of the KOA, but you really need to know the channel going into the back country, but once back there you be OK. I can share some routes with you if you like. Email me at keith@lowerkeysliving.com Thanks for watching.

Awesome I sent ya an email. I also included a picture of my boat I’ll be bringing. Thanks again 😊

We go out before dawn and stay out after dark regularly. I've go routes on my gps devices tracked that I can follow. That said I always go far slower in the dark. Don't want to end up like this group did this morning here: www.flkeysnews.com/news/local/article289841849.html Thanks for watching.

Thanks for watching. I have definitely use my drones to scout some back country areas before I go.

@jaysankey9475 - We looked at the same area a few years ago when we made the move full time. The answer is yes, you can definitely access the Atlantic through the Kemp Channel. We use the Kemp Channel to access Tarpon Belly Key, the Content Keys with our twin engine boat. The tricky part is navigating from the Bow Channel over to the Kemp Channel. I know there are two deeper water options to do this: 1 goes out the Bow Channel into the Gulf, then head over to the Kemp Channel from there. There is a short cut across but I have not done it. If there is a neighbor in the area that know the route run it with them and bring along a navigation unit to record the route. We ultimately decided on a home on Cudjoe Bay on the Atlantic Side of the Bow Channel Bridge. 80% of my boat time is big game fishing so having direct access to the Atlantic was important. We can still access the gulf with our flats boat under the Bow Channel Bridge, or taking the lap around Cudjoe to use the Kemp Channel with the big boat. You'll add a good 30 - 40 minutes each way to access the Atlantic from the Bow Channel. Hope this wasn't too much of a ramble and was somewhat helpful. Thanks for watching.