Great info and presented perfectly! Knowing how to read the water is invaluble. Many boaters with twins and triple motors have no business in the back country. We ran our 1968 22.2 cc Aquasport for 35 years mainly in the Naples and Ft. Myers Beach area. We trailered every year to Big Pine and Little Touch. Many boaters would follow us thru shallow areas and they usually got hung up. We could run in about 10" of water easily. Being flat, we would be up and on plane in about 4' or less! Thanks for sharing your knowledge for all to see.
@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.
Try using the navonics relief shading and overlay your tide chart. It shows tidal creeks and any bottom structure it’s very accurate and has helps me back there a lot. Great video!
Great info! Thanks for this. What would be the best way to find & hire a Backcountry captain? My dad and I are heading to the Keys soon and that may be the way to go
@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!
We always called them Bubba markers, lol- Soft bottom is better than hitting the rocks in the contents. Big Pine Channel is another one, I've pulled quite a few boats out over the years.
@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!
Hey! Great video! I recently got a boat(scarab jet boat 12” draft) and live on Upper Sugarloaf. I put in at our ramp going straight into Bow Channel. I’m not comfortable with navigating the back country yet, so once I go through that small channel with the bubba stakes… could I head straight up to Johnston Channel to the gulf and shoot down to Snipes that way?
@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.
I do a poker run every year down there and the bully stakes heading to Marvin’s are always tricky for me. After all the boats have ran through the water is so churned up I can’t tell which side to pass by. 😅
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 :-)
I’m coming down in a couple weeks and I’m thinking of bringing my boat. My only worry is that is seems like everyone has boats with outboard engines and mine is a 18ft bow rider with a inboard. Minimum draft is 1 and half foot and max is 3.5 ft. If I take my time and put around for the most part do you think it would be ok. I’ll be staying at that KOA there in sugar loaf key. Nice video also :)
@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.
That was an Excellent Review! May I ask if you could do a video on getting from Pine Channel (between Torch Key and Big Pine Key) to the Gulf? I fish and explore a fair bit of water from Canada to the Keys but just don’t have the guts to run Pine Channel to the Gulf until I know exactly where the slots are and what the minimum water at low tide will be. I guess I could wait and follow someone but frankly I don’t trust someone just because they are running a pass. Thank You. Be well.
@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.
By the way great content and thank you for your time and caring, *GOD* bless you. MOST HAVE NO CLUE about that, and worse put trust in the go/v to keep it up dated and safe. and santa has flying reindeer.
We are looking to buy a home-on upper sugarloaf. It has a dock that goes out into Bow channel. Can you get from Bow channel to the atlantic via kemp channel with like a 30=35 foot boat with twin engines?
@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.
Hi, do you have any insight in getting to the Content Keys from 7 mile/Bahia Honda? We'll be in Key Colony Beach in August and want to go to the Content Keys. Our boat is a hybrid bay that draws 19". I see markers in Big Spanish Channel that appear to take you up to the deeper Gulf, which I could take over to the Content Keys. Have you been over that way before?
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.
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.
Hey, considering the issue that is happening now with certain near shore fish and skates being disoriented, I've heard the water bloom around Cudjoe could be a possible source of the issue. Wondering if you've seen this or have any thoughts on it.
@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.
Great info and presented perfectly! Knowing how to read the water is invaluble. Many boaters with twins and triple motors have no business in the back country. We ran our 1968 22.2 cc Aquasport for 35 years mainly in the Naples and Ft. Myers Beach area. We trailered every year to Big Pine and Little Touch. Many boaters would follow us thru shallow areas and they usually got hung up. We could run in about 10" of water easily. Being flat, we would be up and on plane in about 4' or less! Thanks for sharing your knowledge for all to see.
@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.
Wow my friend….Very informative video. Just subscribed 👍⚓️
@danlillard5837 Thanks - let us know if there is any specific information you'd like to know about the Keys. Thanks for watching.
Try using the navonics relief shading and overlay your tide chart. It shows tidal creeks and any bottom structure it’s very accurate and has helps me back there a lot. Great video!
Thanks for the tip!! I will definitely try that next time out! Thanks for watching.
With drones being cheap + -- and having 4k cameras, I would have one checking the area ahead of me also.
Definitely!!
Great info! Thanks for this. What would be the best way to find & hire a Backcountry captain? My dad and I are heading to the Keys soon and that may be the way to go
@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!
We always called them Bubba markers, lol- Soft bottom is better than hitting the rocks in the contents. Big Pine Channel is another one, I've pulled quite a few boats out over the years.
Thanks for watching!!
Good info, thanks!
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching.
Great video, we just purchased a home in lower Sugarloaf and want to try going to Marvin Key in our scout 210 Dorado but are afraid
@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!
Great videos brother. Many thanks.
Thanks, and thanks for watching!
I don’t wish bad on anyone, but the guy in the invisible probably needed a grounding really check.
@fairwind8222 He definitely learned a hard lesson. Thanks for watching.
Hey! Great video! I recently got a boat(scarab jet boat 12” draft) and live on Upper Sugarloaf. I put in at our ramp going straight into Bow Channel. I’m not comfortable with navigating the back country yet, so once I go through that small channel with the bubba stakes… could I head straight up to Johnston Channel to the gulf and shoot down to Snipes that way?
@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.
I do a poker run every year down there and the bully stakes heading to Marvin’s are always tricky for me. After all the boats have ran through the water is so churned up I can’t tell which side to pass by. 😅
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 :-)
I’m coming down in a couple weeks and I’m thinking of bringing my boat. My only worry is that is seems like everyone has boats with outboard engines and mine is a 18ft bow rider with a inboard. Minimum draft is 1 and half foot and max is 3.5 ft. If I take my time and put around for the most part do you think it would be ok. I’ll be staying at that KOA there in sugar loaf key. Nice video also :)
@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 😊
That was an Excellent Review!
May I ask if you could do a video on getting from Pine Channel (between Torch Key and Big Pine Key) to the Gulf?
I fish and explore a fair bit of water from Canada to the Keys but just don’t have the guts to run Pine Channel to the Gulf until I know exactly where the slots are and what the minimum water at low tide will be. I guess I could wait and follow someone but frankly I don’t trust someone just because they are running a pass.
Thank You.
Be well.
@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.
By the way great content and thank you for your time and caring, *GOD* bless you. MOST HAVE NO CLUE about that, and worse put trust in the go/v to keep it up dated and safe. and santa has flying reindeer.
We are looking to buy a home-on upper sugarloaf. It has a dock that goes out into Bow channel. Can you get from Bow channel to the atlantic via kemp channel with like a 30=35 foot boat with twin engines?
@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.
Hi, do you have any insight in getting to the Content Keys from 7 mile/Bahia Honda? We'll be in Key Colony Beach in August and want to go to the Content Keys. Our boat is a hybrid bay that draws 19". I see markers in Big Spanish Channel that appear to take you up to the deeper Gulf, which I could take over to the Content Keys. Have you been over that way before?
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.
What if you want to go out early, or stay late, just don't?
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.
Hey, considering the issue that is happening now with certain near shore fish and skates being disoriented, I've heard the water bloom around Cudjoe could be a possible source of the issue. Wondering if you've seen this or have any thoughts on it.
@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.
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Thanks for watching!
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Thanks for watching!