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Greg S · 15-02-2011, 13:02

I'm looking for some up to date depth information on Jewfish Creek and Dusenbury Creek just south of Biscayne Bay, FL. Actually they are either side of Blackwater Sound.

Specifically, will I be able to make it through with my 5 1/2 foot draft?

Greg

**capngeo** · 15-02-2011, 13:20

You should be fine in the channel... might be dicey in some of the "anchorages". I came through about 3 months back with 5'4" and never touched even at low tide

Greg S · 15-02-2011, 16:45

Hey thanks capngeo. We'll give it a try and see what happens.

Greg

hogfighter · 07-11-2013, 03:12

Does anyone have an update on the depth? On ActiveCaptain there's a remark that it's shallower than charted just north of the entrance. I draw 5' and want to go inside the keys. Thanks!

denverd0n · 07-11-2013, 05:41

Best source I have found for current information of this type is here...
Cruiser's Net

pete33458 · 09-11-2013, 10:55

I think you have to take all information with a grain of salt, I've seen some Active Captain info that I KNOW to be wrong. Nothing against Active Captain; it's a great resource, just that some of the information is a bit anecdotal sometimes. Anyway, I believe much of the chart data in this region to be badly out of date, sometimes the water is deeper than charted, of course this is no problem. At Jewfish with 5' draft you should be OK most of the time, maybe even all the time, but to be on the safe side why not avoid low water unless it is above chart datum. pete

Mellowsail · 09-11-2013, 16:54

Jewfish Creek should be fine. If you're going further south down the bayside/inside (intercostal), I'd be weary. I've ran aground/bumped drawing 4' thru some of the cuts heading south.

Mellowsail · 09-11-2013, 16:58

Dusenberry is the same. Plenty deep. If you stray too far to either side of the channel in some places headed south, you could be in for a long day. There's also little to no tide change on the bayside, so when you're stuck, you're stuck.

Huey2 · 09-11-2013, 17:07

My friend sailed his hunter with a 5' draft from Barnes sound on the inside of the keys to Marco Island without touching. He hired Captain George McHugh who holds a 1500 ton license, had lived aboard a sailboat for 12 years & lives in the keys. Never touched bottom. I had hired George for my sailboat a few weeks earlier as I'm not a sailor & was very pleased with him. He would be the person to call for information.

rebel heart · 09-11-2013, 17:11

"jewfish" creek? lol

Huey2 · 09-11-2013, 17:30

No problem going through Jewfish creek! Send me a PM and I give you some phone #'s. They used my paper charts which I still have from 11 months ago. It pays to talk to Captains who live in the keys. One with a 1500 ton ocean license knows his business.

OutOfControl · 09-11-2013, 19:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by rebel heart

"jewfish" creek? lol

At least that was the original name until the PC police changed it to Goliath Grouper.

ps; check out the state record and where it was caught

HopCar · 09-11-2013, 19:21

Jewfish Creek is now a fixed bridge. I don't know how high it is but I think it's pretty high. You might want to check.

Rebel Heart, It's a magnificent fish that can go up to several hundred pounds. The fish was recently renamed Goliath Grouper. They didn't rename the creek. The fish when annoyed can make a loud booming sound. They were almost hunted to extinction here in Florida because they taste good and aren't very afraid of people.
It was made unlawful to kill them and they've made a strong comeback. Not too many years ago a diver in the Florida Keys speared one. While trying to get the fish out of some rocks the fish grabbed him and held him under until he drowned. Score one for the fish.