Channel Five bridge to Newfound Harbor

In the morning, with the winds blowing 15-20 out of the NE, I picked up anchor from Matecumbe Bight, I decided to save exploring Indian Key for another day, and went out under the Channel Five bridge to run towards home in the lee of the Keys.  I had a day of winds to my aft, and following seas.

Newfound Harbor is my home turf, and I arrived at a low tide, so chose to anchor up for awhile and straighten up the boat a bit.  If you are visiting Newfound Harbour, give the #2 marker a wide berth coming up, and you'll have more water.  There is a deep, well marked channel that parallels the famous Little Palm Island, and then slowly turns to the north.  I often see vessels anchored in that area, but, there are much better anchorages.  There is enough current running along the channel to turn you with the tide.  If you turn to the west at #5, you can follow the deep water around to the adjacent bay that has much less current and seas, and your vessel will tend to lay with the wind.  If you are going to be there a couple of days, my favorite spot to anchor is just south of the little island that is SE of Ramrod Key, around 24 38.155' and 81 24.076' in a little mucky, great holding bottom.

I don't like the holding in Coupon Bight, as there is a then layer of mud/silt over rock, plus, you need to know how to get in there!  Some folks anchor in the deep water off of Picnic Island, but suffer from the wakes of all the passing boats.  Picnic Island 24 38.175' 81 23.665 is a local hang-out.  The island is a great place to play ashore, and there is a sandbar extending to the SW that is a great place to hang out and visit, play volleyball, let the kids romp, etc.  It is also one of the favorite drinking spots, so the clientle changes with the time of day.  Don't try to approach Picnic from the east, approach it from the western channel.