Sailing from Key Largo to Key West

I think most of the guys are talking about the glades (Mosquitos), I've never been there and have no plans to go there ever. We have a house in key west and contrary to popular belief they don't roll up the streets in the summer and leave. We split our time between Sarasota and key west thru the summer, and I have never been bitten by a mosquito since moving to Florida in 2007 THAT is amazing, we used to spend most summers in northern Wisconsin and Michigan, where the Mosquitos pick you up and carry you away. We try to get down there once every month or two (we are divers) for a week or so, we always take the TI along. First off we don't tent camp at all now, I understand, and we don't fish (except spear fishing which is pretty restricted down there so know the rules). What works out the best for us is to stop at resorts yes, it is becoming clearer along the way then day sail from there (they all have launches and beaches), spend a day or so then move a little further down and repeat. We like the Hilton in key largo, and fiesta key in Islamorada (they have off shore mooring balls). We also have a big camper and have stayed at the KOA, and blue water resort (at around mm 14), and Bahia Honda. The guys are right, there are many areas too shallow to pass thru where you have to go way out of your way to get around (not worth it) and there are several long stretches of nothingness (around 7 mile bridge) that are just not worth trying to traverse by boat. The daily storms are usually in June but they only last an hr or so, in sept it is going to be in the 90's every day and very sunny typically but don't count on a lot of wind (typical is around 5-7 mph) that time of year. Of course all bets are off with any storms within 500 miles. Sometimes we get nice trade winds off key west (steady 15mph from the west) which are nice. Always, always try to camp where there is a nice breeze.
The waters off shore around key west can be very dangerous, don't venture too far without local knowledge especially with a TI, where you can go out and never be able to get back (currents are 5-6 mph). West of key west there are many shallow coral humps that will eat your rudder ( much of that area is too shallow (kind of like florida bay).
We usually launch near Higgs beach (there is a concrete ramp next to the Vietnam memorial, free parking in their parking lot.
Hope this helps
Bob

I think most of the guys are talking about the glades (Mosquitos), I've never been there and have no plans to go there ever. ...we used to spend most summers in northern Wisconsin and Michigan, where the Mosquitos pick you up and carry you away.

Keith - I have heard that sound you described on Helen Key in August!

The islands are so different from winter to summer. Low tides seem MUCH lower. When we pulled up in the kayak in August, we thought the ground was moving and there was this loud, unnerving rustling sound. Turned out the entire ground on Helen Key was covered in tiny little crabs. We finally got used to them crawling on everything and paid them no mind. Those are fiddler crabs and are on most island shores to varying degrees. They like the muddier shorelines, especially where the mud meets the sand.

The scariest though were the afternoon thunderstorms with lightning all around and waterspouts in the bay. Dangerous for sure. We once had a water spout come ashore about 6 am. Passed right over us. Some of the kayaks nearest the shoreline got rolled. After that, everyone was adding more guy lines to their tents.

I like going in the winter and the summer, just two different experiences. Our 2 different experiences are FL in the cooler months and out west during the FL warm months. The west is spectacularly beautiful and a nice change of scenery.