Charley Creek

[Terry]

Date: December 2002

Location: Shown on NOAA Nautical Chart 11430, Charley Creek connects
Pelican Bay to the gulf. It is on the route between Turkey Key and
Darwins Place. Charley Creek runs up to the north side of Pelican Bay then
it turns into an open shallow area (not shown on 11430) before reaching
Gopher Key. The stretch between Pelican Bay and the gulf is a tight mangrove
tunnel. The open area not shown on the chart and connecting to the waterways
leading up to Gopher Key can be confusing to navigate. If you plan to use this
route take some aerial photos with you.

Condition: In 2002 the mangrove tunnel was well trimmed to canoe size. The creek
is deep at any tide but the stretch between Pelican Bay and Gopher Key is shallow
at low tide. This stretch, which is also the harder to navigate part, is passable
at low tide but without an inch to spare. The rest of the route from Gopher Key to
Gopher Key Bay and Gopher Key Creek is all open.
Alan took an Outward Bound group through Charley Creek in December 2008 he
did not comment on any difficulty.

[vivian]

Anyone have new reports to share? I want to do the run from Turkey to Darwins on a morning incoming tide somethime in November.

[Walt]

When are you going in Nov. ?

[vivian]

thinking near T Giving weekend but not sure of date yet.

[Walt]

We're trying to get down there the week ending nov 20. My 10 year old daughter is bugging me to go, so I may have to do a boat trip. I would like to bring the kayaks, and try to get to Gopher key. I would also like to go back into Still Bay.

[vivian]

If you get there before me please post a status on the trail from Turkey Key to Pelican Bay. Can't wait to get back in to that area it is just beautiful.

[Walt]

Tuesday November 16th, we entered Charlie Creek and were able to make it through to Pelican Bay @ high tide. The creek was very tight with many small snags, but nothing impassable.If your going through this creek in a canoe, you probably wouldn't want to do it @ (peak) high tide. The current flowing through this creek was pretty strong, and added some challenge . The skeeters were another challenge.

This was a really nice paddle, the bird life in Pelican Bay made it worth the trouble.

[vivian]

Thanks Walt! The information on Johnny Molloy's book describes the creek being very tight in some areas similar to your last picture. I was looking at going through on incoming tide unfortunately next weeks tides are all wrong for that trip. Will have to try it again another time. BTW...any fishing reports????

[Walt]

We really didn't do alot of fishing. I had some newbies with me on this trip, and we spent most of the time sight seeing. We caught alot of Lady Fish and a few Trout. We did manage to catch a 5' Blacktip while fishing from the Kayaks.