Navigation Terms and Tricks

[Rob Stevens]

These are a few terms and tricks Allison and I use. I would be curious to hear your terms and tricks. We use these terms when Navigator (Al) is describing course to Compass Boy (Rob).

Mainkey- The couple of large keys such as McLaughlin Key and the key Gopher Key is on that are so big that they might as well be the  main land when viewed from the ocean.

Big Key- obvious but also like all these terms changes with surroundings

Little Key- again obvious, of course except when actually using the term, and then its debatable with the other person in the canoe.

Keylette- very small key where you can see through the mangroves

Keylocita- A key of only one or very few mangroves. When there are about three they are called The Three Sisters, when obviously more than three they are called The Three Sisters and their Cousins.

You Go Girl- Mangrove seedlings anchored and  starting to sprout out in the shallow ocean.  Almost unseen on the Everglades mangrove coast but common in the lower keys.

What Would Be Up North A Granite Rock-  A tree white with bird poop in the distance.

As for tricks we learned a new one this year. We got a sunrise start leaving Broad River on a falling tide. We went out the southern side of the mouth and then headed up toward Highland Beach. We didn't have the water and put our nose in the mud and ate breakfast. We could see wading birds to the north standing on either side of what little channel there was. After breakfast we poked up the north side into the mouth of the Rodger River waiting for the tide to change.  The trick we used was that heading back out without waiting for plenty of water we looked for the wading birds and they lined the channel in what was otherwise still a big expanse of too shallow water.

[Connie Mier]

All good terms, here's another:
Pee Island - a small island with a nice hard sandy spit or a negotiable oyster bar to get out on and plenty of trees to find privacy if needed.

[Rob Stevens]

A new term.

"Not enough water to hide an alligator".  Less water than you would think.

[toofaraway]

Clam Pass - name for your new hot fishing spot.  As in response to "Where'd you get the nice reds?"  Oh, we were up on the inside of Clam Pass.

Snook in the nook, like it says in the book...

big black drum, dumb as they come

keeper sheeper