A low, sandy, and generally wooded area with few distinguishing features, known as The
Everglades, is located in the northern part of Florida Bay. Landing on the beaches of
some parts of this area without the authorization of the Superintendent of the Everglades
National park is prohibited, except in those beaches or keys marked by a sign denoting the
area as being open.
Along this stretch of coast are the Ten Thousand Islands, innumerable small islands and
keys interlaced by a network of rivers and bayous leading to the interior. Small in size,
they are mostly awash at high water and fringed with oyster reefs. With local knowledge,
drafts of 3 to 6 feet can be carried into many of the rivers.
Two routes are available to travel from the Ten Thousand Islands area to Marco Island
and beyond. The Inland Passage is reached at the head of Gullivan Bay at Coon Key where
a 22-foot flashing light marks its entrance. From the light, head north up the east side
of Coon Key to pick up Marker "2" on the west side of Tripod Key and thence through well
marked Coon Key Pass to the village of Goodland. The route here is lean in spots, usually
four to five feet, with several three-foot spots that are charted. Vessels drawing
3½ to 4 feet report no problems, but it is a judgment call.
To reach Marco Island from Everglades City or farther south, you must pass outside the
shoals of Cape Romano and well offshore of the Cape itself. Marker "R16", south of the
Cape, is difficult to see. Your course should take you south of it if coming from the
east, and west of it if coming from the south. It is also a good standoff waypoint if
using Loran. If using radar, the Cape will be prominently displayed as you lay offshore
to avoid it, the shoals extending out from Big Marco Pass and the southern end of the
island. Capri Pass is about one mile due east of B.W. marker "CP" and is well marked.
Do not use Big Marco Pass. The ICW may be entered just inside Capri Pass, where you go
left to continue north on the ICW or right to reach the facilities at Marco Island.
Cape Romano is the southern end of a large island 78 miles north of Key West. Here the
coast changes its trend from NW by W to NNW. North of Cape Romano deep water approaches
the coast much more closely than it does south of the Cape, and the coast is quite
regular in outline although broken by many small outlets.
Cape Romano Shoals, extending 10 miles south from the Cape, are a series of irregular
patches that bare in place near the shore and have depth of 1 to 20 feet over them farther
off. Mariners are advised to exercise caution in this area.
Moderate-draft vessels bound up the coast from Key West can lay a straight course from
Northwest Channel to Sanibel Island Light at the entrance to San Carlos Bay, a distance
of 118 miles from Key West.
Gullivan Bay is between Cape Romano and the islands to the east. At the head of the bay is
Coon Key which marks the southern approach to Goodland, Big Marco River, and also the route
to west to Caxambas Bay. The approach from SE is marked by Coon Key Light, 22 feet above the
water and shown from a triangular slotted structure on piles with a red and white
diamond-shaped daymark. As Coon Key is neared, the land becomes visible, but the Key
stands well above everything in the vicinity. When nearly up to the key, the entrance
to Big Marco River is seen to the east as a narrow gap between the more distant keys.
The mean range of tide is 2.6 feet at Coon Key.
Caxambas Pass, 4 miles northwest of Cape Romano, is best navigated with a local guide due to the
narrow twisting channel, which is unmarked. Small craft should use extreme caution in the
vicinity of the pass because of an unmarked row of piles mostly submerged.
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| Gulf Coast Regions |
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| The Everglades |
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