Shoaling in Angelfish Creek?

[pete33458]

JAM wrote in in another thread (Anyone Crossing the Gulf Stream in March?)

We thought we could cross over at Anglefish but there seem to have been some shoaling and the ranger advised against it, so we went on to Channel 5 instead.

Does anyone know anything about this? I'm planning on going through there (Angelfish) next Thursday. thanks, Pete

[GordMay]

Angelfish has always been problematic for keelboats.

“... We re-sounded the Angelfish channel in November of 2004, and discovered some 5-foot MLW depths near this cut's Hawk Channel side entrance, hard by flashing daybeacon #2 and unlighted daybeacon #1. That was upsetting enough, but then we heard by way of a professional captain that he had dinged props in March transiting the Hawk Channel side of Angelfish Creek, while piloting a vessel drawing a mere 4 ½ feet ...”

More here:
Watermark Publishing - Sailing Boating Boat Cruising Nautical Sail

[Captain Bill]

I went through angelfish creek in Jan. 08 at about mid-tide and saw less than 6 feet at the hawks channel side. I only draw 4 so it wasn't a major problem. If you draw 5 feet or more I would only go through at high tide.

[pete33458]

Just to clarify, I go through there regularly (every 6-8 weeks), and I have a 5' draft. I'm just wondering about the source and accuracy of this recent post, since I am going through again next week. I can't imagine who this "ranger" might be. pete

[GordMay]

There used to be a "Ranger" that forwarded SW weather reports on VHF, in of the Bahamas (Nasau). Perhaps ... ?

[pete33458]

Just in case anyone else is interested, I came went through Friday about half-tide, and this morning about 30 minutes before the low. Lowest reading I had (near #2) was about 5.4' Pete

[amarinesurveyor]

That sounds about the same as it was 20 years ago. We would leave from there in various boats drawing from 5 to 6 feet; with 5' draft the tide was not much concern, but with 6' draft we would try to go out close to high tide. It sounds about the same now.
Brian

[dawnconn]

I was bumping the bottom there drawing 4'8" on 9/11/01

[nautical62]

Originally Posted by pete33458

Just in case anyone else is interested, I came went through Friday about half-tide, and this morning about 30 minutes before the low. Lowest reading I had (near #2) was about 5.4' Pete

Thank you for the recent and first hand information.