Spring 2013 FL Chapter Aquasport Gathering

[Circle Hooked]

Well I guess that will make it easier to navigate through cause you can see them, unlike the rocks or say the manatees if they start sounding on ya.

[CLM65]

A Crystal River getaway!  Cool!

Sorry I didn't see this thread until now.  Let me weigh in on a few things:

1.  Navigation in the Crystal River is not difficult.  There are no rocks to contend with in the main part of the river or in the bay (King's Bay).  Where you need to worry about rocks and oyster bars is at the mouth of the river and outside the channel once you enter the gulf.  But if you stay in the channel, you will be fine.
2.  Common places to raft up are the shallows, which are about a hundred yards or so west of the plantation, the main spring, which is about a hundred yards or so southwest of the plantation, and shell island, which is at the mouth of the river.  
3.  Everyone should also plan on spending some time at 3 Sisters Spring (beautiful crystal clear (and cold) water).  Only problem is that boat space is limited.  Probably want to do this before the weekend, and may want to "boatpool".  Also, there is a fairly low fixed bridge on the way to this spring, so depending on tides, boats with T-tops may have a problem.
4.  There are a couple of islands at the mouth of the river that are frequently used as camping sites (tents), if anyone wants to rough it.

If there is anything you want to know or need me to do, let me know.  This is where I call home (at least for now).

Craig

[RickK]

A Crystal River getaway!  Cool!

Sorry I didn't see this thread until now.  Let me weigh in on a few things:

1.  Navigation in the Crystal River is not difficult.  There are no rocks to contend with in the main part of the river or in the bay (King's Bay).  Where you need to worry about rocks and oyster bars is at the mouth of the river and outside the channel once you enter the gulf.  But if you stay in the channel, you will be fine.
2.  Common places to raft up are the shallows, which are about a hundred yards or so west of the plantation, the main spring, which is about a hundred yards or so southwest of the plantation, and shell island, which is at the mouth of the river.  
3.  Everyone should also plan on spending some time at 3 Sisters Spring (beautiful crystal clear (and cold) water).  Only problem is that boat space is limited.  Probably want to do this before the weekend, and may want to "boatpool".  Also, there is a fairly low fixed bridge on the way to this spring, so depending on tides, boats with T-tops may have a problem.
4.  There are a couple of islands at the mouth of the river that are frequently used as camping sites (tents), if anyone wants to rough it.

If there is anything you want to know or need me to do, let me know.  This is where I call home (at least for now).

Craig

Hi Craig,
How is the depth around Kings bay, like behind buzzard island and toward Banana Island?  Looks like a good place to raft up.  Maybe even behind Banana, there's a cove.  Is there usually a breeze in that bay?
Where is 3 Sisters Spring - have a Google Earth Capture to show us? I only see one bridge crossing and that's around Coon Gap - in that area?

[RickK]

Time-wise, from Sarasota would it be better to go up I-75 to 44 and head west or go up 275 and then take 589 to 19?

Edit: Measured it with Google Earth and it seems to be 15 miles closer via 275/589.  Now it comes up to time. Is 589 a city road, lots of lights, etc?

[fitz73222]

Sooo...

Are we pulling the pin on Chrystal River?

[CLM65]

Rick,

I'm having a little trouble editing a google map.  I will try my best with just words....

The depth around Kings Bay is generally 3'-7', except through some of the narrow passes between islands and close to shore.  Hard to say on the breeze in the spring.  We get some breezy days, as well as some that are dead calm.  I'd say more are breezy though.

The area to the west of Buzzard Island has good depth, but may not be the best place to raft up, especially if people want to float in the water.  That cove just south of Banana Island is the main spring - it is roped off, but you can raft up outside the barrier.  Not a bad location, especially if people want to dive the main spring.  Just north of Banana Island is another island with what looks like a sandy beach on the west side.  That area is called the shallows and is the most popular socializing spot in the CR area.  If you travel a short distance past the lower right corner of your google picture on page 2 you will find the Plantation Inn.

3 Sisters Spring is off the right side of your picture.  If you head south from Pete's Pier you would turn into the first canal on your left.  The bridge is where the "Y" is in "SW Kings Bay Dr" steet name on the map.

I think 275/589 is the better route from Sarasota.  589 is a toll road - no lights, but 2 tolls that you need to slow down for, and 3 that have the high speed bypasses for Sunpass.  589 dumps out on 98, and you have normal roads from there.  But not too bad - nothing like traffic in a big city.

Hope this helps.  Let me know if I've thoroughly confused you now.

Craig

[CLM65]

Not to get it closer to my place, but have you considered the Bayport Inn?  And the Bayport ramp?  22 miles S, excellent ramp, excellent Inn, excellent food, no rocks, out to the gulf MUCH quicker, nd still within reach of the northern brethren, as it's just another 20 miles.


Plus, we have all the good stuff close at hand...    

http://www.bayportinnrestaurant.com/history.htm

Bob,

Do you eat at the resturant at the Bayport Inn often?  My sister-in-law and neice both work there.  You aren't the guy that leaves bad tips, are you? just kidding!

Craig

[RickK]

Here's some help - what I do is get the area to be captured in Google Earth just the way I want it and then press "alt and print scrn".  That gets it in memory and then I open paintbrush and then right-click and paste.
From there you select the area you want to show in your topic and click "crop" and it selects that area and gets rid of the other areas.  Then save it and upload it to CAS or your photobucket acct.  Then follow the topic posted at the top of each forum on how to post in your topics.

So here is the area SE of Petes


The area showing the shallows


The roped off area S of Banana

[RickK]

Sooo...

Are we pulling the pin on Chrystal River?

Is that like pulling the trigger on something?  Sounds much more dramatic though.

I am looking for places to camp right now, we show up 1-2 days early and kick back.  We can hold the gathering anywhere in here on Saturday.

I think we've narrowed it down to Crystal river though.  

[CLM65]

Thanks for the tips Rick.  I edited one of your pics to show where 3 Sisters Spring is located.  The text isn't very clear, but it is the red text towards the bottom of the photo.




If you want to camp on land, the only place I can think of is the mouth of the river.  There are two islands that frequently have campers.  If you are just planning to sleep on the boat, you have many more options.

[RickK]

Sorry, when I say camping, I mean on our Explorers - will be a few there early - possibly 4 that I can think of, plus whoever else decides to join in the party. So we need a place to drop a hook that has a good breeze preferably, in an out of the way place.

[CLM65]

OK, gotcha.  You can pretty much pick your spot in the bay.  The shallows might be good, or maybe west of Banana Island.  Those spots are pretty secluded from houses, so you won't need to worry about volume too much.

[CH Jr]

Just curious in where in that area is freshwater?

[Capt. Bob]

I'm betting it's all fresh until you hit the Gulf and then some.

[wingtime]

It's all spring fed fresh water that is crystal clear and averages 72 degrees year round.  I'm sure it is brackish at some point and then salt depending on the tides etc.