Deep Creek

3/7
Late last night we watched one lit up fishing boat come into the very shallow lagoon we were anchored just outside of. I believe they were bowfishing. Very common for Florida fisherman to bowfish late at night with very bright lights on their boat. Otherwise quiet and chilly, low of 42. This morning was quite foggy until around 8:30a. It did eventually warm up to 79. Saw a few manatees as we departed the Blue Springs area. Cruised 36nm today, anchoring this evening in Deep Creek, just north of Lake Harney. We did go in about a mile or two on Deep Creek before turning around and anchoring back near the entrance from the St. John’s. Another narrow and windy (curvey) waterway surrounded by Cypress trees that’s very serene. And we have our own “watch gator” this evening. (Small gator that decided to come sun and sleep about a boat length away.) Saw plenty more alligators, a few turtles, and the numerous Ibis, Blue Herons, Egrets and a few Limpkins. Had to wait a few minutes for the Lake Monroe railroad bridge to open for us. The St. John’s River southeast of Lake Monroe, until several miles before Deep Creek, can be quite shallow at times, as it goes through many marshy areas. We bumped bottom in one location. Depths of less than 3 feet are common. (I only draft about 14-16” with C-Traveler, but the outboard sits another foot below my hull, trimmed up.) Tomorrow, we’ll attempt to get to and go a ways up on the Econlockhatchee River (Econ for short). Lake Harney can be quite shallow, and tricky to find the south entrance back into the St. John’s River, before getting to the Econ.Read more