ICW VS Hawk Channel questions.... need info asap plz

[CapnMikel]

Hi, we are at mile 1095 of the ICW, anchored off of Key Biscayne.
All of my charts are sketchy in the transfer from mainland ICW to Hawks channel.
Is there a cut just south of Key Biscayne to get over to Hawks Channel or do we go back into Miami & out Government cut?
I'd prefer not to go north to go south ;)
we are in my full keel, 35' Chris Craft which drafts 4'8"

Thanks, we plan on heading south in the morning so any help by tonight is greatly appreciated.
I've read where the inside route is shallow; 4.5' draft or less is recommended..
So- we plan to go down Hawks channel to Rodriguez Key anchorage then down to Marathon the following day.

Thanks in advance!! :)

[golfruler]

Do you have a good chart of Biscayne Bay? The two ways to get outside from Key Biscayne would be the channel thru Stiltsville which is just south of Key Biscayne. I haven't been there for years and I don't remember the depths. The second possibility is Caesars Creek which is just south of Elliot Key. That channel can also be tricky as you have to hug the key from the north of the cut. The other problem with this route would be the shoals in the middle of Biscayne Bay. You need a good chart to find the well marked cut in these shoals. It shouldn't take you too long to go back north and go out gov't cut which is the safest route for someone unfamiliar with the bay, however, the routes discussed earlier are popular and easy for locals. If you could follow someone else, it would be easy for you to head south and save time.

[Osiris]

Get some good up to date maps - they are available for free from NOAA website if you have a computer and navigation software. Otherwise get some new "Waterproof Charts" which are compendiums of all the smaller NOAA charts for the selected area.
Biscayne Channel is an easy exit as is the "local knowledge" direct route from Key Biscayne/Noname Harbor out past Florida light to join the Biscayne Channel. Further south down at the bottom of Biscayne Bay is "Angel Fish" creek passage way to the Hawk Channel. They are all well marked on the maps.

[CapnMikel]

Thanks for the quick replies. We found elliot cut & will proceed that way in the morning :)