We're new to the sailing scene in FL and are playing around for the next month in the Florida Bay area and would love to get some suggestions on off the beaten path anchorages. We've got a 4 ft draft, lots of time, prefer not to use our motor and don't mind having no ammenities. We'd prefer beautiful, quite, uncrowded places that most people wouldn't visit. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
Low Key Anchorages in Florida Bay
- Thread starter nottoosmart
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Check out this blog about a Compac 16' that did basically what you are suggesting:
http://www.adventurevista.com/Cruising-Florida-2010.php
http://www.adventurevista.com/Cruising-Florida-2010.php
I checked out the website above - that is so cool.
There is another new site that users can add their own anchorages and share them; however, there are a few mis-located marinas, but users can fix them. Check out www.PortsByBoat.com
There is another new site that users can add their own anchorages and share them; however, there are a few mis-located marinas, but users can fix them. Check out www.PortsByBoat.com
Try Cruisers Net
Cruisers Net has anchorages along with a chart and description for all of Fla. Along with marinas, fuel prices, bridge clearances etc. Lots of good info. there.
Cruisers Net has anchorages along with a chart and description for all of Fla. Along with marinas, fuel prices, bridge clearances etc. Lots of good info. there.
West of the Channel 5 bridge, there are miles of water and hundreds of keys north of the ICW. East of chanel 5 there are 4 sounds and Tarpon basin. Mostly all good water. Use your charts and depthfinder and "go where no one has gone before". For the really adventurous, west of Marathon, on the bay side are whole bunches of keys, but Ii our experience less deep water and more shoals
Florida Bay anchorages
http://dixoncruise.blogspot.com/
It would be good to not motor in FL Bay because of what seems to be millions of crab traps. We were just there in Feb. I talk about places to go/avoid with links in my blog of our trip.
http://dixoncruise.blogspot.com/
Ft Myers South
I asked a sailing club south of our club for help and here is their reply. They did an excellent job.
we just happened to be members of PGSC. We had been keeping our boat at Burnt Store, and kept running into the group from PGSC on a cruise up to Tarpon Springs. We've since moved our boat down to Cape Coral, and did not join for 2010. This year, I am coordinating cruises for CMCS.
For anchorages in our area and destinations South - here's a list of places we've been to:
Fort Myers Beach mooring field at Matanzas Pass - cost is about $13 per night. There is also still plenty of room to anchor further on in the harbor, but this puts one quite a distance from the free dinghy dock that is located directly under the 65' fixed bridge. Pay for your mooring at the Matanzas Inn. You can also get pumped-out at your mooring if need be. If you've never eaten at Doc Ford's - this is a must. If you've never read a Doc Ford novel - it is past time to start.
There are places one can anchor inside the Big Carlos Bridge - SW end of Estero Island - but either you'll be stuck in a strong tidal current, or on the bottom.
New Pass - at the North end of Big Hickory Island - is a not so well know spot for several boats West of the low bridge.
Wiggins Pass - tricky to get into if you draw much water. Be careful to follow the private marks. Once in, take the channel South. At the South end of Water Turkey Bay, go West into a protected little cove. Room for only four or five boats.
Gordon Pass - Naples - has two good options. After entering this clearly marks pass, you can turn left before Green "13", or after Green "21", to anchor amongst some very palatial residences. No venturing ashore here. Option two - head North up to Naples Bay and the Naples City Marina. They now have both slips and moorings. This is a great place because you're within an easy walk to 5th Avenue or Tin City.
Keewaydin Island - from inside Gordon Pass, take the channel South at R "20". This is the inside channel down to Marco, and has plenty of depth for everyone. When you get down to G "33", leave the marked channel, veering down the West channel. This is a great place to anchor, except on weekends, when you'll likely find many little powerboats partying here. I do not recommend heading out into the Gulf from here. Safer to go back to the marked channel, heading either South to Capri Pass or North to Gordon Pass.
Marco Island - the only place we've ever anchored here is Factory Bay. Enter by following the Western shore of Factory Bay, keeping the green marks to your port side.
The Marco River is a great way to head further South. This route gets you around the nasty Cape Romano Shoals. Be very careful as you go under the Collier Avenue Bridge - the marks change from "red right" to "green right"! Just past this bridge there is a R "26" mark that you must KEEP TO YOUR PORT SIDE. Calusa Island Marina in Goodland is a good stopping place.
From the South end of the Marco River, your deeper draft boats may want a high tide to head back out into the Gulf.
Panther Key - plenty of deep anchoring room along the West side of the Island. Good beach area here for getting together.
Everglades City - if you've never been to the Rod & Gun Club, this is a "must see" view an "Old Florida" hunting and fishing resort - complete with pictures of past presidents who visited here.
If your plans are to head even further South, let me know.
I asked a sailing club south of our club for help and here is their reply. They did an excellent job.
we just happened to be members of PGSC. We had been keeping our boat at Burnt Store, and kept running into the group from PGSC on a cruise up to Tarpon Springs. We've since moved our boat down to Cape Coral, and did not join for 2010. This year, I am coordinating cruises for CMCS.
For anchorages in our area and destinations South - here's a list of places we've been to:
Fort Myers Beach mooring field at Matanzas Pass - cost is about $13 per night. There is also still plenty of room to anchor further on in the harbor, but this puts one quite a distance from the free dinghy dock that is located directly under the 65' fixed bridge. Pay for your mooring at the Matanzas Inn. You can also get pumped-out at your mooring if need be. If you've never eaten at Doc Ford's - this is a must. If you've never read a Doc Ford novel - it is past time to start.
There are places one can anchor inside the Big Carlos Bridge - SW end of Estero Island - but either you'll be stuck in a strong tidal current, or on the bottom.
New Pass - at the North end of Big Hickory Island - is a not so well know spot for several boats West of the low bridge.
Wiggins Pass - tricky to get into if you draw much water. Be careful to follow the private marks. Once in, take the channel South. At the South end of Water Turkey Bay, go West into a protected little cove. Room for only four or five boats.
Gordon Pass - Naples - has two good options. After entering this clearly marks pass, you can turn left before Green "13", or after Green "21", to anchor amongst some very palatial residences. No venturing ashore here. Option two - head North up to Naples Bay and the Naples City Marina. They now have both slips and moorings. This is a great place because you're within an easy walk to 5th Avenue or Tin City.
Keewaydin Island - from inside Gordon Pass, take the channel South at R "20". This is the inside channel down to Marco, and has plenty of depth for everyone. When you get down to G "33", leave the marked channel, veering down the West channel. This is a great place to anchor, except on weekends, when you'll likely find many little powerboats partying here. I do not recommend heading out into the Gulf from here. Safer to go back to the marked channel, heading either South to Capri Pass or North to Gordon Pass.
Marco Island - the only place we've ever anchored here is Factory Bay. Enter by following the Western shore of Factory Bay, keeping the green marks to your port side.
The Marco River is a great way to head further South. This route gets you around the nasty Cape Romano Shoals. Be very careful as you go under the Collier Avenue Bridge - the marks change from "red right" to "green right"! Just past this bridge there is a R "26" mark that you must KEEP TO YOUR PORT SIDE. Calusa Island Marina in Goodland is a good stopping place.
From the South end of the Marco River, your deeper draft boats may want a high tide to head back out into the Gulf.
Panther Key - plenty of deep anchoring room along the West side of the Island. Good beach area here for getting together.
Everglades City - if you've never been to the Rod & Gun Club, this is a "must see" view an "Old Florida" hunting and fishing resort - complete with pictures of past presidents who visited here.
If your plans are to head even further South, let me know.
Re: Ft Myers South
Try the anchorage inside "Little Shark River". It is protected and about as "away" as you can be.
Try the anchorage inside "Little Shark River". It is protected and about as "away" as you can be.
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