Anyone have ideas on sailing around the barrier islands from Charlotte Harbor? We are headed down there the second week of February. We have a week and are looking at Cayo Costa, for a night or two, and then maybe down to Ft. Myers. Any favorite spots, and fishing advice would be great!
Punta Gorda, Charlotte Harbor
- Thread starter Drich
- Start date
What is the draft of the boat you are sailing? When a cold front blows through the water can become very skinny or low to move in and out of the good places.
Don Pedro park on the ICW.
Boca Grand marina pricey but you can visit the shops and stuff (a ladies favorite). Pelican Bay on Cayo Costa is my favorite anchorage. You can get ice at the store but not much else. You must be self contained. 7 miles of pristine beach and few people.
Anchor off Ding Darling on Sanibel and dinghy in to tour the park.
South Seas resort at Red Fish Passis pricey but upscale resort. Bring you own food to cook on the gas grills and save $$.
St James City for rustic bars for burgers.
Anchor off Gilcrist Park in Punta Gorda and dinghy in to the free dock. Restaurants West MArine grocery etc.
Forgot Burnt Store Marina. Like all of the marinas in season $$$. Nice restaurant and a pool to use is interested.
I draw 4 foot and have no problems. Water is skinny in places but charts are
fairly accurate.
Bimini Basin is nice as is the city docks at Ft Meyers. Ft Meyers beach has mooring balls, shower room, trash dump, free dinghy dock and a ton of bars and Tshirt shops.
Boca Grand marina pricey but you can visit the shops and stuff (a ladies favorite). Pelican Bay on Cayo Costa is my favorite anchorage. You can get ice at the store but not much else. You must be self contained. 7 miles of pristine beach and few people.
Anchor off Ding Darling on Sanibel and dinghy in to tour the park.
South Seas resort at Red Fish Passis pricey but upscale resort. Bring you own food to cook on the gas grills and save $$.
St James City for rustic bars for burgers.
Anchor off Gilcrist Park in Punta Gorda and dinghy in to the free dock. Restaurants West MArine grocery etc.
Forgot Burnt Store Marina. Like all of the marinas in season $$$. Nice restaurant and a pool to use is interested.
I draw 4 foot and have no problems. Water is skinny in places but charts are
fairly accurate.
Bimini Basin is nice as is the city docks at Ft Meyers. Ft Meyers beach has mooring balls, shower room, trash dump, free dinghy dock and a ton of bars and Tshirt shops.
Like Mark said, watch the weather and your draft. You are most likely going to want to keep your board up or partially up. Very skinny outside the ICW. I draw four feet and have touched on occasion. Where to go: Definitely stop at Cabbage Key for a great meal and the island is great to explore. If you want to put in for a while you can't go wrong with 'Tween Waters on Captiva Island. Keep your board up going in. Also, if you plan on taking the ICW south to Fort Myers, get some local knowledge about the 'miserable mile'. Light tackle inshore fishing is fantastic and you might hook up with a tarpon although not really the season. I'm envious. Have a great time.
Lots of good info guys! Sounds like the week is going to be full! Time to start the itinerary. Still need fishing advice. Hope to have some success with my limited knowledge and experience.
What the others said and I have anchorages and other info in my 3 trip reports to that area and further (see trips 5,6 and 7)...
http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor-trips-1/macgregor-trips-1-index.html
Sumner
======================================================
1300 miles to The Bahamas and Back in the Mac...
Endeavour 37 Mods...
MacGregor 26-S Mods...http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/endeavour-main/endeavour-index.html
Mac Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida, Bahamas
http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor-trips-1/macgregor-trips-1-index.html
Sumner
======================================================
1300 miles to The Bahamas and Back in the Mac...
Endeavour 37 Mods...
MacGregor 26-S Mods...http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/endeavour-main/endeavour-index.html
Mac Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida, Bahamas
I'm not a fisherman but we always see a lot of boats anchored and fishing in the Boca Grand pass area. I believe it is a good Tarpon area. 26.42.736N 082.15.407W area. Like Salim mentioned Pelican Bay (Cayo Costa) is very popular for anchoring. Sounds crazy but the deep water going in is 20 yds off the beach.
The green flash (captiva) has excellent food, and some interesting things in the mens and ladies rest room. - not going to tell, but you'll LOL when you see it.
'tween waters on captiva has crab races on Fri (IIRC). also a great pool. -its also the most popular place with the younger crowd.
bubble room is great for dessert. muck duck for sunsets. (captia).
1+ on skinny water.
that time of year, plenty of porpoise and birds, and few bugs. although we have been getting an unusual amount of rain.
'tween waters on captiva has crab races on Fri (IIRC). also a great pool. -its also the most popular place with the younger crowd.
bubble room is great for dessert. muck duck for sunsets. (captia).
1+ on skinny water.
that time of year, plenty of porpoise and birds, and few bugs. although we have been getting an unusual amount of rain.
