Storm Shoaling?

[Benny17441]

We are moving a Hunter 320 from key Byscaine to Tampa Bay. We have chosen the week of November 1st, weather permitting. We are making it a leisurely trip with stops at Marathon, Naples and would like to go into the Pine Island Sound. The question is to local sailors is; have the inlets been affected by storm shoaling specially "red fish pass" and "captiva pass"? Is there adequate water depth in the interior to reac the "ICW". We plan to exit back out at Boca Grande and on into Egmont Key and Apollo Beach at Tampa Bay. Thanks.

 

[Jerry Clark H356 SV Persistence]

Pine Island Sound

I spoke with Chris Rogiers at Yachting Vacations out of Burnt Store. He said the Pine Island Sound was OK. We're chartering out of there in mid Nov. I didn't ask about Red Fish or Captiva Pass. From aerial photos I've seen that area looks very unsettled but the ICW depth is supposed to be OK. I'd like to know what you find. Have a nice trip!

 

[siggib]

sarasota

since you try to make it in one step from Boca Grande to Egmont this won't be an issue. But if your schedule changes stay away from sarasota. Maybe you cut short and use Lonboat Pass to Skyway Bridge. Have funsiggi

 

[Bill Bell]

Local Knowledge

Benny, Captiva Pass was never a choice for anything except small power boats. Captiva got hit pretty hard. In fact, after the hurricane, there was a new Captiva Pass cutting North Captiva into NN Captiva and NS Captiva.Pine Island Sound and Charlotte Harbor seem to be okay. There is a lot a debris out there somewhere, but don't have any hazardous spots to watch.We took our boat to St Pete via the ICW a month after Charley and had no problems at all.Bill Bell