Matlache Pass Anchorages

36. Givney Key Anchorage
Lat/Lon: near 26 30.750 North/082 03.132 West
Location: found southeast of Givney Key in the charted deep water north-northeast of the Matlache Pass channel’s unlighted daybeacon #3
Minimum Depth: 6-feet, but cruisers are advised to use a GPS chartplotter to enter this anchorage safely!
Swing Room: sufficient swinging room for vessels as large as 32 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: poor, fair weather and light air anchorage only

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37. Pine Island Anchorage
Lat/Lon: 26 37.892 North/082 03.987 West
Location: lies immediately south of the %r 9-foot Pine Island bascule bridge, which itself sits north of Matalache Pass’s unlighted daybeacon #55
Minimum Depth: 6 ½ feet
Swing Room: sufficient swinging room for vessels as large as 34 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: fair, open to southern winds

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Western Florida ICW Anchorages – Mile 0 to Gasparilla Island Causeway

38. Picnic Island Anchorage
Statute Mile 2
Lat/Lon: near 26 29.469 North/082 02.931 West
Location: found off the eastern and northeastern shores of Picnic Island, which itself lies just south, southeast of the ICW/Miserable Mile’s unlighted daybeacon #8
Minimum Depth: 10 feet
Swing Room: sufficient swinging room for vessels as large as 36 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: poor, fair weather and light airs anchorage only

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39. York Island Anchorage
Statute Mile 5
Lat/Lon: near 26 29.038 North/082 05.731 West
Location: will be discovered off the southern shores of York Island, well northwest of the ICW’s flashing daybeacon #13
Minimum Depth: 7-feet
Swing Room: unlimited
Foul Weather Shelter: fair, but wide open to southern, southeastern and southwestern winds

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40. Ding Darling Anchorage
Statute Mile 5.5
Lat/Lon: near 26 27.495 North/082 05.532 West
Location: found on the waters of the mostly deep cove south of flashing daybeacon #16
Minimum Depth: 5 feet
Swing Room: sufficient swinging room for vessels as large as 55 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: fair, open to northern, northeastern and northwestern winds

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41. Chino Island Anchorage
Statute Mile 8
Lat/Lon: near 26 30.086 North/082 07.718 West
Location: lies off the southwestern shores of Chino Island, north, northeast of unlighted daybeacon #24
Minimum Depth: 7 to 9 feet
Swing Room: unlimited
Foul Weather Shelter: fair, but open to southern, western, southwestern and northwestern winds

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42. Roosevelt Channel Anchorage
Statute Mile 13
Lat/Lon: near 26 30.509 North/082 11.204 West
Location: found near unlighted daybeacon #20
Minimum Depth: 5-14 feet
Special Comment: dinghy landing not allowed at nearby Tween Waters Marina
Swing Room: sufficient swinging room for boats as large as 38 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: good

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43. Safety Harbor Anchorage
Statute Mile 17
Lat/Lon: near 26 36.340 North/082 13.064 West
Location: lies off the southern flank of Captiva Pass, north of the charted channel leading to Safety Harbor
Minimum Depth: 6-12 feet
Swing Room: unlimited
Foul Weather Shelter: fair, open to eastern, northern and northeastern winds

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44. Captiva Pass Anchorage
Statute Mile 18.5
Lat/Lon: near 26 36.785 North/082 13.266 West
Location: found off the eastern side of Cayo Costa’s southern tip
Minimum Depth: 8-feet
Swing Room: unlimited
Foul Weather Shelter: fair, open to eastern, northeastern and southeastern winds

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45. Patricio Island Anchorage
Statute Mile 19.5
Lat/Lon: near 26 40.653 North/082 12.041 West
Location: lies off the southern banks of Patricio Island, which borders the non-ICW, Pine Island Sound channel, east of Useppa Island, and north-northeast of the Waterway’s flashing daybeacon #52
Minimum Depth: 7-10 feet
Swing Room: unlimited
Foul Weather Shelter: fair, open to southern and southwestern winds

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46. Useppa Island, Western Shore Anchorage
Statute Mile 21.5
Lat/Lon: near 26 39.504 North/082 12.935 West
Location: lies east and northeast of unlighted daybeacon #61 and opposite the Cabbage Key Inn Channel
Minimum Depth: 6-feet
Swing Room: sufficient swinging room for vessels as large as 45 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: good, except during times of strong northern or southern winds

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47. Useppa Island, Eastern Shore Anchorage
Statute Mile 22
Lat/Lon: near 26 39.954 North/082 12.555 West
Location: found on the correctly charted band of deep water abutting the Useppa Island’s eastern beaches
Minimum Depth: 7-8 feet
Swing Room: sufficient swinging room for vessels as large as 45 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: fair, open to southern, northern, northeastern and southeastern winds

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48. Punta Blanco Outer Anchorage
Statute Mile 23
Lat/Lon: near 26 40.681 North/082 13.488 West
Location: found on the deep waters off Point Blanco, north of flashing daybeacon #64 and unlighted daybeacon #65
Minimum Depth: 8-feet
Swing Room: sufficient swinging room for vessels as large as 55 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: poor, protected ONLY from western and northwestern winds

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49. Punta Blanco Inner Anchorage
Statute Mile 23
Lat/Lon: near 26 40.673 North/082 13.616 West
Location: will be found on the charted bubble of deep water virtually surrounded by Puna Blanco
Minimum Depth: 4-6 feet, BUT even a slight mistake in the unmarked entrance channel can land you in 2 feet of water or less
Swing Room: sufficient swinging room for vessels as large as 36 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: excellent

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50. Pelican Bay Outer Anchorage
Statute Mile 25
Lat/Lon: near 26 41.495 North/082 14.595 West
Location: will be discovered on the waters of Pelican Bay, a short hop south of the bay’s northeasterly entrance
Minimum Depth: 4 ½-foot entrance depths, 5 to 5 ½ feet in anchorage
Swing Room: sufficient swinging room for vessels as large as 42 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: good, but this is the most exposed of Pelican Bay’s three anchorages

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51. Pelican Bay – Park Service Docks Anchorage
Statute Mile 25
Lat/Lon: near 26 41.183 North/082 14.570 West
Location: found abeam of the park docks to the west
Minimum Depth: 4 ½-foot entrance depths, 5 to 5 ½ feet in anchorage
Swing Room: sufficient swinging room for vessels as large as 40 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: good

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52. Pelican Bay – Punta Blanca Island Anchorage
Statute Mile 25
Lat/Lon: near 26 41.015 North/082 14.214 West
Location: found on the 5 to 7-foot cove-like waters well north of Primo Point, jutting into the western flank of Punta Blanca Island
Minimum Depth: 5-feet, but the use of a GPS chartplotter is strongly recommended for safe entrance into this anchorage
Swing Room: sufficient swinging room for vessels as large as 45 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: excellent

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53. Boca Grande – Gasparilla Island Basin Anchorage
Statute Mile 28.5
Lat/Lon: near 26 45.084 North/082 15.404 West
Location: lies on the charted basin, north of the primary Boca Grand entrance channel, which itself lies west, northwest of the ICW’s unlighted daybeacon #2
Special Note: local regulation may, or may not, limit anchorage to the southern 1/2 of the basin
Minimum Depth: 5-5 ½ feet
Swing Room: sufficient swinging room for vessels as large as 36 feet – swing room can be limited in this anchorage by crowding and the presence of several derelicts
Foul Weather Shelter: excellent

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