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Please Note That Postings Below From Fellow Cruisers Are Listed in Chronological Order, Based on Publication Date
No Name Harbor - Click for Chartview
No Name Harbor Anchorage is on the waters of the tadpole-shaped harbor, indenting the westerly banks of south Key Biscayne, near Cape Florida.
We anchored here on 4/3/13. There were about 13 sailboats in the harbor. It seemed a little crowded although we didn’t have any problems. It was very quiet but weekends might be a different story.
Russ
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Plantation Key - Click for Chartview
Always good to get reports of “no grounding” since we post so often of shoaling on the AICW.
Cruising News:
Miami to Plantation Key
Happy to report that from Miami to Plantation Key in Islamorada via Biscayne Bay, Card, Little Card, Barnes and Blackwater Sounds was no problem with a sailboat drafting 4’10″. Sticking to the ICW Magenta line and even at low tide, there was no grounding.
Victor
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Dinner Key Mooring Field - Click for Chartview
Dinner Key Mooring Field lies generally southwest of Dinner Key Channel marker #12.
We enjoyed almost all of the experience of staying in the mooring field except the exposure and distance out which made for wet and rough dingy rides. We loved the staff and the new rental bikes. Also they have a great laundry, although it is small. The showers are minimal and just ok. We would probably not stay again when the cold fronts are going through but would when the weather is calm.
Pamela
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Boca Chita Key - Click for Chartview
Boca Chita Key is a smallish island surrounded by the waters of Biscayne Bay, south of Miami. It is part of Biscayne Bay National Park, and the Park Service maintains a small harbor and “marina” here. Services are minimal, and we have never been able to find more than 4 1/2 feet at MLW, while making our way to the dockage basin. On the other hand, many, including yours truly, find a visit to Boca Chita to be quite charming, particularly on weekdays.
Senior pass buys you $ 10.00 dockage, but be careful of the weekend unless you want all-night salsa. The ranger were there four times a day. The sound went down, and went up right after the rangers left. Elliott Key is closed because of Sandy damage which will not be fixed for a bit so Bocca is taking up the slack.
John Pholeric
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No Name Harbor Anchorage is on the waters of the tadpole-shaped harbor, indenting the westerly banks of south Key Biscayne, near Cape Florida.
Awesome spot! Strong storm passed us in the middle of the night from the southeast. It wasn’t a problem here. Very protected.
Sara Wylie
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Thursday Cove Anchorage - Click for Chartview
This neat little anchorage lies just off the Florida Keys Inside/ICW route, immediately north of Jewfish Creek. You don’t want to be caught here with fresh northerly winds, as we were one inky black night. You can’t take my word for it – it’s a really bad idea! HOWEVER, during southerlies, this is a GREAT spot that we really like!
I found here bad holding in mangrove mud mixed with leaves. Perhaps you can do better with a plow anchor.
Charles
Bottom is mostly turtle grass, which is difficult for most anchors to penetrate. I agree that this is NOT the place to be in any kind of a norther.
Julie Stocksdale
Nearby is Pumpkin Island that may be a better alternative.
Always FOR SAILtoo
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Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Florida Key Anchorage Directory Listing For Pumpkin Key
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Boca Chita Key is a smallish island surrounded by the waters of Biscayne Bay, south of Miami. It is part of Biscayne Bay National Park, and the Park Service maintains a small harbor and “marina” here. Services are minimal, and we have never been able to find more than 4 1/2 feet at MLW, while making our way to the dockage basin. On the other hand, many, including yours truly, find a visit to Boca Chita to be quite charming, particularly on weekdays.
Beautiful spot. Carried 5’6″ at high tide with no concerns. HOWEVER don’t bother going if winds are out of west, if it rained in the last few days or if it’s summer—mosquitos thick enough to block the ports!! Could not go outsude even with full suit of long clothes and every repelent know to man.!!! These vampires are after a meal and you are the invited main course!
JiM Lady Lady
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Florida Keys Marina Directory Listing For Boca Chita Key
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The Coconut Grove Sailing Club mooring field overlooks the Dinner Key – Coconut Grove waterfront south of Dinner Key Marina. This fine facility is a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!
Fantastic club mooring field. Felt very lucky to be here and not in the overcrowded Dinner Key Marina or in the City mooring field in the road stead. Not much of an evening breeze in the summer and it did get HOT!
Heads are ok -it is a small boat sailing club with lots of kids and lots of use! For what you pay it’s WELL worth it.
JiM Lady Lady
Click Here To Read An Earlier Article on Dinner Key
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Herbert Hoover Marina is the southernmost facility on Biscayne Bay, south of Miami. It is owned and operated by Dade Count, and features a well sheltered dockage basin.
We trailered, launched and stayed here April 12. Nice layed back facility, great ramps. Office is open 0830-1630. Night security. Plan to shower on your boat as out side showers are far from marina area, located at beach area. Rest rooms are closer, but still a hike. This a marina attached to a county park. We departed on a Friday, I would suspect it gets busy on weekends. We did not find any wi fi service, but 30/50 amp power and water. POUT, gas, ice down by convience store, near office. Very friendly personnel. Each pier leading to individual slips has a locked gate and keys were in short supply so we beeped the security (Jerome) to get back in. We did not see below 5′ going out and route is well marked. Gas was reasonable but forget exact price. M & M Rhett “Lady Soul II”
PS: Restaurant is due to open 2012? Not open yet.
M & M Rhett
“Lady Soul II”
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Boca Chita Key is a smallish island surrounded by the waters of Biscayne Bay, south of Miami. It is part of Biscayne Bay National Park, and the Park Service maintains a small harbor and “marina” here. Services are minimal, and we have never been able to find more than 4 1/2 feet at MLW, while making our way to the dockage basin. On the other hand, many, including yours truly, find a visit to Boca Chita to be quite charming, particularly on weekdays.
As you move up the east coast, Boca Chita in the Key Biscane National Park is a neat place to stop. Go midweek if you want it quieter as the Miami metro area seems to weekend there. It’s fun on the weekends but you will probably have to raft off.
Mike & Tammy
Valhalla II
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Florida Keys Marina Directory Listing For Boca Chita Key
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Boca Chita Key
This facility has garnered more than the usual amount of comment over the past year or two. Follow the link below to its listing in our “Eastern Florida Marina Directory,” and read about other cruisers’ experience here.
We stayed at the Anchorage to wait out a cold front moving through. Way too many rules and not particularly boater friendly. When we went inside to pay for the slip, the young lady told us to wait so SHE could look at our boat verify the length (guess they think all boaters are liars). Not pet friendly either. Info they handed out said “…no pets allowed on property”. So you have to keep them on the boat and if they have to go out, take them off the property. The rate seemed high ($2.50) but on the plus side they did give a 25% Boat US discount.
Steve and Regina Smith
Sounds like a similar situation during our visit. She didn’t take our word for length but chose to step off the length and said her measurement was more accurate.
Dan
Also, don’t expect the Boat US discount if it happens to be a holiday even if their marina doesn’t come close to filling up. By far, the worst marina treatment I’ve experienced.
Dinner Key Marina is located in southern Miami, hard by the vibrant Coconut Grove Community. This marina and its adjacent mooring field are very popular.
We didn’t know that fuel was available at Dinner Key Marina in any form, and we do not, and intend to still not, list this service in our Marina Directory. However, it’s interesting to note that tanker truck diesel fuel deliveries may be available here.
Diesel is available at Dinner Key Marina only by arrangement to have it delivered by truck. You can get gasoline or diesel next door (a scant 1/4 mile north) of Dinner Key at Grove Harbour Marina. Check their prices at 305-854-6444.
Bill Donovan
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Many cruisers believe, and I would not argue with them, that, cruising south from Miami, real Florida Keys cruising (not to mention that “Florida Keys state of mind”) does not begin until you reach Jewfish Creek. There are two marinas on this small, but important stream, and Anchorage Resort guards the easterly banks.
I have to add my thumbs up for the service and facilities at Anchorage Resort. Been going there for a number of years and it never gets old.
Doug Horsfall
If you had been treated like our group was…you would show a double thumbs down…!
Dan
This is the second laudatory message we’ve received during early 2012 about a good experience at the Dinner Key Mooring Field. Clearly, other cruisers have releated a different sort of reaction in the past, but these recent messages lead us to conclude that things may very well be looking up at this facility.
Dinner Key Mooring field is managed by the adjacent and sprawling, Dinner Key Marina. Both facilities are located in southern Miami, hard by the vibrant Coconut Grove community.
We spent a good 4 days in the Dinner key mooring field in early January when a cold front passed with strong N NW winds and really enjoyed our stay . True the dinghy dock was abit crowded but we always found room and the ferry was available till 5 pm also . The ferry had fenders all around it so I cannot imagine how it could cause any damage to anyone. The shower and restroom facilities were spotless at the time we used them and I liked the fact that they were all in one unit for complete privacy . We were lucky to have a mooring which was not too far from the dock so managed to stay drywhen going ashore in our tender . The Fresh Market had everything we needed and we enjoyed going to the movies and dining out in the Coconut grove restaurants . All in all a good stay . The staff were also very friendly and helpful giving information about the locality . If the winds had been from the E SE then it might have been a different story and we would have chosen somewhere else for better protection.
Kat
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Wonderful news to hear that the Miami/Dinner Key Mooring Field is being operated in such an efficient, cruiser friendly fashion. Cruisers can now put this facility on their list of stopovers with confidence!
After reading the reviews I was skeptical of this marina. However the mooring field is a different division of the marina and you can tell it in the pride and we care attitude of James and his helper (sorry I did not get his name). After talking with James on a Sunday afternoon on our way down he gave us preliminary instructions and assigned us a mooring ball. Upon entry one call on the radio and James gave us final instructions and then made a stop to check if everything was okay. The next morning without a call his helper stopped by with the pumpout boat to see if we needed a pumpout and we did. After that we checked in. James gave us info about the marina, showers, places to eat and where to get supplies. These two guys made for a great experience. I’m sure they would always go out of their way to accomodate the customer.
S/V indecision
Capt. Mike
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No Name Harbor Anchorage has been the source of many differing opinions, mostly negative, in the last month or so. Ed and Bonnie have a more positive opinion of No Name Harbor which is on the waters of the tadpole-shaped harbor, indenting the westerly banks of south Key Biscayne, near Cape Florida.
Awesome anchorage! We could not use the local mooring fields because of our 51 ft length & weight so No name was our only choice to avoid strong winds from ALL DIRECTIONS.Yes the bottom is soft mud however properly set hooks will hold at least to 30 mph no problem. In regards to the weekend party this is Miami’s back yard and should be expected near any large boating community. The actual fee is $20.00 per night to anchor and $8.00 to tie up to the wall until 11 P/M. Our personal comment is No Name Harbor is if not the best anchorage we have been in it comes close.
Our Lord’s Blessing to All
Ed & Bonnie S/V Almost Heaven
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No Name Harbor Anchorage is on the waters of the tadpole-shaped harbor which indents the westerly banks of south Key Biscayne, near Cape Florida.
NO NAME HARBOR SUCKS now cause of a few local old large boats docking at the seawall the entire day even blocking the ladder for us snow birds, is charging $8.00 to tie to the seawall thank you miami river old boats for cause the park to enforce this and also pending $25.00 to moor in the middle of the harbor which sucks cause the bottom is mud and the anchors do not hold.
Sara
We stayed in No Name this past year for several days waiting out weather and enjoyed this stop…never saw any problems with holding in strong winds either. But did have issue with seawall being taken up which made it impossible to go and get pump out…don’t know why they have it if that area is not free from the local loud boaters. We had one incident where 5 local boaters were told to get off the wall well after dark, (rules are off at dark) and they proceeded to come off about 10 feet and do a 5 boat raft late evening playing loud music and forcing a sail boat who had been anchored for two days to have to pick up anchor and move to avoid being hit…no authourity did a thing about it nor did anyone pay to stay the night..so I guess the locals control the area. We learned one thing, never go there on a weekend. During the week it was less problematic and a beautiful place to be. Loved walking aroung the park and going to the beach. Also enjoyed a very old large manatee that stays in that harbor.
S/V Colleen Mae
Partly it’s a cultural thing, the loud music and rafting is fun to them, “party time”!!! To those of us who like to sit reading in the cockpit while our sailboats bob gently, not so much 
It’s also a money thing, it’s cheaper to go from Miami to No Name than to zoom over to Bimini or wherever. They can’t afford the gas to actually GO anywhere anymore. At least they not zooming along waking us as WE slowly go somewhere.
As to the authorities, I have never seen them there, I’ve seen people in golf carts removing garbage but that’s about it. They don’t seem to get involved, but if they did, I bet they would side with the locals after all, they are locals too!
My pet peeve is the GENERATORS and their godawful noise! People stay at home in your condo or buy a solar panel, please!
Ok, rant over!
Susan Kennedy
Awesome anchorage! We could not use the local mooring fields because of our 51 ft length & weight so No name was our only choice to avoid strong winds from ALL DIRECTIONS.Yes the bottom is soft mud however properly set hooks will hold at least to 30 mph no problem. In regards to the weekend party this is Miami’s back yard and should be expected near any large boating community. The actual fee is $20.00 per night to anchor and $8.00 to tie up to the wall until 11 P/M. Our personal comment is No Name Harbor is if not the best anchorage we have been in it comes close.
Our Lord’s Blessing to All
Ed & Bonnie S/V Almost Heaven 01/20/12
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The anchorage commented on below by Captain Espinosa is entered by way of the charted channel north of the charted “Cormorant Rookeries.” You then break off from the charted track and anchor on the waters to the north in 4 to 5 feet. Vessels which draft 4 feet or more need not apply!
This is a great bay with lots of room to shelter from any wind direction. The bay has a good controlling depth of 4 tp 5 ft. You can take the Glades canal all the way in to South Dade Marina, which caters to sailboats. Not much there but great shelter. Good Trout fishing also.
Rick Espinosa
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"Blue Run Springs Park Manatees – St. Johns River"
by: Glen and Jill Moore
