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Please Note That Anchorages Below Are Listed in Rough Geographic Format, Moving South to North
27. Dixie Beach Anchorage
Lat/Lon: near 26 28.000 North/082 03.101 West
Location: found off charted Dixie Beach, flanking the southwesterly shoreline of the channel bordering the eastern and northeastern shores of Sanibel Island, between unlighted daybeacon #4 and flashing daybeacon #5
Minimum Depth: 8-feet
Swing Room: unlimited
Foul Weather Shelter: poor, wide open to all but western and southwestern winds
Rating: 
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28. Punta Rassa Anchorage
Lat/Lon: near 26 28.785 North/082 00.098 West
Location: will be discovered on the charted deep water of the approach channel leading to Punta Rassa, southeast of the high-rise section of the Sanibel Island Bridge and northeast of flashing daybeacon #6
Minimum Depth: 6-feet, but entry into this anchorage can be very tricky without the use of a GPS chartplotter
Swing Room: unlimited
Foul Weather Shelter:poor, fair weather and light airs anchorage ONLY
Rating:
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29. Kitchel-Miguel Key Anchorage
Lat/Lon: near 26 29.960 North/082 01.297 West
Location: lies north of the new, high-rise section of the Sanibel Island bridge, and near the southwesterly tip of Kitchel and Miguel keys
Minimum Depth: 7-feet, BUT entry without the use of a GPS chartplotter is not recommended
Swing Room: sufficient swinging room for vessels as large as 36 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: fair to poor; open to northern, southern and northwestern winds
Rating:
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30. Punta Rassa Cove Anchorage
Lat/Lon: near 26 30.271 North/082 00.654 West
Location: will be found on the deep water east of the gap between flashing daybeacons #13 and #14, bordering on the western reaches of shallow Punta Rassa Cove (north of the new, high-rise section of the Sanibel Island Bridge)
Minimum Depth: 6-feet
Swing Room: unlimited
Foul Weather Shelter: poor, protected ONLY from eastern, northeastern and southeastern winds
Rating:
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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
Rating:
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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
Rating:
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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
Rating:
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November 26, 2010 - We spent three nights anchored off York Island, close to St. James City 11/23/10.... read more
November 15, 2010 - Anchored there on 11/12/10. Wind 10-15 out of NE. A bit rolly. Need N winds for it... read more
November 2, 2009 - We anchored here and found the holding fine, plenty of room and not much traffic to... read more
August 12, 2009 - If you need a bit more shelter, you can, with 5′ draft, follow the marked... read more
August 11, 2009 - I have anchored near here (closer to the inlet into St. James City) with a slight... read more
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
Rating:
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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
Rating:
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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
Rating:
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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
Rating:
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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
Rating:
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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
Rating:
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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
Rating:
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March 7, 2011 - This anchorage has a beautiful view. It has plenty of room and depth (10 feet) for... read more
November 11, 2010 - Great anchorage as long as wind is out of the north and/or east. In fact, much nicer... read more
May 26, 2010 - Anchor outside the channel in 8-10 feet over sand and gravel. We anchored here one... read more
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
Rating:
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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
Rating:
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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
Rating:
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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
Rating:
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August 28, 2009 - We cruised into Pelican Bay to show our guests the anchorage. The entrance depths... read more
August 27, 2009 - Subject: Western Florida Tunnel of Love Cruising News: I have an update on the... read more
August 27, 2009 - We got directions from the Cabbage Key ferry guy and true, coming in from the... read more
August 27, 2009 - Just south of Boca Grand Pass, west of marker 74, in Pelican flay, is an outstanding... read more
August 11, 2009 - I had the opportunity to anchor in Pelican Bay in June of 2009 and found it very... read more
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
Rating:
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"Sunset After The Storms"
by: Susan Leaf
