Study chart 11472, and look at the waters south of Lake Worth Inlet. You will quickly spot a marked channel which parallels the eastern shore of Lake Worth. It is actually possible, for those piloting vessels that draw 4 feet or less, to follow this channel several miles to the south and eventually rejoin the AICW. Not that we are recommending that for first timers, but many local captains take this route day in and day out.
In regards to anchoring on these waters, in our SSECN Eastern Florida Anchorage Directory we suggest dropping the hook near the northern head of this side channel, east-southeast of marker #2. The Lucas duo (see below) chose to continue south on the eastern Lake Worth channel and anchor, well south of marker #6 and east of the northernmost of the two charted, rectangular “Spoil Areas.”
Sounds like in spite of the passing traffic, they had an enjoyable evening!

We are rookies at this, use this very helpful site, and it is nice to be able to contribute. We arrived for the first time in Lake Worth yesterday, planning to use this anchorage but were unprepared for the crowding we encountered! The detail chart (11472_7) helped us cruise slowly south past red markers 2,4 and 6 to the open area between cable markings and south of all the mooring fields. We anchored east of the first of two large rectangular spoil area in 17 ft of water, hoping that if we swung we’d stay clear. To our surprise, several large (meaning 100+ ft) yachts passed us, went near or over the spoil areas on their approach to the huge marina east of our position. After dark a large dinner cruiser circled around the spoil area before heading south in the ICW. Boats continued to use the channel between us and the eastern shore well into darkness, but everyone was at idle speed. We left our radio on, but no one told us to move and we spent a peaceful night.
Again, thank you! Our experience has been made much better with this site; the information and updates have been essential to keeping us from making serious mistakes along the way on that is our “shakedown cruise”.
Tim and Lisa Keith-Lucas, Santa Catalina de Guale

Great anchoring information and correct is so far as it goes.
Please be advised that the eastern channel discussed ends just north of the Flagler Bridge, (the first on the ICW south of Lake Worth Inlet) south of the marina discussed (Sailfish Club on Palm Beach). This channel becomes very shoal (less than 1 foot MLW).
If you choose to utilize this channel for a quiet, calm anchorage, and want to continue further south on the ICW, you may need to backtrack further north before you can cross the lake westbound to reconnect with the ICW (which runs down the west side of the ICW north of the Flagler Bridge) without grounding in the middle of the lake.
Capt. Ken Wright,
North Palm Beach

There are a LOT of boats anchored all over this general area. And the mega yachts do use that eastern channel. We ran down this channel from the inlet past marker 6 and saw depths over 20′. The anchorage had plenty of space for us with over 8′ of depth. A dredging operation was setting up as we left last Tuesday. one report was they were dredging that channel to accommodate the megayachts. Not sure if that is accurate but there is some major dredging setting up in the area. The space close to the inlet was very crowded so having all the extra space is great. Shore access at Rivera Beach marina might be charged $20, no open wifi.
Ted

Click Here To View the Eastern Florida Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For the Lake Worth Inlet Anchorage

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Lake Worth Inlet Anchorage