33. Tarpon Basin Southern Anchorage
33. Tarpon Basin Southern Anchorage
Statute Mile:1139.5
Lat/Lon: 25 07.438 North/080 25.937 West
Location: on the waters of Tarpon Bay, south of unlighted daybeacon #48A and west of flashing daybeacon #48
Minimum depth: 6 feet
Swing Room: unlimited
Foul Weather Shelter: fair to good
Waste Pump-out Availability: Monroe County provides a free pump-out boat at Tarpon Basin anchorage. It services the area from North Key Largo to Matecumbe Bight. Call (305)747-2388 or Ch-9. For more information go to
http://www.monroecounty-fl.gov/index.aspx?NID=442
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Comments from Cruisers (4)
The northern anchorage is a solid grass mat with limited holding. We motored through this anchorage and couldn’t find a sand spit to drop the hook and decided to move on to another anchorage. There were other boats there but I wouldn’t trust it in a blow.
A pump-out boat comes to Tarpon Basin once a week. They had some problems with the boat March 2009, but were supposed to go by every thursday. Try them on Ch 16.
Stein A. Holtbakk
Subject: Tarpon Basin
Cruising News: Seems the newly constructed Government center in Tarpon Basin, bayside Key Largo, is allowing cruisers to use the docks for their dinghys for shore access.
THis is close to Publix and KLI hardware Store, and Kmart.
Let’s hope they continue to allow this.
Capt. Sterling
Subject: Dinghy Dock Key Largo
Cruising News: The new Government center on Tarpon Basin is open and some cruisers have been using the docks for
shore access! Don’t know if it’s official yet, however, it is a place to go ashore bayside Key Largo in Tarpon Basin, walkable to the Hardware store (north) and Pulix Groceries (south) Will keep you informed of any changes I hear about this.
Capt. Sterling
Hi, Claiborne,
We just negotiated our way into Tarpon Basin, uneventfully, thanks to your explicit directions in your guide. We’re anchored at almost the exact coordinates that you gave near the microwave tower. I’ve called 5 different city/county phone numbers trying to find where the dinghy dock is at the new government building and nobody has a clue. Google mapped the building and it’s inland on the highway and that’s a long way to drag a dink. We’re really eager to go ashore and hope you or Capt. Sterling can offer some help.
Many thanks,
Laura Bender
Sure Claiborne,
Just south of the Microwave tower you will see a canal, next to that a hotel. Just south of the hotel is the Government center basin. Its on active captain at Tarpon Basin at 25 07 279 North/80 25 108 West
See you on the Waterways!
Capt. Sterling
MV Sterling Lady
Hi, Claiborne
I emailed Capt. Sterling, also, and he responded right away with an email and phone call. He told us about a mangrove tunnel nearby that is a dinghy or kayak trip. We’re looking forward to that—he said it’s magnificent. The dinghy dock’s right under our nose. Am attaching a picture because I thought it was a firefighter training tower. On one side is a dolphin rehab and the other, a hotel. It’s about a ½ mile walk south to a strip center with numerous retail-Publix, Radio Shack, Kmart, Payless Shoes, Bealls, Dollar General, Quizno’s, and even the public library.
Thanks for all your help.
Laura Bender