40. Buttonwood Sound–Sunset Cove Anchorage
40. Buttonwood Sound–Sunset Cove Anchorage
Statute Mile:1142.5
Lat/Lon: near 25 05.570 North/080 26.926 West
Location: on the waters of southeastern Buttonwood Sound, in charted Sunset Cove
Minimum depth: 5-feet
Swing Room: sufficient room for vessels as large as 48 feet
Foul Weather Protection: fair, open to western, northern and northwestern winds
Rating: 
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Comments from Cruisers (7)
There is a new 6′ fence across the county access so you can’t come ashore unless you go to the hotel or Bayside.
My last time there will be my last time ever. Seems that some drugged out vagrants live on a few derelict sailboats. One sang and yelled for hours and hours keeping us all up until 3 am. Wish I had my red rider in these situations.
For now this place is cruiser unfriendly and vagrant friendly.
Sunset Cove falls under the new anchoring regulations that are part of the Monroe County Pilot Program. The main one folks there will have to deal with is proof of pumpout. Save your receipts and keep a pumpout log.
John Kettlewell
Hey if you;re still there! Buttonwood sound is at MM 99.
I was anchored there for a few years. The dinghy dock was right off Bay side resort but now year 2012 there has been a fence put across the path, part of the “dock” was the resort’s property. You can still dinghy there , it is a small
space though off the dead end street. Snooks burned down since than and was rebuilt it is now reopened. It is a nice quiet anchorage, first row seat to fabulous sunsets and Snooks’ nice live band music.
Andree
This has always been one of our favorite anchorages on the inside passage. In the middle to late 90’s it was often frequented by cruisers. In the last ten years, you hardly see a soul other than some local boats. Snooks has a nice palapa bar and a decent restaurant which is a nice respite if you’ve roughed it all the way from Miami. You have access to shopping, jerry can gasoline, and a drug store. Look for the patches of sand between the grass and drop your hookin 8-10 feet of water. You can get fairly close to shore if you want but the breeze is better further out. Good holding
We usually use the dinghy dock at Snooks restaurant/bar, which is on Buttonwood Sound, between red 54 and green 55. The approximate coordinates of the anchorage are 25 5.7 N – 80 26.733 W. The dock is available to customers if you want to eat or have some drinks (latter recommended, former … not so much). Otherwise there’s a (sort of) boat ramp directly to the right of the dinghy dock where you can tie up to the mangroves and walk in. Nice central location.
Adam
“Sea Monkey”
Miami, Florida
Sunset Cove Weʼve anchored there often. It is rarely crowded. The sailing club no longer welcomes cruisers, but there are a few local restaurants with docks to tie up to. We just make sure to buy a beer at the bar to compensate and so far there has been no problem. Unfortunately, the Cuban market has closed, but Walgreens has some basic supplies.
Bob and Toni Dorman
Sunset Cove gets shallow near shore and if you don’t get close you get the wakes from the ICW
Pascal