53. Boca Grande – Gasparilla Island Basin Anchorage
53. Boca Grande – Gasparilla Island Basin Anchorage
Statute Mile 28.5
Lat/Lon: near 26 45.084 North/082 15.404 West
Location: lies on the charted basin, north of the primary Boca Grand entrance channel, which itself lies west, northwest of the ICW’s unlighted daybeacon #2
Special Note: From Lee County Marine Patrol: “Please do not anchor to or tie off to the mangroves.” (Some other cruising websites incorrectly instruct cruisers to tie off to the mangroves.)
Minimum Depth: 5-5 ½ feet
Swing Room: sufficient swinging room for vessels as large as 36 feet – swing room can be limited in this anchorage by crowding and the presence of several derelicts
Foul Weather Shelter: excellent
Rating: 
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Comments from Cruisers (3)
June 7 2014
Basically the anchorage is a wide spot in a very active waterway, with fishing boats coming and going constantly.( there was a tarpon tournament that weekend) Necessary to “Med moor” with a stern anchor near the adjacent mangroves to stay out of the water way. Had a NW wind which was helpful, a SW or South wind would tend to push you into the water way. Whenever there are Mangroves there are bugs so be prepared.
Great anchorage with big winds. Can be hot in light winds. Only issue is the derelict boats that litter the anchorage and swallow up a lot of the room. Pink Elephant Restaurant and Pub is a 50 yard dinghy ride away.
Bill Rogner
One of the nicest anchroages in SW Florida, or maybe anywhere, is Boca Grande. You enter from the bayside off of Charlotte Harbor. Then turn right into a sort of bayou. The water is thin at the turn but opens out to a nice anchorage. Drop your anchor in the middle and then back down and tie your stern to the mangroves.
There is a public dinghy dock opposite the mangroves. An easy 1/2 mile walk takes you to the cutsy town of Boca Grande with a few restaurants, a tiny grocery and a decent HW store.
David