The exchange below is copied from the AGLCA mail list. I thought the various weather opinions in this exchange would be equally valuable here on the Net’s “Western Florida” Cruising News section.

This is a call for opinions on the best time of the year to cruise SW Florida via Tampa south to Marathon and back up the east coast through
Okeechobee and back to Tampa. We trailer from Lake Lanier, GA.
Worth and Margaret
Aneseasia

My opinion is March 15 thru July. Earlier is still chilly in Tampa. Later is hurricane season. The hurricane season starts June 1st, but August and September are the most active. We did the trip in a 27 Monterey Cruiser also.
Alan Lloyd
Author, Great Loop Navigation Notes

Hi,
It is , in my humble opinion, the late fall, Cold fronts don’t ususally get bad till Christmas week, not a lot of touists, cooler at nite.
See you in Paradise!
Capt Sterling

Best time to cruise SW Florida ‘“ Thunderstorm season is mid June to mid September. SW Florida bills itself as the thunderstorm capital of the US. We have lived here for 20 years and can attest to storms being the most severe we have experienced in our lives. The heat and himidity also make cruising without AC very uncomfortable during these months. Cold fronts bring chilly temperatures from mid December to the end of January. These fronts also bring strong northerly winds which blow the water out of many already shallow coastal areas leaving them with tide levels from 1 to 2 feet below MLW. That leaves November which is usually excellent; similar to September in the Chesapeake. Also, February and March which have cold fronts but not usually as strong as those in January. There are many beautiful mild sparkling days between the fronts in these months. To me, the best months are April and May. These are usually just perfect.
Rick Parish