There are actually several good anchor down spots in Tarpon Basin (see links below). This body of water is traversed by the Florida Keys Inside Route (ICW), southwest of Blackwater Sound. Now, we hear from Captain Sterling below, that dinghy dockage may well be available here. That’s excellent news as dinghy access is becoming an endangered species in the Florida Keys

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

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

The dinghy dock you are referring to is behind the new government center in Key Largo.
All addresses in the Keys are by reference to Mile Marker (land) or Statue Mile (water). In this case, the land address is approximately MM 102, and the SM is 1139.
Once you leave Biscayne Bay, you pass through Card Sound, then Barnes Sound, and all of the subsequent bodies of water have a specific name that you will see on your chart or guide. The dock you are looking for is in Tarpon Basin, entered from Blackwater Sound as you pass through Dusenbury Cut. Depths outside the channel are shallow, so be sure you navigate carefully.
The government building is yellow and you should have no trouble locating it.
Martin I. Veiner &
Margaret Rogers Shearon

There’s no pump out boat this season [2011].
Don and Mango

Click Here To View the Florida Keys Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For Tarpon Basin Northern Anchorage

Click Here To View the Florida Keys Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For Tarpon Basin Southern Anchorage

Click Here To View the Floridas Keys Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For Tarpon Basin Interior Anchroage

Tarpon Basin Dinghy Dock at Government Center

Tarpon Basin Waste Pump-Out Boat

Well, while we usually use the “Tarpon Basin Interior Anchorage,” if the weather is cooperative enough to make the basin’s “Northern Anchorage” comfortable, it’s certainly easy to enter and close to the Waterway.

We used the northern anchorage last May for several days due to weather. Good protection and holding. Also used the docks at the government facility for our dinghy.
No problems.
David S. Power

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

Click Here For The Cruisers’ Net’s Florida Keys Anchorage Directory Listing For Tarpon Basin, Northern Anchorage

There are any number of good anchorages off the Inside/ICW route in Tarpon Basin. So, it’s really great that it looks as if a dinghy dock is now available here. If anyone hears that this dock has become “official” ( see below), PLEASE e-mail me at CruisingWriter@CruisersNet.net.

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

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

Soon after posting the message above, I received the note below from Admiral Laua:

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

So, I forwarded Laura’s note to Capt. Sterling, and he soon replied:

And, a return message from Admiral Laura:

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

Click Here To View the Florida Keys Cruisers’ Net Achorage Directory Listing For Tarpon Basin Northern Anchorage

Click Here To View the Florida Keys Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Tarpon Basin Southern Anchorage

Click Here To View the Florida Keys Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Tarpon Basin Interior Anchorage

Captain Pascal's posting below was actually in response to a question I had asked in my "Florida Keys Wish List" about whether others had found shallow water at the intersection of the Inside Route/ICW and Tavernier Creek. Pascal details some other skinny spots to watch out for!

It's also a little skinny (5' MLW) at the entrance to dusenberry, bet 40 and 41, and further down near 58, also 5' MLW). remember that in florida bay water level can be lower when windy.
Pascal

On 12/4/08, as part of a “Florida Keys Wish List,” I posed the following question:

Who has anchored in Sunset Cove, off Buttonwood Sound (near Statute Mile 1143)? Did you find yourself amidst a whole collection of fellow cruising craft? Did you find anywhere to land a dinghy ashore?

Responses follow:

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

Click Here To View the Florida Keys Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For Sunset Cove