It’s no secret among any who have taken even a cursory glance at my “Cruising Guide to Western Florida” that Boca Grand, on Gasparilla Island, is one of our favorite ports of call, anywhere, anytime! We were just there a few weeks ago, and I plan to gin up a report myself soon.
We’ve never tried anchoring in the sound, off the golf course before. I guess if the weather is calm enough, it might work, but I wouldn’t want to be caught in the waters RL and Karen describe below if the wind were to get its dander up in any way, shape or form.

We are a 45′ s/v, draft 5 1/2′ so we decided to stay outside the bayou and anchored just west of the ICW between r2 & g3, off the coast of the golf course. Stayed 2 nights, visited the town and tied our dinghy at the public docks off the bayou. At least 8 boats anchored inside with their sterns tied to the mangroves. Only 2 boats had people aboard. Fun day in town sightseeing by bicycles. Hudson’s store is a gem’¦be sure to stop by. Lunch at South Beach, snacks at Loose Caboose.
Capt. RL& Karen

My first-rate, first-mate and yours truly just had the good fortune to spend a week at Boca Grande during the first of January, 2010. It was WONDERFUL. We stopped by Boca Grande Marina, and were suitably impressed. The only real problem with this facility remains the entrance channel, which is being squeezed by a building shoal. A talk with the Boca Grande Marina dockmaster on 1/19/10 revealed that the dredging of their entrance passage is still being held up by the permitting process, but they hope to dredge by later summer of 2010.

A great Marina. The staff was very friendly. We wanted to stay an extra few day, but they had a boat club arriving & moved us to the owners private dock. The restruant & bar is good. we stayed 5 days and enjoyed the town.
Larry Hemmerich

Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Boca Grande Marina

The string below is copied from the T&T (Trawlers and Trawlering) mail list. Once again, this list is a WONDERFUL adjunct to the Cruisers’ Net. If you have a trawler type vessel, we suggest joining this happy throng without delay.
Anyway, the subject of the messages below is the so-called, “Basin Anchorage” adjacent to Gasparilla Island, and the village of Boca Grand (where, incidentally, my first-rate, first-mate and I spent all of the last week). This is a very popular haven, with superb shelter and reasonably easy dinghy dockage. Swinging room is at a bit of a premium, and many tie their stern of to the mangroves. This is, strictly speaking, illegal, but many do it anyway.
There are also some “derelict” vessels in the anchorage, but you will also find any number of fellow cruisers as well.
If you do anchor here, don’t fail to go ashore and check out the village of Boca Grande. It’s one of the last, little pices of real, old Florida left! If you are feeling affluent, have dinner at the Gasparilla Inn. The cuisine is some of the best anywhere, anytime, but it’s NOT inexpensive. Another good choice is Temptations Restaurant.
However you get there, Boca Grande is well worth a visit. Tell them we sent you!

I noticed this anchorage on Active Captain where they talked about tieing stern to the mangroves…a number of sailboats in the satellite view were obvious so it seems the draft at anchorage is not an issue.
Well, today I was in the area by rubber tires and noted that there is obvious room there and apparently good draft to get in based on nearby marinas and the boats in the same area. Looks like half the boats have been there too long!
Does anybody have experience with this bayou and what depths are expected in the anchorage (near the mangroves)?
Thanks,
Jim

Jim:
I anchored there about a year ago. The only problem with draft is getting in. Once you make the turn to starboard from the entrance channel there is a place where it can be as low as 5′ at low tide. Once past this spot it opens up and the draft is about 8′. Drop your bow anchor in the middle and then back towards the mangroves and tie your stern.
Yes there are a few derilicts and long term live aboards. Boca Grande is a cute little high end town, but access is free to cruisers. There is a public dinghy dock at the north end and the walk to town is about a half mile.
David

Jim,
I wish I had a dollar for every night I’ve spent there. I don’t know what kind of boat you are driving but I used to take my 5′ draft sailboat in there
without incident. The bigger concern is the approach. As you enter Boca Grande’s entrance channel, you will have to either follow the marked channel to port and continue to the marinas or take the stbd. branch and go to the basin in question. As you go to the right, following the seawall that borders the golf course, the water shoals. Depending on your draft, you might need to do this at mid-tide or better. Once you get past this shallow area there is good water the rest of the way and you will almost always see a big boat or two in there. Keep your ears open for Mark’s floatplane. He keeps his Maule pulled up on shore in there and it is always a surprise to cross paths with him!
Just a few words about the dock. These are referred to as the “Guide Docks” since they are used by the fishing guides to pick up and drop off clients. Actually I think that half of them are owned by The Pink Elephant for the use of their lunch or dinner patrons. Don’t obstruct the slips. If you take your dinghy in there just slip around to the end and no one will complain. Watch the oysters on the roots of the mangroves.
Regards,
Randy Pickelmann
MORNING STAR
lying in Clearwater, FL

Click Here For The Cruisers’ Net’s Western Florida Anchorage Directory Listing For The Gasparilla Island Basin Anchorage

Pelican Bay is a very popular anchorage on the Western Florida coastline. The bay indents the back (eastern) side of undeveloped Cayo Costa Island. This body of land sits just south of Boca Grande Pass, and can be accessed directly from the Western Florida ICW’s passage through Pine Island Sound.
Usually, the only trick to successfully anchoring in Pelican Bay is the MLW entrance depths you will encounter. I have personally sounded as little as 4 1/2 feet here at low tide, while some others have claimed to find no more than 4 feet. In fact, you must know where to enter in order to maintain these soundings. Some of the answers to Captain Jim’s questions below deal with this very subject.
In spite of these difficulties, a fair weather weekend will find many fellow cruisers swinging happily on the hook in Pelican Bay! See you there!

Can a 4.5 foot draft get into Pelican Bay? (Cayo Costa near Useppa/Cabbage Key)
I tried yesterday but didn’t find depth to be comfortable.  was stirring when we backed out….and I’m still learning to deal with the skinny Florida waters!
Jim

Jim,
I used to take my 5′ draft sailboat in there all the time. Put your right foot on the beach. The deep water is that close. Before you get to the end of the beach, about 3/4 of the way in, turn left and head toward the rangers’dock. If you have a chart plotter, it will show you the shallow spots to avoid. There is a 9′ deep hole past the ranger’s dock.
Regards,
Randy Pickelmann
MTOA #3694
MORNING STAR

I have been in there several times with my 4.5 foot draft. When you head in from the ICW marker which is now 74 (I think) stay to the extreme right when you approach the entrance. If it seems that you are too far right you probably are in the right place’¦almost on the bank. Once in look at your chart for the deepest water. In the season you can expect to see several dozen boats of all sizes and drafts anchored. It is a very popular spot. The only tricky part is the entrance.
RC
NT 42
Punta Gorda

As RC said, head east from the ICW around R74. There is a Florida-type speed zone sign at the north shore of the entrance, which is easily visible from the ICW. Use that sign as a guide. Head for it, and run to about 50 ft of it. Then turn slightly to port to parallel the north shoreline of the opening between Cayo Costa and Punta Blanco Island. Stay about 50 ft off the beach there. You will undoubtedly think you’re too close to the shore, but that line carries 8 ft or more into Pelican Bay. As you pass by the beach, visually locate (about 11:30 to your course) and aim toward the government docks at Cayo Costa. Note that the water depth will shallow to around 6 1/2 ft along that rhumb line, but you won’t have any trouble. When you get to the area of the docks, MAKE SURE TO USE the newest charts of the bay to navigate. There are older paper charts around that do not show the area correctly. The newer charts show a 9 ft pool in the area to the south and east of the docks in the ceter of Pelican Bay. If you have that chart, you cal also navigate a bit further south, and then turn northeast past a spit of land that comes off Punta Blanco Island to the east. On the east shore, the water is deep all the way up to the mangroves. Watch your depth sounder, and Tuck yourself up there in 10 ft of water for an excellent storm anchorage. If you need help in the area, contact the rangers at Cayo Costa. They can and do arrange for everything up to, and including, air evac.
Peg and Jim Healy
aboard Sanctuary
Currently north for the Holidays

It has been YEARS since I tried Pelican Bay. This was basck when my late husband and I were SAILORS witha 4′ draft. We were the last ones ‘˜in’ for a yacht club weekend and I guess that was a ‘˜good thing’ albeit embarassing! We ran aground even though we thought we were carefully following directions! At least the boats already anchored well inside were able to then tell us what to do.
Following the right shore closely as described is good but rying to figure when to make that sharp turn to port and for how long’¦well, that’s another thing! Also, the whole cruise was a near disaster, we lost our dinghy, watched as she slowly drifted astern’¦luckily we roused our friends who ‘˜caught it’ for us. Then, when we started off to the coctail party, realized we were dragging anchor’¦then the whole RAFT of boats where the party was, made the same discovery! That entire bay is very shallow AND has a GRASS BOTTOM! Choose your anchor accordingly! We later spend an miserable stormy night anchor-watching.
Other than that, it’s a neat place from which to explore. At the south end of Cayacosta is ‘˜Lover’s Lane’ a dinghy-sized passageway through the mangroves to the south end of the beach. It is fun and if you’re interested, it IS an unproclaimed ‘˜nude beach’. Enjoy! Very unpopulated!
There are some options however. Try going to starboard as you enter Boca Grand’s southern access and go into the bayou there. You drop a for’d anchor then back into the mangroves and tie off the stern to the mangroves. Dinghy is a MUST for this and help is needed! With luck you can dinghy across to the dock and go ashore to a fabulous restaurant, Pink Elephant. Unfortunately the fishermen seem to have dibbs on that dock’¦
To your stern, beyond the row of mangroves, is the golf course which is popular with the Bush family and the Duponts who occupy a large compound on the island.
Another favorite option is anchoring out in the halfmoon bay just west of the private island just south of Pelican Bay and directly across from Cabbage Key. Brain freeze there, sorry, but you can’ t go on the island anyhow unless you have an ‘˜IN’. From that ancorage you can still explore all the places mentioned above. I don’t care for the restaurant at Cabbage KEy but
most do. When I used to go there the harbor master was one nasty sob. Don’t know about now’¦I’ve been in THAT ancorage too in a storm, not nice so watch you weather! HAvea a great time, I sometimes miss being there! PS the marinas on Gasparilla IS aka Boca Grande are very expensive.
Marge Griffith

Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For Pelican Bay Outer Anchorage

Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For Pelican Bay – Park Service Docks Anchorage

Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For Pelican Bay – Punta Blanca Island Anchorage Anchorage

Pelican Bay is one of the most popular anchorages between the “Miserable Mile” and Venice. It lies just south of Boca Grande Pass, and cuts in behind Cayo Costa State Park. Entrance depths can be a bit thin at low water. I’ve often found 4 1/2 foot soundings at this tide level.

I was directed to this anchorage while moving my Watkins 27, Namaste, from the northern end of Charlotte Harbor to Ft. Myers beach. on June 5th. 2009. We had just came through an afternoon squall while cross the harbor. Had a wonderful experience and will return. Getting into the harbor is a bit tricky from the north end due to shoaling.
Donn Brown

Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For Pelican Bay Outer Anchorage

Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For Pelican Bay – Park Service Docks Anchorage

Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For Pelican Bay – Punta Blanca Island Anchorage Anchorage

Cabbage Key Inn and restaurant is accessed directly off the Western Florida ICW, via a marked channel, south of Boca Grande Pass and Cayo Costa. One attraction here is that the dining room is wallpapered with genuine one dollar bills. This is a neat, eccentric little place, which features its own marina.
The message below was copied from the AGLCA list, and was in response to a question about good dock and dine locations along this portion of the Western Florida coastline.

In addition to Portobello’s at Burnt Store, there is Cabbage Key, just off the G-ICW south of Boca Grand Pass, across from the anchorage at Useppa Island. Cabbage Key is a true dock ‘n dine location. It isn’t fine dining, but it’s a true American Classic experience. Adequate water for your draft. We’ve been there several times in the winter months when water levels are lower. Short finger piers.
Peg and Jim Healy aboard Sanctuary

I agree with Captain Smith’s comments below. We have always found the evening meal at Cabbage Key to be the better choice.

I’d like to add that while lunch can be jammed with tourists, dinner is generally excellent. They shine up the wait staff, there’s not a burger to be seen on the menu, and the food is good to excellent. Dinner is, without question, my favorite time. And you could say I’m jaded – I’ve been there for lunch, anyway, over 700 times (as a commercial skipper).
Capt. Mike Smith

Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Cabbage Key Marina

This discussion below is copied from the T&T (Trawlers and Trawlering) Mail List. There is some good advice contained therein about cruising the water of Pine Island Sound and Charlotte Harbor.
By all accounts, don’t miss Boca Grande. It is our very favorite port of call in all of Florida!

Subject: Boca Grande
Cruising News: We will be cruising the West Coast and would like to have recomendation on a marina to call home for a month …mid December thru Mid January In the Boca Grande area
I would like to hear from fellow cruises what they think
Thanks
Larry

Larry,
I live in Punta Gorda overlooking the harbor and keep my boat at Burnt Store Marina and was a live aboard there before we purchased our condo. I agree with the comments above, and a key item is will you have a vehicle and will you have the need for an airport. If you have to travel by air you should look at some of the marina’s in Ft Myers. If you are on the hook a lot I see many boats anchored in my front yard by Fisherman Village and dinky up during the day. If you can get a slip in Punta Gorda you can ride a bike to all the stores, including West Marine. If you have a vehicle Burnt Store has nice features, but it is +8 miles the the nearest store. The staff there is very friendly. South Seas Resort is nice (and very expensive), but they have removed the the channel markers as noted on charts. You can come in from the gulf or call them on the radio and they can tell you how to come in from the ICW. A place not as expensive, but a place my wife and I go to is Tween Waters on Captiva Island south of South Seas. From the dock to the beach it is about 300 yards. They do have monthly rates but the docks are not protected like the the other marinas in the area, but a good place to spend a few days. It is a 45 minute drive to the airport and has service to get you to the airport as Captiva is a resort location. You may find some one in Punta Gorda who will rent you a place in their back yard, as Punta Gorda is a boating community. If you do that, make sure they have sail boat access as the houses on the inside have to clear a bridge that are approximately 13 feet of clearance. Good luck and enjoy our part of the world.
Adden

Larry,
I’m surprised that there has been very little mention of Laishly Marina. It is right downtown [in Punta Gorda], brand new and within walking distance of everything except Publix (approx. 2 mi.). Fisherman’s Village is great for it’s concentration of shops and restaurants and about a 15 minute walk to downtown. The quality restaurants, however,are downtown. Either way, you can’t lose.
Eric Norlin

Larry:
Other choices might be Palm Island Marina (Cape Haze), Burnst Store Marina, Fishersman’s Village. We can give you a number of recommendations as we live in the area. One question is since you are leaving the boat, are you flying out of the area of driving?
Steve and Gina Smith
Island Time

Larry:
Boca Grande is a cute little town. There are two marinas worth considering. The high end place is Boca Grande Marina. Nice docks, the only place for diesel, expensive, arrogant staff. The low end is Whiddens Marina. Laid back, no amenities and cheap.
The town is a delight and either marina is within walking distance of everything.
David

I might add that at Boca Grande the lil grocery is rather expensive and if you wish to go off-Island you will need a car and to pay the expensive toll upon returning each time. All of the other marinas mentioned will require transportation for shopping or doing much exploring. You might consider Ft. Myers Beach which has a transportation system you can use.
Boca is delightful although has lost a lot of its charm as the local fisherman struggle to maintain property on the island due to taxation created by the demand of the weathy who are pushing out the more local populace. Not to say it isn’t nice it is, just not like it use to be. There are also smaller not well known local marinas in the Englewood area you might get into. The backcountry of Charlotte Harbor around Boca and Pine Island and Sanibel is delightful for inshore fishing as is the Boca Grande pass. You might consider checking out the Marinas on Sanibel and Captiva south of the Boca Grande pass.
The marinas in Boca usually have space, the others mentioned, in the past, have been full with a waiting list, don’t know about the effect of current
economic conditions.
Wayne & Lynn

Larry,
Recommending a marina is a lot like recommending a wife. A lot depends on the intended use.
If you need to be near an airport, Tampa, Sarasota and Ft. Myers can accomodate you although Tampa will probably win hands down on number of
available flights and number of cities served. If you want some “city life” Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Bradenton, Sarasota, and Ft. Myers will all
accomodate you.
Boca Grande is one of our favorite places to be. Gasparilla Marina is on the mainland, just across the bridge. Good storage facility but not much for
liveaboards. On the island, Uncle Henry’s on the N end and Boca Grande Marina (formerly Miller’s) near the village are nice but pricey. Welcome to Boca Grande. As a fellow Krogen owner once told me, “All the damn rich folks are running us millionaires off the island”!
Burnt Store marina is nice but remote. Fisherman’s Village is located in the small town of Punta Gorda.
Regards,
Randy

A buddy of mine strayed for a month at Cape Haze Marina in Englewood. Said it was cheapest around. I believe him since he is truly cheap. I visited once and it was not bad at all.
RC

Hello Larry!
I lived in Punta Gorda for over 17 years and always enjoyed going to Boca Grande by car or by boat. The marinas there are very expensive…and the other reply didn’t mention uncle Henry’s at the north end. While the island is full of charm I would NEVER recommend trying to stay there for more than a night or two.
Directly opposite Boca Grande Pass by 10 miles is Burnt Store Marina which is also very nice, but it is another 10 miles to the grocery store! OK if you rent a car. Another 10 miles up Charlotte Harbor is Fisherman’s Village in Punta Gorda…a delightful town. I would put this marina as #1 for your needs.
If you want the best beach around, Boca Grand is it, but there is just so much to do on the little, very exclusive town. If you are at Fisherman’s Village, rent a car and still enjoy that beach!
Or go on down to Ft. Myers.
Marge

If you don’t mind being near the city, look at Legacy Harbour Marina on the Caloosahatchee River at Ft. Myers. It’s the cleanest, nicest marina in the area, great facilities and has a large, very friendly live aboard group. Grocery stores, shopping and night life are within walking distance. Just no beach.
Jim

I would recommend you consider Fisherman’s Village in Punta Gorda, just up from Boca if you’ll be staying on board. Right in a charming little town with shopping nearby. Boca is wonderful but you need a car to get to any shopping for groceries, etc.
Garland

Gasparilla Marina is another alternative. Also, Laishley Marina in Punta Gorda.
Lynne & Rich

I was at Boca Grande Marina in mid October. I found the staff to be very nice. You can rent a golf cart from the marina to get around town. The overnight dock fees are a bit costly for what you get. The showers/ land head are shared with the entire dock and not locked. The girls thought that to be a real draw back’¦One big note about Boca Grande’¦.We were there on a Sunday and most all the shops in town were closed.
We’ve stayed at Palm Island Marina twice on our recent trip. Great place, great staff and reasonable dock fees. The `local’ store for supplies is about 2 miles away. Talk to the staff, they may be able to help you with transportation.
Also have been to Burnt Store’¦ really nice marina and again very reasonable. Nice staff.
If you’re going to be in the Pine Island Sound area, you have to stay at least one night at South Seas Resort/Marina. The dock fees are high but it’s a top notch marina. Treat yourself to this place. If you’ve got females on board, they’ll love it!! Everything about the place is first class..
Have a great cruise!
Blake

The popular Pelican Bay anchorage lies just south of Boca Grande Pass, and indents the eastern side of Cayo Costa island. This undeveloped barrier isle is a Florida State Park, and we have always found it to be absolutely delightful!
On the other hand, I’ve seldom been able to find more than 4 1/2 feet at the entrance at MLW. My good friends at the Isles Yacht Club in Punta Gorda have recorded detailed navigational records as to the best way to enter Pelican Bay.

We followed the directions here and managed to ease into the anchorage. We have a 5′ 8’³ draft and entered on a tide that was 0.9′ above MLW. Our lowest depth reading was 6′. We anchored in 7′ to 8′ of water and enjoyed the park and the anchorage. (10/31/2009)
s/v John Galt
Tayana 37

Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For The Pelican Bay Outer Anchroage

Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For The Pelican Bay Park Service Dock Anchorage

Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Anchroage Directory Listing For The Pelican Bay – Punta Blanca Island Anchorage

Anchoring off the southern shores of York Island, which lies just north of the “Miserable Mile” section of the Western Florida ICW, has always been a fair weather event for this guy. If the weather co-operates though, this is a beautiful spot to spend an evening on the water!

We anchored here and found the holding fine, plenty of room and not much traffic to rock the boat. It was a nice place. We expected a front to come through but we ended up with just a slight breeze.
s/v John Galt
Tayana 37

Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Directory Listing For The York Island Anchorage

If memory serves, and sometimes it does not, this is the second time that the South Seas channel has been altered within the past two years. All skippers bound for this popular port of call need to take note!!!

Subject: South Seas Resort New Channel
Cruising News: South Seas Resort on Captiva Island has a new channel configuration. The new channel is a “dog leg” arrangement that starts at Red Fish Pass and goes to the ICW’s marker #38. At the ICW end you will see red #24 that starts the channel heading West to South Seas. So be sure to take the red markers on your port side heading to the resort. I was in there on Oct.19, 2009 and did not see less than 6.5 feet through the entire channel. Also local knowledge states that Red Fish Pass has at least 6′ of water and is passable again.
Enjoy
Blake

I could not possibly agree more with the crew of sailing vessel “Endeavor” in their positive comments below regarding the village of Boca Grande, on Gasparilla Island. Some of our very happiest times have been spent here, and the Boca Grande experience is highly recommended by this writer.
I have also noticed the increasingly thin water in the entrance channel before (see below). For some time now, the owner of Boca Grande Marina has been willing to fork over the necessary cash to have this passage dredged. So far, the permits have not been forthcoming.
Pay close attention to the entrance channel’s nav. directions below. They synchorize exactly with my own findings as to how to keep to the best depths possible.

Subject: Boca Grand entrance
Cruising News: Boca Grand is always a very nice place to visit, even during the very hot and humid summer season. Unfortunately many places are shut down for the summer, but there is still enough happening to make it it a good visit. Loose Caboose is always open and so is South Beach and the Pink Elephant. All excellent places with very nice folks (especially Loose Caboose with the owner/cook who advised us on open bars).
Regarding the cruising news: the entrance is a bit tight. We had a + 0.7″ tide upon entrance (no wind) and had the depth gauge beeping at us for a while when encountering depths of <5′. It never went below 4.7′, but still very scary. The worst part is beyond channel marker “7”. I later found out that you have to stay very close to the concrete seawall. I ran the stretch a few times with a handheld depth gauge and found the deepest stretch about 9′ from the seawall and pretty much straight down from channel marker “7”. If you follow that course, you should not encounter less than 5.5′ at MLLW. The anchorage is around 7′ or better, but it is very crowded with derelict boats. You can still find a spot to anchor, but 2 lines to the mangroves and a stern anchor is required.
Even though it is a bit of a challenge, it is still highly recommended!
S/V Endeavor

Click Here For The Cruisers’ Net’s Western Florida Marina Directory Listing For Boca Grande Marina

South Seas Resort is certainly a first class facility, but, you do pay for what you get. Note Capt. Mark’s reference to an earlier posting here on the Cruisers’ Net which describes this marina’s current entrance channel

Visited South Seas August 12th for a very relaxing day and Overnight stay, Rates were $2.75ft Min 30ft Includes Water, Electric, Cable TV, Wifi Internet, and full use of the resort (Landlubber guest pay an additional $13.88 per person per day Resort Fee!) Take note of the channel configuration that Capt Gene discribes [in an earlier posting on the Cruisers’ Net], Just remember keep Red markers to port when transiting from the ICW to South Seas Resort.
Capt Mark

Click Here For The Cruisers’ Net’s Western Florida Marina Directory Listing For South Seas Resort Marina

Click Here To View The Earlier Posting on South Seas Resort Marina’s Entrance Channel

The anchorage adjacent to the southern shores of York Island is easily accessible from the Western Florida ICW, BUT you don’t want to be caught here in fresh southern, southeastern or southwestern winds.

I have anchored near here (closer to the inlet into St. James City) with a slight breeze all night and under a full moon and it was fantastic.
Very little boat traffice going in and out of the inlet. A Sheriff’s Deputy did check up on us in the morning asking how long we were going to be there. Not sure what her motives were because she never asked to come aboard.
She was seen checking out another sailboat nearby.
Donn Brown
Namaste – W27

If you need a bit more shelter, you can, with 5′ draft, follow the marked channel up into St James City, and, keeping the dredged canals to your starboard, proceed straight ahead into Long Cut. Good anchoring in about 7 to 8 ft for some distance past the last north-south canal, but don’t venture in too far. Right now you’ll see a couple of sailboats in there, but they’re really shoal draft, and I would stay about half the distance to them.
Captain Mike Smith

Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For York Island

North of its southerly genesis at the “miserable mile” the Western Florida ICW soon flows into Pine Island Sound. This is a cruising destination rich body of water, and both South Seas Plantation (on Captiva Island) is one of the most popular ports of call. As you will in Captain Bill’s message below, the entrance channels to this facility has recently changed significantly.

Subject: Significant changes to entrance channel to South Seas Plantation
Cruising News: A heads up to cruisers heading to South Seas Resort: The channel leading off the ICW has moved considerably, such that the dayboard markers are no longer any good. The resort has arranged a set of floating cans out that mark a rather winding navigable channel that seems to provide adequate depths. As yet, there is no signage up at the ICW to explain this, and the cans are not easy to spot, so confusion reigns. Several boats bottomed out trying to use the old dayboard channel while we were staying at the resort last week (April 5-8). The resort is apparently working to get some signage up and to get the word out to boaters when they make reservations. In our case, we found out when a passing fellow sailor hollered out a warning to us. Caution is advised.
Bill Clague

Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For South Seas Plantation Marina

There have been MANY postings here on the Net’s “Western Florida” section about the wonderful anchorage behind Cayo Costa (a Florida State Park), on the waters of Pelican Bay. The trickiest part is gaining successful entry. Captain Jay gives some advice on that below!

Just south of Boca Grand Pass, west of marker 74, in Pelican flay, is an outstanding anchorage, one of the best in Pine Island Sound. The water is shallow, but boats carrying 5 feet can enter by staying close to the Cayo Costa side to avoid the shoal building out from the northwest end of Punta Blanca Island. Inside, depths improve to 6 feet along a broad band.
Come abeam of marker 74 and set a compass course of roughly 240 degrees through the northern third of Pelican Pass, staying to the Cayo Costa side. Curve slowly around to the south into the main body of the pass on its mid width. Consider anchoring northeast of the docks. From the docks south lie many unmarked shoals..
Jay E Wigginton
M/V SAILS

Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For Pelican Bay Outer Anchorage

Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Pelican Bay Park Service Dock Anchorage

Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Pelican Bay – Punta Blanca Island Anchroage

The entrance to the marina serving Useppa Island, lines the Western Florida ICW's eastern flank, almost directly across from the entrance to Cabbage Key. Both are located south of Boca Grande Pass.  Please note that this facility is normally NOT open to the public. Usually, unless there is a special event like the one attended by Captain Bob (see below), you have to be a property owner, or the guest of a property owner to stay here.
However, if you can somehow wrangle an inivitation, this place is seriously FIRST CLASS!

Just spent a long weekend on Useppa Island for the DeFever Cruisers Rendezvous … great place. Stayed in the Baron Collier room at the Collier Inn, wonderful view and accommodations.
Bob DeGroot

I've decided to post Captain Jack's question below both here on the Net's "Western Florida" section and on the "Ask Your Neighbor" page, in hopes that we can get a response. Many thanks in advance!
For those not familiar with Matlacha Pass, it lies east of Pine Island and Pine Island Sound. Navigation of its southerly section can be VERY tricky indeed!

Subject: Matlacha Power Lines
Cruising News: I have got two different power line heights for the south side of the Matlacha Bridge on Pine Island. One says 75 ft. ( A Guide to Anchorages in Southwest Florida) and the other 45 ft. (Navionics Nautical Chart).  Does anyone have 1st hand knowledge?? Tried Lee County Electric Cooperative (239) 995-2121 Engineering department said their policy is "Not to give out that information", what's that all about??
Jack

Subject: Matlacha Pass Power Line Height
Cruising News: The only information I've seen is that on the West Coast of Florida Chartkit which shows 47 ft at the channel – and, from motoring under it, I'd say it looks pretty accurate, though I'd hate to test it with a mast
Mike Smith