Below, Captain Randy gives some excellent advice about various inlets between Venice and Longboat Key. I think his observations are spot on, except I might add that I think "New Pass"is even worse. I would not take a row boat out New Pass.

Personally, I wouldn't consider Big Pass, at Sarasota, a viable, all-weather inlet.  The shoals around there move frequently and local knowledge is a must. The same is true, but to a lesser degree, of New Pass.  The excellent Sarasota Sailing Squadron is located just inside New Pass and their members frequently sound the location of the deep water.  Sea-Tow or TowBoatUS could probably
give advise on the VHF.  Longboat Pass, to the north and Venice Inlet, to the south are much more dependable.
Regards,
Randy Pickelmann
MORNING STAR

Certainly Marina Jacks has a lot to offer, as does the city itself. Now, if we could just get the mooring field situation resolved.

Hi all,
We had spent 3 wonderful days in Sarasota,Fl upon recommendations from other turtles. Would just like to say thank-you for the great advice. We stayed at Marina Jacks, excellent marina, secure, clean, boater friendly and very accesible to town. We took the trolley to St. Armand’s circle (lovely), ate in Sarasota twice at Two Senoritas and Patricks, (excellent). We toured the Ringling Bros. Museum and all we can say is next time we’ll use the whole day (wow).Had a fantastic time and would recommend it as a must stop!!
Dick and Elle
m/v Summer Wind

Sarasota is a great stop, the marina is top notch, but u can anchor out and dinghy in. The town is awsome and i would not pass it up…lots of great dinning and dancing.
Bill & Ana Feller
Knot Tide Down

Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Marina Jacks (Marina Operations)

First, many thanks to Captain Susan for all her kind words below!
And, yes, the two anchorages behind Jewfish Key are some of the very best that the western coastline of the Sunshine State has to offer. I love to dinghy ashore to either of the two restaurants there, Mar-Vista and Moore’s Stone Craft. Yummmmmm!

Claiborne,
First, let me say that I am a huge fan of your books. I discovered them quite by accident years ago when I found your North Carolina cruising guide on board a used boat we purchased. We utilized the guide on our first trip down the ICW to Florida in 1999. I found the guide so helpful that we stopped to purchase the books covering Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida. I’ve been hooked ever since and recently purchased the latest additions, visit your web site, and subscribe to your email updates.
This past week the Western Florida Guide was invaluable in finding a protected anchorage to wait out the big blow that passed through. We were headed to Progressive Marine in St. Petersburg for a haulout and bottom job (another tidbit we got from your guide). We got a late start from our home in Punta Gorda Isles and knew we’d have to lay over a day or two until the front passed and the winds subsided before crossing Tampa Bay. Your guide recommended the Jewfish Key anchorage at ICW mile 85. We anchored our 48′ trawler securely for two days with plenty of swinging room.
Thanks for all you do for the boating community. I look forward to seeing you at the Punta Gorda MTOA rendezvous in April.
Susan Parker

Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For Jewfish Key Southside Anchorage

Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For Jewfish Key Anchorage

We had an earlier posting here on the Net's "Western Florida" page about shoaling along this stretch of the Western Florida ICW, hard by Jewfish Key and Longboat Pass. As Captain Scott's info below is so specific and timely, I'm putting it up as a fresh post, hopeing more will take advantage of this data.

We draw 6’ and ran aground well within the channel Thanksgiving week.  The sandbar runs from the NW towards Moore’s to the SE into the middle of the channel  near 38A.  The edge of the sandbar in the channel is very steep so there is no warning. 
Slightly contrary to the info posted on the SYS website, the best I recorded about 5.3’ above 0’ (recorded on a calm day).  The path I used to get across was in line with the  eastern edge of the marked channel.
Scott Cooper