History of the Southwest Florida Waterway – Part 2
An interesting report on the early development of the Southwest Florida Waterway. See Part 1
Sunday Favorites: History of the Intracoastal Waterway Part 2 – Bradenton Times
Bradenton Times
An interesting report on the early development of the Southwest Florida Waterway. See Part 1
Sunday Favorites: History of the Intracoastal Waterway Part 2 – Bradenton Times
Bradenton Times
The Gulfport Historical Society continues to offer educational activities for the City of Gulfport, home to Gulfport Municipal Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, located on the northern shores of Boca Ciega Bay and easily accessible from the Western Florida ICW, just north of Tampa Bay.
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Gulfport Municipal Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, and the City of Gulfport always have a full calendar of events for all ages. The marina and harbor, found on the northern shores of Boca Ciega Bay, are easily accessible from the Western Florida ICW, just north of Tampa Bay.
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window Zoomed To the Location of Gulfport Municipal Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window Zoomed To the Location of Gulfport Anchorage/Mooring Field
Gulfport Municipal Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, and the City of Gulfport always have a full calendar of events for all ages. The marina and harbor, found on the northern shores of Boca Ciega Bay, are easily accessible from the Western Florida ICW, just north of Tampa Bay.
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Click Here To Open A Chart View Window Zoomed To the Location of Gulfport Municipal Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window Zoomed To the Location of Gulfport Anchorage/Mooring Field
Gulfport Municipal Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, and the City of Gulfport always have a full calendar of events for all ages. The marina and harbor, found on the northern shores of Boca Ciega Bay, are easily accessible from the Western Florida ICW, just north of Tampa Bay.
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window Zoomed To the Location of Gulfport Municipal Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window Zoomed To the Location of Gulfport Anchorage/Mooring Field
Gulfport Municipal Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, and the City of Gulfport always have a full calendar of events for all ages. The marina and harbor, found on the northern shores of Boca Ciega Bay, are easily accessible from the Western Florida ICW, just north of Tampa Bay.
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window Zoomed To the Location of Gulfport Municipal Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window Zoomed To the Location of Gulfport Anchorage/Mooring Field
Gulfport Municipal Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, and the City of Gulfport always have a full calendar of events for all ages. The marina and harbor, found on the northern shores of Boca Ciega Bay, are easily accessible from the Western Florida ICW, just north of Tampa Bay.
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Click Here To Open A Chart View Window Zoomed To the Location of Gulfport Municipal Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window Zoomed To the Location of Gulfport Anchorage/Mooring Field
There is always plenty to do around Charlotte Harbor, especially during the Fall. While berthed at Fishermen’s Village Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, you are certain to enjoy visiting Western Florida’s beautiful Charlotte Harbor/Peace River.
Good ‘Ole Days Coffee and Ice Cream – Key lime pie ice cream, key lime pie shakes, key lime cookies
![]() | Kathy Burnam 941.639.8721
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Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers Net Marina Directory Listing For Fishermen’s Village
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Fishermen’s Village
There is always plenty to do around Charlotte Harbor, especially during the Summer and Fall. While berthed at Fishermen’s Village Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, you are certain to enjoy visiting Western Florida’s beautiful Charlotte Harbor/Peace River.
Fishermen’s Village September Calendar of Events and Entertainment
![]() | Kathy Burnam 941.639.8721
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Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers Net Marina Directory Listing For Fishermen’s Village
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Fishermen’s Village
Gulfport Municipal Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, and the City of Gulfport always have a full calendar of events for all ages. The marina and harbor, found on the northern shores of Boca Ciega Bay, are easily accessible from the Western Florida ICW, just north of Tampa Bay.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, this weekend’s performance of “Hooked on a Bad Spirit” has been cancelled. At this moment no makeup date has been scheduled. For questions and refunds, please call Tron at 754-367-1492.
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window Zoomed To the Location of Gulfport Municipal Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window Zoomed To the Location of Gulfport Anchorage/Mooring Field
Gulfport Municipal Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, and the City of Gulfport always have a full calendar of events for all ages. The marina and harbor, found on the northern shores of Boca Ciega Bay, are easily accessible from the Western Florida ICW, just north of Tampa Bay.
GECKO BALL POSTPONED
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Click Here To Open A Chart View Window Zoomed To the Location of Gulfport Municipal Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window Zoomed To the Location of Gulfport Anchorage/Mooring Field
The entrance to Withlacoochee River is a long, narrow, multi-marker channel. This new technology will assist boaters wanting to explore the beautiful Withlacoochee.
Lower Withlacoochee River Survey Made Easier with Sonar Technology
Water News You Can Use
Gulfport Municipal Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, and the City of Gulfport always have a full calendar of events for all ages. The marina and harbor, found on the northern shores of Boca Ciega Bay, are easily accessible from the Western Florida ICW, just north of Tampa Bay.
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window Zoomed To the Location of Gulfport Municipal Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window Zoomed To the Location of Gulfport Anchorage/Mooring Field
Siesta, Lido and Longboat keys among Sarasota-area beaches reporting elevated measures.
Rising red tide levels prompt county advisory
YourObserver.com
Red tides were documented in the southern Gulf of Mexico as far back as the 1700s and along Florida’s Gulf coast in the 1840s.
Edward LePera Thanks Edward. Interesting note .Guess back then the resort market place wasn’t too worried about its impact on local tourism and fishing. Thank you for sharing.
Gulfport Municipal Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, and the City of Gulfport always have a full calendar of events for all ages. The marina and harbor, found on the northern shores of Boca Ciega Bay, are easily accessible from the Western Florida ICW, just north of Tampa Bay.
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Click Here To Open A Chart View Window Zoomed To the Location of Gulfport Municipal Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window Zoomed To the Location of Gulfport Anchorage/Mooring Field
But, as I’ve often said, there’s no such thing as too much information when you are on the water, so there are two more observations concerning this anchorage copied from the AGLCA forum. For more reports, enter Pelican Bay in the search window of our Homepage.
1/26/2021
Highly recommend the Punta Blanca anchorage. We spent a few nights there December 20-23 2020. I have attached our route getting in on our 5.5’ draft sailboat. We entered and left at high tide, there’s one little bar we bumped over on the southwest side, otherwise stay close to the mangroves. We only saw kayakers and fishermen and a park ranger checking for campers on the island. About a mile and a half dink ride to Cayo Costa State Park dock and Cabbage Key.
cheers,
Greg Scannell, AGLCA Member
S/V Dragonfly
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Alan is absolutely correct about Pelican Bay; it’s one of the premier anchorages you will find anywhere. However, “local knowledge” is important getting in there. Neither the approach to the bay, nor its entrance channel, are marked. So, ass/u/ming you are southbound on the G-ICW, turn west at a point south of G “75,” and about 200′ north of R “74.” Note that just off the shoreline, there is a Florida Speed Sign visible. Head toward that sign. Just before you reach the sign, turn SW and follow the line of the beach on Cayo Costa Island there, holding your course parallel to the beach and holding the shore close by to stbd at 50′ – 75′. Yes, a boat length or slightly more off the beach line. That “channel” carries 9′ of water, but it shoals very rapidly to the south, to 3′ or less. Many, many unwary boats go aground there. When you have passed by the beach, you will
see the Cayo Costa State Park docks at your 11 o’clock, at a distance of about 1/2 to 3/4 miles. Aim at those docks, and set a rhumb line to them until you are past the shallowest water. There are slips there, with no services, but cruising boats generally can’t use them. Only the very outermost slips carry sufficient water depth. The dock tee heads are reserved for tour boats, of which there are several that ply those waters. Plan to anchor. The bottom is sand, and the holding is excellent.
The gulf coast of Florida has diurnal tides; that is, one high and one low per day. Water depths are lowest in the morning and moderate to high in the mid-to-late afternoon. The tidal range at Pelican Bay is only about 2′. The rhumb line from the beach to the State Park docks will get down to 5-1/2′ at MLLW. By the time you get to the docks, you’ll see 6-1/2′ or more. There is a deep pool correctly charted on the current charts that carries 9′, which is the deepest water in the bay. Some older charts that are still widely circulated do not show that 9′ pool correctly. If you do not see that deep pool, you do not have the current charts of the basin. The basin is actually a “pass” between Cayo Costa Island to the west and Punta Blanco Island to the east. To the south from Pelican Bay, the water appears visually to be open; but, it is shoal, and not navigable by cruising draft boats. The only access back to the G-ICW from Pelican Bay is the one to the north of Punta Blanco Island, described above.
Armed with this “local knowledge,” you will find Pelican Bay to be a delightful, well protected anchorage with a lot to see and do.
Hope this is useful.
Jim
There are two really good anchorages near Boca Grande entrance to Charlotte Harbor. The second is Pelican Bay at Cayo Costa. This is one of our favorites. Many people avoid it because of the shoal at the entrance. Just hug the beach – stay 25-50 feet off the beach and you will be in 6-9 feet of water. We draw 4.5 feet and anchor here a lot. The beach and park at Cayo Costa are great and again the park is only accessible by boat.
Marty & Jerry Richardson
Pelican Bay is right in my backyard, and I have been there a number of times. The descriptions above are reasonable, although the details change often.
However, the discussion about tides is not correct. The tides in this part of the world cycle from diurnal to semidiurnal twice each month. The diurnal tides are near full moon and new moon, while the semidiurnal tides are near the first and third quarters. There is also an important annual component. The lowest tides tend to be mid-day in the winter and mid-night in the summer.
There are no simple rules that can be conveniently remembered. Even thought the average tidal range is only a couple of feet, tide tables are essential if depth is important to you.
Gene Fuller
Punta Gorda
The nun has now been replaced with a post R74. We were just there 1/20/13.
Frank Cushing
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Pelican Bay
Is there any updated info on Pelican Bay accessibility/ permission to anchor there, etc????? Last I've seen is Dec 2022.
We went by several days ago on saw a number of boats anchored there. Can’t go ashore but great location for nice anchorage. Looked like the boats were following the same route into Pelican Bay. Sign is still up.
I did dig a bit deeper and made some calls including to the Florida Park Service where I spoke to a real person. ( I had googled state parks and they gave me a list of other places still closed.) She said that the Cayo Costa is completely closed down and that included the anchorage. She was quite firm about the anchorage even when I said we would not go ashore. Has she ever even seen the place? Probably not. We are going that way anyhow in the next day or two so…….
I’m also looking for status of Cayo Costa. Currently anchored off Ding Darling for our second night. Mangroves look really browned out. Have not tried the dinghy yet to go inside as the entrance looks partially blocked off. Hopefully the tide is still coming up but… We are going to move to Cayo Costa probably tomorrow and will keep our fingers crossed. Came across the lake on Tuesday and very saddened to see Fort Meyers and Cape Coral and now Pine Island.
Jérôme – not a word – have tried for info via Boats US – nothing – seems either no one knows anything – or notinterested in answering.
Paul
I am looking for the same info on Pelican Bay and if boats are even cruising the ICW between Fort Myers and Venice. Have you by heard anything Paul?
Since the passing of Hurricane Ian can anyone tell me if the main entrance off of Marker #74 off the ICW is still navigable with a 5 foot draft???
Thank you.
Paul
When boat owners from across the country make a seasonal visit to Lee County docks, they’ll receive bling bags.
Bling bags welcome visiting boaters to Southwest Florida
The News-Press
Courtesy Photo
Courtesy Photo
AREA SPONSORING MARINAS
Click Here To View the Cruisers Net Western Florida Marina Directory Listing For Legacy Harbour Marina
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Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Fort Myers Beach Mooring Field
Gulfport Municipal Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, and the City of Gulfport always have a full calendar of events for all ages. The marina and harbor, found on the northern shores of Boca Ciega Bay, are easily accessible from the Western Florida ICW, just north of Tampa Bay.
Virtual Art, MLK + the Vaccine
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Gulfport Municipal Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Gulfport Anchorage/Mooring Field
During the pandemic, the Gulfport Historical Society continues its educational activities for the City of Gulfport, home to Gulfport Municipal Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, located on the northern shores of Boca Ciega Bay and easily accessible from the Western Florida ICW, just north of Tampa Bay.
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Cove Anchorage is found on the waters of the large cove indenting the Waterway’s northeastern banks at unlighted daybeacon #35. Our thanks to James Aughton for this review.
This anchorage is near perfect, in the middle of a No Wake zone and well protected from winds. Unfortunately, this is not a great location during the hot, humid Florida summers. And don’t leave the hatch open after sunset, the no-seeums will eat you up. End of roadway just to the south is a good dinghy landing and short walk east to Publix grocery store.
James Aughton
Click Here To View the Western Florida Anchroage Directory Listing For Cove Anchroage
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window Zoomed To the Location of Cove Anchorage
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