Below you will find a series of messages about the Little Shark River. This very interesting, but sometimes very buggy anchorage lies well south of Everglades City, and a short hop north of Cape Sable. It is one of the most backwater cruising possibilities in all of Florida. Just don't try anchoring here on a still, summer night. The little guys will come out, pick your boat up, and consume it in the nearby marsh!
Will be cruising from Marathon up to Little Shark and hope to see some real Everglades wildlife and do some exploring.
How far in from the river entrance does one have to go to get the Everglades experience.?
Will be in our 43 ft Hatteras DC.
Thanks for any info.
You can go up five or six miles, we have a five foot draft boat. There is plenty water, but anchor in the middle to allow the tide.
Danny and Kris Fletcher
Nordhavn 46
We've had our former Sanderling into the Little Shark River 8 miles. Definitely into the Everglades, but it wasn't what we expected it would be, however, it was fascinating, nonetheless!
For the money, the best overall experience came at Flamingo, Florida, where we took a 2 hour tour on a pontoon boat into the same Everglades. Saw a different aspect of the Everglades than we saw on the Little Shark River – much more like what we had expected.
Keep in mind, different land areas of the Everglades are at different elevations and therefore have totally different flora and fauna. Even a foot of elevation difference can change things quite dramatically.
Bob McLeran and Judy Young
Email Claiborne to respond to this posting
I LOVE it!!!!!
Subject: Live-aboards welcome!
Cruising News: Hello Cruisers!
How about a refreshing change of pace? The City of Fort Myers welcomes live-aboards. The City has ownership of the Caloosahatchee river bottom, not the State, and as such welcomes live-aboards to the marina, the mooring field, and the anchorage. You can live year-round at the mooring field and in the marina, but would be limited to month to month at the anchorage based on rules compliance.
The Fort Myers Yacht Basin has 258 slips from 20′ to 130′ with 6′ of water depth. Free wireless internet and sewage pump-out at your slip! Very reasonable rates, up-river storm protection, and a great downtown location. Give us a call at 239-321-7080 if you want to be a part of our live-aboard neighborhood!
Leif Lustig
I LOVE it!!!!!
Subject: Live-aboards welcome!
Cruising News: Hello Cruisers!
How about a refreshing change of pace? The City of Fort Myers welcomes live-aboards. The City has ownership of the Caloosahatchee river bottom, not the State, and as such welcomes live-aboards to the marina, the mooring field, and the anchorage. You can live year-round at the mooring field and in the marina, but would be limited to month to month at the anchorage based on rules compliance.
The Fort Myers Yacht Basin has 258 slips from 20′ to 130′ with 6′ of water depth. Free wireless internet and sewage pump-out at your slip! Very reasonable rates, up-river storm protection, and a great downtown location. Give us a call at 239-321-7080 if you want to be a part of our live-aboard neighborhood!
Leif Lustig
1. Cape Sable Anchorages
Lat/Lon: near 25 09.569 North/081 08.623 West (North of Middle Cape) near 25 09.284 North/081 08.417 West (South of Middle Cape)
Location: discovered on the waters northwest and south of Middle Cape Minimum Depth – 7 feet
Minimum Depth: 6 to 8 feet
Swing Room: unlimited
Foul Weather Shelter:poor, fair weather and light airs anchorage ONLY
Rating:
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2. Little Shark River Outer Anchorage
Lat/Lon: near 25 19.677 North/081 08.801 West
Location: northwest of unlighted daybeacon #4 Minimum Depth 5 ½ feet
Minimum Depth: 5 1/2 feet
Swing Room: sufficient room for vessels as large as 48 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: excellent, great foul weather hidey hole
Rating:
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Anchored in the Little Shark River on Sunday Dec. 13, 2009. Very buggy but we have a screen enclosed cockpit, stayed in the cockpit all night to view the Geminid Meteor Showers…spectacular show. Several dolphins circled our boat all night. No problem entering the river but when we left the next morning it was a very low tide and at one point we did tap the bottom but didn’t have any problems getting out. Our boat draws 5 1/2 ‘. A great place to view the wildlife and stars, also no cell phone reception which can be good and bad. A welcome change from the Keys.
Capt. RL & Karen
s/v Last Call
45’ Island Trader, Ketch
3. Little Shark River Southern Fork Anchorage
Lat/Lon: near 25 19.736 North/081 07.132 West
Location: lies southeast of unlighted daybeacon #69
Minimum Depth: 5 foot approach depths, but 9 foot depths in the anchorage
Swing Room: sufficient swinging room for vessels as large as 40 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: Excellent, only very strong northwesterly winds should be a problem here
Rating:
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4. Little Shark River Upper Anchorage
Lat/Lon: near 25 20.268 North/081 06.983 West
Location: will be found to the west-northwest, west of unlighted daybeacon #68
Minimum Depth: 5 foot approach depths, but 6-foot depths in anchorage
Swing Room: sufficient swinging room for vessels as large as 45 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: Very good, except during strong northwestern winds
Rating:
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5. New Turkey Key Anchorage
Lat/Lon: near 25 38.984 North/081 16.759 West
Location: discovered on the wide band of charted 6- and 8-foot waters off the eastern and northeastern sides of New Turkey Key
Minimum Depth: 4-foot approach depths, but 6-foot depths in the anchorage
Swing Room: sufficient swinging room for vessels as large as 36 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: fair to good, but open to northern southern winds
Rating:
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6. Lumber Key Anchorage
Lat/Lon: near 25 45.627 North/081 22.835 West
Location: lies off the western banks of Lumber Key
Minimum Depth: 4-6 feet
Swing Room: sufficient swinging room for boats as large as 48 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: fair, but open to western, northwestern and southwestern winds
Rating:
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7. Jack Daniels Key Anchorage
Lat/Lon: near 25 47.882 North/081 25.931 West
Location: found on the waters southeast of Jack Daniels Key
Minimum Depth: 5-feet
Swing Room: sufficient swinging room for vessels as large as 40 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: good, but somewhat open to southern and southeastern winds
Rating:
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8. Kingston Key Anchorage
Lat/Lon: near 25 48.005 North/081 27.011 West
Location: lies off the eastern shores of Kingston Key
Minimum Depth: 6-feet
Swing Room: sufficient swinging room for vessels as large as 50 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: Good, but open to southwestern winds
Rating:
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9. Indian Key Anchorage
Lat/Lon: near 25 48.673 North/081 27.728 West
Location: will be discovered southeast of the sandspit, off Indian Key’s northeasterly tip
Minimum Depth: 6-feet
Swing Room: sufficient swinging room for vessels as large as 55 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: very good, but a bit open to strong southern winds
Rating:
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10. Russell Pass Southern Anchorage
Lat/Lon: near 25 49.917 North/081 26.516 West
Location: found on the waters of charted Russell Pass which opens into the northern flank of the Indian Key-Everglades City channel, southwest of flashing daybeacon #7
Minimum Depth: 7-feet
Swing Room: almost unlimited
Foul Weather Shelter: very good, but somewhat open to strong southern winds
Rating:
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In February 1980, while my wife, Helen and I were cruising in our 26 foot Pearson sailboat, we were anchored in Russell Bay when the anchorage became very choppy and we moved to Russell Pass.During the night we dragged anchor and at 0300 were wakened by mangroves running both sides of the boat. I rowed the dinghy till I found the pass again, went back and motored out to re-anchor with two anchors.
The current in these passes can be pretty strong.
What a beautiful cruising area.
11. Russell Pass Middle Anchorage
Lat/Lon: near 25 50.303 North/081 26.317 West
Location: found on the waters of Russell Pass just short of the large, shallow cove cutting into the southeasterly banks
Minimum Depth: 7-feet
Swing Room: sufficient swinging room for vessels as large as 50 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: excellent, great foul weather hidey hole
Rating:
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12. Russell Pass Northern Anchorage
Lat/Lon: near 25 50.542 North/081 26.019 West
Location: lies 200 yards southwest of the charted split in the stream
Minimum Depth: 6-feet
Swing Room: sufficient swinging room for vessels as large as 45 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: excellent, about as good as it gets
Rating:
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I have used this anchorage a few times in wind from the north @ 35 mph as stated ( as good as it gets ). 37 foot sailing vessel 5ft draft. S/V TIME
13. Picnic Key Anchorage
Lat/Lon: near 25 49.278 North/081 29.116 West
Location: found southwest of Picnic Key
Minimum Depth: 4 – 5-feet
Swing Room: sufficient swinging room for vessels as large as 50 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: fair, open to southern and southwestern winds
Rating:
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14. Caxambas Pass Anchorage
Lat/Lon: near 25 54.129 North/081 39.953 West
Location: will be discovered on the waters west of unlighted daybeacon #1 (west of Ramsey Key)
Minimum Depth: 5-foot approach depths, 6-foot depths in anchorage
Swing Room: sufficient swinging room for vessels as large as 45 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: good, but a bit open to strong eastern winds
Rating:
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15. Coon Key Pass Anchorage
Lat/Lon: near 25 54.115 North/081 38.433 West
Location: lies off the easterly banks of the small, unnamed island east of Neal Key and west-northwest of unlighted daybeacon #2
Minimum Depth: 10-feet
Swing Room: sufficient swinging room for vessels as large as 55 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: fair, open to southern and southwestern winds
Rating:
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16. Tripod Key – Sugar Bay Anchorage
Lat/Lon: near 25 54.633 North/081 38.072 West
Location: found on the charted 5-foot offshoot leading to Sugar Bay, east of unlighted daybeacon #3
Minimum Depth: 5-fee
Swing Room: sufficient swinging room for vessels as large as 45 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: excellent
Rating:
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