Report from Matanzas Pass, Fort Myers Beach, FL
Matanzas Pass is the waterway east of Estero Island that connects San Carlos Bay with Estero Bay to the south and is notorious for shoaling, see /97467. Fort Myers Beach, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, is on the northeastern tip of Estero Island. Our thanks to Lisa Keith-Lucas for this report.
We cruised offshore from Tampa, arriving at 1am 2/15/16 in San Carlos Bay to anchor for the rest of the night. While sounding our way in,we encountered shallower water than the chart indicated on the side of the entrance opposite the channel to the marina at Ft. Myers Beach. Although the depths were not problematic (except having the depth sounder give an alarm when we thought we were in 10 feet of water) it might indicate that the bar that forms the opening to the bay may be longer than the charts allow. We stayed closer to the channel when departing and avoided the shallow water. We were well clear of the 6 ft “knoll” that appears on the chart at the tip of the bar.
Lisa Keith-Lucas
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Matanzas Pass
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Fort Myers Beach Mooring Field
Comments from Cruisers (1)
Charts are basically useless in this rapidly shifting channel, and should not be relied upon other than as a rough guide, unless you’ve been updating with the published LNM. I went through there yesterday, with no depth problems – and so does the local casino boat, and a host of shrimpers. Buoys mark the channel, with good water, although it does bring you close to the beach.