Shoaling Reported South of Tom Adams Bridge, Lemon Bay, Western Florida ICW Statute Mile 43.5
Englewood Beach Anchorage - Click for Chartview
While Captain Sharrett’s caution lacks a specific location for the sandbar where he grounded, we have had previous reports of shoaling in Lemon Bay south of Tom Adams Bridge. If you look very closely, you can see the “7” in Captain Sharrett’s attached photo. The admonition is to proceed with caution in the area immediately south of the bridge and when entering the Englewood Beach Anchorage southwest of the bridge..
Good afternoon,
I’d like to notify SSEC members of water depth SW of Tom Adams Bridge on the GICW.
Based on Dozier’s 2013 Waterway Guide, we anchored without problems mid-afternoon 12/17 approx 350 yds WSW of area that shows 7′ deep on the attached image. Our depth at anchorage was not less than 6.5′ thru the next Tide cycle.
We weighed anchor at 0845 12/18, approx 10 minutes after low tide. At 0850 on a heading of 025T , to come into the ICW, we ran aground on a mud bar in 3.5′ of water.
With another hour of incoming tide, the wake of a passing boat, and our main 75% out, we plowed out.
Note, I do NOT fault the WWGuide. It’s been spot-on with everything, & track out was nearly on top of track in. Just a heads up for all.
Best regards & Merry Christmas.
Patrick & Jolene Sharrett
Aboard Suite Jolene
I frequent this area in a 44-foot power boat. If you look at the chart you can clearly see the `mud bar’ that separates his anchor area from the ICW. To avoid that mud bar you must continue in a northeast direction, closer to the south side of the bridge before cutting over to the ICW. Plus you must be aware of the extreme swings of the Spring Tides, as December 17th created a VERY low tide that morning:
`The tide heights were 1.6 ft, -0.3 ft, 1.0 ft and 0.7 ft. We can compare these levels with the maximum high tide recorded in the tide tables for Englewood (Lemon Bay) which is of 2.0 ft and a minimum height of -0.7 ft.’
That stretch of ICW thru the Lemon Bay area is narrow and while digging the channel, they piled spoil along the edges of the dredged channel. Great care, especially in windy conditions, must be taken to stay in the narrow channel. You must `read the water’ in that area, similar to navigating the Florida Keys.
Joe Curley
We were just in that anchorage on 12-26/12-28 2013. When passing south under the Tom Adams bridge continue south about 400′ to N 26 55.974 W 082 21.117 (by the big sign) and then make your turn in towards the anchorage.
You will see the boats anchored along the small island to your port side, head in and pass close behind these boats on the channel side. Follow the channel around to the left as there is an unmarked shoal in the center of the small bay.
We draw 4′ 6’³ and had plenty of depth at MLW.
This is a ‘˜No Wake’ zone, and a nice anchorage. It’s a bit crowded though. Short dinghy ride to a couple of restaurants and bars, or over to Stump Pass. If you anchor where you have a good view of the shoal in the middle of the small bay, that’s pretty entertaining as well.
Larry Annen
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Englewood Beach Anchorage
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