Smokehouse Bay (in the heart of Marco Island) is the newest addition to the Net’s “Western Florida Anchorage Directory.” This is a superb place to drop the hook, with good protection, and several surrounding restaurants where you can easily dinghy ashore.
The marked entrance channel to Smokehouse Bay breaks off from the Marco Island to Naples waterway/Capri Pass channel, between markers #14 and #12. Depths on this entrance cut are the only real drawback to this anchorage. We’ve sounded as little as 4 1/2 feet in spots at MLW. Need more – wait for a higher tide to enter and exit.

Have to agree with the postings on Smokehouse Bay. We use this as our primary anchoring spot when at Marco Island. Restaurants at the Esplanade are great, along with being easy walking distances to supermarkets, West Marine and a load of restaurants. One nice thing is that you can dinghy under the bridge and then bear to the left and use the dinghy dock located at the Winn-Dixie to do your shopping. Easier than shopping by car !!!!
Jerry Richardson

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Western Florida Anchorage Directory Listing For Smokehouse Bay Anchorage

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of The Smokehouse Bay Anchorage