Anchorages West Coast Florida

[cabo]

The Captain and I are sailing to the Bahamas in May. Everything is pretty much going according to schedule. The only question we still have are finding satisfactory anchorages along the West Coast of Florida between Fort Myers and the southern tip. Our draft is about 5' The cruising guides sort of skip this part of the coast of Florida

[doug86]

Not all the cruising guides have skipped it. Why not look at active captain to start with. You will have to zoom in a little to see all the nice anchorages listed along that part of Florida.

[Unicorn Dreams]

What type of anchorage are you looking for, just overnight or somewhere to be with other people, supplies, etc.

[svHyLyte]

Originally Posted by cabo

The Captain and I are sailing to the Bahamas in May. Everything is pretty much going according to schedule. The only question we still have are finding satisfactory anchorages along the West Coast of Florida between Fort Myers and the southern tip. Our draft is about 5' The cruising guides sort of skip this part of the coast of Florida

Take a look at http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ages-3422.html . See also related posts at the very bottom of this page. Active Captain, suggested above is also a good reference.

FWIW there are few "anchorages" between Ft. Myers and the Keys. There is a spot in Naples, one at Marko Island; and, one on the Little Shark River but the coast between Cape Romano and Key West offers little in the way of anchorages for a (relatively) deep draft yacht.

[djmarchand]

SW Florid hasloads of great anchorages. Hear are three of my favoriites are:

Boca Grande- A bayou you enter from the bay side of the barrier island and tie stern to the mangroves with a bow anchor out. Tie your dinghy to the county dock and walk a half mile to the tony little town. Might be a little tight getting in. Watch the tides.

Cayo Costa State Park in Pelican Bay- Room for a hundred boats. Tie you dinghy to the state park dock and walk to beach. Also tight getting in- stay close to shore.

Ft Myers Beach- A mooring field, not an anchorage. But reasonably priced and the beach is a 1/4 mile walk away.

And the link to Southwest Florida Anchorages is great. I used the print version many years ago and the on-line version gives the same information.

David

[GordMay]

Guide to Anchorages in Southwest Florida
➥ Florida Sea Grant - Boating & Waterways - Anchorage Inventory

[cabo]

We are only looking for overnight anchorages. Thank you for the replies.

[captlee]

A nice tuck-in spot is south of Marco going into Everglades City{Baron River} just inside Indian Key called Russel Pass. Good holding sheltered. Check charts Easy in out good for over night or go up river to city with docks at Rod and Gun or City Seafood. Deep channel well markered. check GE with overlay for a good look

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by djmarchand

SW Florid hasloads of great anchorages. Hear are three of my favoriites are:...Boca Grande.......Cayo Costa ......Ft. Myers Beach........

Good suggestions! I like these too, but none of them are in the stretch that the OP is asking about. We use Factory Bay and Little Shark River on our way to Channel 5 where we anchor in Lower Matecumbe Bight.