Naples to St. Pete

[slackintide]

Planning a trip to St. Pete from Naples. First stop in Ft. Myers Beach/Matanzas. Looking for suggestions for anchorages along the way from Matanzas to Tampa Bay. My Irwin draws 4ft. Suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[MV Wanderlust]

Cayo Costa State Park is just north of Ft Myers. Good place to overnight. Don Pedro State Park is a couple of hours north of that on the ICW and also a good place to overnight. Otter Key is outside of Sarasota and there is an anchoring/mooring field at Marina Jack's in Sarasota. All good places.

Try Active Captain for good locations and reviews of anchorages: https://activecaptain.garmin.com/en-US/Map

Good luck on the trip.

John

[sailorboy1]

Hey keep these coming. LAN to leave Fort Myers beach Friday and head toward Sarasota with a stop in Punta Gorda. Bu5 my problem becomes the detest as I need 6.4’

[MV Wanderlust]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

Hey keep these coming. LAN to leave Fort Myers beach Friday and head toward Sarasota with a stop in Punta Gorda. Bu5 my problem becomes the detest as I need 6.4’

Hey SB. All of the anchorages I mentioned typically have a depth of 8 to 10 feet. I have seen sailboats larger than yours in all of them. Follow the approach instructions on Active Captain and you’ll be fine.

[sailorboy1]

It’s the inlets that are currently my issue. I don’t really want to motor down the west coast ditch, but it looks that I need to come in at Venice.

[Davy J]

Been in and out at Venice numerous times, never had any problems there.

Our typical day route is Fort Myers Beach to Cayo Costa, then to Longboat Pass. Deep draft boats will need to pay attention entering Longboat Pass.

If transiting the GICW from Fort Myers to Cayo Costa, avoid the "miserable mile" on the weekends. It really is "miserable".

[slackintide]

Originally Posted by CaptJohnEasley

Cayo Costa State Park is just north of Ft Myers. Good place to overnight. Don Pedro State Park is a couple of hours north of that on the ICW and also a good place to overnight. Otter Key is outside of Sarasota and there is an anchoring/mooring field at Marina Jack's in Sarasota. All good places.

Try Active Captain for good locations and reviews of anchorages: https://activecaptain.garmin.com/en-US/Map

Good luck on the trip.

John

Thanks for the info John!! Active Captain looks like a great resource!!!

[navysurfer]

I live in Sarasota, the mooring field downtown is nice , but I do NOT suggest either pass in Sarasota. Big pass is constantly shifting, New Pass is currently being dredged.

I draw 6 feet, so I go out Venice, or Longboat Pass hope this helps.

Pop's

[sailorboy1]

how's Longboat Pass really as I have read different depths for it online

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by navysurfer

I live in Sarasota, the mooring field downtown is nice , but I do NOT suggest either pass in Sarasota. Big pass is constantly shifting, New Pass is currently being dredged.



I draw 6 feet, so I go out Venice, or Longboat Pass hope this helps.



Pop's

I’ve been there a few times, and have been advised to call TowBoat US for current conditions as they constantly change.
It’s obviously possible just judging from the boats that go in and out.
Both times I chickened out and went in Venice and out Tampa Bay.
I draw 5’

[sailorbobdeb]

We just returned from that area this week. We draw 6'. Anchorages we also enjoy-
-- Emerson Point Preserve - off Tampa Bay at Manatee River
-- Desoto National Park - off Tampa Bay at Manatee River (other bank)
-- Sanibel Island off Ding Darling/GIWW
-- St. James City off GIWW
-- Redington Shores - north of St. Pete Beach on GIWW/south of The
Narrows, very protected, follow Active Captain entry directions carefully.
-- North Tampa Bay Skyway
-- Around Useppa Island and across from Cabbage Key
-- south end of Cayo Costa/Pejuan Point near Captiva Passage - Crazy
current but great stop for shelling and natural beauty.
-- Bunche Beach/San Carlos Bay NW - both near Ft. Myers Beach

We love Pelican Bay near Cayo Costa and always spend some time there, but be very aware of charted depths. This last trip we watched a boat struggle on the shoal with 3 dinghies assisting for an hour. Have a great time!

[captlloyd]

Why not use the internet and get up to date information ? Cruising guide.com, marinas.com, activecaptain.com. All pertinent info there with contact info provided.

[Teknishn]

I passed through that area 3 months ago with a 4.5 -ft draft (am currently in Biloxi, MS). There are plenty of anchorages in the area. One of the publications that I use is from Skipper Bob ($17 PDF download). Lists many many anchorages with some basic info and a marina details as well. Just one of many resources to be found out there.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by captlloyd

Why not use the internet and get up to date information ? Cruising guide.com, marinas.com, activecaptain.com. All pertinent info there with contact info provided.

well THIS IS part of the internet so why wouldn't people use it along with those (nothing more out of date than a printed guide!)

[Davy J]

how's Longboat Pass really as I have read different depths for it online

Unfortunately, the last time thru was a few months ago. Since my boat only draws three feet, wasn't exactly looking at the max depths.

However, there is a shoal almost directly to the west and slightly north of the channel on the way in. There is also a shoal to the south. The markers, at least the last time I went thru, are somewhat of a zig-zag. Meaning, start south of the pass, head slightly north then turn back to the east. If the water is calm, you can see both shallow areas by the water color. If the water is not calm, you can see the breaking water.