Anclote Key, FL sailing out of Anclote River-anchorage spots, local wisdom?

[oceanroadus]

Hello all, we are planning a sail out there in the next couple of months as the weather cools enough to overnight in Central FL.  It will be our first time in that area but I'm reasonably familiar with the chart, we are self sufficient in our boat (Suncat) so no worries about shore needs.  Planning to head out the Anclote River channel in a.m. and probably anchor off the beach-Gulf side, do a beach day-explore island and then depending on wind and forecast either anchor out a bit on the Gulf side to sleep or head around to the back of the island for a calmer night.  Anyone that may have suggestions on anchorages, best routes, etc. would be great.  I recall I read there might be a wreck that can be explored by snorkeling, sounds interesting if there is, thanks!

[hoddinr]

Hi Ocean,

The Pasco Co park (Anclote Park?) is the closest ramp that will put you in the river.  There is a power plant that sucks river and creates a cross current at the ramp when launching and retrieving. So be careful coming in and leaving.  You may need a permit to launch and keep your trailer there overnight.

Three Rooker's Bar is a great hang out, as is Anclote Key.  The inside north section is better for overnight anchoring than the Gulf Side.  It get's REAL shallow over by Fred Howard Park and Sunset Park south of the Anclote River, but you can cruise by at mid to low tide with your CB up.  There are also some very nice Spoil Islands just north of the Dunedin Causeway Bridge - near Red Daymarker 23-24.  Campfires and on shore camping permitted.

A nice sail is to circumnavigate Three Rooker's Bar, which is now a couple of islands.  Bird sanctuaries on the islands, but beach landings permitted.

Hope we get to sail together sometime. 
Ron Hoddinott
Founder ~ West Coast Trailer Sailing Squadron ~
SunCat - Nomad.

[oceanroadus]

Thanks for the great info Ron, we look forward to joining the group and sailing with you all.  We finely got her all fitted out like I wanted, then had to get a repair done, got a new motor  and by that time it was October!  We are still in the crew training phase :-) but I can report my First Mate and Lil' deckhands are coming along nicely! 

Frank

[oceanroadus]

Hi all, we made the trip out and it was very very nice!  I highly recommend!  I figured I would share some tidbits for others that may take this trip, hopefully it will help a newbie small boater like me.  Of course if someone has a better way please share.  Anyway we sailed out the channel from the Anclote River Park and headed toward the south end of the island (Anclote Key), there are a couple of markers which are poles with white signs with some lettering left on them, warning of shallow water.  There is a green buoy #5 I believe that is safe water and if you round it to the south you are in good shape.  There were several boats at this sandy southern tip and a large ferry from the sponge docks beaches itself right there to unload.  Pretty busy but you can approach slowly if you are looking to check it out.  We rounded the island instead and headed North of the lighthouse where the chart showed less sand and more water.  It was quite calm and nice, so here is what I would suggest, it is what we did and worked well.  Tide was heading out but still high enough to anchor in about 3-5' of water, bow seaward and stern to the beach.  I would set your anchor out pretty far 30' or so and then back down on it toward the shore.  We had a sea breeze which kept her bow into the wind as well, I hopped out and walked my secondary anchor which is a danforth up to the shore line and set it by hand.  Then made it off to the stern cleat and by working the bow and stern lines we could adjust the boat as the tide went out so she was in enough water to float safely but we didn't have to get much wetter than the waist to get to her.  We then sailed back around the South end after a day at the beach and did a little fishing abeam of the lighthouse where a couple of other boats were already at anchor for the evening.  The kids had so much fun catching fish we just had dinner on the hook and went to bed but it was a lot of movement for my tastes at that anchorage.  I am used to sleeping on larger boats 100'+ as crew so next time I will look for real calm water.  I felt like a cork bobbing out there in our little Suncat, lol.  Seemed like a fair bit of currents moving etc. and probaly boat wakes too.   Just for folks info, next time I will head in closer to land or seek more protected water.  Fair winds all!               

[Tom L.]

HI frank, and thank you for that report. I have been wanting to sail out of the river park you used but was concerned about the water flow from the power plant. How was the ramp? Any problem with the cross flow?

I was also wondering if  anchoring around the islands was too rough due to weather how would it be to anchor in the creek that the ramp is on? I know there are barriers so you can not go very far up the creek but how much current is there and would it be comfortable to anchor?

I hope to have my new to me Menger 19 sailing after the first of the year. I just sold my Sun Cat and as I am sure you have found out it's a great pocket cruiser.  The new boat needs more fixing and My first mate is struggling with health issues that we hope are nearly at a point that we can sail again on overnight trips. We are members of the WCTSS and they are a great bunch. With Ron at the helm it is always a fun and knowledgeable group.

Hope to see you in the future.

Tom L.

[oceanroadus]

Hi Tom, the current wasn't too bad but it is there so you just have to be mindful of it. Thanks again to Ron for sharing!!! There  isn't a whole lot of room in the dock area before the shutdown area of buoys by the plant.  But if you wanted you could probably squeeze in since nothing comes in or out. There were 6 boats moored or anchored there 3 definitely abandoned and the other 3 questionable. There is also a wrecked one by the dock half out of the water and half submerged. I would explore the river a bit upstream instead to find a better spot to overnight.  Wish you the best for your first mate and your 19 footer! 

[hoddinr]

Good to know that you didn't need a permit to leave your vehicle/trailer at the park overnight.  It didn't used to be that way.  Looking for a calm anchorage in the area is a matter of finding a windward shore to duck in behind.  Three Rooker's Bar to the south a mile or two would have been better with a west sea breeze.  Out by the light house you were probably getting bounced around by boats passing into the Anclote River area and waves sweeping around the island.

Glad you had a good time!  The fishing there is excellent, as you found out! 

Ron

[oceanroadus]

Yes ramp is $5 per day, overnight parking is ok machine takes cards and prints you a ticket for your dashboard