Florida's Pine Island question

[trailertrawlerkismet]

Lisa and I have cruised Florida's west coast many times but we've never navigated the east side of Pine Island, always the ICW western side. Are there any Tugnuts that have experience cruising the eastern side of Pine Island who could share their knowledge with us?

Jim

 

[Pete]

This is Matlacha Pass and Clairborne Young's Cruising Guide to Western Florida provides fairly detailed information. Twisty and 3ft or less outside marked channel. It's only for vessels drawing less than 4 ft and able to clear a 32 ft power line, so Rangers should be fine. He mentions a couple of anchoring options that seem good for all but southerly winds. I recall a little restaurant there that served good fish (though that was some years ago) if you can find a place to dock.
Pete

 

[Namaste]

The Waterfront Restaurant and Marina in St James City has free overnight tie-ups at their docks. We did that last year.

There are plenty of fine places to anchor on the east side of Pine Island near the northern tip but as far as the pass along the east side is concerned, most places you are either in the channel or aground. South wind will get you more water.

The Olde Fish House Marina is the best restaurant . We have been there by car but not boat. See http://www.oldfishhousemarina.com/

 

[Knot In Court]

Jim,
This is my second time to try and reply to your post. The first one must have disappeared but I am new at this!!!
thanks for responding to me on the Palm Island Trip. Mike contacted me and Julie and I will try to get there on the 7th to meet people. We are leaving on a cruise ship on the 9th so the 8th is definitely out.
We have taken the trip on the eastern side of Pine Island from Charlotte Harbor to St James City on a number of occasions. Most of the trips were on a 25' Bayliner pocket cruiser that drafted 38" and we never had a problem. The channel is well marked but you have to pay attention as it is anything but straight!!! You should plan on stopping at Matlache, which is a small town located on the piece of land connecting Pine Island to Cape Coral. The lift bridge that is on the main road cuts Matlache in half. We have anchored out there many times on the 35' Island Packet Cat that we used to own. Our sailboat club made Matlache its destination once a year and we always had 20 to 30 boats. The deepest anchorage is south and east of the bridge but lacks protection from the south. This is where we always anchored with the sailboats as the anchorage to the north of the bridge is quite shallow, but not for the Ranger Tug. If is is going to be windy anchor on the north side. There are many good restaurants and interesting small shops all within a 1/2 mile on both sides of the bridge. A must stop is Bert's Bar located on the south side and about 5 buildings east of the bridge. They have a dock where you can put your dinghy and leave it while you explore the town. There is also a park and boat launch ramp on the south side about 2 or 3 blocks west of the bridge. They have a dinghy dock next to the boat launch on the right side of a channel as you enter and the best restaurants for breakfast are on the west side. There are fun shops on both sides of the bridge and the better restaurants (more expensive), are east of Bert's Bar. It really is a must stop and worth at least a night there and a day shopping.
If you have any specific questions I would be happy to answer them.
Hope to meet you on the 7th.
Bob

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

Great suggestions and guidance....thanks Bob, Jim and Pat and Pete.....your responses are just one of the ways that make our Ranger Tug community so valuable. Hope to see all of you soon,

Jim and Lisa

 

[Pete]

Jim,

I'm glad you brought it up. I've only done that route in small fishing boats and when we cruise that area we have become creatures of habit. So it's always some variation on Boca Grande, Useppa, Pelican Bay, Cabbage Key, Ding Darling, Tween Waters and points south. Come to think of it, that's not a bad habit but now you've jogged my memory, next time we'll do the east of Pine Island route.
Pete

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

With the local knowledge provided on Tugnuts Kismet landed in Matlache at Olde Fish House Marina on Wednesday. The water coming down from Charlotte Harbor was plenty deep in the well marked channel. The water into the marina was a little shallow but doable for our R27 at low tide....so if you come into Olde FishHouse Marina make it on a rising tide. The village is a fun and interest stop, just what we were looking for. One more day, time to check out the restaurants while we wait out the high winds from this recent cold front.

Jim

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

Pine Island update.....we departed Matlache at mean low tide as it was rising to continue southerly. The water at low tide was just barely doable coming out of Olde Fish House Marina, best at mid to high tide. After getting a bridge opening we continued south towards Sanibel Island. Keeping in the channel we never saw less then 4 feet of depth, mostly 5 to 6 feet with the occasional 7 to 8. With up to a 2 foot tide we would have had plenty of water and Matlache was an interesting and good stop. As we came to marker 2 and near the end of the channel we spotted an Eagle resting on top of the marker post.