Anchorages in South Florida - Lower Biscayne Bay and Keys
Anchorages Charters Marine Services Local Knowledge Pump out Bridges
Note: These notes are for reference only. Sail Miami will not be held responsible for anything that happens as a consequence of reading these reviews!
If you would like to add your own observations to any anchorage we have listed here, please use our anchorage review form. Sail Miami will publish all helpful recommendations that you may have for other boaters.
Read Keys Boating Info - What every boater should know about boating in the Keys.
| Arsnicker Keys
- Biscayne Bay 2522.631N 8018.459N
Anchoring behind keys. Approach from the south, too shallow from the north. Once inside do not go too north, there is very little water the farther north you go. No land facilities nearby. |
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| Pumpkin Key
@ Angelfish Creek
Good deep water. A lot of cruisers go out to the Bahamas through Angelfish Creek. Protected on South side, depending on the wind. Easy day sail from Miami. |
|
| Near Manatee
Marina in Manatee Bay.
Very shallow, you're in the wilderness here. |
|
| Largo Sound
in John Pennekamp State Park.
If you going to stay overnight the rangers will make you take a mooring. This is a very protected anchorage. The entrance is from the south. There are all kinds of facilities nearby. Mangroves all around. |
|
| Blackwater Sound.
Accessible from the ICW. Plenty of water, shoreside facilities abound as you are right in the middle of downtown Key Largo. Only protected from the west. |
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| Key Largo Near
Pt. Charles 2504.850 8026.918
Marinas all around. Plenty of water, but its tight. Not more than a few boats. Extremely well protected. |
|
| Behind Rodriguez
Key
Terrible in unsettled weather. Holding ground stinks. Be very careful, not recommended. |
|
| Snake Creek
Bridge 24 57.281 8035.278
Nice anchorage if you are coming from inside, on Bay side of Snake Creek. |
|
| Community Harbor in Tavernier | |
| Behind Tavernier
Key
It's tricky but awful. Not recommended. |
|
| Whale Harbor
Steer clear of anchoring in Whale Harbor if at all possible. Many people hanging out & having parties on the famous sandbar, lots of boats coming from Holiday Isle. Add to that the Keys famously bad holding ground and it can spell disaster. |
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| Matacumbe Bight
Populated area, recommended. Plenty of water 4 to 7 feet. |
|
| Channel 5 -
South side of bridge.
There is plenty of water right by the bridge Channel 5. Follow the channel on the south side. On the north side no place is good, very shallow. |
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| Tom's Harbor
@ Duck Key
Ocean side. Current strong in Tom's Harbor Channel. Stick to the channel. Shallow draft vessels only, 4 to 5 feet. |
|
| North side of
Vaca Key
Plenty of water, good marinas but bad holding. In settled weather, ok. |
|
| Boot Key Harbor
- Entrance from Ocean side
Big boats have been anchoring on West side of Boot Key, which is protected from the east only. Access to all kinds of good facilities. |
|
| Boot Key Harbor
Anchorage
8 feet max. depth, 65 ft. max to clear the cables. 5 feet through Sisters Creek. Good facilities, protected. |

