FL for a month in winter.

Donald Tyson · Joined: 24 Jul 2023 Posts: 562 Photos: Thistle

We were thinking of staying in FL for a month or so in winter.....in an area where Kim can do a lot of shelling. When is a good time to go and where could we get a slip and how much will we have to lay out?
Options for a month:
Anchor out
Mooring
Slip
When should we begin to look?

I sort of thought that maybe we should boat down from the mid Chessie, enjoy a few Key areas along the way, and then trailer home once our pockets start to dry out.

I Believe the best shelling is from Cedar Key and on south past Ft Meyers.

Best!

thataway · Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2025 3:52 pm Post subject:

What month? Chesapeake in the winter--no! If you want warm weather, and nice boating, then mid keys, such as Marathon, or The State Park in Florida keys: Bahia Honda. Cheap mooring, nice part to boat from.

Shelling may not be compatable with the best boating options for you. There are a number of guides and pamphlets on line as well as on Amazon. Sanibel and Captiva Islands are great shelling areas, but if you want to stay in a marina, then it is a long way. Anchoring-has to be on the inner side of these Islands, and anchorages change due to wind directions. Anchoring on the inside then may present challenges getting to the exposed shelling beaches. A good sized inflatable dinghy with solid or inflatable high pressure floor and motor might solve those propblems. At least 9 1/2 feet and at least 9 hp. Even then, there may not be good places to land the dinghy.

The 10,000 Islands are also an excellent shot at getting shells, but lots of Mangroves, swamp, shoal water and bugs...however you probably can anchor close to shelling areas. A kayak might be a good 'dinghy' here. Inflatable (quality) or hard kayak.

Also there are going to be "Bug" problems around the mangroves and swamp lands.

gulfcoast john · Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2025 3:59 pm Post subject:

Don,

Pink Shell Marina, Ft Myers Beach FL. Next to Sanibel Island, renowned for some of the best shelling. We saw no shelsl at Cedar Key or islands off the Everglades

See Feb 23 entry here, stay over 30 days:

https://findpenguins.com/ancient-isles/trip/okeechobee-pink-shell-hontoon

Best overall value 5 star resort marina we’ve found anywhere. Only small boats stay in the inside floating docks. You’ll notice that I never ment.ion this on AGLCA, it’s our secret. Call Dockmaster Dave O’Conner using only the genuine Resort link:

pinkshell.com

Our 2026 reservation is Jan 23-Hontoon Hoot. The Punta Rassa boat ramp is much better than Salty Sams if it’s rebuilt by then. We stored the rig at safetstorage.com nearby.

Safe Travels!

Donald Tyson · Joined: 24 Jul 2023 Posts: 562 Photos: Thistle

I guess I didn't explain it correctly. We will be in Saint Michaels or similar at the end of boating season on the Mid-Chesapeake this year (November). Then 1) I was going to trailer the boat home to Pennsylvania. Or 2) I could just stay on the boat and head for Fort Meyers on the IWC. 20-30 days with a few stops, and visit friends. So if that's what we do then it looks like
We'll be in Ft Meyers in December for about 30 days.
But would we be better served, especially because John, very convincingly, talked us into this type of boat, would I be smarter to trailer down and back from PA

If we run the boat Down on the water it will count for that much of the Loop. If we drive down then we will have a vehicle down there if we need it. If we trailer down we would choose the month of January as it fits Kim's work schedule best.

We have an 8' dinghy, I'm the motor for now, but it will take a 5 if we feel it necessary. I like rowing. The beauty of the C-Dory is its shallow water capability. So we can get pretty close to the Beach if it is a sheltered beach.

John that Marina is amazing and we will look into for sure. I will say though. We don't do too well in urban areas and usually anchor in the Lee somewhere. But since the price seems right this may be nice.

Bob, you mentioned Bahia Honda. Are there good values there for such a small boat. Are there shells. When we were there by car we noticed no shells. Are there places in the keys that a good for shelling and shelter.

Frankly I have not begun to look yet and it would figure that John and you would share and get me pointed in the right direction. Thanks all!

gulfcoast john · Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2025 7:12 am Post subject:

Bahia Honda is a deal for small boats but has a 2 week stay limit. Free reservations but much harder to get into in winter so make one now. 30 days at Pink Shell for $858 for you is a steal. Massive free buffet is open til 1030; you won't need lunch. Metered shorepower with no AC will be about $10/month. They gave it to us free because the dockhand didn't want to walk down the dock to check the meter. Three heated pools, 1 adults only, 2 hot tubs. You can boat to Sanibel and Captiva if you don't want to pay the bridge toll; there is a large beachfront park on Sanibel. Making a reservation is free, so do it. The free buffet and truck parking was not included in past years, this seems to vary depending on demand. Safe travels!
John

thataway · Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2025 11:49 am Post subject:

Mid November can be dicey in the Chessapeake. We saw 14*, with salt water ice on the boat in Norfolk the first week in Dec. We stopped boating on the Chesapeake at the first part of October in smaller boats.

No good intect shells in most of the keys, on the beaches, you have to snorkle for the shells on the reefs. I would spend a few days to get the shelling out of the system, and then go where the cruising is best. Your best shells are going to be on the ocean side of these keys--and normally not good places to anchor your C-dory, or even a 42 foot trawler/motoryacht and a 62 footmotor sailer, which we have explored these areas also...

John seems to have the right touch with these up scale marinas. They end up being expensive for others. $100 a night is "cheap" for some areas down there.

Donald Tyson · Joined: 24 Jul 2023 Posts: 562 Photos: Thistle

Well now! Now we have a foundation for fun. How many days does it take when shelling to sink a tiny little 22 Dory with the weight? I'd say two weeks in the gulf side would do it and then maybe 2 weeks fishing in the keys. Then that's it.

Trailering looks like the best option if the weather moves in. Last yr we were on land visiting in St Michaels and it was calm and hot until the end of September. Ya never know.

In the Keys...I site Bahia Honda because we've been on the beaches of the Ocean side. is it easy to find good anchorages, moorings or reasonable slips? While we love to anchor this tropical stuff we aren't familiar with...

gulfcoast john · Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2025 8:20 pm Post subject:

Don,
There are no good deals and no inexpensive options in the Keys (or anywhere in FL in winter (except for our little secret).

The Keys are made of coral, and if you anchor on coral you damage it and pay a big fine. What’s not coral is sea grass, and if you anchor on it you pay a big fine. Neither holds any anchor well, and the passes between the Gulf and Atlantic become raging rapids during tide changes. Very few public mooring balls, state parks are day only except Marathon Boot Bay (see site). It is a very unique area for boaters compared to anywhere else.

Other than Bahia Honda (2 wk max) and 3.5 ft shoal at entrance), ‘reasonable’ marinas include Garrison Bight City Marina Key West. Launch and store rig there (see site). 2 mile walk to Mallory Square; ALL parking is $20/day in Key West. No views, on noisy A1A.

Value-oriented cruisers also favor Marathon family owned Banana Bay and nearby Blackfin Marina. Also look up John Pennecamp SP rates.

Navigation is straightforward if you are very careful, bu unforgiving.

Advise trailering down with a well maintained trailer for maximum options.

We HIGHLY recommend the WWG Southern Ed (all FL and the Keys) for this info and will send you ours to borrow when we get home if you remind me.

John

thataway · Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2025 9:15 pm Post subject:

Donald Tyson · Joined: 24 Jul 2023 Posts: 562 Photos: Thistle

We will get settled in next week, health has stabilized and properties have been dealt with so we may finally have time to spend on water. We are looking to stay in one of three locations: Bohemia River, Sassafras River, and Barnegat Bay. All locations +/-two hours from our home. We hope to stay there for the rest of the season (in a slip).

So it seems like two weeks shelling and two weeks fishing the Keys is about right.

Bob I'll locate those places you mentioned where we can anchor and/or take a mooring. We spent a vacation on Big Pine but want to see it by water.

John I appreciate your offer to borrow your WWG and, while that is a great testament to you your good character I feel we should have our own copy to spill Folgers on. Thanks for reminding us of that. Plus, the AGLCA and also some of the trawler sites have a lot to offer.