San Carlos Bay lies 41 miles north northwest of Cape Romano and serves as the approach
to Caloosahatchee River, the Okeechobee Waterway, and the Intracostal Waterway, Gulf
section. The bay is filled quite extensively with shoals over which depths vary
between 1 and 6 feet. The bay and adjoining waters are most frequented by small
vessels and yachts, and are popular with tourists and fisherman during the winter.
Sanibel Island Light
stands 98 feet above water atop a brown square pyramidal skeleton tower on Point Ybel.
San Carlos Bay Light 1 and San Carlos Bay Light 2 lie 3.6 miles southeast and 3.7 miles
southeast from Sanibel Island Light, respectively, mark the entrance to San Carlos Bay.
Lights and day beacons mark the dredged channel, which leads from the Gulf of Mexico
through San Carlos Bay to Punta Rassa and the mouth of the Caloosahatchee River.
The depth at the centerline of the channel has been reported to have a depth of 11 feet
from the Gulf to Punta Rassa.
There is a highway bridge that connects Fort Myers Beach, on Estero Island, with San
Carlos Island. Clearance is 65 feet.
Small-craft facilities abound nearby the bridges that connect the north end of Estero
Island with San Carlos Island, and San Carlos Island with the mainland.
Charlotte Harbor is located about 60 miles south southeast of Tampa Bay, and serves as
the approach to Port Boca Grande, Boca Grande, Punta Gorda, and several smaller
settlements. On the south side, Charlotte Harbor opens into Pine Island Sound and on
the north side into Gasparilla Sound.
Port Boca Grande, located on the south end of Gasparilla Island is an important
petroleum receiving port. The town of Boca Grande is about 2 miles to the north.
Boca Grande entrance range rear light
(26°44.5'N., 82°15.8'W.), located 1.5 miles from the south end of Gasparilla Island, is
the most obvious object sighted on day time approach from the south or southwest.
The light stands atop a white hexagonal pyramidal skeleton tower, 105 feet above the
water. A red sector in the light from 001° to 045° covers the shoals west of Cayo Costa
south of the entrance.
The community of Charlotte Harbor lies at the northwest end of the bridge and includes
a marina on the west side which can provide gasoline, water, marine supplies, and dry
storage.
The coast between Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay extends about northwest by north, and
has a nearly straight sand beach that is broken in places by small inlets. Shallow bays
and lagoons, located behind the barrier islands, can be entered from the Gulf of Mexico
through Gasparilla Pass, Stump Pass, Venice Inlet, Big Sarasota Pass, New Pass, and
Long Boat Pass. These areas are not very well marked and their conditions shift
frequently. The use of a guide is advised for those not familiar to the regions.
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