Anchorages Between P/Everglades and B/Haulover

estebanj

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Joined
Jan 1, 2000
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1380
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I'm new to the area and keep my boat at AOM in Dania Canal.

What are good anchorages for hanging out and swimming between Port Everglades and Bakers Haulover?

Thanks,

Esteban
 
for swiming ? not too many... there are a couple of lakes in hollywood where you can anchor (lots of mosquitoes though... aka PWC) also the lake in aventura.... good anchorage but swimming in that dark water ins't too appealing.

Haulover isn't too far down for PE, it's worth it

Even more worth it is biscayne bay, it's only about 30 to 45 minutes from haulover, or 45 minutes from PE outside if the weather is nice (assuming the typical 20/25kts cruise). you get REAL blue green water !

i have a Google Earth file on my site with anchorages and info on the bay... www.sandbarhopper.com
 
We have kept our boats in Dania beach since 1999, as far as swimming, the closest in the intercoastal would be haulover or to the north at Boca Lake. Running on the outside is about the same distance from port everglades just decide if you want to go north or south. We find Lake Boca to be a little nicer but basically the same as Houlover can have a VERY LARGE CURRENT at times. If you just want to go swimming just head out of Port everglades and go north or south to the buoys and swim in the ocean. Nice small reef at both locations with an abundance of small reef fish. We have even seen a few nurse sharks sleeping within the rocks near pompano. Also if you are new to the area you might enjoy the air and sea show coming up May 5-6. Lots of boats in the ocean if it is calm and the jets fly right over you. Also fun to see over a million people crowded on the beach as you sit on your boat…

JDH
 
Esteban, one other place that I can offer - John Lloyd Park - you go under the bridge and pull the boat up to shore on the other side is the beach. On the intercoastal side the water is not good but a lot of people pull up and hang out in their boats.
 
Thank you for the info. JDH... can you pls elaborate on this: "If you just want to go swimming just head out of Port everglades and go north or south to the buoys and swim in the ocean."

I'm not so much looking for swimming, but an anchorage to relax and also get in the water. Not sure anchoring in the ocean will provide that.

I guess my two best bets then are Lake Boca and Haulover. Someone also mentioned Lake Sylvia in FLL and John Lloyd Park in Dania. The only thing I don't like about those two is that I don't even get to 'run' the boat to either one of those... idle the entire time! :o(

Is West Lake an option?

How about South Lake in H/wood?

And anything on Maule Lake and D/foundling Bay?

Thanks for the insights offered. I'm a Chesapeake Bay boater and just moved to SoFl last year. Can't wait to be in the water again.

Esteban
 
when the ocean is nice, just head out PE and head south. it's about 45 minutes to Cape florida channel that will take you in the bay. you can anchor in the channels by Stilsville, on the south side of Key Biscayne. or get in an anchor by the sandbar at the SW tip of KB.

best water around...
 
Esteban, I am from Maryland myself, I had a boat and lived on the water in Ocean City and actually drove my boat to my first job as I did not have a car yet… As far the ocean outside of Port everglades, there are buoys that you can tie up to instead of anchoring just north and south of port everglades. I don’t have the GPS #’s at home but they are not far offshore, maybe a few hundred yards or so, and going north there are two sets one just south of the fishing pier I think. The water is around 10-20 feet and if it’s calm you can see the bottom. I’ll see if I can get you more info as to exactly where they are. And Pascal is correct, the farther south you go, the better water you will find. I would definitely suggest the run to Lake Boca, haulover, stiltsville, key Biscayne, and for a weekend trip Elliot key and Boca chica is a great time. I would also mention a run to Bimini if you have the time. But sometimes you don’t have all day to get where you are going and a short run out the inlet and tying up to a buoy and hanging out is just what you need. We have a lot to offer a boater down here, just get out on the water and enjoy it…
JDH
 
JDHKWH is right about going south - the water is great and the view better.

Lake Sylvia is ok, a nice place to anchor and just hang out. The water is brown with a nice current.
The lakes by Hollywood are also ok to anchor and just hang on the boat. The water is also brown and about 4-5 feet with a mucky bottom.
Lake Boca is worth the trip also - clear water.
The bouys are just south of the PE entrance - you cant miss them
 
Esteban,

For swimming on the ocean, as JDH said, as soon as you get out of Port Everglades you can either head north or south and about half a mile south you will find bouys about 1/2 mile out. You can tie up your boat there. There are about a dozen of them. The depth is about 40 feet and on a nice day you cay see the bottom, feed small fish etc. That's about it. Most of the time the water is too choppy to stay longer than an hour. You will get dizzy soon any day the water is 2 feet or more.

If you want to swim, the intercoastal is your best bet either Lake Boca or Haulover.

After you pass haulover inside the Interciastal, you will find a couple of little islands before you reach the port of Miami. You can beach the boat and stay overnight. I do not like the crowd there too much. In fact I have not been there for a long time. Those 2 little islands used to be noisy at night.

And if you want to be further south, as Pascal mentioned Stiltsville or the sand bar of Key Biscayne are the best places to swim.
 
lake slyvia north of port everglades is well protected and quite, however the bottom is muck and the current is very strong. not my first choice for overnight as the current revereses 180 degrees and with poor holding bottom, not a good nights sleep. Maule Lake in North Miami Beach is equally protected, no current and quite. if the wind is out of the east you can set a hook west of Indian Creek Country Club and have a quite night. just stay west of the club a ways as there is a number of early rising fishermen that hug that shore north to the inlet instead of going west to the ICW. in pompano beach there is lake santa barbara, good only if the wind is not strong out of the east.

good luck.
 
Vic,
I stay at Lake Sylvia all the time and I know about the current but I never had problems with anchor dragging. I always get a firm hold on the first try. I've had problems getting the anchor back a few times.
I may be there this Saturday night. Nice place to stay overnight, especially when you plan to catch a sunrise going out of Pt everglades in the morning.
 
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