At the entrance to Tampa Bay, depths of 18 feet (5.5 m) are found for nearly 5 miles offshore. Northward to Anclote Keys, the bottom is generally broken and spots with 18 feet (5.5 m) or less are found over 4 miles offshore. The coast is bordered by a line of long, narrow islands which, for the most part, overlap at their ends. The Gulf sides of these islands are straight or gently curving sand beaches, backed by dense growths of small pine and semitropical shrubs and timber. Between the chain of islands and the mainland there is a continuous waterway of shallow bays and passages, having a least depth of 3 feet (0.9 m) (1925), the southern part of which is formed by Boca Ciega Bay and the northern parts by Clearwater Harbor and St. Joseph Sound. This inside channel is well marked for the entire distance with beacons. Prominent features.-The principal objects which can be seen and easily identified are the following: A large prominent hotel and a tall water tank at Pass a Grille Beach, about 111⁄2 miles north of the south end of Long Key. A United States Veterans' hospital building on Turtlecrawl Point; there is another large building and a tall tank nearby; the group shows clearly across the outer islands. A large hotel at Belleair with a concrete chimney nearby and a tall tank just to the southward. A very prominent tall building in the center of Clearwater. Between Anclote Keys and Cedar Keys there are no marks which can be identified from offshore. Boca Ciega Bay extends 13 miles northwestward from the lower part of Tampa Bay to The Narrows, a narrow passage 4 miles long, connecting with Clearwater Harbor. The bay is generally shoal, but a channel 4 feet (1.2 m) deep has been dredged where necessary so that a least depth of 4 feet (1.2 m) can be taken from Tampa Bay to near the head of Boca Ciega Bay. This connects with a dredged channel 50 feet wide and 3 feet (0.9 m) deep through The Narrows to Clearwater Harbor. The cuts in Boca Ciega Bay and The Narrows have been marked with beacons with pointers, indicating the side on which they should be passed, but the channel is difficult to follow without local knowledge. Tidal currents in Boca Ciega Bay seldom exceed one-half knot. An 8-foot (2.4 m) dredged channel leads from Tampa Bay to Boca Ciega Bay, extending westward from Point Pinellas Light, and is well marked by beacons. This depth can be carried to the wharves at Pass a Grille Beach by following the beaconed channel. Pass a Grille is a passage between Pine and Long Keys leading from the Gulf to the lower part of Boca Ciega Bay. There are two entrance channels from the Gulf, both of which are well marked. The North Channel is the shorter but is good for only 4 to 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 m); the South Channel is good for about 6 to 7 feet (1.8 to 2.1 m). These channels and depths change frequently but during favorable weather, the channels can usually be followed by the difference in the color of the water. Pass a Grille Beach is a winter resort on the south end of Long Key. Depths of 8 to 10 feet (2.4 to 3.0 m) can be taken to the numerous wharves extending along the east side of the key from near the south end to the yacht basin at the head of the channel to the large prominent hotel. The northern portion of this channel offers good protection for small craft. There are hotels and stores here, and gasoline, water, ice, and some yacht supplies can be obtained. Repairs can be made to small machinery and there is a slipways that can haul vessels up to 40 feet in length and 4-foot (1.2 m) draft. There is highway connection with St. Petersburg via the Corey Causeway, 2 miles north of the hotel. A bascule span has 50 feet (12) CLEARWATER HARBOR 135 horizontal clearance and 8 feet (2.4 m) vertical clearance when closed. Gulfport is a small resort and fishing town on the north shore of Boca Ciega Bay. It is a suburb of St. Petersburg to which it is connected by an electric car line. About 6 feet (1.8 m) can be taken to the city dock. There John Pass leads from the Gulf to Boca Ciega Bay, 4 miles below its head, and 7 miles northward of Pass a Grille. This pass is used by small local boats and is not difficult when the sea is smooth. are several small detached shoals, between which the channel winds. The shoals are dark in color and usually can be seen in time to sheer off, if moving slowly. The entrance to the channel is marked by a black can buoy, and the channel is marked by several beacons. The channel shifts frequently and the buoy is moved accordingly. A depth of about 4 feet (1.2 m) can be carried across the bar at low tide. The highway bridge crossing the pass has a bascule draw with a horizontal clearance of 60 feet and a vertical clearance (when closed) of 8 feet (2.4 m) above high water. The overhead cable crossing has a clearance of 66 feet. There are small boat landings at Jungle Estates directly east of John Pass. The shallow cove 1 mile northwest of Turtlecrawl Point has been dredged to form a small boat basin adjacent to the veterans' hospital. A depth of about 3 feet (0.9 m) could be taken into the basin in 1935. Blind Pass is practically dry at low water (1935). Indian Pass, formerly at the north end of Boca Ciega Bay, has been closed by the Government. Clearwater Harbor is the southern portion of the inside waters extending from The Narrows, connecting with Boca Ciega Bay, on the south to Big Pass on the north. It has an average width of about 1 mile, but is mostly filled with shoals, between which there are narrow natural channels varying in depth from 6 to 20 feet (1.8 to 6.1 m). Cuts 50 feet wide and about 4 feet (1.2 m) deep connecting with these natural channels have been dredged from The Narrows through the shoals at the south end of the harbor. At Belleair, about 1/2 miles south of Clearwater, there is a large hotel with a private yacht basin with numerous individual slips. A depth of 6 to 7 feet (1.8 to 2.1 m) can be taken to these slips. The entrance is about the south end of the island. The following various channels about Clearwater Harbor are well marked by numerous beacons which should be followed closely as some sections of the channels are quite crooked. On many of these beacons, lights are maintained by the city of Clearwater (see Light List) and on many others, there are colored glass reflectors. Little Pass leads into Clearwater Harbor at the south end of Clearwater Beach Island; it is 12 miles northward of John Pass, 12 miles southward of Ancolote Keys Lighthouse and 12 miles westward of the town of Clearwater. The entrance may be recognized by a small pavilion on the beach on the north side and by several beacons. From inside the entrance, the channel leads into the southern portion of Clearwater Harbor. In 1935 there was a controlling depth of 4 feet (1.2 m) near Beacon 10, at the southern entrance of the channel. There is a depth of about 5 to 6 feet (1.5 to 1.8 m) on the bar and this depth can be carried to Clearwater by way of the Causeway Channel. Big Pass is about 3 miles north of Little Pass and at the north end of Clearwater Beach Island. It leads along the east side of the island, past a large yacht club, and thence across the bay toward Clearwater, joining the Clearwater Harbor Channel off Stevens Creek. Another channel continues along the east side of Clearwater Beach Island to the causeway, passing a second large yacht club near the center of the island. In 1935 there was about 6 feet (1.8 m) on the bar, and this depth could be carried to Clearwater. At times as much as 9 feet (2.7 m) is found in the channels of Little Pass and Big Pass, and a depth of 5 to 6 feet (1.5 to 1.8 m) can usually be depended upon, with Big Pass having the better depth of the two. On the bars the channels are subject to change, and the chart cannot be relied upon to show the latest condition. Inside the entrance the channels are fairly stable, and the chart is a good guide. Usually, when the sea is smooth, which is the only time that a stranger can enter safely, the channels can be discerned by the difference in color of the water. Clearwater Harbor Channel is part of the inside route from Boca Ciega Bay to Anclote Keys. The channel passes close along shore opposite Clearwater and again opposite Dunedin. A depth of about 3 feet (0.9 m) can be taken through the inside route, but 5 to 6 feet (1.5 to 1.8 m) can be carried to Clearwater through Little Pass and Big Pass. The drawbridge in the causeway at Clearwater has a horizontal clearance of 50 feet and a vertical clearance of 6 feet (1.8 m) (when closed). Causeway Channel leads along the south side of the causeway from the city pier, just south of the bridge, to a junction with Little Pass Channel at the south end of Clearwater Beach Island; a branch continues westward to a small-boat anchorage at the west end of the causeway. Dunedin Channel branches westward from Big Pass just inside the entrance of the pass and leads to the wharves at Dunedin. There is but about 3 feet (0.9 m) in this channel southwest of Dunedin. Clearwater is a winter resort (population 7,607 by the 1930 census) on the east shore of Clearwater Harbor opposite Little Pass. There are two railroads to St. Petersburg and Tampa and all points north; also paved highways to all parts of the State. There are two yacht clubs and a city pier that have protected basins and several coves where safe anchorage may be found. A draft of 6 feet (1.8 m) can be carried to the yacht clubs and to the city pier. A marine ways can handle boats up to about 50 feet in length and 4 feet (1.2 m) draft; general hull and engine repairs can be made. Gasoline, water, provisions, and some yacht supplies can be secured. Cruising boats can be chartered, and local guides are available. A causeway and drawbridge connect the mainland with Clearwater Island Beach. Storm warnings are available but are not displayed. Dunedin is also on the east shore, 3 miles north of Clearwater and about opposite Big Pass; it is on the railroad and on the State highway. A draft of about 3 feet (0.9 m) can be taken to the wharves. A small-boat basin has been constructed behind a bulkhead just south of the city wharf. Gasoline, provisions, and some yacht supplies can be (12) ANCLOTE ANCHORAGE 137 had here. The water is very shoal from Dunedin southwestward for 2 miles to the channel leading to Big Pass, and although the best water is marked by beacons it is difficult to navigate. St. Joseph Sound extends northward from the northern end of Clearwater Harbor nearly to Anclote Keys, and is separated from the Gulf for a part of the distance by a narrow strip of beach, known as Caladesi Islands. With a favorable tide a draft of a little more than 3 feet (0.9 m) can be carried through the sound, but in its present condition 3 feet (0.9 m) is all that a stranger should attempt to carry, and that on a rising tide. The best water is marked by beacons with pointers; but shoaling has occurred so that local knowledge is necessary to find the best water between beacons, especially southwestward of Dunedin. Anclote Keys Lighthouse (Lat. 28°10′.0; Long. 82°50′.0) is a brown skeleton tower with an inclosing stair cylinder on the south end of Anclote Keys. The light is flashing white (light 1 second, eclipse 4 seconds), 101 feet (31 m) above the water, and visible 16 miles. The trees on the south end of the key are rather tall and can be made out well offshore. Anclote Anchorage, between Anclote Keys and the mainland, is well protected from westerly gales and is considerably used. It is good for vessels of 7 feet (2.1 m) or less draft, and can be reached by passing either northward or southward of the keys. Both passages are marked by beacons. Vessels of a greater draft than 7 feet (2.1 m) can find anchorage westward of the keys; here they are exposed to westerly winds; but as the water shoals very gradually there is never a very heavy sea, and vessels with good ground tackle can ride out anything but a hurricane. Directions, Anclote Anchorage.-To enter Anclote Anchorage from south of the keys bring Anclote Keys Lighthouse to bear 33° true (NNE. 34 E. mag.) and steer for it on this course until up to South Entrance Light 1. From south of this light, head 56° true (NE. 34 E. mag.) so as to leave South Entrance Light 2 to starboard and Beacons 3 and 5 on the port hand. When half a mile eastward of Beacon 5, head about 9° true (N. 5% E. mag.) and select anchorage as desired anywhere within the next 3 miles. Approaching Anclote Anchorage from northward, keep outside the 12-foot (3.7 m) curve and steer for Anclote Keys Lighthouse on any bearing eastward of 160° true (SSE. mag.) until North Entrance Light 2, lying 512 miles north-northwestward of the lighthouse, is sighted. From this light steer 93° true (E. 1/8 S. mag.) to North Entrance Light 4. Then steer 132° true (SE. 12 E. mag.) for Bailey Bluff Beacon 1 (black). When still a half mile northwestward of this beacon, steer 185° true (S. 14 W. mag.) with Anclote North Channel Beacon 3 in range with Anclote River Light 1 at the entrance to the river channel. When North Anclote Beacon 6 is abeam and 1/2 mile distant, on the above course, steer 205° true (SSW. mag.) and select anchorage as desired anywhere within the next 3 miles. Anclote River empties over a broad shoal east of Anclote Keys. A channel 100 feet wide and 6 feet deep has been dredged from Anclote Anchorage up to and past the wharves at Tarpon Springs to a turning basin, 200 feet wide and 500 feet long, below the county |