10 Tips for Navigating Sarasota Bay and the Intracoastal Waterway
Sarasota Bay is the perfect place to relax and spend some time with friends or family. Although these waters can appear calm, they are not without challenges. Shoals, sandbars, and passes to the Gulf of Mexico notoriously cause trouble for boaters of all skill levels. You may not be able to control the ocean and the tides, but a few tips, tricks, and tools can make your time on the water stress-free and more enjoyable. Here are our tips for navigating Sarasota Bay!
If you venture out on Sarasota Bay or the Intracoastal Waterway, you’ll quickly see that there is a lot to learn. Shallow water, hidden tidal shoals, fast-moving storms and the occasional red tide are more than enough to keep you on your toes while on the water.
Sunshine and good weather can put you at ease, but don’t let that stop you from thinking about what’s around you. Make sure you have the skills, confidence, and the right mindset when you step on the boat.
1. Dealing with Shallow Water
Sarasota Bay is notoriously shallow. On average it is only about 6 to 7 feet deep, and it gets much shallower toward the barrier islands and along the edges of the channel.
A digital GPS with an up-to-date chart can save your prop, but the water’s color is also a quick indicator for depth in a pinch.
Old boaters have a rhyme for it: brown, brown, run aground. Brown water usually means shallow seagrass beds, which your prop can tear up (and which can tear up your prop). White-tinted water means that an underwater sandbar is nearby, and these are typically shallower than they look. Green-hued water is generally safe for a boat with a shallow draft (3 feet or less). Blue water means it is deep enough for most boats. Color is a hint, not a guarantee. Check the chart on the boat’s GPS whenever you are not sure, and if you do touch bottom, shut the engine off, trim up and push off or wait for the tide rather than powering through the grass.
2. Pay Attention to the Tide
In Sarasota Bay and the Intracoastal Waterway, high and low tide are often only a foot or two apart. That sounds small, but in water this shallow it is the difference between floating and sitting.
That means a sandbar you passed over at high tide could cause you to run aground later in the day. Always know when the tide is coming and going.
3. Navigating The Intracoastal Waterway
The Intracoastal Waterway runs down the Eastern seaboard, around Florida, and along the Gulf Coast all the way to Texas. It gives smaller boats a protected route away from the open Gulf, and in Sarasota it is one of the safest ways to get around. Stay between the markers: the channel is deeper than the bay around it, but it can shoal in spots, and just outside the markers the water can drop to a foot or two. It also gets busy, so keep your speed sensible and your eyes up.
4. Manatee Zones
Yes, manatees. This is a critical step for navigating Sarasota Bay. These federally protected animals (listed as threatened) spend the warm months in Sarasota Bay grazing on seagrass, and they can turn up any time of year. Watch for designated Manatee Zones where you will be required to move at a Minimum Wake Speed or slower to avoid the lumbering manatees. Be extremely cautious, because these sea cows often can’t get out of the way in time. Polarized sunglasses help you spot the swirls and snouts.
5. Keep an Eye on the Horizon
Summer afternoon thunderstorms build fast here, so a nice morning can turn into a rough ride by midafternoon. If you see a dark wall of cloud or hear thunder, head in.
Keep an eye on red tide, too. It is an algae bloom that drifts in from the Gulf some years, and the water doesn’t always look red. During a bloom you may notice dead fish, a scratchy throat or coughing, and some swimmers get skin or eye irritation. People with asthma or other breathing problems should be especially careful.
The solution is an easy one: check the marine forecast before you go, keep an eye on the sky while you are out, and check Mote Marine Lab’s beach conditions report or FWC’s red tide map if a bloom has been in the news.
6. Learn Your Reference Points
When you head out on the Bay, you will always see the barrier islands to the west, but the John Ringling Causeway, Big Pass, and New Pass can help you orient yourself. Pick some landmarks around where you boat and commit them to memory.
7. Know Who To Call
If you have a radio, channel 16 is for distress and safety calls. In an emergency, call 911. For anything else, call us first at (941) 404-7900 (ask for Klaus’s cell at check-in). We have a subscription to a 24/7 towing company. Your navigation aids will likely have emergency assistance functions/instructions as well.
8. Navigate like a Pro
Nautical charts, a digital GPS device, and community information are critical for getting around on the water. Familiarize yourself with the device before exiting the launch area. For any questions, please ask Klaus during your check-in process. This will help you stay on track and out of trouble.
9. Traffic
There are a lot of recreational boaters in Sarasota Bay (thankfully, most commercial boats stay out of the Bay). It can get pretty congested on the weekends, so watch out for other boaters and follow the rules of the road. Remember: in a crossing situation, the boat approaching from your starboard side (your right, standing at the wheel) has the right of way.
10. Be friendly
We all want to enjoy the beautiful waters of Sarasota Bay. Keep that in mind when interacting with other boaters. Check on other boaters if it looks like they are in trouble and help out if they ask for it.
Those are the basics. Now all that is left is to put your knowledge into action. Get out there and enjoy the sunshine and warm water, and be back at the dock by sunset.
Keep reading:
Keep It Safe – Helpful Tips for Spending the Day on the Florida Waterways
The boat for this: our 22-foot pontoon seats up to 13, sits steady at anchor and is an easy first boat for the bay. Book online or call (941) 404-7900.