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FL Inlet Caution: San Carlos Bay Entrance/Matanzas Pass
- Date Reported: Aug 2, 2023
- Reporter: Jani Parker
- Source: Waterway Guide Staff
- Description:
Overview: The entrance to San Carlos Bay is wide and mostly deep except for shoals to the west. Matanzas Pass is located to the east before passing under the high-rise Sanibel Causeway Bridge across the bay and provides access to the back bay of Fort Myers Beach.
Approach: San Carlos Bay Light "SC" is located 2.8 nm south-southeast of the entrance and 3.6 nm southeast of Pt. Ybel at N 26° 25.080"/W 81° 57.330'.
Navigation: Sanibel Island Light (N 26° 27.110'/W 082° 00.510') at the east end of Sanibel Island is 98 feet above the water and is a good landmark. From San Carlos Bay Channel green "1" proceed to red daybeacon "4." If headed to Fort Myers Beach, pick up Matanzas Pass Channel "1." The dredged channel, marked by lights and daybeacons, leads through Matanzas Pass to a turning basin off the shrimp terminals on San Carlos Island. Otherwise, continue to the Sanibel Causeway "A" Span with fixed 70-foot vertical clearance.
Cautions & Hazards: None. Last dredged July 2023.
GIWW Connection: The main entrance channel intersects the GIWW and the Okeechobee Waterway approximately 1.8 nm above the Sanibel Causeway "A" Span Bridge. It then turns more easterly leading to Cape Coral and Fort Myers. You can also elect to continue on eastbound on the Okeechobee Waterway until reaching the East Coast of Florida or continue northbound on the GIWW.
- Lat / Lon: N 26° 25.674' / W 081° 57.756'
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