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Kings Bay

Location: Crystal River
Mile Marker: Mile 151.5 - Big Bend Route
Lat / Lon: N 28° 53.440' / W 082° 36.190'
Depth: 4-7 Feet
Description: Very good holding, plenty of room to swing, protected, bug free-almost. No wake. Kayak to the springs. Submitted by James Pietraszewski (5/4/2016)

NOTE: Per Florida Statute 327.4109

The owner or operator of a vessel or floating structure may not anchor or moor such that the nearest approach of the anchored or moored vessel or floating structure is:
1. Within 150 feet of any marina, boat ramp, boatyard, or other vessel launching or loading facility;
2. Within 300 feet of a superyacht repair facility. For purposes of this subparagraph, the term "superyacht repair facility" means a facility that services or repairs a yacht with a water line of 120 feet or more in length; or
3. Within 100 feet outward from the marked boundary of a public mooring field or a lesser distance if approved by the commission upon request of a local government within which the mooring field is located. The commission may adopt rules to implement this subparagraph.

4.14

(7)

4.14 out of 5 stars

Holding:

5.00

Good, Mud, Grass

Wind Protection:

4.29

All Around

Current Flow:

4.14

Wake Protection:

4.29

All Around

Scenic Beauty:

4.29

Ease of Shopping:

3.40

Shore Access:

3.33

Pet Friendly:

3.00

Cell Service:

4.71

WiFi:

1.00

Review for Kings Bay

Reviewed by: Amy SPENCER, Jessica Grace, on Dec 5, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 42'
Draft: 3.5'

Overall Rating:

4

Holding:

5

Wind Protection:

5

Current Flow:

5

Wake Protection:

5

Scenic Beauty:

5

Ease of Shopping:

3

Shore Access:

4

Pet Friendly:

4

Cell Service:

5

WiFi:

1

Very long river with extremely low winter water levels and shoaling, even at high tides, to reach Kings Bay/Buzzard Island's deeper (under 6') water anchorage. A bit crowded with other vessels, but we found a spot and anchor set well. Only the tidal changes moved the boat. Very protected. Our draft is 3.5'.

Beautiful and calm anchorage. Easy dinghy ride to Crackers Bar and Grill (dog friendly) and floating dock. At low tide, island had sandy beaches. Manatees, so very little if any wakes.

I also spoke with Pete's Pier and two local AGLCA harbor hosts who reassured us we would be able to find a safe anchorage in King's Bay but that it was very important to remain in center of river channel markers due to shoaling at CM1 and Shell Island.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Review for Kings Bay

Reviewed by: Dan Bowers on Jan 27, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 25'
Draft: 2.5'

Overall Rating:

4

Holding:

5

Wind Protection:

4

Current Flow:

5

Wake Protection:

5

Scenic Beauty:

3

Ease of Shopping:

3

Shore Access:

3

Pet Friendly:

3

Cell Service:

5

WiFi:

1

It's got what you need. Decent protection from wind and wakes. Pay attention to tide tables to make your anchorage selection. Touring the area is more comfortable from a dinghy.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Review for Kings Bay

Reviewed by: Dan Bowers on Jan 27, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 25'
Draft: 2.5'

Overall Rating:

4

Holding:

5

Wind Protection:

5

Current Flow:

5

Wake Protection:

5

Scenic Beauty:

3

Ease of Shopping:

4

Shore Access:

3

Pet Friendly:

3

Cell Service:

5

WiFi:

1

Scenic beauty…hmmm. Lots of development doesn't help with that for me.
Busy place with non stop kayaks, canoes and manatee tour boats. Many operators aren't watching who or what is directly ahead of them.
There is a nice park just north of Pete's marina with a great dinghy dock. Town can be accessed from there.
Lots of places to anchor.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Review for Kings Bay

Reviewed by: Capt Maria Langer, Do It Now, on Jan 20, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 32'
Draft: 2.5'

Overall Rating:

5

Holding:

5

Wind Protection:

4

Current Flow:

4

Wake Protection:

2

Scenic Beauty:

5

Ease of Shopping:

3

Shore Access:

3

Pet Friendly:

2

Cell Service:

5

I spent one night at Crystal River, arriving late in the day from Steinhatchee. I anchored in about 4 feet of water (at nearly low tide) and had good holding with just 30 feet of chain out. (I minimized rode mostly because I didn't want to swing into other boats, crab pots, or shallower water.) The boat swung 180° on a very mild current. Although there isn't good wake protection, the spot I anchored (just east of the anchor icon for Waterway Guide) was inside a no-wake area so wake wasn't an issue. When choosing a spot to anchor look out for crab pots; they are almost as numerous as the boats parked there. Pick your spot based on how the wind is forecasted; it's easy enough to find a spot with the wind protection you need. There was very little wind when I was there in mid January 2023.

To access the shore, take your dinghy to the 3rd Street pier. I did not do this since I arrived late in the day and was planning an early departure. This is something I'll regret for a long time; I should have stayed two nights. In the morning, I was treated to a beautiful sunrise and a wildlife show that consisted of jumping fish, birds trying to catch those fish, pelicans landing in the water right beside my boat, and a glimpse of what I assume were manatees surfacing for air. All that after a quiet night full of stars on a gently rocking boat.

Don't let the long cruise up Crystal River put you off from visiting this gorgeous anchorage.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Review for Kings Bay

Reviewed by: Keith Zibilich, Knee Deep, on Mar 5, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 51'
Draft: 4.5'

Overall Rating:

5

Holding:

5

Wind Protection:

4

Current Flow:

3

Wake Protection:

3

Scenic Beauty:

5

Ease of Shopping:

4

Shore Access:

3

Pet Friendly:

3

Cell Service:

5

WiFi:

1

The entrance to the channel from the Gulf as well as the mouth of the Crystal River is a bit tricky. There are two shallow points you need to be very careful navigating. Once you get into the river you will find between 10 to 20 feet of water. The Kings Bay anchorage is a fantastic location very scenic with great protection.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Review for Kings Bay

Reviewed by: Capt Dana, Mermaid's Lair, on Feb 27, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.5'

Overall Rating:

3

Wind Protection:

4

Current Flow:

3

Wake Protection:

5

Scenic Beauty:

4

Cell Service:

3

Buggy in February. Lots of traffic but at least a minimum wake zone. Deeper water than Twin River Marina. Pete’s Pier said they did not have transient slip available.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Review for Kings Bay

Reviewed by: Chris Himmelheber on Jan 12, 2018
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 36'
Draft: 5.5'

Overall Rating:

4

Holding:

5

Wind Protection:

4

Current Flow:

4

Wake Protection:

5

Scenic Beauty:

5

Shore Access:

4

Cell Service:

5

This is an excellent anchorage with one caveat. It has a full 3-foot tidal range, and at low tide it has about 3 feet of water. So if you have more than a 3-foot draft you will probably be sitting on sand at low tide, and floating easily at high tide. Also, bear in mind that there is significant shoaling in the river approach, and at low tide there can be less than 3 feet of water in many places. (I ran aground with a 5 foot keel about 2 hrs before high tide. After a couple of hours I had plenty of depth.)

Otherwise, it is a very quiet anchorage with lots of room to allow for swinging as the tide ebbs and flows. A big plus is that this is where manatees live, giving you a great place to look for them, and greatly decreasing the speed of boat traffic through here. I anchored in the center of the ?bay? with no difficulties. Just watch out for the crab traps. They are literally everywhere, and will wrap around you propeller with ease.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer