Boating
Boating & Waterway Guide
The Gulf Coast is a paradise for boaters: miles of protected Intracoastal Waterway, world-class fishing, marinas with fuel, and waterfront restaurants reachable only by water. This guide is organized like a trip: quick reference first, then passes, ramps, docks, launches, marinas, fuel, dining, tides, rentals, fishing and charters.
Boater's Quick Reference
Boater's Quick Reference
Stable, practical information that does not change with the daily tide: pass transit windows, depths and hazards, plus the official live-data links. Each pass name jumps directly to that pass's own section on the Tide & Pass dashboard. Tides change daily, so always confirm with NOAA before you go.
Best Times to Transit Each Pass
Between Lido Key and Siesta Key. Shifting sandbars, markers removed. Transit high tide rising, +2 ft or higher.
Most reliable pass: jettied, dredged, 12-16 ft main channel, navigable at all tide stages.
Lido Key pass beside Mote Marine. High-tide slack only. Channel markers removed; expert navigation required.
Stabilized inlet between Longboat Key and Anna Maria Island. Bridge opens on request.
Historic inlet between Siesta Key and Casey Key, reopened by the 2024 hurricanes. Unstabilized, no markers.
South toward Naples. Both shoal at the inlet mouth; transit mid-to-high tide.
Live Tide, Weather & Radar
Pre-Departure Checklist
- Check tide height at your pass (2 ft above MLLW minimum for most inlets)
- Check wind (under 15 knots for small craft, under 25 offshore)
- Check the NOAA marine forecast for your zone
- Check fuel, safety gear and VHF radio
- File a float plan with someone on shore
Passes & Inlets
Passes & Inlets
Every pass has its own personality. Each name below is a link straight to that pass's full section (depth, best conditions, hazards and live NOAA buttons) on the Tide & Pass Resource Hub.
Big Sarasota Pass
Between Lido Key and Siesta Key. Shifting sandbars, markers removed. Transit high tide rising, +2 ft or higher.
Open pass sectionVenice Inlet
Most reliable pass: jettied, dredged, 12-16 ft main channel, navigable at all tide stages.
Open pass sectionNew Pass
Lido Key pass beside Mote Marine. High-tide slack only. Channel markers removed; expert navigation required.
Open pass sectionLongboat Pass
Stabilized inlet between Longboat Key and Anna Maria Island. Bridge opens on request.
Open pass sectionMidnight Pass
Historic inlet between Siesta Key and Casey Key, reopened by the 2024 hurricanes. Unstabilized, no markers.
Open pass sectionBig Carlos Pass & Gordon Pass
South toward Naples. Both shoal at the inlet mouth; transit mid-to-high tide.
Open pass sectionBoat Ramps
Public Boat Ramps
Verified public launch sites from across Sarasota County, with the street address shown on the page so you never have to leave it to find a ramp. Directions open in Google Maps.
Centennial Park
Public Ramp1059 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota FL 34236
Three double-lane ramps into Sarasota Bay with trailer parking, beside Bayfront Park downtown.
Ken Thompson Park
Public Ramp1700 Ken Thompson Pkwy, Sarasota FL 34236
Lido Key park with boat access near New Pass and Mote Marine.
Turtle Beach Park
Public Ramp8918 Midnight Pass Rd, Sarasota FL 34242
Siesta Key launch with motorized and non-motorized ramps.
Blackburn Point Park
Public Ramp800 & 421 Blackburn Point Rd, Osprey FL 34229
Little Sarasota Bay / Intracoastal access in Osprey. Kayak-friendly.
Nokomis Beach Public Ramp
Public Ramp901 Casey Key Rd, Nokomis FL
Dona Bay access near Nokomis Beach. Popular with fishing boats.
Loreto Court Bay Access
Public Ramp800 Loreto Court, Nokomis FL 34275
Motorized ramp on the bay side of Nokomis.
Higel Marine Park
Public Ramp1330 Tarpon Center Dr, Venice FL 34285
Roberts Bay launch with parking and fish-cleaning stations.
Venice Marina Park
Public Ramp216 E Venice Ave, Venice FL 34285
Downtown Venice ramp at the Venice Bypass.
Snook Haven
Public Ramp5000 E Venice Ave, Venice FL 34292
Myakka River launch beside the historic Snook Haven park.
Shamrock Park & Nature Center
Public Ramp3900 Shamrock Dr, Venice FL 34293
County water-access park; primarily a canoe and kayak launch on the Intracoastal.
Marina Park (North Port)
Public Ramp7030 Chancellor Blvd, North Port FL 34287
Double-lane ramp to the Myakka River via Myakkahatchee Creek.
Public Docks
Public Docks & Tie-Ups
Where to tie up to visit downtown: paid transient dockage and free day docks. Where a dock doubles as a kayak or paddle access point, that is noted.
Marina Jack Yacht Basin (transient dockage)
2 Marina Plaza, Sarasota FL 34236
Main downtown transient marina: slips to about 228 ft, in-slip pump-out, dinghy dock and ship store. Transient daily rates apply; book ahead.
Centennial Park Day Docks (The Bay)
10th St at Centennial Park boat basin, Sarasota FL
18 free public day slips on the south side of the Centennial Park boat basin so boaters can visit downtown. Free, time-limited (about 6 hours). Also a kayak and paddle tie-up point for Bayfront paddlers.
Bradenton Riverwalk Pier
Downtown Bradenton, Manatee River (between Green and DeSoto bridges)
Public day dock on the Manatee River: free day tie-up, typically 6 AM to 11 PM, steps from the Riverwalk.
Kayak & Paddle
Kayak & Paddle Launch Points
Verified launch points for kayaks and paddleboards across Sarasota County, each with name, description, address, directions, official information and known restrictions or fees where confirmed. Anything unconfirmed is marked, never guessed.
South Lido Park Mangrove Trail / Ted Sperling Nature Park
190 Taft Dr, Sarasota FL 34236 (park entrance 2201 Benjamin Franklin Dr)
The classic Lido Key mangrove tunnel paddle. Ted Sperling Nature Park holds the launch; tour outfitters operate from here.
Free public access; no launch fee confirmed
Bird Key Park (Lido Trail launch)
200 John Ringling Causeway, Sarasota FL 34236
Protected bay-side launch on the Lido Key paddling trail.
Free public access; no launch fee confirmed
Siesta Key Beach Access #1 (Lido Trail launch)
3940 N Shell Rd, Sarasota FL
Paddle launch near the north end of Siesta Key for the Lido Trail system.
Free public access; fees unconfirmed
Myakka River Outpost (Myakka River State Park)
13208 State Road 72, Sarasota FL 34241
Concessions inside Myakka River State Park renting canoes and kayaks, with ramps on Upper Myakka Lake and launches at picnic areas along the drive. Phone (941) 923-1120.
State park entrance fee applies; rentals and launch details confirm with the park
Shamrock Park & Nature Center
3900 Shamrock Dr, Venice FL 34293
County water-access park with a canoe and kayak launch on the Intracoastal.
Free public access; no launch fee confirmed
Snook Haven Park
5000 E Venice Ave, Venice FL 34292
Myakka River paddling access at the historic Snook Haven park.
Public park; fees unconfirmed
Overlook Park
101 Gulf of Mexico Dr, Longboat Key FL 34228
Bay-side paddle launch on Longboat Key, on the county Blueways network.
Free public access; no launch fee confirmed
Blackburn Point Park
800 Blackburn Point Rd, Osprey FL 34229
Little Sarasota Bay launch shared with the motorized ramp; popular for mangrove tunnels to the south.
Free public access; no launch fee confirmed
Loreto Court Bay Access
800 Loreto Court, Nokomis FL 34275
Bay-side ramp and paddling access in Nokomis.
Free public access; no launch fee confirmed
Myakka State Forest
2555 S River Rd, Sarasota FL
Paddle trail launches along the Myakka River and Myakkahatchee Creek system.
Fees unconfirmed
Bay Point Park
490 Lyons Bay Rd, Nokomis FL 34275
Paddle access on Lyons Bay. Pedestrian access only, no trailer ramp.
Pedestrian access only
Marinas
Marinas
Verified full-service marinas from Sarasota to Venice. Private clubs are not listed here; see the Sailing Clubs block in the charters section.
Marina Jack Yacht Basin
2 Marina Plaza, Sarasota FL 34236
Full-service downtown marina: transient and annual slips, fuel dock, pump-out, ship store and restaurants. Vessels to about 228 ft.
Safe Harbor Siesta Key
1265 Old Stickney Point Rd, Sarasota FL 34242
Full-service marina with fuel dock (gas and diesel) on Little Sarasota Bay.
Hidden Harbor Marina
7700 S Tamiami Trail, Sarasota FL 34231
South Sarasota marina with a fuel dock on the Intracoastal.
Fuel dock confirmed via Go Boating Florida; hours unconfirmed
Crow's Nest Marina & Restaurant
1968 Tarpon Center Dr, Venice FL 34285
Venice marina on the Intracoastal (GIWW Mile Marker 58) with fuel (gas/diesel), slips and the waterfront restaurant.
Fuel
Fuel Locations
Verified gas and diesel docks from Sarasota to Venice. Fuel availability is stated only where confirmed; hours we could not verify are marked unconfirmed.
Marina Jack Yacht Basin Fuel Dock
Gas / Diesel2 Marina Plaza, Sarasota FL 34236
Available: Gasoline (ValvTect 90-octane) and diesel
Hours: 24 hours with credit card; staffed about 8 AM-5 PM
Safe Harbor Siesta Key Fuel Dock
Gas / Diesel1265 Old Stickney Point Rd, Sarasota FL 34242
Available: Gasoline and diesel
Hours: Hours unconfirmed
Hidden Harbor Marina Fuel Dock
Gas / Diesel7700 S Tamiami Trail, Sarasota FL 34231
Available: Gas fuel dock (per Go Boating Florida)
Hours: Hours unconfirmed
Crow's Nest Marina Fuel Dock
Gas / Diesel1968 Tarpon Center Dr, Venice FL 34285
Available: Gas and diesel
Hours: Hours unconfirmed
Dine by Boat
Dine by Boat
Waterfront restaurants, bars and tiki spots reachable by water, with address, website, directions and dock or tie-up information where verified. Dock capacity is never invented; where we could not confirm it, that is stated.
For the full boat-up dining reference, with dockage notes and call-ahead advice, see the dedicated Dine by Boat guide.
Marina Jack
2 Marina Plaza, Sarasota FL 34236
Dockside dining room and lounges over Sarasota Bay, with transient slips right at the marina.
Transient slips available; book ahead
O'Leary's Tiki Bar & Grill
5 Bayfront Dr, Sarasota FL 34236
Bayfront tiki deck over Sarasota Bay with live music nightly.
Dock access near Island Park; capacity unconfirmed
Casey Key Fish House & Tiki Bar
801 Blackburn Point Rd, Osprey FL 34229
Waterfront fish house on the Intracoastal beside the historic Blackburn Point Swing Bridge.
Dock access available; capacity unconfirmed
Crow's Nest Restaurant, Tavern & Marina
1968 Tarpon Center Dr, Venice FL 34285
Waterfront landmark at the Venice Inlet jetty since 1976, with marina slips at the restaurant.
Marina slips at the restaurant; capacity unconfirmed
Dockside Waterfront Grill
509 N Tamiami Trail, Venice FL 34285
Casual waterfront grill at Fisherman's Wharf Marina (Marker 4) near the Intracoastal.
Marina dock access; capacity unconfirmed
Nokomo's Sunset Hut
690 S Tamiami Trail, Nokomis FL 34275
Directly on Dona Bay, reachable by car and boat with its own dock.
Own dock on Dona Bay; capacity unconfirmed
The Old Salty Dog
1601 Ken Thompson Pkwy, Sarasota FL 34236
Casual pub fare on City Island with waterfront views of the bay.
Boat parking/dock access: unconfirmed, confirm before arriving by boat
Sandbars
Sandbars & Shoals
Sandbars are the Gulf Coast's best anchor-up social spots and its most dangerous shallow-water traps. They are also why pass depth readings change: bars shift after every storm, so the depth on a chart can be wrong by the time you arrive.
Big Sarasota Pass Bar
Heavily shoaled ebb tidal delta. Markers removed in 2018. Follow a local vessel through the channel and cross only with 2+ feet of tide.
Pass detailsMidnight Pass Bar
Unstabilized natural inlet with shifting sandbars and no jetties or permanent markers. Depths changed dramatically with the 2024 reopening. Tide information for Midnight Pass uses the nearby Sarasota tide station data.
Live NOAA tide chartRespect the bar
When in doubt, wait for a local guide vessel or ask at a nearby marina. The bar changes after every storm.
Tides
Tides Change Daily. Check Live Data.
Tide times, heights and currents vary by day, season and weather. This page does not show tide times that go stale; click through to NOAA for real-time predictions.
Tides Change Daily
Click any link below for real-time NOAA tide predictions. The practical information on this page (pass depths, best conditions, hazards and fishing patterns) holds true year after year. Always verify today's exact tide times with NOAA before you go.
NOAA Tides & Currents Portal
Official federal tide data. Search any station for 7-day predictions, water levels and currents for every Gulf Coast pass.
Open Live DataNOAA Marine Forecast
Official marine weather forecast for Gulf of Mexico waters: wind, seas and offshore conditions by zone.
Open Marine ForecastNWS Tampa Bay Radar
Live radar loop, watches, warnings and marine statements for the region.
Open NWS RadarFull Inlet & Tide Dashboard
Pass-by-pass navigation notes, live NOAA tide tables, 7-day tide predictions, moon phase effects and the complete Go / No-Go boating checklist. Click anywhere on this card to open it.
Open Full DashboardRentals
Boat & Paddle Rentals
Verified rental and tour operators for kayaks, paddleboards and guided boat trips. Powerboat rental operators in the Sarasota area are not yet verified, so only confirmed businesses appear here.
Clear Kayak Tours (Get Up and Go Kayaking)
Lido Key, Sarasota
Guided clear kayak tours through mangroves with glass-bottom views.
Happy Paddler Tours
Venice & Lido Key
Eco-tours through mangroves and seagrass beds; glass-bottom clear kayaks.
Ride and Paddle
South Venice
Kayak rentals and guided paddling tours with equipment and instruction.
Fun Boat Tours
Siesta Key Marina
Private boat tours and eco-tours from Siesta Key Marina.
Fishing
Fishing
The full fishing resource: licenses, seasons, slot and bag limits, species library, piers, charters, tides and ramps.
Open Fishing Guide550-foot pier into Sarasota Bay at Causeway Park; no individual license needed to fish from a pier.
DirectionsSnook, tarpon, grouper and snapper runs near the inlet and the Venice artificial reefs.
DirectionsCharters
Fishing Charters, Boat Tours & Sunset Cruises
Verified operators only, each with its official website, phone where confirmed, and service area. Book directly with each operator.
Fishing Charters
Sarasota Offshore Fishing Charters
Sarasota (Charter Boat Row)
Offshore grouper, snapper and mahi trips; half-day and full-day.
Outriggers Sport Fishing
Sarasota
Family-friendly inshore and offshore trips for all experience levels.
Bad Habit Offshore Charters
Venice
Venice-based offshore charters to the famous Venice artificial reefs.
Venice Reef Charters
Venice
Offshore fishing expeditions to the Venice reefs and Gulf waters.
Boat Tours
Fun Boat Tours
Siesta Key Marina
Eco-tours, dolphin runs and island hops from Siesta Key Marina.
Pineapple Boat Tours
Sarasota Bay
Private and group tours exploring Sarasota Bay, mangrove islands and wildlife.
Sarasota Bay Explorers
Mote Marine, Sarasota
Marine-science guided boat tours of Sarasota Bay with Mote Marine.
Sunset Cruises
LeBarge Tropical Cruises
2 Marina Plaza, Sarasota
Classic sunset sailing cruises on Sarasota Bay with live narration (daily 5:30 PM & 7:30 PM).
Sailing Clubs & Organizations
Dreaming of Waterfront Living?
Find Your Slip
Many Gulf Coast homes come with boat docks or community marina access. Let Michael help you find a waterfront property that matches your boating lifestyle.
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