[FLYINJ]

We are bringing the boat staying down at Anna Maria island the week of July 4th. Anyone know the ramps there, which ones should be avoided? Also what going on in the water that week?

[lincoln6echo]

http://www.amichamber.org/


a bit 2 south of me !!

[dirtlawyer]

Originally Posted by FLYINJ

We are bringing the boat staying down at Anna Maria island the week of July 4th. Anyone know the ramps there, which ones should be avoided? Also what going on in the water that week?

The weekend before the 4th is the APBA/SBI Offshore Races and the OPBA Poker Run - starts out of the Sarasota Hyatt. Sunday is usually a big raft-up at the sandbar... great times!

[Tiembiay]

Anna Maria is a treasure trove of boating rewards. Good ramps on east (bay) side of the south end of the island. Near Longboat Pass right out to the gulf. Just south of the pass, about a mile is a great anchorage and docks at Moore's Stone Crab Restaurant, and next door is the Mar Vista - the best in casual waterfront dining and a great spot for getting a barstool circle engraved on your cheeks. They have the most supurb chowder there, too.
Heading north, the Kingfish ramps on Manatee Avenue ( just as you get on the island ) are usually good, but crowded and with limited parking. Sometimes, depending on the winds, the weeds pile up at the ramp. But, on the plus side, head north to Tampa Bay at the north end of Anna Maria, and you are a stones throw from Passage Key (the local "buff" stop with the clearest water. You can't get on the island but the optional naked raft-up gets fun), and on north to Egmont Key.
OR, put in on the Manatee River in Palmetto (ramps at Hwy 41 Alt) and enjoy the river trip, about 6 miles to the Gulf, then out to Egmont or Passage. The ICW east of Anna Maria Island will (as usual) be a demolition derby on the fourth. Enjoy the Paradise.

[FLYINJ]

Originally Posted by Tiembiay

Anna Maria is a treasure trove of boating rewards. Good ramps on east (bay) side of the south end of the island. Near Longboat Pass right out to the gulf. Just south of the pass, about a mile is a great anchorage and docks at Moore's Stone Crab Restaurant, and next door is the Mar Vista - the best in casual waterfront dining and a great spot for getting a barstool circle engraved on your cheeks. They have the most supurb chowder there, too.
Heading north, the Kingfish ramps on Manatee Avenue ( just as you get on the island ) are usually good, but crowded and with limited parking. Sometimes, depending on the winds, the weeds pile up at the ramp. But, on the plus side, head north to Tampa Bay at the north end of Anna Maria, and you are a stones throw from Passage Key (the local "buff" stop with the clearest water. You can't get on the island but the optional naked raft-up gets fun), and on north to Egmont Key.
OR, put in on the Manatee River in Palmetto (ramps at Hwy 41 Alt) and enjoy the river trip, about 6 miles to the Gulf, then out to Egmont or Passage. The ICW east of Anna Maria Island will (as usual) be a demolition derby on the fourth. Enjoy the Paradise.

Thanks for all the info, I will check the ramps out on google earth.