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Author Topic:   SW Florida: Useppa/Cabbage Key

Whalerologist posted 10-29-2003 06:43 PM ET (US)
[This article was moved here from the GENERAL forum--jimh.]
Anyone done any cruising in this area of Southwest Florida, not far from Ft Myers and Sanibel Captiva. I haven't personally gone but they say Cabbage Key inspired Jimmy Buffet to write Cheesburger in Paradise?? Any thoughts as to WHEN to go and WHERE to stay and WHAT to do once you get there??
I have also been wondering about Useppa, teh private island across the way?? Anyone been there???
Glenn
Chicago IL/ Englewood, FL
1987 13 SS with 50 HP Johnrude
kingfish posted 10-29-2003 06:51 PM ET (US)
Been to Cabbage Key twice, both times in my Montauk; once boated down from a condo by the causeway on Sanibel, and once trailered to a Marina the name of which escapes me somewhere on the Northwest corner of Pine Island. Cabbage Key is a must do if you're in the area. Nice park and beaches on Cayo Costa, and Tarpon fishing at Boca Grande. I've only been there at Spring Vacation time though, and it worked pretty good then...
kingfish
jimh posted 10-29-2003 08:37 PM ET (US)
We cruised by Useppa Island a few years ago. There was a big sign at the edge of the Intracoastal and the intersection with the channel leading into the island announcing it was private and don't bother coming up the channel.
I heard that Barbra Streisand has a place there. That would be enough to keep me away, sign or no sign.
Cabbage Key is a fun place. Also in the area is an old PT-Boat base. We never made it there; we ran aground (on a falling tide) with a 36-foot sailboat we were chartering trying to feel our way into the anchorage. A fellow cruising yachtsman gave us a much-appreciated tug off the bottom and we turned around and got into deeper water. It would be a good place to explore in a Whaler.
Montauk posted 10-29-2003 10:07 PM ET (US)
Glenn,
Southwest Florida is a great area to cruise, and Cabbage Key is a fun place to stop for lunch and a cool one. You might consider staying on Little Gasparilla Island, it is a bridgeless island just north of Boca Grande. Another area to look at is Bokeelia on the north end of Pine island. The Lazy Flamingo is an excellent restaurant there, with a very scenic ride through the Mangroves to get there by boat. I believe March, April or May are great times to be there, fishing is good then and the weather usually dependable. There is a lot of info on the net about these places.
Jamber posted 10-29-2003 10:52 PM ET (US)
We live in the area and it is about hour and half cruise for us from our home in Bonita Springs. We have only been to Cabbage Key a few of times for lunch and a walk around the island. The last time about a year ago. It is a beautiful place, as is the whole area. We love boating here. Also check out Captiva, we go there once every few months for lunch at the Tween Water's Inn that we went to on our Honeymoon.
Best times is from late October to April, when the chance of afternoon thunderstorms is real low. Just watch the tides and stay in the channel, it can get shallow real quick.
FYI: A Rendezvous is being planned for Kice Island just south of Marco Island next weekend (11-8-03), it is about a two hour drive down I75 from Englewood. Hope you can make it!
Kice Rendezvous Info: http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum7/HTML/000303.html

-James
Swellmonster posted 10-30-2003 06:43 AM ET (US)
Check out this link to Cabbage Key. They also have sleeping quarters plus.....The food for years is only mediocre at best and it has been that way for years. But its a must do in the area. As mentioned, Bokelia, lil Gasparilla Island, Palm Island, it goes on forever. However, all these islands are only accesible in Whalers.
In-her-net knows all these areas very well and I am sure he can "kick it up a knotch".
Us southern bunch shore have the ruf life down here! So remember, come back y'all! :)
[url]http://www.cabbage-key.com/[url]
Whalerologist posted 10-30-2003 10:00 AM ET (US)
jimh writes:
"We cruised by Useppa Island a few years ago. There was a big sign at the edge of the Intracoastal and the intersection with the channel leading into the island announcing it was private and don't bother coming up the channel.
I heard that Barbra Streisand has a place there. That would be enough to keep me away, sign or no sign."
Thanks to ALL for great info. Have had a home in Englewood for almost 20 years and NEVER went to Cabbage Key. As fas as Useppa is concerned, and FYI, you CAN cruise the shallow perimeter and also even walk along the beach to the "Mean high Water Mark." The Florida Constitution reads that "the People of the State of Florida OWN to the MEAN (average) high water mark." This means that all of these private islands, while private on the interior are NOT on the very perimeter where water may flow. I have seen the privacy signs there (even Casey Key where Steven King just built a home) has them, BUT the Florida Constitution is clear on that issue. I am going to TOUR the perimeter of Useppa the next time I am down there. My 13 can go in about 8 inches of H20 with the engine fully tilted up so I plan on doing this.
I haven't done Cabbage Key BUT that will be my next trek.
Glenn
13DAUNTLESS posted 10-30-2003 10:11 AM ET (US)
I enjoy South Seas Plantation in Captiva. Their marina is a great place to stay on a boat or you can trailer your boat down and stay in a room. There is a lot to do there and Cabbage Key is right around the corner. If you go to South Seas by boat they have great marina facilities and there is a trolly to take you into town. I highly recomend the place.
Bigshot posted 10-30-2003 11:08 AM ET (US)
Tsk Tsk Jimh! Wrong forum and no reprimand or nudge in the right direction?
DOES'NT ANYONE READ THE RENDEZVOUS SECTION? No wonder we get crappy turnouts:(
Glenn I am in the Bradenton/Sarasota area and my outlaws live in Punta Gorda. I have not been to Useppa yet but I have been to Cabbage Key. I encourage you to get together with Don Wilson(Inhernet) and he can show you around. I also encourage you to join us next weekend @ Kice Island. We are a motley crew but we have a good time and clean up our beer bottles when we leave ;)
Nick
Ellenton, FL
kingfish posted 10-30-2003 11:28 AM ET (US)
Nick-
Good point about the Rendezvous section - I missed that completely...
What a great amount of stuff, though!
There's a thread going next door about the Keys that I guess is in a similar boat, but there's even more data. It would be cool if somehow this stuff wound up over there...
Whalerologist posted 10-30-2003 05:02 PM ET (US)
Tsk Tsk Jimh! Wrong forum and no reprimand or nudge in the right direction?
DOES'NT ANYONE READ THE RENDEZVOUS SECTION? No wonder we get crappy turnouts:(

Sorry ya'll, your right, nice topic wrong area of forum. Wont happen again.
BUT, NOW that I've got your attention, I am looking for a 2004 19 Nantucket, who on the forum has one that I can write to and also where in the southwest coast of Florida would you buy???? (marine Max tells me they won't go below 18% over their cost) I decided on the 150 optimax since the boat is about 2100 dry, add engine , fuel and wife and kids and we're at about 3500. Lots of weight to push.
On the other hand, found a real nice 21 Outrage 1998 with 1998225 Merc EFI for about 24K with comfort, fish package and hydraulic jack plate for running all of those shallow SW Florida areas?? What would you guys do since I have to get out of the 13 SS, Great boat, crappy ride. My only fear with the outrage is that engine has 340 hours which seems a LOT to me.
Glenn
Chicago IL/Englewood FL
kingfish posted 10-30-2003 05:28 PM ET (US)
Start a new thread for that one, Glenn - but I will say 340 hours is not a lot; 3200 hours is (9.9 kicker on another members' boat, newer than the one you're looking at).
dfmcintyre posted 10-31-2003 05:29 AM ET (US)
Back about 10 years ago, Gail, my then pre-teen daughter and I stayed overnight at Cabbage Key. Right on about the food. Wandering around the island was interesting and cruising the various islands was fun.
The rooms were, ah.... "relaxed standards".
Meagan didn't think much of getting bitten by a sand crab, and had a cognitive learning experience regarding damp clothes in the corner of the room and cockroaches.
Don
jimh posted 10-31-2003 08:22 AM ET (US)
[Added quotation marks and attribution where there were none.]
jimh posted 10-31-2003 08:30 AM ET (US)
I'd think twice before messing with Babs. She is currently suing some poor internet nerd who has published his own aerial photographic atlas of the west coast of the United States. He included a photograph of Barbra Streisand's opulent coastal mansion in the collection--hey it is part of the coast line.
Babs, in the true fashion of limousine liberals, started legal action against the guy for millions of dollars.
So if you want to walk along the low tide beach at Useppa or haul your Boston Whaler boat ashore, I'd suggest not picking out her patch of the island as your landing site.
See: http://www.websitecity.com/celebrity/barbra_streisand/ for more on Babs in action.
jimh posted 10-31-2003 08:32 AM ET (US)
Here is the image that caused $10,000,000 in damage to Ms. Streisand, according to her lawsuit.
http://www.californiacoastline.org/cgi-bin/image.cgi?image=3850&mode=sequential&flags=0
If you do go to Useppa, and take some pictures, don't post them on your website...
LKS posted 10-31-2003 10:15 AM ET (US)
Lucky we brought my husband's laptop on vacation! We've been staying on Pine Island, in Bokeelia, since last Saturday. A great "island" feel, not too commercial, but all the amenities you could ask for within a short drive.
We were out on the water yesterday (Thurs., 10/30), some pretty gusty winds and light chop, but nothing we couldn't handle. We passed Useppa and had lunch at Cabbage Key. We chartered out of Four Winds Marina. Considering what we paid in Miami a couple of years ago, the price was very reasonable and we had a great time! Cheeseburgers at Cabbage Key were great, but no "Heinz 57 and french fried potatoes." And, no "big Kosher pickle," either. From Four Winds Marina, it's 210 on your compass, and Cabbage Key is well marked. We also encountered a very helpful dockmaster at Cabbage Key. It was a great experience and allowed us to use our Power Squadron training on reading charts -- something we rarely get the chance to do boating on southern Lake Michigan, where we tend to stay within our comfort range and well-known waters, and we don't typically see mile markers on a regular basis.
But, unfortunately, it's back to Chicago for us, bright and early tomorrow morning! But, I can promise, we'll be back.
-- LKS
frostbite posted 10-31-2003 10:20 AM ET (US)
I second the advise of visiting the state park at Cayo Costa, which also would be a great rendevous spot. Boca Grande is another good spot for lunch, and depending on your budget, would be a good place to stay. Stop at the "Temptation" for a drink, the place is full of people from Chicago.
A familiar sight it that area is the yellow Mercury test boats running full blast up and down the inland waterway from their nearby facility.
I would stick to the burgers at Cabbage Key, however, Jimmy Buffett wrote "Cheeseburger in Paradise " about a bar on St. Barthelemy called "Le Select" where he has a house nearby. At least thats my story.
Have a great trip.

Techmage posted 10-31-2003 04:06 PM ET (US)
Picnic Island is nice too. No facilites or anything, but ancherage is 7-9 ft deep just off intercoastal best of sanabel bridge. exit channel on west side of Big green CAN to avoid shallowes.
jimh posted 11-02-2003 09:25 AM ET (US)
[Administrative post]
Whalerologist posted 11-03-2003 03:42 PM ET (US)
Frostbite wrote:
familiar sight it that area is the yellow Mercury test boats running full blast up and down the inland waterway from their nearby facility.
Glenn Says: yes, my friend Mike has been at that plant for almosy 30 years and they just announced the closure of Placida in the next 3-4 months. They are moving ops to the FL Panhandle for some reason.
I would stick to the burgers at Cabbage Key, however, Jimmy Buffett wrote "Cheeseburger in Paradise " about a bar on St. Barthelemy called "Le Select" where he has a house nearby. At least thats my story.
Those at Cabbage Key believe Buffett wrote it for them and their restaurant, BUT who knows. I'm a Buffett fan, BUT not a big fan, so I don't know. Ask me about Stevie Nicks and I'll tell you anything you want to know. Thats my story!!!!!! IN fact, Stevie writes about the water quite a bit since she lives in Pacific Palisades near Malibu. She has a fondness for boating to the Channel islands. Like to take her there in my Whaler myself (:
Glenn


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Author	Topic: SW Florida: Useppa/Cabbage Key
Whalerologist	posted 10-29-2003 06:43 PM ET (US) [This article was moved here from the GENERAL forum--jimh.] Anyone done any cruising in this area of Southwest Florida, not far from Ft Myers and Sanibel Captiva. I haven't personally gone but they say Cabbage Key inspired Jimmy Buffet to write Cheesburger in Paradise?? Any thoughts as to WHEN to go and WHERE to stay and WHAT to do once you get there?? I have also been wondering about Useppa, teh private island across the way?? Anyone been there??? Glenn Chicago IL/ Englewood, FL 1987 13 SS with 50 HP Johnrude
kingfish	posted 10-29-2003 06:51 PM ET (US) Been to Cabbage Key twice, both times in my Montauk; once boated down from a condo by the causeway on Sanibel, and once trailered to a Marina the name of which escapes me somewhere on the Northwest corner of Pine Island. Cabbage Key is a must do if you're in the area. Nice park and beaches on Cayo Costa, and Tarpon fishing at Boca Grande. I've only been there at Spring Vacation time though, and it worked pretty good then... kingfish
jimh	posted 10-29-2003 08:37 PM ET (US) We cruised by Useppa Island a few years ago. There was a big sign at the edge of the Intracoastal and the intersection with the channel leading into the island announcing it was private and don't bother coming up the channel. I heard that Barbra Streisand has a place there. That would be enough to keep me away, sign or no sign. Cabbage Key is a fun place. Also in the area is an old PT-Boat base. We never made it there; we ran aground (on a falling tide) with a 36-foot sailboat we were chartering trying to feel our way into the anchorage. A fellow cruising yachtsman gave us a much-appreciated tug off the bottom and we turned around and got into deeper water. It would be a good place to explore in a Whaler.
Montauk	posted 10-29-2003 10:07 PM ET (US) Glenn, Southwest Florida is a great area to cruise, and Cabbage Key is a fun place to stop for lunch and a cool one. You might consider staying on Little Gasparilla Island, it is a bridgeless island just north of Boca Grande. Another area to look at is Bokeelia on the north end of Pine island. The Lazy Flamingo is an excellent restaurant there, with a very scenic ride through the Mangroves to get there by boat. I believe March, April or May are great times to be there, fishing is good then and the weather usually dependable. There is a lot of info on the net about these places.
Jamber	posted 10-29-2003 10:52 PM ET (US) We live in the area and it is about hour and half cruise for us from our home in Bonita Springs. We have only been to Cabbage Key a few of times for lunch and a walk around the island. The last time about a year ago. It is a beautiful place, as is the whole area. We love boating here. Also check out Captiva, we go there once every few months for lunch at the Tween Water's Inn that we went to on our Honeymoon. Best times is from late October to April, when the chance of afternoon thunderstorms is real low. Just watch the tides and stay in the channel, it can get shallow real quick. FYI: A Rendezvous is being planned for Kice Island just south of Marco Island next weekend (11-8-03), it is about a two hour drive down I75 from Englewood. Hope you can make it! Kice Rendezvous Info: http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum7/HTML/000303.html -James
Swellmonster	posted 10-30-2003 06:43 AM ET (US) Check out this link to Cabbage Key. They also have sleeping quarters plus.....The food for years is only mediocre at best and it has been that way for years. But its a must do in the area. As mentioned, Bokelia, lil Gasparilla Island, Palm Island, it goes on forever. However, all these islands are only accesible in Whalers. In-her-net knows all these areas very well and I am sure he can "kick it up a knotch". Us southern bunch shore have the ruf life down here! So remember, come back y'all! :) [url]http://www.cabbage-key.com/[url]
Whalerologist	posted 10-30-2003 10:00 AM ET (US) jimh writes: "We cruised by Useppa Island a few years ago. There was a big sign at the edge of the Intracoastal and the intersection with the channel leading into the island announcing it was private and don't bother coming up the channel. I heard that Barbra Streisand has a place there. That would be enough to keep me away, sign or no sign." Thanks to ALL for great info. Have had a home in Englewood for almost 20 years and NEVER went to Cabbage Key. As fas as Useppa is concerned, and FYI, you CAN cruise the shallow perimeter and also even walk along the beach to the "Mean high Water Mark." The Florida Constitution reads that "the People of the State of Florida OWN to the MEAN (average) high water mark." This means that all of these private islands, while private on the interior are NOT on the very perimeter where water may flow. I have seen the privacy signs there (even Casey Key where Steven King just built a home) has them, BUT the Florida Constitution is clear on that issue. I am going to TOUR the perimeter of Useppa the next time I am down there. My 13 can go in about 8 inches of H20 with the engine fully tilted up so I plan on doing this. I haven't done Cabbage Key BUT that will be my next trek. Glenn
13DAUNTLESS	posted 10-30-2003 10:11 AM ET (US) I enjoy South Seas Plantation in Captiva. Their marina is a great place to stay on a boat or you can trailer your boat down and stay in a room. There is a lot to do there and Cabbage Key is right around the corner. If you go to South Seas by boat they have great marina facilities and there is a trolly to take you into town. I highly recomend the place.
Bigshot	posted 10-30-2003 11:08 AM ET (US) Tsk Tsk Jimh! Wrong forum and no reprimand or nudge in the right direction? DOES'NT ANYONE READ THE RENDEZVOUS SECTION? No wonder we get crappy turnouts:( Glenn I am in the Bradenton/Sarasota area and my outlaws live in Punta Gorda. I have not been to Useppa yet but I have been to Cabbage Key. I encourage you to get together with Don Wilson(Inhernet) and he can show you around. I also encourage you to join us next weekend @ Kice Island. We are a motley crew but we have a good time and clean up our beer bottles when we leave ;) Nick Ellenton, FL
kingfish	posted 10-30-2003 11:28 AM ET (US) Nick- Good point about the Rendezvous section - I missed that completely... What a great amount of stuff, though! There's a thread going next door about the Keys that I guess is in a similar boat, but there's even more data. It would be cool if somehow this stuff wound up over there...
Whalerologist	posted 10-30-2003 05:02 PM ET (US) Tsk Tsk Jimh! Wrong forum and no reprimand or nudge in the right direction? DOES'NT ANYONE READ THE RENDEZVOUS SECTION? No wonder we get crappy turnouts:( Sorry ya'll, your right, nice topic wrong area of forum. Wont happen again. BUT, NOW that I've got your attention, I am looking for a 2004 19 Nantucket, who on the forum has one that I can write to and also where in the southwest coast of Florida would you buy???? (marine Max tells me they won't go below 18% over their cost) I decided on the 150 optimax since the boat is about 2100 dry, add engine , fuel and wife and kids and we're at about 3500. Lots of weight to push. On the other hand, found a real nice 21 Outrage 1998 with 1998225 Merc EFI for about 24K with comfort, fish package and hydraulic jack plate for running all of those shallow SW Florida areas?? What would you guys do since I have to get out of the 13 SS, Great boat, crappy ride. My only fear with the outrage is that engine has 340 hours which seems a LOT to me. Glenn Chicago IL/Englewood FL
kingfish	posted 10-30-2003 05:28 PM ET (US) Start a new thread for that one, Glenn - but I will say 340 hours is not a lot; 3200 hours is (9.9 kicker on another members' boat, newer than the one you're looking at).
dfmcintyre	posted 10-31-2003 05:29 AM ET (US) Back about 10 years ago, Gail, my then pre-teen daughter and I stayed overnight at Cabbage Key. Right on about the food. Wandering around the island was interesting and cruising the various islands was fun. The rooms were, ah.... "relaxed standards". Meagan didn't think much of getting bitten by a sand crab, and had a cognitive learning experience regarding damp clothes in the corner of the room and cockroaches. Don
jimh	posted 10-31-2003 08:22 AM ET (US) [Added quotation marks and attribution where there were none.]
jimh	posted 10-31-2003 08:30 AM ET (US) I'd think twice before messing with Babs. She is currently suing some poor internet nerd who has published his own aerial photographic atlas of the west coast of the United States. He included a photograph of Barbra Streisand's opulent coastal mansion in the collection--hey it is part of the coast line. Babs, in the true fashion of limousine liberals, started legal action against the guy for millions of dollars. So if you want to walk along the low tide beach at Useppa or haul your Boston Whaler boat ashore, I'd suggest not picking out her patch of the island as your landing site. See: http://www.websitecity.com/celebrity/barbra_streisand/ for more on Babs in action.
jimh	posted 10-31-2003 08:32 AM ET (US) Here is the image that caused $10,000,000 in damage to Ms. Streisand, according to her lawsuit. http://www.californiacoastline.org/cgi-bin/image.cgi?image=3850&mode=sequential&flags=0 If you do go to Useppa, and take some pictures, don't post them on your website...
LKS	posted 10-31-2003 10:15 AM ET (US) Lucky we brought my husband's laptop on vacation! We've been staying on Pine Island, in Bokeelia, since last Saturday. A great "island" feel, not too commercial, but all the amenities you could ask for within a short drive. We were out on the water yesterday (Thurs., 10/30), some pretty gusty winds and light chop, but nothing we couldn't handle. We passed Useppa and had lunch at Cabbage Key. We chartered out of Four Winds Marina. Considering what we paid in Miami a couple of years ago, the price was very reasonable and we had a great time! Cheeseburgers at Cabbage Key were great, but no "Heinz 57 and french fried potatoes." And, no "big Kosher pickle," either. From Four Winds Marina, it's 210 on your compass, and Cabbage Key is well marked. We also encountered a very helpful dockmaster at Cabbage Key. It was a great experience and allowed us to use our Power Squadron training on reading charts -- something we rarely get the chance to do boating on southern Lake Michigan, where we tend to stay within our comfort range and well-known waters, and we don't typically see mile markers on a regular basis. But, unfortunately, it's back to Chicago for us, bright and early tomorrow morning! But, I can promise, we'll be back. -- LKS
frostbite	posted 10-31-2003 10:20 AM ET (US) I second the advise of visiting the state park at Cayo Costa, which also would be a great rendevous spot. Boca Grande is another good spot for lunch, and depending on your budget, would be a good place to stay. Stop at the "Temptation" for a drink, the place is full of people from Chicago. A familiar sight it that area is the yellow Mercury test boats running full blast up and down the inland waterway from their nearby facility. I would stick to the burgers at Cabbage Key, however, Jimmy Buffett wrote "Cheeseburger in Paradise " about a bar on St. Barthelemy called "Le Select" where he has a house nearby. At least thats my story. Have a great trip.
Techmage	posted 10-31-2003 04:06 PM ET (US) Picnic Island is nice too. No facilites or anything, but ancherage is 7-9 ft deep just off intercoastal best of sanabel bridge. exit channel on west side of Big green CAN to avoid shallowes.
jimh	posted 11-02-2003 09:25 AM ET (US) [Administrative post]
Whalerologist	posted 11-03-2003 03:42 PM ET (US) Frostbite wrote: familiar sight it that area is the yellow Mercury test boats running full blast up and down the inland waterway from their nearby facility. Glenn Says: yes, my friend Mike has been at that plant for almosy 30 years and they just announced the closure of Placida in the next 3-4 months. They are moving ops to the FL Panhandle for some reason. I would stick to the burgers at Cabbage Key, however, Jimmy Buffett wrote "Cheeseburger in Paradise " about a bar on St. Barthelemy called "Le Select" where he has a house nearby. At least thats my story. Those at Cabbage Key believe Buffett wrote it for them and their restaurant, BUT who knows. I'm a Buffett fan, BUT not a big fan, so I don't know. Ask me about Stevie Nicks and I'll tell you anything you want to know. Thats my story!!!!!! IN fact, Stevie writes about the water quite a bit since she lives in Pacific Palisades near Malibu. She has a fondness for boating to the Channel islands. Like to take her there in my Whaler myself (: Glenn