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Upper Matecumbe Key Inside

Location: Islamorada
Mile Marker: 1160
Lat / Lon: N 24° 55.324' / W 080° 38.124'
Depth: 5 to 8 feet
Description:
From red daybeacon "84," steering a course of 150 degrees magnetic and keeping your eye dead ahead on the charted tall radio tower, you will pass through a local anchorage area offshore from Lorelei Restaurant and the entrance to the Coral Bay Marina and close to restaurants and shopping. You may be able to tie the dinghy at The Worldwide Sportsman and the Morada Bay Beach Cafe small boat dock. (Call and ask.) The Lorelei Dinghy Dock, however, is reserved for diners (as of Jan. 2020).
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.

5.00

(4)

5.00 out of 5 stars

Holding:

4.75

Fair, soft mud

Wind Protection:

3.00

Open and Exposed to Northwest through Northeast

Current Flow:

4.75

Wake Protection:

1.75

Open and Exposed to Northwest through Northeast

Scenic Beauty:

3.50

Ease of Shopping:

3.75

Shore Access:

4.00

Pet Friendly:

4.00

Cell Service:

4.75

WiFi:

4.00

Review for Upper Matecumbe Key Inside

Reviewed by: Hal Goldschlag on Mar 12, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 37'
Draft: 3.0'

Overall Rating:

5

Holding:

5

Wind Protection:

3

Current Flow:

4

Wake Protection:

3

Scenic Beauty:

3

Ease of Shopping:

3

Shore Access:

4

Pet Friendly:

4

Cell Service:

4

WiFi:

4

We dragged because our anchor got stuck on an abandoned anchor chain. Once set we had a good hold. There is a boat ramp to take the dog to or you can go up into the canal and go to the Library park. It is not a no wake zone so be prepared for some boats to zip through.

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Review for Upper Matecumbe Key Inside

Reviewed by: Jason Spitz, Breathe, on May 14, 2021
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 40'
Draft: 4.0'

Overall Rating:

5

Holding:

4

Wind Protection:

3

Current Flow:

5

Wake Protection:

2

Scenic Beauty:

4

Ease of Shopping:

4

Shore Access:

4

Pet Friendly:

4

Cell Service:

5

WiFi:

4

Absolutely one of our favorites in the Keys. We’ve been coming here for 9 years. We spent 6 weeks in Jan/Feb 2021 and came back in May 2021 to say hi to friends we’ve made. This is an interesting anchorage. Many long term live aboards and there is always somebody dragging when the strong northerlies come through. But there is plenty of room here. You can go close or far and feel free to head east in the bay. You don’t need to bunch up here. Lorelei’s is a treat with awesome breakfast, happy hour specials, good food, and live music. Don’t miss Michael Trixx magic at sunset MWF. Lots of great restaurants you can walk to. Docks at restaurants for dining only. Dinghys can be tied at the dead end street in the mangroves. There is laundry mat about a 1/2 mile down the road. Gasoline is available at coral bay marina and diesel/gas at world wide of sports. Coral bay will allow you to fill water with fuel purchase or sell to you inexpensive if you don’t have a watermaker. Library and library park is next to coral bay. You can land a dinghy or kayak here too. Cell service is excellent. WiFi is offered by several restaurants. Great place!t

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Review for Upper Matecumbe Key Inside

Reviewed by: Steve McKinney, Sabbatical, on Feb 26, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 36'
Draft: 3.5'

Overall Rating:

5

Holding:

5

Wind Protection:

3

Current Flow:

5

Wake Protection:

1

Scenic Beauty:

3

Ease of Shopping:

4

Shore Access:

4

Pet Friendly:

4

Cell Service:

5

WiFi:

4

We stopped here for two nights on 2/23/21. It is one of our favorites. Dinghy in to Lorelei and the World Wide Sportsman. There were 20+ boats but the anchorage is large. We opted to stay well out of the bunch and dropped the anchor on the north side of the crowd. We got a few wakes during the day, but nothing horrible. Holding was fine in the light breeze in 7 ft of water on 82 ft of rode. Anchor and chain came up clean.

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Review for Upper Matecumbe Key Inside

Reviewed by: Jason Spitz, Breathe, on Jan 6, 2021
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 40'
Draft: 4.0'

Overall Rating:

5

Holding:

5

Wind Protection:

3

Current Flow:

5

Wake Protection:

1

Scenic Beauty:

4

Ease of Shopping:

4

Shore Access:

4

Pet Friendly:

4

Cell Service:

5

WiFi:

4

It's easy to get comfortable at this anchorage! We've been coming here for 7 years and have been here for over 2 weeks now. The anchorage has about 10-15 permanent liveaboards or semi-derelict boats. There are also multiple sunken or half sunken boats. Be especially careful of one wreck about 2 feet under the surface at approximate position 24.55.29N 80.38.06W. A lobster pot with a small boat fender is close by. This is a dangerous wreck to navigation. Here are some underwater photos of the wreck: https://www.facebook.com/BreatheSailDive/posts/4194137280613580 . On any given day in winter season, their are typically 3-10 visiting cruisers, most of whom stay 1 day to a week or so. Cell phone service for Verizon and Google Fi are excellent. We've been told the same for other service providers as well. Free Wifi is available at Lorelei restaurant while you are dining. They have free dockage while you are at the restaurant, but request you do not leave your dinghy there for long periods of time. We've found them to be very nice if you eat/drink and need to run a quick errand. There is a free public boat ramp to the west of Lorelei that you can leave your dinghy at for longer periods. Just tie up to the mangroves. Going further west, in the canal by the marinas, you can find diesel and Rec90 gas. You can also purchase inexpensive potable water if you don't have a watermaker. Water in the anchorage is clean if you do make water. There also is a park just past the marinas, where you can land your dinghy/kayaks. That is where the library is. Shopping and restaurants are all close by. West Marine is a 2 minute walk. A Dollar Tree and CVS are about a mile East and Publix about 1.3 miles East. To the west, a small grocery store is closeby, as well as Bass Pro/Outdoor Sportsman. Kayaking, snorkeling and fishing are all excellent in this area. The locals are friendly with lots of arts and crafts stores. Don't miss Seaside Glassworks - you can even take a class! Two breweries are also within walking distance. The anchorage is calm and clear with winds from the east/south/west. As the Florida Bay is large, Northerly component winds bring a significant chop to waves. That being said, holding is excellent and none of the more than 25 boats in the anchorage last week dragged during sustained winds of 25-30 knots with gusts of 40 knots.

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