Three Rooker Bar

[MikeB0307]

Not sure if this is the right place to ask but, here goes...
My wife and I have been discussing a trip to Three Rooker Bar and have a few questions. Is it a safe trip for our 165? Best time of year to go? Best place to launch the boat from? Etc? Any input or info would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

[wingtime]

I'm sure three rocker was pretty crazy today.  Three rooker is a popular hangout for boaters. Your 165 is perfect to take out there. The waters in that area is pretty shallow. There are several other islands and sand bars In that area to go hang out on. I was just up there last weekend on Anclote  with my 170. You can launch in Clearwater at the Seminole boat ramp and make a few mile run up the intercoastal. Or you can launch from Anclote park and make a short run our t there.

[Bergertime]

I too have been considering going up there..   Can you please provide a more detailed location?  Don't need Lon/Lat just a geographical reference would be great..  Thanks.

B

[wingtime]

Three Rooker is an island in a chain of barrier islands off Pinellas county.  It is located between Honey Moon Island State Park and Anclote Key park.

https://maps.google.com/?ll=28.117865,-82.803268&spn=0.117942,0.222988&t=h&z=13

[pzart]

I'm sure three rocker was pretty crazy today.  Three rooker is a popular hangout for boaters.

We were there on Saturday from about noon till 6pm, it was crazy busy, my guess would be over a 1000 boats, I counted over a hundred just around a small area we were in.....both sides of the sand bar were loaded up...   EVERYWHERE!!!! but it was fun for a day......we then anchored on Caladesi Beach for Sunday......much quieter....but still a bunch of boats

[MikeB0307]

Thanks! We were out the last 3 weekends at Disappearing Island and this past Sunday was CRAZY. We need a change of scenery for a weekend and we're all for a 300 mile round trip if it's worth going (this was the wife's idea). And hating to sound old (42), we're looking for a little less 18-20 something year olds with extremely loud stereos blasting techno.

[wingtime]

The gulf side has much clearer water and less of the "party" types so if the winds permit I'd recommend you go there if the winds permit.  The inside of the "C"  has deeper water and that is where the type of crowd your looking to avoid gathers.  The gulf side is shallow but you should have no trouble with your 165.  The sandbars are always changing so just keep an eye out.  Watch the tides of course.  Since the bottom has a very shallow slope the beach can get really short or really long with just a small tide change.   Also it is a short run to other islands such as Anclote.  Anclote has a neat old light house on the south end.  Also there is a sand bar "island" north of Anclote key you can visit.

[MikeB0307]

Anclote sounds more like what we may be looking for. Fun but, not a mad house. Here's what we dealt with this past Sunday... and this was before it got busy.

[Bergertime]

I think I am going to be up there (Three Rooker) area this Saturday hanging on the beach with my GF.  Are there any good places to eat/drink up in that way along the intercoastal accessible to boaters?

Ps- Looking to use the Seminole boat ramp.. any concerns or issues there?

Please advise.

B

[wingtime]

Seminole boat ramp is nice but it gets busy.  Get there early since the parking fills up (there is a bunch of parking though) Don't park anywhere besides the main parking lot.  I've heard of vehicles parked up near the street getting broken into.  I'm not sure if there are any places in Dunedin to stop and eat.  I like to go up the Anclote river to Capt Jacks.

[Bergertime]

Thanks for the tips..  How long of a ride is it to Captain Jacks from the Seminole boat ramp?   Looks like abt 17 miles as best as I can tell off my Navionics App.  Sound abt right to you?

B

[wingtime]

That sounds about right...  just go north up the intercoastal and then hang a right up Anclote River.

[pzart]

X2 on Capt Jacks, go in the river all the way past the sponge docks and then will be on your left before the bridge. You will see the burnt remains of the shrimp boat that caught on fire sitting at the fuel pumps. We either go to Capt Jacks, Marker 8 in Dunedin or Palm Pavillion in Clearwater. A lot of the Islands on the way to 3 rooker have fire pits and nice to anchor at, or Caladesi Island has nice docks to stay overnight. Show up late and leave before 8am and the Rangers won't even know you were there :pirat:

[Bergertime]

Much appreciated!  I will be up that way tomorrow.  I have a large teal top on my 245 Osprey and of course I will have Old Glory flyin off the rocket launchers.  Don't be shy if you happen by me.  

Calm waters and tight lines!

Bruce

[MikeB0307]

We probably won't be down that way for a couple weekends. Bummer  :(