Boating from Anna Maria Island's North End: Direct Gulf Access from Bean Point

The city of Anna Maria sits at the northern tip of Anna Maria Island, where the Gulf of Mexico meets Tampa Bay at Bean Point. For boaters, this location is hard to beat. You can reach open Gulf water without passing under a single bridge if you launch or dock north of the Manatee Avenue bridge. Here is what makes Anna Maria one of the most desirable boating addresses on Florida's central Gulf Coast.

Getting to the Gulf of Mexico

From the north end of Anna Maria, Gulf access is essentially immediate. Bean Point is the northernmost tip of the island, right where the Gulf meets Tampa Bay. Boats north of the SR 64 bridge have direct Tampa Bay and Gulf access without passing under any bridges. If coming from the bayside south of Manatee Avenue, you would need to pass under the Anna Maria Island Bridge (24-foot clearance when closed). There are no locks or lifts.

Bridges and Clearances

If your dock or slip is north of Manatee Avenue, no bridges are required to reach the Gulf. If approaching from the south, the Anna Maria Island Bridge (SR 64) is a bascule drawbridge with 24 feet of clearance when closed and 90 feet of horizontal clearance. It opens on the quarter-hour and three-quarter-hour from 6 AM to 7 PM, and on signal at all other times. VHF Channel 09.

Channel Depths

Passage Key Inlet off Bean Point has a reference depth of approximately 15 feet per NOAA charts. Be aware of strong tidal currents in this area. Anna Maria Sound channels near the city run roughly 6 to 10 feet, but outside marked channels the sound can drop to under 1 foot with little warning. Always use updated charts and pay close attention to tide levels.

Closest Public Boat Ramp

There is no public boat ramp within the city of Anna Maria itself. The nearest ramp is the 63rd Street Memorial Park Boat Ramp at 6398 Marina Drive in Holmes Beach, approximately 2 miles south. It is a single-lane ramp with parking for 9 trailers, launching into Bimini Bay and Anna Maria Sound.

Fuel and Repairs

Galati Yacht Basin at 900 South Bay Boulevard in Anna Maria is the primary full-service marina for the north end of the island. They offer ValvTect gasoline and diesel at their fuel dock, open Monday through Saturday 8:30 AM to 5 PM and Sunday 9 AM to 4 PM. Galati also operates a full-service boatyard with a 75-ton travel lift, hull and engine repair, bottom painting, fiberglass work, marine electronics, and authorized warranty service.

The Boating Lifestyle

Bean Point is a landmark destination where the Gulf meets Tampa Bay, with strong currents, clear water, and exceptional fishing. Primary species include snook near docks and mangroves year-round, tarpon from May through July weighing 60 to 200 pounds, redfish especially in fall around oyster bars, and spotted seatrout on the flats.

Popular boating destinations from Anna Maria include Egmont Key, a historic island with a lighthouse and Fort Dade ruins that offers excellent snorkeling, and Passage Key, a protected sandbar and wildlife refuge where boaters anchor offshore in turquoise water. Note that landing on Passage Key itself is prohibited to protect nesting birds. Whether you fish seriously or just enjoy cruising to sandbars and island destinations, the north end of Anna Maria Island delivers immediate access to some of the best water on the Gulf Coast.

John Belt, REALTOR® | Keller Williams On The Water | 941-720-1200 | johnbeltrealtor.com