The waters in and around Anna Maria Island are perfect for kayaking, and there are more and more people enjoying it. Inside Bimini Bay, the conditions are particularly peaceful. Beginners or those who don’t know how to swim can feel very safe there. Surrounded by land, except for the channel out to Tampa Bay, the water is usually flat and it’s very shallow. In fact, it’s so shallow at low tides that even kayakers should pay close attention to water depth, in order not to damage the fragile sea grass floor of this environmentally important location. Just north of Holmes Beach City Hall is a park with a boat ramp, from which it is easy to kayak into Bimini Bay, under the bridge to Key Royal.
Among the wildlife usually seen by kayakers in Bimini Bay are dolphins, with the occasional manatee. Birdlife is plentiful. Ospreys, pelicans and terns dive for fish. Gulls hang around hoping for scraps. Great blue herons can be seen nesting high in the Australian pines, or wading in the waters at low tide.
Sit-on-top kayaks require almost no instruction or technique, but it helps to keep a few things in mind. A stable way to get into these kayaks is by putting one’s bottom into the seat before trying to bring one’s legs on board. Paddling is quite straightforward, and it’s good to aim for rhythm. In addition to pulling back on the paddle with one hand, one pushes the other side of the paddle forward.
It’s possible to do a surprising number of things from a kayak. Many people fish, with good results. One islander even goes shark fishing in his kayak. Picnicking is also an ideal kayak activity, since there are so many shallow and protected areas in which to stop. For years a group of local women have kayaked together weekly from the north part of Bimini Bay, out the channel then north to the pier restaurant for something to eat.
There is a kayak nature trail among the mangroves south of Manatee Avenue. There are plenty of easy launching locations at the south part of the island, too. And on gentle days it’s fun to paddle in Gulf.
Rental kayaks and guides are available who can provide all your equipment and instruction if you need it. Be sure to have a life vest onboard and to wear it if you are not a strong swimmer. And check the weather forecast before venturing out far. Then enjoy a quiet sport that can be used either as a great full body workout or as a way to completely relax and drift with the breeze and current. Either way you’ll be sure to enjoy kayaking on Anna Maria Island.
4 replies on “Kayaking on Anna Maria Island”
[…] features 56 acres of diverse marshlands, 10 acres of uplands and open water. There are 2½ miles of kayaking and canoeing streams, and 6 nature trails, with 6 bridges, winding through the mangroves. The 500 […]
[…] Rent kayaks and paddle around the many safe and shallow waters. Pick up a map at the information center or look in the newspaper to see some of the possibilities of where to go. You can even try fishing from your kayak. […]
Where would you recommend renting kayaks? I saw photographs of the Grassy Point Preserve mangrove tunnels and thought it looked unique. Is that what you are referring to when you say, “nature trail among the mangroves south of Manatee Avenue”? Any other specific locations to explore? Thanks! We are coming next week.
Hi Annie. Yes, Grassy Point Preserve is south of the Anna Maria bridge and east of the shopping strip with Walgreens. It can be accessed from the north side by launching at the Kingfish boat ramp, or at the picnic area on the south side, which has limited parking.
Map: https://www.google.com/maps/@27.493361,-82.703528,1776m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en-US
Also, Robinson Preserve has a network of kayaking waterways. See https://amipost.com/sports/robinson-preserve-bike-rides/
Many people kayak within Bimini Bay and launch from the Holmes Beach public boat ramp on 63rd Street east.
Kayak rentals are available from Native Rentals, Just4Fun, Beachbums, Fun and More. They can deliver to your location or meet up at a selected site. The “SurferBus” rents kayaks and paddle-boards on Manatee Avenue waterfront just west of the Robinson Preserve entrance, where you can launch and return without transporting equipment.
Enjoy your stay!