Continent
North America
Country
Florida (USA)
Next Big City
Miami, Key West
Next Town
Islamorada
 
Type:
Ocean
Rider Ability:
Intermediate, Expert
Features:
Shower, Toilet, Parking

Water

Type:
Shallow, Flat, Chop
Hazards:
Swimmers, Currents, Rocks
Quality:
Crystal clear
Best Tide:
Low tide

Great flat water. Big shallow area, waist deep for about 0.5 miles out. Sand and turtle grass bottom, which can be quiet disturbing. Current under the bridge between Lower Matecumbe and Long Key can be strong. Stay away from the main channel there.

Beach

Type:
Sand
Size:
Small
Hazards:
Rocks, Trees, Bystanders, Road
Beach Users:
No information

Limestone clay beach with heavy tidal influence. Beach can widen or narrow by 5-10m on heavy tide. Large hammock/mangrove trees close to the water on high tide. At high tide almost no beach.

Weather

Spring:
Shorts
Summer:
Shorts
Fall:
Shorts
Winter:
Shorts, Shorty

Water and air warm year-round, ability to ride with no wetsuit on all but the coldest days, then a shorty is recommended.

Wind

Best Months:
January, February, March, April, September, October, November, December
Wind Type:
Frontal, Trade
Best Direction:
E
Main Direction:
NE, E

Primary wind is East, Northeast from frontal activity. Very consistent fall to spring. It will blow all night and all day in the right conditions. Summer has light winds.



How to get there

Transport
Car
Access
Short walk

South from Miami or North from Key West on Highway 1 to mile marker 74. Anne's Beach is on the ocean side at the very southern tip of Lower Matecumbe Key. Small municipal park with 2 parking lots with room for about 10 cars each. The southern lot is the best launch.

Extra information

Rules
None

No special rules or restrictions, beware that water's edge is less than 20m from the highway. On onshore or sideonshore, keep your kite well away from the road. Popular beach for tourists and locals. Respect the swimmers and sunbathers. Be aware of the narrow channel from Caloosa Marina which cuts across the riding area. Do not leave your lines across this channel.

Nightlife

Holiday Isle on Windley Key, 9 miles north, has some nightlife.