Boating, Fishing, and Travel Information for Marco, Big Marco River, FL

Marco has several marinas.
Isles of Capri, a year-round community on three interconnected islands at the head of Big Marco Pass opposite Old Marco Village, has a number of marinas on the S side of Johnson Bay. Berths with electricity, gasoline, diesel fuel by truck, water, ice, a launching ramp, and marine supplies are available. A forklift that can handle craft to 28 feet for hull, engine, and electronic repairs is available. A 5-mph no-wake speed limit is enforced in Johnson Bay in the channel adjacent to the marinas on Isles of Capri.
Navigation:
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Marco Island, a large island situated between Caxambas Bay, Big Marco Pass, and Big Marco River, has for the most part been developed as a residential year-round community. Canals have been dredged and the marshland backfilled to provide for waterfront homesites.
Marco is a settlement at the N end of Marco Island on the S side of Big Marco River about 1 mile from Capri Pass entrance. The town is known locally as Old Marco Village.
Big Marco River trends E and then S for about 11 miles from Big Marco Pass to Gullivan Bay, and affords a through passage behind Cape Romano. The controlling midchannel depth is about 4 feet. However, there have been numerous reports of shoaling between Capri Pass Light 2 and Big Marco River Daybeacon 18, and boats with more than 2-foot draft should exercise caution and obtain local knowledge before attempting passage. The channel, though narrow and crooked, is well marked by daybeacons. The approach from Gullivan Bay is over a shoal with a depth of 4 feet and is marked by Coon Key Light. This approach is protected from all directions except SE to SW, and any sea from those directions is reduced by the wide expanse of gradually shoaling water. Local knowledge of conditions is necessary to carry the best water through the channel.
A fixed highway bridge with a clearance of 55 feet crosses Big Marco River about 3 miles N of Coon Key. The approach piers of the former swing bridge immediately S of the fixed bridge remain and are used as fishing piers. The overhead power cable below the highway bridge has a clearance of 81 feet. A fixed highway bridge with a clearance of 55 feet crosses the river about 2.3 miles E of Capri Pass. An overhead power cable with a clearance of 77 feet at the center span and 55 feet reported elsewhere is close W of the bridge.
Collier Bay enters Big Marco River from the S of Old Marco Village. In 1982, it was reported that 4 feet could be carried in the privately marked channel through the bay.