Treasure Island is a boating and beach resort that is located on the West Coast of Florida just west of St. Petersburg, south of Clearwater by about 12 miles, and 28 miles northwest of Sarasota. The Treasure Island area has a nice scattering of marinas and marine-related facilities with plenty of activities ashore. If you need to replenish the galley or do some shopping to stock up, this is a perfect place to do so.

Use NOAA Chart 11411.

The main water feature of the Treasure Island area is Johns Pass, which allows to and from access to the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. The controlling depth in Johns Pass is 14 feet, but generally, in and around the Johns Pass Bascule Bridge (25-foot closed vertical clearance), you will find depths more typically in the six-foot-deep area.

The Johns Pass Bascule Bridge crosses the inlet right at its opening, and at the time the image above was taken, construction of a second draw span was well underway with construction equipment visible to the west side of the bridge. Keep an eye out for barges and other construction traffic while transiting the area.

To approach the area from the Gulf of Mexico, you must first pick up flashing white Morse (A) buoy “JP,” which is located about 1.2 miles west of the Johns Pass entrance near waypoint 27 46.492N 82 48.024W. Once you have picked up flashing white Morse (A) buoy “JP,” set a course of 80 degrees magnetic for about a half-mile until you sight green daybeacon “1” and flashing red buoy “2” at the beginning of the entrance channel.

Once you have picked up green daybeacon “1” and flashing red buoy “2,” head on it and follow green nun buoy “3.” quick flashing red buoy “4,” green nun buoy “5,” and then line up for the center of the Johns Pass Bascule Bridge (opens on signal). After you clear the bridge, Johns Pass Marina will appear to starboard with Hubbards Marina and Don’s Dock to port. Florida Gulf Marine is in an enclosed basin to port just after Don’s Dock.

Local Notices to Mariners are now exclusively available online from the U.S. Coast Guard.