Fish Cays — Caicos Banks
Fish Cays anchorage · Caicos Banks Fish Cays
21°37.20'N 71°55.98'W
Depth
1–3m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
60m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
60m
60m for good holding on sand in 1–3m. The 0.6–0.9m tidal range on the Caicos Banks is a defining safety factor at Fish Cays — at low water the depth can fall below keel level for any vessel drawing more than 0.6m in the shallowest areas. The anchor alarm at 60m is your earliest warning of drag. Depth sounder readings must be watched constantly. This is a committed shoal-draft anchorage.
Caicos Banks Tidal Warning
Tidal range 0.6–0.9m. Maximum draft 1.2m at low water. Navigate in good light only. Anchor alarm is essential — set immediately on anchoring and monitor depth readings continuously.
About This Anchorage
The Fish Cays are a group of small uninhabited cays on the central-eastern Caicos Banks, close to the Six Hills Cays area and similarly pristine and remote. The name suggests a historic connection to fishing activity on the Banks — the surrounding waters are still excellent fishing grounds. The water clarity around the Fish Cays is exceptional — 10–15m visibility in 1–2m of water, with the sand bottom clearly visible from the bow. The bonefishing flats are remarkable. Unlike the more visited anchorages near Providenciales, Fish Cays receives virtually no boat traffic. The experience of anchoring here on a calm January day — flat water, brilliant clarity, complete silence broken only by seabirds — is one of the most extraordinary things available to a small-boat sailor in the Caribbean.
Protected From
S · SE
Exposed To
N · NW · NE · W
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free anchoring
- Permit required
- Yes
Restrictions: Caicos Banks — anchor in sand only; no anchoring on coral or seagrass; shoal draft only; no night navigation; DECR protection.
Hazards
- !EXTREMELY SHALLOW — Caicos Banks 0.6–0.9m tidal range reduces depth dramatically at low water
- !Coral heads — visual navigation essential; approach only in good light
- !Remote — 25nm from nearest assistance; fully self-sufficient
- !No night approach or departure — coral hazards in darkness are unsurvivable
Skipper's Tips
- →The Fish Cays area has some of the most pristine bonefishing flats on the entire Banks — bring a fly rod
- →The water clarity here in 1–2m depth is extraordinary — snorkelling over the sand in 1m of water with 15m visibility
- →Use this anchorage as part of a multi-day Banks exploration with Six Hills Cays, Middleton Cay, and Fish Cays in sequence
- →Tidal timing is everything — plan all movements on the Banks for the high water periods
Facilities
No facilities. Nearest services at South Caicos (25nm S).
Nearest provisions: South Caicos (25nm S) (25nm)
Best Months & Season
Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr
December–April. Remote Banks exploration for experienced shoal-draft sailors. Total self-sufficiency required.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 60m
On the Caicos Banks, in 1–4m of water with a 0.6–0.9m tidal range, the anchor alarm is not optional — it is your primary safety tool. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously, night and day.
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