Sorry I've never camped there. I have camped at the shell key preserve near Ft DeSoto, which looks like a similar island.
Tip? Sure.
- Anchoring is important, duh. First trip one of my anchors came loose and my boat ended up on the beach. Now I anchor differently. First, you must be bow out. Lots of guys just beach their boats and get into trouble. I use a seaclaw anchor with 3ft of chain and plenty of rode off the bow. The rear I use a spare anchor, but I carry it above the water line, and bury it atleast a foot deep. Or I will use my stake out rod, but it must be secure.
- Fire, you normally must bring your own wood, and are supposed to clean up after yourself. Dig a fire pit! I bring a camp shovel and dig a pit about a foot deep and 3ft wide. It keeps the wind off of it a bit, and at the end of the trip to clean up you just fill in the hole you made. Any extra wood you have I leave high on the beach for the next campers. I appreciate when others do this.
- Don't forget a poopy bucket. I have one with a toilet seat made for the 5 gallon. We just drop a trash bag in it, and toss it in the trash when we get back to the dock.
- Baby wipes and purell. There's no showers or sinks out there.
Everything else is your typical camping stuff. Water, food, .....
