...
Southern Boating & Yachting
  • Boats
    • Center Consoles
    • Dual Consoles
    • Motoryachts
    • Power Cats
    • Sport Cruisers
    • Tenders & Ribs
  • Destinations
    • Regional Reports
    • Bahamas
    • Caribbean
    • U.S. Atlantic
    • U.S. Gulf
  • Engines
  • Maintenance
    • DIY
  • Electronics
  • Lifestyle
    • News
      • Boating Log
    • Fishing
    • Food
      • Menus
      • Drinks
      • Appetizers
      • Entrées
      • Dessert
      • Holiday
  • Gear
  • Shop
  • Digital Edition
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
No Result
View All Result
  • Boats
    • Center Consoles
    • Dual Consoles
    • Motoryachts
    • Power Cats
    • Sport Cruisers
    • Tenders & Ribs
  • Destinations
    • Regional Reports
    • Bahamas
    • Caribbean
    • U.S. Atlantic
    • U.S. Gulf
  • Engines
  • Maintenance
    • DIY
  • Electronics
  • Lifestyle
    • News
      • Boating Log
    • Fishing
    • Food
      • Menus
      • Drinks
      • Appetizers
      • Entrées
      • Dessert
      • Holiday
  • Gear
  • Shop
  • Digital Edition
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
No Result
View All Result
Southern Boating & Yachting
No Result
View All Result
Home Destinations U.S. Gulf
an image of Hog Island

Hog Island

August 1, 2018
in U.S. Gulf
0
619
SHARES
3.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on LinkedInShare via Email

In 1921, a severe hurricane hit the west coast of Florida near Clearwater Beach. Its tidal surge sliced a long barrier island in two: North Hog Island and South Hog Island.

Today, we know them as Honeymoon Island State Park and Caladesi Island State Park.

Hurricane Pass, the appropriately named inlet, takes Gulf boaters into St. Joseph Sound and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway between Palm Harbor and Dunedin, just north of Clearwater. Caladesi Island to the south is accessible only by boat, but it has a marina with floating docks and water and electrical hookups, a restaurant, and kayak trails through the mangroves. A hiking path leads to what used to be the home of Henry Scharrer, who came to the U.S. from Switzerland when he was a young man.

In 1888, Scharrer worked in Tampa and bought a used sloop. During a shakedown cruise, a storm blew up so he sailed through a pass just north of Clearwater Beach and anchored in the calmer water behind Hog Island. The storm left but Scharrer admired this beautiful place with a safe harbor and stayed. He built a cabin, raised hogs, caught fish, grew vegetables, and having “proved up the land, became a U.S. citizen.”

From time to time, Cuban fishermen visited Scharrer to trade goods and exchange gifts. They loved Hog Island, too, and had described it as caladesi (beautiful bayou). Hog Island became one of Florida’s original tourist attractions, and Scharrer gave walking tours of the island to snowbirds. He met and married Kate McNally from Ireland, and they had a daughter, Myrtle. Sadly, Kate died when Myrtle was only seven, but her daughter quickly took over her mother’s chores, including gardening, gathering food, preparing meals, and baking bread. She also loved to explore Hog Island from the beach to the backcountry.

Myrtle Scharrer Betz died in 1992 at the age of 96. Fortunately, she wrote about her Hog Island memories which can be found in the book, Yesteryear I Lived in Paradise: The Story of Caladesi Island.

Be sure to take time to pull in to Hog Island the next time you’re cruising by and enjoy a hike through history.

By Bill AuCoin, Southern Boating August 2018

Get more Gulf Coast Updates

Subscribe to the print magazine | $29.95 for 12 issues
Tags: Caladesi IslandCubaHog IslandHurricane PassTampa
Previous Post

The Highfield OM 390

Next Post

Carver C34 Coupe

Next Post
An image of the Carver C34 Coupe

Carver C34 Coupe

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recommended

Trailer Boat Life Cell

Trailer Boat Life Cell

July 27, 2017
3.3k
quickcleat

Quick Cleat

June 6, 2017
3.3k

Don't miss it

A man holding his catch after using surface lures
Fishing

How to Spark the Bite: Pro Tips for Using Surface Lures

October 3, 2025
3.2k
Cruisers Yachts 38 VTR lineup on water
Boats

The All-New VTR Series: Built to Venture. Trek. Roam.

October 1, 2025
3.4k
Electronic Fuses
DIY

Marine Electronics Troubleshooting: Repair, Resell, or Replace?

September 30, 2025
3.3k
Pershing GTX-80 anchored in blue waters aerial view
Boats

Pershing GTX80 Review: Galley-Up Luxury at 34 Knots With A Beach Club

September 30, 2025
3.4k
Man applying Seascour descaler to sea strainer on boat engine system
Engines

Why Do Smart Boat Owners Choose Seascour for Safe Marine Maintenance?

September 23, 2025
3.3k
Beneteau Antares 9 compact coastal cruiser underway
Boats

Small Cruiser, Big Comfort: Beneteau Antares 9 Redefines the Weekender

September 22, 2025
3.6k
Facebook Instagram TikTok Youtube LinkedIn

Navigation

  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Terms Of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Manage My Subscription
logo

1591 E. Atlantic Blvd, 2nd Floor
Pompano Beach, FL 33060
Office: +1 (954) 522-5515
Fax: +1 (954) 522-2260
Contact us: info@southernboating.com


Newsletter

* indicates required

© 2025 Southern Boating & Yachting, INC.

No Result
View All Result
  • Boats
    • Center Consoles
    • Dual Consoles
    • Motoryachts
    • Power Cats
    • Sport Cruisers
    • Tenders & Ribs
  • Destinations
    • Regional Reports
    • Bahamas
    • Caribbean
    • U.S. Atlantic
    • U.S. Gulf
  • Engines
    • Engine Buyers Guide
  • Maintenance
    • DIY
  • Electronics
  • Lifestyle
    • News
      • Boating Log
    • Fishing
    • Food
      • Drinks
      • Appetizers
      • Entrées
      • Dessert
      • Holiday
  • Gear
  • Shop
  • Digital Edition
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

© 2025 Southern Boating & Yachting, INC.

  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Terms Of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Manage My Subscription
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Terms Of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Manage My Subscription