fbpx
Tuesday, September 26, 2023
  • Login
  • Register
Southern Boating
  • Boats
    • Center Consoles
    • Dual Consoles
    • Motoryachts
    • Power Cats
    • Sport Cruisers
    • Tenders & Ribs
  • Destinations
    • Bahamas
    • Caribbean
    • Pacific
    • U.S. Atlantic
    • U.S. Gulf
  • Engines
    • Engine Buyers Guide
  • Maintenance
    • DIY
  • Electronics
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
      • Drinks
      • Appetizers
      • Entrées
      • Dessert
      • Holiday
  • Gear
  • Shop
  • Web Reader
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
No Result
View All Result
  • Boats
    • Center Consoles
    • Dual Consoles
    • Motoryachts
    • Power Cats
    • Sport Cruisers
    • Tenders & Ribs
  • Destinations
    • Bahamas
    • Caribbean
    • Pacific
    • U.S. Atlantic
    • U.S. Gulf
  • Engines
    • Engine Buyers Guide
  • Maintenance
    • DIY
  • Electronics
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
      • Drinks
      • Appetizers
      • Entrées
      • Dessert
      • Holiday
  • Gear
  • Shop
  • Web Reader
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
No Result
View All Result
Southern Boating
No Result
View All Result
Home Destinations U.S. Gulf

Hog Island

August 1, 2018
in U.S. Gulf
0
an image of Hog Island
592
SHARES
3.3k
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

Tags: Caladesi IslandCubaHog IslandHurricane PassTampa

Recommended

Gordon Pass in Naples, Florida

Historic Naples, Florida

January 30, 2015
3.3k
Chris-Craft Catalina 34

Chris-Craft Catalina 34 Pilothouse

August 27, 2015
3.3k

Don't miss it

A center console turns on open water while sporting Honda's New BF350 Outboards
Engines

Introducing Honda Marine’s BF350 Outboard: V8 Power Meets Premium Performance

September 21, 2023
3.4k
Man holds stop sign covering his face
Marketgauge

Will The Fed Finally STOP?

September 20, 2023
3.3k
Highfield’s Sport 660 (21’ 4” LOA; 8’ 6” beam)
Boats

Highfield Boats Unveils New Models at Exclusive Michigan Event

September 19, 2023
3.9k
Deena Lippman Sea Bass Image
Featured

Female Anglers Rise Up: A New Trend in American Fishing

September 15, 2023
3.7k
Oil barrels in front of a graph showing increases
Marketgauge

Could Higher Oil Prices Throw The U.S. Into a Recession?

September 13, 2023
3.5k
The Ocean Alexander 28E Cuts across deep blue waters
Boats

The Ocean Alexander’s 28E: Revolutionizing Yachting with Modern Luxury

September 12, 2023
5k
Facebook Instagram TikTok Youtube LinkedIn

Navigation

  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
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

Subscribe to our mailing list to receive the best in boating weekly direct to your inbox!

No Result
View All Result
  • Boats
    • Center Consoles
    • Dual Consoles
    • Motoryachts
    • Power Cats
    • Sport Cruisers
    • Tenders & Ribs
  • Destinations
    • Bahamas
    • Caribbean
    • Pacific
    • U.S. Atlantic
    • U.S. Gulf
  • Engines
    • Engine Buyers Guide
  • Maintenance
    • DIY
  • Electronics
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
      • Drinks
      • Appetizers
      • Entrées
      • Dessert
      • Holiday
  • Gear
  • Shop
  • Web Reader
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise

© 2023 Southern Boating Media

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
Don't Miss Out

Get weekly content updates to stay informed about the best boating and yachting news.

Don’t miss out on this Special Offer

Only 1 Dollar Per Issue!

Get Yours Here

(Billed Annually for our Digital Subscription Only)

Don’t miss out on this Special Offer

Only 1 Dollar Per Issue!

Get Yours Here

(Billed Annually for our Digital Subscription Only)

Don’t miss out on this Special Offer

Only 1 Dollar Per Issue!

Get Yours Here

(Billed Annually for our Digital Subscription Only)

Enjoying our Content?

Get it delivered weekly to your inbox! Dive into Your Fix of Adventure with the Latest in Boating, Yachting, Fishing, Gear Reviews, Exotic Travel Destinations and Lifestyle. Don't Miss Out, Sign Up Today!

Before You Go

Set Sail With Us! Dive into Your Weekly Fix of Adventure with the Latest in Boating, Yachting, Fishing, Gear Reviews, Exotic Travel Destinations and Lifestyle. Don't Miss Out, Sign Up Today!

  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy