Stocking Island at Georgetown

Stocking Island is the barrier island that separates Great Exuma Island from the Atlantic ocean and forming a lovely protected harbor called Elizabeth Harbor. There are many anchorages on the south side of Stocking Island from Monument Beach all the way to Sand Dollar Beach. The water is quite deep but the holding is good (mostly sand). There’s a brand new mooring field with 64 mooring balls between Black Rock and Sand Dollar Beach. The cost per night is between $32-$38 per night depending on boat length. There are no facilities and no pump-out boat either. Reservations for the mooring balls can be made online on Dockwa.com. There is also a smaller mooring field at Chat ‘n Chill.

Be aware of the new Moriah Harbour National Park boundaries, since you’re no longer allowed to anchor in that area. The anchorages at Monument, Chat ‘n Chill and Sand Dollar Beach is not protected from North West blows or cold fronts, but boaters in the past moved to Kidd Cove, Red Shanks and Goat Cay until the weather calms again. Red Shanks now falls within the new national park boundary and anchoring is not allowed.

For us one of the main attractions on Stocking Island is the many well marked and very pretty hiking routes all over the island. We have noticed some new wood construction all along many of the routes, so we’re just hoping that it won’t all change into paved roads of sorts. You can reach the hiking routes by dinghy and normally a buoy or other marker tied to a tree or rocks stacked on land will indicate where a route starts.

The Atlantic side of the island has gorgeous beaches, but off course the ocean is much rougher than the harbor side and special care should be taken if you want to go into the water.

Chat ‘n Chill is a very popular bar and conch shack. There are tables and chairs under the trees and people hang out and have fun with games and chats in the water and under the trees.

Fresh conch salad is made on the spot and the entrails of the conch is left for the tourists to feed the rays, which come into the very shallow water and are not afraid to be touched.

Another great place to eat is called The Snappy Turtle Bar & Grill and is found when you go into the secluded anchorage area to the north of Chat ‘n Chill. A number of new houseboats are docked at a new dock and I assume can be rented like the few older Houseboats that are on mooring balls behind Chat ‘n Chill.

During Spring each year there are on average more than 300 boats in the harbor and despite many boaters being unhappy about the changes that are being made to the area, it still doesn’t seem to negatively affect the amount of boaters that return year after year for the regatta and in general just a good time in Georgetown.