--- title: "Milton Pass at Stump Pass: How Hurricane Milton Changed Englewood, Florida" description: "Discover how Hurricane Milton created Milton Pass at Stump Pass Beach State Park in 2024, how boaters used it and why Charlotte County says the pass later plugged itself." canonical: "https://englewoodboattours.com/things-to-do/milton-pass-stump-pass/" image: "https://englewoodboattours.com/assets/images/heroes/milton-pass-stump-pass.webp" content_role: "supporting" primary_query: "milton pass at stump pass: the hurricane-created pass that changed englewood's coastline" parent_hub: "https://englewoodboattours.com/things-to-do/" commercial_target: "https://englewoodboattours.com/tours/lemon-bay-fishing/" --- # Milton Pass at Stump Pass: The Hurricane-Created Pass That Changed Englewood's Coastline Hurricane Milton changed the southern end of Manasota Key in October 2024 by opening a new breach through the barrier island near Stump Pass Beach State Park. Residents and boaters began calling it Milton Pass. For a time, the opening connected Lemon Bay directly with the Gulf and became a local curiosity, fishing area and shallow-water boating destination. The feature was temporary. Charlotte County reported in May 2026 that Milton Pass had plugged itself naturally, so it should now be understood as recent Englewood coastal history, not a current navigation route. ## Where Was Milton Pass? Milton Pass formed through the southern portion of Manasota Key near Stump Pass Beach State Park. It was north of the maintained Stump Pass channel and created a second, temporary connection between Lemon Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The opening stood out in aerial imagery because Gulf water cut across the narrow barrier island. Its shape changed as waves, tides and currents moved sand. Official Charlotte County meeting records described the breach as roughly 400 feet wide and 16 feet deep by December 2024. Those dimensions were a snapshot rather than a permanent channel specification. - Southern Manasota Key - Near Stump Pass Beach State Park - North of the maintained Stump Pass navigation channel - A temporary connection between Lemon Bay and the Gulf ## How Hurricanes Helene and Milton Set the Stage Hurricane Helene passed the region in late September 2024 and pushed damaging water and waves across Southwest Florida's coast. That storm weakened dunes and overwash areas along Manasota Key. Less than two weeks later, Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key on October 9, 2024, as a Category 3 hurricane with estimated sustained winds of 120 mph. Storm surge, waves and fast-moving water crossed the already stressed barrier island. The flow cut a new opening that residents soon called Milton Pass. The event shows why barrier islands are not fixed walls. They are accumulations of sand that respond to storms, tides and longshore currents. A powerful storm can push water over a low point, erode a channel and allow repeated tidal flow to enlarge the breach. ## What Makes a Storm-Created Pass? A coastal pass is an opening that allows water to move between a bay or estuary and the Gulf. Some passes persist because tidal flow continually scours their channels. Others are maintained through dredging. A storm-created breach may remain open, migrate, shoal or close depending on currents, sediment supply and future weather. Milton Pass did not automatically become a marked or maintained navigation route merely because boats could pass through it. Newly formed channels can contain shifting shoals, strong current, submerged debris and depths that differ from recent imagery. Conditions may change faster than charts and satellite maps can be updated. ## Englewood Has Seen Passes Move Before Milton Pass felt unprecedented to many modern visitors, but coastal openings around Stump Pass have shifted over time. Historical charts and local accounts show that passes in this area have opened, moved and closed as sand traveled along the barrier island. The maintained Stump Pass exists within that same moving system. Dredging and shoreline projects support navigation and manage sediment, but storms can still redraw the shoreline quickly. Milton Pass offered a dramatic modern example of a process that has shaped this coast for generations. ## When Milton Pass Became a Boater Hangout ![Boats anchored in shallow turquoise water near a sandy coastal shoreline](https://englewoodboattours.com/assets/images/articles/milton-pass-boating.webp) *This shallow-water boating scene illustrates the sandbar-style gatherings reported while Milton Pass remained open.* While the breach remained open, boaters began visiting the shallow sandy edges around it. On suitable days, boats anchored nearby while people stepped into the water, relaxed and treated the area much like a local sandbar gathering. That social use did not make the pass a managed recreation area. Current, depth and breaking waves could change, and the new inlet affected water movement through nearby flats. Because the pass has since plugged itself, descriptions of boats running through Milton Pass belong in the past tense. Old photos and videos do not show today's navigation conditions. ## Fishing Around the Former Pass When open, the breach created moving water, sandy edges, drop-offs and a new connection between bay and Gulf habitat. Those transitions could move bait and attract inshore fish. Anglers paid attention to current seams and edges where shallow sand met deeper flow. The former pass is no longer a reliable route or fixed fishing feature. Fish movement now reflects the reformed shoreline, the maintained Stump Pass channel and the larger Lemon Bay system. Productive areas change with tide, season, temperature, wind and bait activity. Visitors interested in coastal history and current fishing habitat around Stump Pass can request a [fishing boat tour in Englewood](https://englewoodboattours.com/tours/lemon-bay-fishing/). The captain will choose a safe route based on present markers, depth and conditions rather than trying to follow the former Milton Pass opening. - Current near the maintained Stump Pass channel - Edges of nearby grass flats - Mangrove points and island shorelines - Sandy drop-offs where bait is present ## Why Officials Watched the New Opening A new inlet can affect more than recreational boating. It can change how tide and sediment move through an estuary, influence nearby shoreline erosion and complicate management of an existing navigation channel. Charlotte County and state agencies monitored Milton Pass and discussed possible closure and restoration work. The questions included navigation, beach stability, habitat and the relationship between the new breach and the maintained Stump Pass channel. The shoreline continued evolving while those discussions occurred. ## Milton Pass Plugged Itself Naturally The most important current update is that Milton Pass did not remain open. Charlotte County's Beaches and Shores Advisory Committee minutes from May 7, 2026, state that Milton Pass had "plugged itself up." Sand moved back into the breach and closed the temporary connection. Visitors should not plan to cross Manasota Key at the former pass. It is not a dependable shortcut from Lemon Bay to the Gulf, and historical depths no longer describe the site. Use the maintained Stump Pass route, current navigation information and posted markers. ## Stump Pass Still Requires Active Coastal Management ![Coastal restoration equipment placing sand along a barrier-island shoreline](https://englewoodboattours.com/assets/images/articles/milton-pass-restoration.webp) *Coastal restoration can move sand and rebuild shoreline, but Charlotte County reported that Milton Pass ultimately plugged itself naturally.* Closure of Milton Pass does not make the surrounding coast static. Stump Pass, nearby beaches and southern Manasota Key continue to respond to waves, tides, seasonal currents and storms. Dredging and beach-restoration work may move sediment, support the marked navigation channel and rebuild shoreline where projects are authorized. Every project has a specific purpose and schedule, so boaters should watch for temporary work zones and follow official notices. ## What Milton Pass Teaches About Englewood's Coast Milton Pass is a reminder that coastal geography can change within hours and continue changing for years. A familiar beach can be breached by storm water, attract boaters while open and then gradually fill as sand returns. For anglers and boaters, local knowledge matters because the map is only a starting point. Current markers, depth readings, tide, weather and a cautious approach are more reliable than a saved route from before a major storm. For visitors, the story adds another layer to [Stump Pass](https://englewoodboattours.com/areas/stump-pass/). The area is not only a beach and boating destination. It is an active barrier-island landscape where Gulf energy, Lemon Bay tides and human coastal management meet. ## Before Visiting the Stump Pass Area Check current marine weather, tides, charts and official navigation notices before leaving the dock. Do not use old Milton Pass imagery as a route guide. Slow down near shallow or unfamiliar water, watch the depth finder and respect posted work zones and wildlife rules. From land, visitors can explore Stump Pass Beach State Park during posted park hours. From the water, use the maintained channel and follow current markers. Anyone fishing should also review current Florida license, season, size and possession rules. ## Related boat experience This page provides planning context. For the relevant trip details, boat options, private-group rates and availability process, review [Lemon Bay Fishing Tour](https://englewoodboattours.com/tours/lemon-bay-fishing/). ## Frequently asked questions ### What was Milton Pass? Milton Pass was a storm-created breach through southern Manasota Key near Stump Pass Beach State Park that temporarily connected Lemon Bay with the Gulf. ### When did Milton Pass form? It formed during Hurricane Milton on October 9, 2024, after Hurricane Helene had already weakened parts of the coast. ### Is Milton Pass still open? No. Charlotte County reported in May 2026 that Milton Pass had plugged itself naturally. ### Can boats use Milton Pass now? Visitors should not plan to navigate the former pass. Use the maintained Stump Pass route, current charts and posted markers. ### Why did officials monitor Milton Pass? A new inlet can affect tidal flow, sediment movement, beaches, habitat and management of the existing navigation channel. ### Can you fish near the former Milton Pass? The larger Stump Pass and Lemon Bay area remains productive inshore habitat, but anglers should choose spots based on current conditions rather than the former breach. ## Continue planning - [Fishing Boat Tour on Lemon Bay](https://englewoodboattours.com/tours/lemon-bay-fishing/) - [Ski Alley Near Stump Pass: Boating, Water Skiing and a Local Englewood Hangout](https://englewoodboattours.com/things-to-do/ski-alley-stump-pass/) - [Rag Alley Near Stump Pass: A Hidden Place to Fish and Explore](https://englewoodboattours.com/things-to-do/rag-alley/) - [Stump Pass Waterway and Tidal Inlet](https://englewoodboattours.com/areas/stump-pass/) - [Stump Pass Beach State Park Visitor Guide](https://englewoodboattours.com/areas/stump-pass-beach-state-park/) - [Understanding Lemon Bay Tides](https://englewoodboattours.com/guide/tides/) ## Business details - Public business: Englewood Boat Tours - Legal company: PERPETUAL SOLUTIONS INC - Service area: Englewood, Florida and the Lemon Bay area - Phone: [(941) 841-9660](tel:+19418419660) - Booking email: [bookings@englewoodboattours.com](mailto:bookings@englewoodboattours.com) - Departure: Departing from a private dock at the mouth of Gottfried Creek where it meets Lemon Bay. Exact address provided after booking. --- Source: [Milton Pass at Stump Pass: The Hurricane-Created Pass That Changed Englewood's Coastline](https://englewoodboattours.com/things-to-do/milton-pass-stump-pass/) on Englewood Boat Tours.