Shoaling at the inlet has kept some of the region's largest commercial fishing boats out of the state's largest fishing port.

Construction is underway on a ‘boat hotel’ in Ponce Inlet. WATCH CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS The developers are calling it a “boatel,” but its official name is the Lighthouse Landing.

“This is not only a grounding hazard to vessels, but the waves created inside the inlet as a result of this shoaling are enough to capsize boats that regularly traverse the channel.” This is ...