How is Bimini these days?

We don’t go anymore. We don’t even stop there on the way to the Exumas. I even turn down charter request there

It has been destroyed by Resort World Bimini Bay, which has bulldozed and concreted over the northern end of the island. As a result Alice Town has suffered.. it s just not worth it anymore.

the Berrys are only 60 miles further and across the bank so whether isn’t much of a concern to go further. Great Harbor Cay has a nice marina and many beaches to enjoy. There are some nice anchorages like White Cay/Hoffman and it’s blue hole, Bird Cay and and another marina at chub.

It's been many years, But I do miss the old Alice Town / Bimini from the 80/90s.
It was starting to go down hill after the dredging on S Bimini started years (many) ago.
Then later the original Compleat Angler burnt down.
I have not heard a good comment since.

If you are just itching to get off the dock for 2-3 days, Biscayne Bay may have some offerings.
Anchor out off Nixon's old dock and dink into No-Name Harbor for a lunch. Tour the light house.
Play around Boca-Chita and pictures in front of its light house or Elliott key & disappear.
All assuming you don't need a dock tie up at night.

Attacks on Bimini? Pirates? Foreign governments?

Bimini has lost its historical charm. Now it presents all of the warm welcome of Grand Lucaya. But to each his/her own. Im with Pascal on this. I'd drive on by and find a spot in the Berries, Abaco, heck, even Fresh Creek or Morgan's Bluff.

....or as Capt Ralph suggested, boating to anywhere in the Keys can give you all of the benefits of "getting away" without the testing.

But worth the hassle of checking in??? Just for a weekend???

Scenery used to be nice until RWBB destroyed the north end. We used to anchor off the beach at the north end it was great... now that’s gone. The NE side is still intact but zero protection and only enjoyable on a rare calm day

the only decent anchorage is indeed Gun Cay / Honeymoon harbor. But that s it. And then if it s 15kts or more... you re in the chop exposed to easterlies.

the Sapona is indeed the last remaining attraction in Bimini

Is that old air plane radial engine still visible at Honeymoon? DC3 Wright Cyclone?
May have just shown my age and last time there.

I don’t remember any plane wreck at honeymoon. Are you getting confused with the DC3 over Norman’s Cay, Exumas? It s still there. Top of the fuselage has rotted away but from the top of the windows down, wings, tails, engines, props are all there

https://www.instagram.com/p/BbAUyMwhC4h/?igshid=b4tdci279r27

Nope, Honeymoon. Just the one engine left that I witnessed. Mid 90s. Just inside the entrance ledge, N W from the beach.
You kids may have been to young to notice it.
I remember diving just south of there and played peek-a-boo with some kind of a reef shark around a ledges pinnacles.
I made a quick overnight there a couple of years later, the eastern ledge of the harbor was blown away and trash everywhere. The concrete wreak (SS Sapona) and area full of trash also. Real heart breaker.
Like I said in #3, never been back to Bimini area since.

The channel itself is a little deeper with 5 1/2 at low tide. There is a 5’ hump between the end of the channel and the harbor entrance. I ve been there many time with my 53 (4’ draft) and I ve seen 5’ draft sportfishes (Bertram or hatts in there)

it s really busy on weekends, usually full by Saturday morning. And loud