OnBoard

FLORIDA KEYS SUMMER LEISURE

BOATING BASICS MANGROVE TRAILS

EXPLORE ISLANDS THE

DOCKSIDE DINING LOBSTER MINI RULES

2021

What is I.Care?

I.Care is a non-profit organization with a mission to incorporate local businesses, residents and visitors in the restoration and maintenance of coral reefs in Islamorada.

How does it work?

I.Care has a nursery where small seedling corals are grown and maintained.

Those seedlings are transported by partnering dive charters to the Islamorada reefs designated for restoration. I.Care interns and divers plant the seedlings onto the reef where they are maintained and can grow for years to come.

For more information on how to get involved or to donate, please go to www.icareaboutcoral.org

Conservation Tip:

Be careful where you put your hands, fin kicks and lobstering equipment to avoid harming delicate corals and marine life while hunting.

Wishing all hunters a safe and successful lobster season!

Proud supporters of I.Care and conservation efforts across the Florida Keys

CHARTER FISHING RETAIL REPAIR & MORE

305.289.0540

1901 OVERSEAS HWY, MARATHON WWW.THETACKLEBOX.COM Facebook: The Tackle Box Marathon Fla Keys

Instagram: @thetackleboxmarathonflakeys

Publisher Jason Koler jason@keysweekly.com

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Managing Partner Britt Myers britt@keysweekly.com Editor Jim McCarthy jim@keysweekly.com

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Creative Director Stephanie Mitchell stephanie@keysweekly.com Director of Digital Media Chanice Dos Santos chanice@keysweekly.com Staff Writers Sara Matthis sara@keysweekly.com Mandy Miles mandy@keysweekly.com Charlotte Twine charlotte@keysweekly.com

Art/Design Javier Reyes javier@keysweekly.com Travis Cready travis@keysweekly.com Irene de Bruijn irene@keysweekly.com Office Manager Char Hruska char@keysweekly.com

EYEAN EXPERT ON BIRDER'S THEDISCUSSION SKY ON THE MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD

MINI LOBSTER SEASON

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ALL THE DETAILS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Published MMXXI Keys Weekly Newspapers 9709 Overseas Hwy. Marathon, FL. 33050 305.743.0844 Key West office 5450 MacDonald Ave. No. 5 Key West, FL. 33040 305.453.6928 Tavernier office 91760 Overseas Hwy. Tavernier, FL 33070 305.363.2957 www.keysweekly.com

WHAT TO BUY TO UP YOUR WATER GAME

A KEYS GUIDE TO DOCKING AT A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE WATERING HOLES

DOCK DESTINATIONS

Account Executives Patti Childress patti@keysweekly.com Stephanie Mitchell stephanie@keysweekly.com Gabriela Tejeda gabby@keysweekly.com Production Manager Anneke Patterson anneke@keysweekly.com

2021’S COOL NEW WATER GEAR

ON THE COVER Boaters and paddlers head into the mangroves on a pristine summer day in the Florida Keys. Summer months in the island chain are meant to be on the water. IAN WILSON/Keys Weekly

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MAKE YOUR WAY THROUGH THE MANGROVES NO BOAT? NO PROBLEM

HALF & FULL DAY ECO CHARTERS SUNSET SAIL SAIL, SNORKEL, KAYAK WEDDINGS SPECIAL EVENTS

THE ORIGINAL 'WIND & WINE' SUNSET SAIL

We sail where others don't OPAL KEY RESORT | 255 FRONT ST | KEY WEST | 305-304-7999 | WWW.DANGERCHARTERS.COM

We know how to appraise emotional value

let us SHOWCASE YOUR HOME Ally Kelley c. 727.459.0493 e. akelley@oceansir.com

Jenna Chapa c. 940.782.2622 e. jchapa@oceansir.com

All offices are independently owned & operated keysweekly.com 5

Vessels properly tied to mooring buoys at Carysfort Reef in Key Largo.

JIM McCARTHY/Keys Weekly

By Keys Weekly staff

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Keeping you, and the environment, safe this summer Boaters incorrectly tie to a mooring buoy.

JIM McCARTHY/Keys Weekly

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Florida Keys Summer Boating 2021

Whether you’re hopping on the boat for an afternoon, paddling or exploring deep depths, there are several things to consider before heading out. If you’re on a boat, remember to always designate a sober captain. Also, be aware of your surroundings for other boaters, snorkelers, paddlers and marine life.

TIE YOUR ROPE TO MOORING BUOY’S PICK-UP LINE

Never tie the yellow pick-up line directly to your boat, as it puts undue stress on the mooring anchor. Run your boat’s bow line through the loop of the yellow pick-up line. Cleat both ends of your bow line to the bow of your boat. Never stern tie to a buoy either as this is both dangerous to you and your boat, and it also puts undue strain on the mooring system. Be sure to let enough line so that the buoy is not pulled underwater and the line is horizontal.

ALWAYS HAVE A DIVER DOWN DEVICE

This can be a divers-down flag, buoy or other similar warning device. These devices are designed for, and used by, divers and dive vessels as a way to notify nearby boaters that divers are in the water in the immediate area. On the water, the divers-down symbol must be at least 12-by-12 inches in size.

If you plan on taking a diver down flag with you in the water, this flag must measure 12 inches by 12 inches.

ERIC BILLIPS/Contributed

KEEP PROPELLERS AWAY FROM SEAGRASS BEDS

Boaters should make all available attempts to avoid running through seagrass beds. Navigation charts identify seagrass beds as light green or marked as "grs" on the chart. Boaters should make all possible attempts to stay within channels when unfamiliar with a waterway. Avoid taking shortcuts through seagrass beds to avoid causing propeller scars.

LIFE JACKETS AND FLOAT PLAN

Captains must have a personal flotation device (life jacket) on board for every single person.

Don’t stop there — make sure they are easily accessible. When things go sideways, it happens quick. Don’t bury the one thing that will save your life under tons of other gear. Second, file a float plan. That means that someone on shore knows where you are going (generally) and when you will be back. If plans change, let them know. Call them when you're back on dry land.

BRING A LIFE JACKET AND SOUND DEVICE WHILE PADDLING Seagrass bed.

JIM McCARTHY/Keys Weekly

Although persons on the paddleboard are not required to wear the life jacket while on Florida waters (unless they are less than 6 years of age), it is advisable to find a comfortable life jacket that you can wear or easily carry while on the water. A "sound-producing device" is also good to have. It’s a small whistle or horn that can be heard for at least one-half nautical mile.

keysweekly.com 7

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Florida Keys Summer Boating 2021

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2021 SEA-DOO FISH PRO

Sea-Doo was one of the first personal watercraft companies to pick up on a growing trend: fishing from a Jet Ski. The Sea-Doo Fish Pro is earning rave reviews from PWC operators, but also true anglers.

One reviewer says the ability to “run-and-gun” — or react immediately to jumping bait fish, for example — was priceless. Another said he was able to fight a pretty good size sportfish, holding the rod with one hand, while goosing the throttle to keep out from under the bridge.

SPECS • Garmin navigation and fish finder screen is located forward of the handlebars, and slightly to the right.

$15,600 MSRP

Riva Motorsports & Marine, Key Largo

• Secure rod holders that won’t release priceless equipment when hitting a wake.

• 13.5 gallon cooler (for fish and lunch) equipped with a recessed

By Sara Matthis & Jim McCarthy

NAVBOW UNDERWATER SCOOTER

The powerful, yet agile scooter blows all competitors out of the water with its user-friendly design, motor and a variety of attachments. Enjoy the extreme speed while providing maximum flexibility underwater.

SPECS

• Three speeds and patented waterproof batteries.

• Operates at depths of up to 40 meters and lasts for up to 60 minutes with nonstop use.

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• Operate with one hand as you explore underwater.

• Capture stunning underwater images by mounting a Sublue photography platform to attach action cameras, waterproof LED lights and float arms.

Florida Keys Summer Boating 2021

$999 MSRP Diver’s Direct, Key Largo & Key West

surface where anglers can prepare their bait and tackle.

• 170hp engine that means anglers can go 50 mph all day or, conversely, engage the trolling mode and sneak up on the fish.

• 18.5 gallon tank gives anglers plenty of range.

2021 LIFT3 EFOIL

Magic carpet, anyone? This is the closest mere humans can come to flying over water at speeds of up to 30 mph. The best entry to the sport calls for the higherprice, more-techy toys, which may seem counterintuitive.

But the Lift3 eFoils are the ones with the electric engine, while the other models are geared toward surfing or kiteboarding, requiring a little more athletic prowess.

SPECS

• 2 hours of battery-powered fun. It’s a lithium-ion battery, about the size of a slim briefcase, and powers a near-silent electric motor.

• Riders strap on a hand controller with an index-finger trigger to control acceleration and thumb-operated buttons to control the general speed setting. Controller displays speed and distance and battery life. Riders can let off the trigger to stop and, if the controller hits the water or the board tilts more than 45 degrees, the contraption will stop.

$12,000 MSRP

or lessons starting @ $350 | The Lagoon Saloon, Grassy Key

• Components are made of carbon fiber — both light and tough.

• There’s lots of opportunities here to personalize the eFoil experience. Lift3 comes in four board sizes; the smallest is the most nimble. It also offers two different “mast” lengths; the longest is best for experienced riders.

Lift3 has a unique plug-and-play installation for various types of propellers making it easy to remove one and install the next. Finally, Lift has spent considerable effort designing front wings and rear stabilizers, each offering the rider a nuanced adventure.

keysweekly.com 11

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Florida Keys Summer Boating 2021

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WHAT TO WEAR ON THE WATER Keys anglers and watermen have a very specific look

CAPT. DUSTIN HUFF

Irish fisherman’s sweater? Yeah, no. While the principles of fishing or spending time on the water are global, the look is not. In the Florida Keys, our put-together captains and savvy children of the waves have a certain “look” that is effortless and functional — offering sun protection, wicking for humid or wet days, pockets for gear, etc.

The days of stepping into a pair of Sportif shorts and a wrecked Marathon Seafood Festival t-shirt are long gone. Here’s our staff picks, featuring local models, for the best water wear.

Weekly staff report

Backcountry charter captain, Marathon Dustin Huff got his first paying charter when he was only 13 years old. As soon as he graduated from University of Florida with a degree in advertising, he was fishing clients full time. “I probably fish about 200 days a year,” Huff said, shifting impatiently from foot to foot — he and a buddy were going out for a late afternoon of “messing around.”

In addition to the gear below, he sometimes wears some Patagonia, lightweight fingerless fishing gloves and Neutrogena sunscreen — “Just dots of it on the bridge of my nose and my temples which are usually the only parts of me that are exposed when I pull up my buff.”

BARRY GAUKEL/Keys Weekly

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Florida Keys Summer Boating 2021

FROM HEAD TO TOE… • SEiGLER Flat Brim Hat | $25 • Maui Jim polarized sunglasses | $200-$250 • Seven Mile Fly Shop buff | $20 • Patagonia Tropic hoody | $59 • Kühl outdoor pants | $90-$120 • OluKai sandals | $120

Captain Kaley Dillon pretty much epitomizes Key West’s “Salt Life.”

She started working as a mate on local snorkel boats while in high school, and earned her divemaster certification and captain’s license before she finished college.

She’s at the helm of the 60-foot Floridays commercial sailboat at least three days a week for three trips a day.

Her husband, Capt. Mike Dillon, owns Aquaholics Charters. Her most essential accessory is sunscreen. Oh, and her daughter’s name? Ocean.

Her pet peeve? Not being able to control the weather or people’s expectations about it. “I always say, ‘This isn’t a Disney ride. I can’t just push a button to control the wind and water.’ But I’ll take a pop-up squall any day over someone who just had open-heart surgery and decides they can snorkel in rough water two weeks later,” she said.

FROM HEAD TO TOE… • Fishmonster hat | $29 • Island Jane performance hoodie | $49 • Nike skort | $59

CAPT. KALEY DILLON

Captain aboard Floridays, a 60-foot sailboat that offers snorkel & sunset trips Key West

NICK DOLL/Keys Weekly

keysweekly.com 15

FALON FINGER

Leisure angler Upper Keys When he isn’t going to school or doing chores, young Falon Finger enjoys a fish outing every now and then with his good buddy, Zane Wampler.

From mutton snapper to dolphin, the 8-year-old likes to catch whatever he can when he’s out on the water. As for the most important thing to bring on the boat, Falon says hands down it’s snacks.

FROM HEAD TO TOE… • Keys Weekly visor | priceless • Flying Fisherman SubBandit face mask buff | $13 • Huk youth tie-dye shirt | $35 • Cat and Jack swim trunks | $10 • And1 sandals | $13

DOUG FINDER/Keys Weekly

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Florida Keys Summer Boating 2021

Located at Keys Fisheries Market & Marina MM 48.5 End of 35th Bayside Marathon

Deep Sea | Off Shore | Reef | Wrecks | Gulf Dolphin, Tuna, Wahoo, Billfish, Snapper/

Grouper, Shark | FAMILY FUN FISHING FISHING THE FLORIDA KEYS FOR 22 YEARS

CALL TO BOOK YOUR CHARTER

305.481.3259 or online at johnnymaddoxcharters.com

STAY HEALTHY & SAFE OUT ON THE WATER From left to right: Dr. Hector Guzman D.D.S, Dr. David McDonald D.M.D Dr. Natalia Vazquez-Marrero D.M.D and Dr. Oscar Rodriguez D.M.D

Located at 2758 N. Roosevelt Blvd. (in the Overseas Market) • Key West, FL 33040 Phone 305.294.9914 • Fax 305.295.9691 • doc@docguzman.com • www.docguzman.com keysweekly.com 17

IAN WILSON/Keys Weekly

By Charlotte Twine

DINING ON DECK

DO NOT BRING BANANAS ON A BOAT. That’s the most important lesson we learned when it comes to what people bring and don’t bring onboard. But more on that later.

These foods are Keys boaters’ faves on the water

Keys Weekly posted a simple question to the community: What do Keys peeps eat on their boats during a day on the water? And y'all were opinionated. Sixty people responded about their favorite nibbles to nosh on.

X

The winners by a landslide? Dion’s Quik Chik fried chicken and Pubs Subs (Publix sandwiches, for the uninitiated). Obviously, foods eaten with utensils are a pain onboard, especially since many boats don’t even have a table. So finger foods win the day.

Boaters love to order up a Publix sandwich ring from the deli ahead of time, swing by to pick it up, then hit the boat. And as for fried chicken, many of you like the convenience of eating a chicken leg, then just tossing the bone overboard, leaving less garbage to bring home.

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Florida Keys Summer Boating 2021

A couple others had a great tip for quickly making sandwiches yourself, while also preventing the dreaded soggy-food-in-the-cooler problem.

And the love that was shown for Dion’s was witnessed. One Keys boater even said, “Yep, no trip can be the best day ever without Dion’s. Why take a chance. If they are out, the wait is worth it even more.”

But in case you’re not about to support a big chain (several said, “Go local”), here are the mom-and-pop joints that locals love for boat food: Pinecrest Bakery in Key Largo (Cuban sandwiches), Amazing ROLLS & Eats on Big Pine Key (poke bowls and sushi), Lobster Shack in Key West (lobster rolls), Marathon Deli (subs), Little Whitehouse Subs in Key West, Cole’s Peace Bakery in Key West (sandwiches), Dolphin Deli in Key West (sandwiches), Big Mouth Eatery in Marathon (sandwiches), Graze Craze in Key West (charcuterie boxes), Payfair Supermarket in Tavernier (subs), Avenue Subs in Key Largo, The Trading Post in Islamorada (subs), City Hall Cafe in Tavernier (Italian subs) and Kim’s Kuban in Key West (Cuban mix).

Next most craved items? Sandwiches made yourself, peel-and-eat shrimp, watermelon (dipped in saltwater) and lots of fruit in general, cheese and crackers (another Keys boater said, “We always have sharp cheddar, double-layer sardines and Ritz crackers!! It’s a daddy tradition!!!” ), hummus and chips, PB&J, Pringles (“must be BBQ” one person said), Fritos, Twizzlers...

Katie Westphal said, “We make what we call ‘boat sandwiches.’ King’s Hawaiian rolls sliced in half and filled with any type of lunch meat and cheese. Our favorites are Italian style and Philly cheesesteak.

We usually pair that with Publix cookies and variety chips and, of course, White Claws.”

Westphal said that she puts the sandwiches back in the original plastic packaging to avoid sogginess from the iced cooler.

For all the finger-food love, one person had an unforgettable warning to keep in mind: “Please wash your hands first! It was many years ago that I cut squid on the hot deck right before lunch. I’ll never forget that night and most of the next day.

No more finger foods on our boat.”

Yeesh!

Some impressed us with their culinary skills. Bob Maykut throws together prosciutto and mozzarella with arugula and sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil on ciabatta bread, all drizzled with balsamic vinegar.

Tara Maria makes artfully composed pressed tuna sandwiches (she sent a photo to show us) so beautiful that we almost hate to eat them.

John Seckinger told us he makes sashimi or ceviche with just-caught fish while on board. “Sashimi sauce, clean knife, clean cutting board and… Wassabi! Another option: Make ceviche in a Tupperware (without the fish), put on ice. All you need to do is add freshly caught chopped fish! Eat like a king!”

keysweekly.com 19

COMBINE CUISINE WITH A CARIBBEAN FLAIR...

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COME BY BOAT & ENJOY OUR DOCK

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Specialty License Plate

Florida Bay Forever Sharing the Water with Sea Turtles

• Watch out for sea turtles on the surface • Avoid trap ropes that may be floating • Stay alert and obey speed limits If you see a Sea Turtle in Distress: Call our 24 hr Hotline 305-481-7669 or Call FWC 888-404-FWCC or Radio Coast Guard VHF Ch. 16

Support Everglades National park

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Drive home your support with the purchase of your specialty Plate!

For more details & to purchase your specialty plate, visit www.floridabayforever.com Receive a complimentary FNPA membership; good for discounts in many national park bookstores Be automatically entered into a drawing to win a signed print by photographer Robert Chaplin Specialty plate available at floridabayforever.com or in person at your local county tax collector office. Scan the QR code to visit us online!

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Florida Keys Summer Boating 2021

LOBSTER SPECIALS FOR MINI LOBSTER SEASON WE WILL ALSO HAPPILY COOK YOUR CATCH

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51337 half page keys weekly-V2.indd 1

7/14/21 11:52 AM

keysweekly.com 23

LAND-BASED LOCATIONS TO CHECK OUT THIS SUMMER

Not every day in the Florida Keys is a beach and boat day. In fact, we’re known to have some windy days that keep the boats tied up. And we also have our torrential (but brief) downpours. In the event your plans change, here are some land-based adventures that are off the beaten path.

By Mark Hedden

David Sloan, creator of the new Robert the Doll Experience, introduces visitors to the world’s most haunted doll during nightly tours. MANDY MILES/Keys Weekly

EAST MARTELLO MUSEUM An abandoned fort following the Civil War, the Key West Art & Historical Society and an army of volunteers cleared away debris and dust in 1950 to open its first museum. The national landmark was restored with its original 1860s design. Visitors have the ability to explore the preserved battlement’s collection of relics dating back to the Civil War, and learn about the wrecking and cigarmanufacturing industries, which shaped the Keys. Also, view the imaginative metal sculpture of Stanley Papio, and meet the “Ghosts of East Martello,” including the infamous “Robert the Doll.”

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Ashley Keeney powers down a section of Hell’s Tunnel located between Marathon and Grassy Key. LARA RUTSKIN-MARTIN/Hapynkeys Running

HELL’S TUNNEL There’s a 3-mile stretch of bike path between the Grassy Key and Coco Plum neighborhoods that runners refer to as Hell’s Tunnel. And, surely, during the 100-miler relay races from the top of the Keys to the bottom, it has earned this nickname. But this section of Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail is also really neat. The bike/running path is offset from Overseas Highway by about 20 feet and shielded with a thick stand of native growth. On the other side, walkers and runners and bikers can get glimpses of blue as the shoreline undulates alongside the path.

Small clearings in the mangroves are temporary homes to flocks of migratory birds and spinybacked orbweaver spiders spin their webs above.

Florida Keys Summer Boating 2021

Photographer Chara Lance Tolbert gets a close look at some of the trees found while trekking through the preserve. DAVID GROSS/Keys Weekly

PLANTATION HAMMOCK PRESERVE It’s a gem that’s located next to Founders Park in Islamorada. The walk provides a tranquil atmosphere with some breathtaking views as you journey through the trail. The preserve also offers some of the Keys’ unique wildflowers underneath the canopy of well-established trees, as well as some beautiful views of the water.

DOCKSIDE DINING Ditch the car and dock the boat

The Florida Keys have something many seaside communities don’t: dockside dining. Guests arrive by boat with no worries about where to park the rental car (although most places are also accessible by land). It’s a great way to end the day on the water that somehow makes the appetite sharper. Here are our picks:

TAVERNIER Habanos on the Creek

STOCK ISLAND Hogfish Bar & Grill If you’re sitting across the dock from the shrimp boat that hauled in your Key West pink peel-n-eats, you’re at the Hogfish Bar & Grill — and you’re in the right place.

Tucked inside Safe Harbor Marina, the hard-to-find Hogfish is a nostalgic nod to the Key West everyone wishes they experienced: Fresh food, strong drinks and colorful people.

A hidden gem by the water, enjoy some of the finest Cuban fare, tacos and more. Located at Tavernier Creek Marina, MM 90.8 bayside, dock the boat up or jump off the kayak or paddleboard for a sandwich or seafood baskets with a cold beer. A menu favorite is the Cuban nachos off the appetizer menu.

Served with plantain chips, the dish is topped with mouth watering pork, melted cheese and pico de gallo. Dig in your meal as you watch boats, kayaks and paddleboards pass by.

Hogfish, as the name implies, is the restaurant’s signature catch. The light and delicious local fish is served on a fried hogfish sandwich, nestled inside hogfish tacos or as a golden, crispy topper to the impressive shrimp & grits entree.

MARATHON Sunset Grille & Water Bar This place is the rest stop in the Middle Keys’ largest vehicular and marine thoroughfare. Located at the base of the 7 Mile Bridge on Knights Key, the huge restaurant and bar also features a pool. Sunday Funday is an established tradition as are the fun and yummy cocktails.

Our bartender made this concoction on the fly with blueberry lemonade and pomegranate and vodka, and we walked out on the long dock (room for plenty of boats) to get this shot.

This is the place to watch the sunset over the majestic bridge.

keysweekly.com 25

By Mark Hedden

THE PIRATE BIRD OF THE FLORIDA KEYS It is hard to think of the magnificent frigatebird as elusive, especially in the Florida Keys where, any time you go out on a boat there is a good chance to see one.

Usually, when you do, it is hanging a few hundred feet above the water, turning wide circles on its 7-foot, slightly M-shaped wingspans. It is up there for the view, monitoring wholesale acres of the ocean’s surface at a time, scanning for either small fish or other birds that are feeding on small fish.

While magnificent frigatebirds may be a nearconstant in the Florida Keys skies, they tend to keep their distance. At some point. you notice they are rarely near where you are.

There are two ways, in my personal experience, to get up close and personal with a magnificent frigatebird. The first is to unintentionally catch an undersized yellowtail, then do the right thing and immediately throw it back.

Most of the time, if the fish has its wits about it, it will dive down a couple feet and get its bearings, before going on to live the rest of its mysterious and watery fish life. But if the fish is a little dazed, a little worse for wear from the process of being dragged from the hydrosphere where they live into the troposphere where we live, and then summarily tossed back, it might float right near the surface for a minute two, trying to reorient itself.

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Florida Keys Summer Boating 2021

And sometimes when that happens, somehow, out of a clear, blue sky – one that you’d found completely empty only moments before – a frigatebird will zoom in, pluck up the yellowtail, and fly off with its bounty before you have a chance to say, “Huh? What? Hey!” (magnificent frigatebirds do, occasionally, get caught up in fishing lines.)

The other, arguably more reliable way to see a magnificent frigatebird is to make a trip out to the Dry Tortugas and sit on top of the fort, preferably on the windward side, where the currents of air come across the water, hit the two story wall of bricks, and shoot up, creating the only updraft to be found for miles in any direction.

There is a breeding colony of about 100 magnificent frigatebirds just across the anchorage – the only breeding colony in the U.S. – so there is usually a small armada of them, floating there, sometimes drifting a little bit to the left, sometimes drifting a little bit to the right, always just out of reach. There are few birds that can spend so much time in the air with so little effort.

A magnificent frigatebird weighs less than a pound, and it could appear, at half a glance, that they are frail things assembled out of coat hangers and old umbrella parts. But that would be belied by a couple minutes of watching them fly, seeing not only how subtly and effortlessly they can keep their place in midair, but also how quickly and deftly they can pick up speed should they need to chase down another bird.

The chasing down other birds bit is crucial.

Magnificent frigatebirds are flying conundrums. They are pelagic birds, meaning they spend most of their life at sea. (They do come to land to breed, and occasionally you will see one sitting on top of a channel marker or a mangrove.) But they cannot get wet. Their feathers are not waterproof. Too much contact with the water and they will get bogged down and drown.

MARK HEDDEN/Keys Weekly

This leaves them with two feeding strategies – either flying very low over the water and snatching up what they can with their fourand-a-half inch bill, or employing what scientists call kleptoparasitism.

Kleptoparasitism is basically a fancy word for piracy. Frigatebirds will chase down another bird until they give up their lunch. Usually this involves regurgitation, which sounds gross, but it is made slightly less gross by the fact that the fish are usually regurgitated from the bullied bird’s crop, a pouch in the throat that is sort of the vestibule to the digestive tract.

The other, arguably more reliable way to see a magnificent frigatebird is to make a trip out to the Dry Tortugas and sit on top of the fort, preferably on the windward side, where the currents of air come across the water.

Magnificent frigatebirds are also one of the few seabird species that are sexually dimorphic, meaning you can identify the genders at a glance. The juveniles all have white heads and breasts. The females have clear white breasts.

The males are completely black, except for a small patch of skin just below the lower part of their bill called the gulag sac, which is bright red and which they inflate during breeding season to the size of a small party balloon as a way of attacking a mate.

keysweekly.com 27

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Florida Keys Summer Boating 2021

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• Spiny lobster must have a minimum caraspace length greater than 3 inches and the measurement must take place in the water. The caraspace is measured beginning at the forward edge between the rostral horns, excluding soft tissue and proceeding along the middle to the rear edge of the caraspace. All recreationally harvested lobster must remain in whole condition while at sea.

• The federal bag limit cannot be combined with the state bag limit.

• Gear such as spears, hooks, wire snares and any device that could puncture, penetrate or crush the shell of the lobster is prohibited. It is illegal to spearfish lobster.

Weekly staff report

DAVID GROSS/Keys Weekly

• Bully-netting is defined as using a circular frame attached at a right angle to the end of a pole and supporting a conical bag of webbing. Possession of bully net is prohibited in Everglades National Park.

THE LOBSTER LOWDOWN Little details matter when hunting Egg-bearing (berried) spiny lobster and ridged slipper lobster (commonly known as shovelhead or bulldozer lobster) must be released unharmed. Stripping egg bearing females of eggs, and possession of spiny lobster tails from which eggs have been removed is prohibited. Eggs are orange, yellow brown or red mass found covering the underside of the lobster’s tail.

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Florida Keys Summer Boating 2021

• Hoop-netting is defined as using a frame, circular or otherwise, supporting a shallow bag of webbing and suspended by a line and bridles. Possession of hoop nets is prohibited in Everglades National Park.

• Recreational harvesters are required to possess a valid Florida saltwater fishing license with current lobster stamp. They can be purchased online at www.license. myfwc.com or by calling 1-888-HUNTFLORIDA (486-8356). The stamps cost $5, so, no excuses.

• It is a felony to molest, damage or take lobster from commercial traps in state or federal waters.

• A diver-down flag must be prominently displayed when divers and snorkelers are in the water.

• It is illegal to create “artificial habitat” — cement blocks pipes and other debris intentionally placed on the ocean floor to lur spiny lobsters that seek the protection, cover and habitat.

KNOW WHERE TO GO

No-go areas and zones for lobstering While there are many spots to catch a sizable lobster, there are also many areas protected by a special set of rules that make it against the law to hunt lobster in the Florida Keys. Know where you’re going before you head out.

Don’t lobster in these areas:

Sanctuary Preservation Areas (SPAs) Upper Keys • Carysfort Reef • Cheeca Rocks • Conch Reef • Davis Reef • Elbow Reef • Grecian Reef • French Reef • Hens and Chickens • Key Largo Dry Rocks • Molasses Reef • Alligator Reef Middle Keys • Coffins Patch • Sombrero Key Lower Keys • Eastern Dry Rocks • Looe Key • Newfound Harbor • Sand Key • Rock Key

Ecological Reserves • Western Sambo • Tortugas

X

Special-Use Research Only Areas (No entry) • Conch Reef • Tennessee Reef • Looe Key Patch Reef • Eastern Sambo X Other Closed Areas (Year-Round) • Everglades National Park • Dry Tortugas National Park • Biscayne Bay Card Sound • Spiny Lobster Sanctuary • City of Layton • Artificial habitats in state waters Wildlife Management Area Existing Management Area

keysweekly.com 31

NO-GO ZONES

Municipalities have different rules Weekly staff report In the Florida Keys, there are many places where it’s illegal to take lobster any time of year. For instance, you can’t lobster in Biscayne Bay Card Sound, in the City of Layton or in artificial habitats in state waters.

You also can’t lobster at John Pennekamp State Park in Key Largo during the sport season. No person shall harvest any lobster species from or within any coral formation (patch reef) regardless of its proximity to or exclusion from a “Lobster Exclusion Zone.”

IAN WILSON/Keys

If you come across a fabulous lobster hole and there’s nobody around, chances are you’ve stumbled into the danger zone.

Pull anchor and find somewhere else.

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Florida Keys Summer Boating 2021

STAY AWAY • In an effort to cut back on turf wars, most cities in the Keys have invoked a special rule to keep down on the neighbor-onneighbor fights, and, especially, the resident-on-visitor quarrels.

Essentially, a local rule establishes a “no-go” zone to keep lobster hunters away from private property. In the following areas, there is no diving or snorkeling within 300 feet of enhanced residential or commercial shoreline, any man made or private canal, any public or private marina.

• In Islamorada, this rule applies during the three days preceding the sport season, the entirety of the sport season and the first five days of the regular season.

• In Marathon, this rule only applies during sport season.

• In Key Colony Beach, it applies only during four days preceding sport season and continues until 10 days have elapsed after the opening of regular season.

• In Key West and unincorporated Monroe County, it applies during the three days preceding sport season, the entirety of sport season and the first five days of regular season. Exception: Diving and snorkeling in front of his/her property to the centerline of the canal or open water.

• Layton has a prohibition on harvesting lobster any time from waters within city limits.

The two-day lobster mini season takes place on the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July.

It starts at 12:01 a.m. on day one and ends at midnight on day two.

The bag limit is six per recreational harvester in Monroe County Diving at night: It’s not permitted in Monroe County during sport season. Night is one hour after official sunset to one hour before official sunrise.

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By Keys weekly staff

KEYS CELEBRITIES

These animals are known far and wide Besides beautiful water, great fishing and cold drinks, the Keys are famous for their resident, celebrity animals.

There are numerous educational facilities that harbor animals, many of whom are injured in some way or another and can’t be released to the wild. From owls to Tursi, the dolphin, whose parents starred in the original “Flipper,” these animals have a serious following. Often, visitors check in on them year after year. Of course, locals are fortunate enough to pal around with these guys as part of their job, or see them on a regular basis.

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Florida Keys Summer Boating 2021

“CASPER” Florida Keys Wild Bird Center Tavernier “I am an owl, living my best life.”

• My current mood: Zen, I am one with the perch.

• My celebrity crush: Mr. Owl (the iconic Tootsie Pop celebrity).

Favorite movie: Casper the Friendly Ghost.

• My greatest strength: My dancing skills.

• My biggest fan: The Wild Bird Center interns; they spoil me rotten.

“BUTTON” Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory “I’m a Button Quail.”

• My current mood: A bit peckish, now that you mention it. What’s a bird gotta do to get a mealworm around here?

• My Disney princess persona: Snow White — she likes tiny fellas.

• My weekends: I roll around in the sand, then chase the lady birds.

My celebrity crush: Woodstock.

• My greatest weakness: Hello?

Mealworms. Are we gonna keep talking about them, or are we gonna have a snack?

“BIG GEORGE” Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters, Marathon “I am a 400-pound Goliath Grouper.”

• My current mood: Relaxed.

• My weekends: Lounging in the lagoon.

• Favorite movie: Jaws.

• Favorite food: Herring.

• My greatest weakness: Also, herring.

• My biggest fan: Everyone who watches my daily feedings at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.!

“BUBBLE BUTT” The Turtle Hospital “I am an ambassador for marine turtles.”

• My weekends: chillaxing in the pool with my buds.

• My celebrity crush: J-Lo. • Favorite movie: Finding Nemo.

• My greatest weakness: My cracked shell and lingering spinal cord damage from a horrible boat strike.

keysweekly.com 35

MANGROVE TRAILS

By Sara Matthis I like an open water paddle as much as the next person. But I love, love, love exploring mangrove trails. It’s sort of the Keys version of hiking.

Mangrove trails are literally paths through stands or swamps of mangrove trees. Usually, the greenery meets overhead, forming a little tunnel. Sometimes there’s not enough room to swing a paddle, and I traverse it by pulling myself along by the stilt (exposed) roots of the tree. That close focus reveals so much — the tiny crabs that skitter away from my reaching hand, the pocket nurseries of baby fish, the flutter of bird wings above. Often, the water is crystal clear — perfectly filtered by a functioning and healthy mangrove system.

Exploring a mangrove trail can be a meditation; the silence seeping into my saltwater soul. It can be educational, too, with the right tour guide who is versed in the ecosystem.

In Marathon, Boot Key is an uninhabited island bisected by miles of mangrove trails. I’ve been back there for up to four hours at a time, spending 80% of it in a shaded mangrove tunnel, occasionally paddling across a little bay, but never without a guide. It’s too big and twisty; I would definitely get lost. Another favorite trail is the one at Curry Hammock State Park on Grassy Key. From the little launch beach, kayakers “turn left,” or towards the highway, to find the trailhead.

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Florida Keys Summer Boating 2021

I have my own secret mangrove trail, too. Maybe four people know about it. I always make the newbies take the lead through that particular mangrove trail … because spiders. Somedays I want that meditative mangrove tunnel experience, other times I want to trick a friend into catching spiderwebs with her face because it’s hilarious.

As far as the physicality of tackling a mangrove trail, well, it’s not hard. In the trail, conditions are protected — from the sun and wind. At a high tide, or in a particularly “short” mangrove tunnel, you have to lie down to clear the overhead branches. Paddleboards require a little more agility, maybe, but better clearance. Sometimes there’s a current running through the trail and other times it could be clogged with seaweed.

That’s nature for ya.

Whether I’m setting off on an openwater paddle or heading toward a mangrove trail, I have one firm safety rule: always paddle into the wind on the way “out.” That way the ride back to the starting point, with the wind at my back, requires little effort. There’s no sense in making the second half of a workout the hardest; best to do it while fresh.

Happy trails.

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Florida Keys Summer Boating 2021

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