OnBoard - Florida Keys Summer Leisure

2022

FLORIDA KEYS SUMMER LEISURE

SUPER SPEARS

HANDMADE HERE IN THE FLORIDA KEYS

Up your boat game 2022’S BEST BOAT ACCESSORIES

Get out and explore No boat, no problem

2022

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FROM THE EDITOR

In the Florida Keys, temperatures are feeling well into the 90s and 100s all thanks to the cranked-up humidity and some serious sun rays. The heat is on, and that means it’s time to board the boat for a little exploration or relaxation.

Summer months on the island chain are meant for a trip to your favorite sandbar, some backcountry fishing or a deep sea excursion. While boasting the Fishing Capital of the World title, the Keys also hold an equally important honor with worldwide recognition for its iconic diving sites, such as the Vandenberg in Key West and the Duane Shipwreck in Key Largo.

And we can’t forget memorable kayak and paddleboard adventures through mangrove tunnels and to various natural, uninhabited islands making up the Florida Keys.

As we immerse ourselves into the summer season with this OnBoard magazine, we celebrate all the Florida Keys offers to its residents and guests. Erin StoverSickmen explores the world of paddleboarding and some cool spots to check out. Tiffany Duong takes us to the Florida Keys’ backyard — the Everglades — for a day of exploration.

A spearfisherman hunts in the waters of the Florida Keys. IAN WILSON/Keys Weekly

Below the depths, spearfishing enthusiast Alex Rickert gives us an inside look at the adrenaline-pumping activity and some of the best gear for hunting your catch. And he also catches up with the “Key West Waterman” to hear more about his must-watch fishing and cooking show. On the water, Rickert delves into some of the best personal watercraft on the market.

A two-day lobster sport season is approaching in the Florida Keys. Inside, find a list of rules when it comes to catching spiny lobsters, knowing where to go and where to stay away from so you don’t land yourself in trouble with law enforcement.

Enjoy the summer boating season and all that our OnBoard magazine has to offer as you head out for a summer day in the Florida Keys.

— Jim McCarthy, editor

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Florida Keys Summer Boating 2022

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Publisher Jason Koler jason@keysweekly.com

CONTENTS

Managing Partner Britt Myers britt@keysweekly.com Creative Director Stephanie Mitchell stephanie@keysweekly.com Art/Design Javier Reyes javier@keysweekly.com Editor Jim McCarthy jim@keysweekly.com Director of Sales Manuela Carrillo Mobley manuela@keysweekly.com Account Executives Patti Childress patti@keysweekly.com Jill Miranda Baker jill@keysweekly.com Stephanie Mitchell stephanie@keysweekly.com Staff Writers Alex Rickert alex@keysweekly.com Mandy Miles mandy@keysweekly.com Production Manager Anneke Patterson anneke@keysweekly.com Director of Digital Media Chanice Dos Santos chanice@keysweekly.com Art/Design Irene de Bruijn irene@keysweekly.com Travis Cready travis@keysweekly.com Executive Administrator Char Hruska char@keysweekly.com Cover photo IAN WILSON/Keys Weekly Contributors Erin Stover Sickmen, Tiffany Duong, Mark Hedden

7 BOAT ETIQUETTE How to get invited back on board

10 SUMMERTIME STAPLES The hottest toys for the water

14 DINING DOCKSIDE Tie up & enjoy the view

16 SAFETY ON THE SEAS

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

6

www.keysweekly.com

Young Waterman’s Life in the water

Don’t let a good day go bad

18 SUPERIOR SPEARS Locally made fishhunting tools

24 UP THE CREEK

But with a paddle

Published MMXXII

20

ON THE COVER A spearfisherman catches a wahoo in the Florida Keys waters.

IAN WILSON/Keys Weekly

26 GANDERING THE GLADES

Explore the Keys’ back yard

28 BEST DEFENSE

Keys lawyer handles FWC violations

30 DIVING BIRDS

Ode to double-crested cormorants

32 ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINE A clean ride

34 AQUATIC MUSCLE

These PWCs are your best bets for 2022

36 LOBSTER LOWDOWN

Know the rules

A day on the water is worth the price of admission The best boat guests get invited back

By Mandy Miles “Hey, we’re taking the boat out tomorrow. Wanna come?”

It’s the always-enticing and eagerly accepted “boat day invite,” coveted by residents of the Florida Keys, where everyone understands the difference between having a boat and having friends with boats.

Owning a boat means storing a boat.

If you can't afford a boat, you certainly can’t afford a canal-front, which is the most convenient place to keep a vessel, and marina space these days is nearly as precious and pricey as housing.

to run the risk that the Friday evening invite for a sunny Saturday on the water is offered to someone else, someone more willing to pitch in, heft gear, follow directions at the dock and fill coolers with food and booze.

So let’s review some basic boat-guest etiquette — and some pitfalls to avoid.

First, don’t offer to “pay for gas” unless you know what you’re talking about. And if you say “gas” instead of “fuel,” when talking about boats, you don’t know. If you think prices at the pump are crippling for your SUV, wait ‘til you get to the fuel dock.

Sure, you can keep a boat on a trailer, but where do you store that? Not parked on a public street. No, sir. Code enforcement won’t allow it. And once you do find a place to park the trailer/ boat combo, a day on the water involves the whole boat ramp extravaganza that often includes a good deal of yelling and an occasional half-submerged pickup truck.

Remember, we haven’t even loaded any gear, much less left the dock.

And you can’t go anywhere without fuel. Ouch. It’s the new, four-letter F word, which, given its current price, is nearly as offensive as the original queen-mother of all four-letter words.

When you take everything into account, it’s easy to see how Keys locals appreciate these efforts and expenses — when they’re handled by someone else.

For non-boat owners, the goal is simply to be the best guests possible, lest we not get invited back. No one wants

But your behavior before and after the best parts will determine subsequent invitations.

Help load the boat, always. Not just with your own stuff, but with everything being piled up on the dock: dive tanks, fins, masks, snorkels, towels, fishing rods, tackle, ice, beer, hard seltzers, kids’ life jackets, water, more ice, Yeti cups, dry bags, sunscreen and snacks — a few buckets of Dion’s fried chicken are always a hit, or deli subs cut into three or four, manageable sections.

Follow directions as best you can if asked to help with lines. If you’ve never done it before, make that clear to your host ahead of time. “Hey, man, I’m happy to help, but I don’t know what I’m doing, so explain it to me like I’m 8, and we may be OK.” And then there’s the end of the boat day, the worst part. Everyone’s tired, sunburned, salt-crisped and slightly buzzed. All you want is to grab your stuff and get in a shower.

Now, most experienced boat owners will chuckle good-naturedly at your naive offer and let you off the hook without expecting $900 for a fuel bill.

But that just makes your role and behavior as a guest even more crucial.

Everyone loves the middle part of the boat day, the part when everyone and everything is on board and you’re underway with the wind in your hair, a drink in your hand and the occasional spray in your face. The time spent at your destination is ideal as well, whether you’ve reached your fishing grounds, dive or snorkel site or chosen offshore sandbar or island.

No way, not so fast, jerkface. There’s work to be done. Tying up the boat, unloading the boat, reloading the cars, and then yes, washing the boat.

Each captain and boat owner has their own method, but at the very least it involves a freshwater rinse with a dockside hose. Offer to do that.

Ask if you need to clean out the coolers. Can you clean fish while someone else cleans the boat? Can you disassemble regulators from tanks?

Whatever it is, do something. No one likes a runaway boat guest. And no one invites them back.

keysweekly.com 7

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Sharing the Water with Sea Turtles

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Florida Keys Summer Boating 2022

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SEAKEEPER GYROSCOPE Innovative technology such as this gyroscope is changing the boating game by offering boaters a land-like experience at sea. Whether you’re anchored up or getting underway, this piece of technology eliminates up to 95% of boat roll for vessels 23 feet and up.

The gyroscope requires a bit of electric power, but it can be installed almost anywhere on board.

SPECS • The flywheel spins at speeds of 557 miles per hour, generating enough force to stop the boat from rolling.

• Seakeeper’s vacuum encapsulation enables the flywheel to spin roughly three times faster, cuts flywheel weight by two-thirds and halves power requirements.

• The active control works as smart technology, gauging the sea state and reacting instantly.

Products range from $15,900 to $281,000.

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Florida Keys Summer Boating 2022

ELEVATE YOUR WATER OUTINGS WITH THESE BOATING ITEMS

INFLATABLE DOCK HANGOUT 240 The king of all hangouts on the water starts with Dock Hangout

by BoteBoard. This 10-foot party float can hold up to 900 pounds for a relaxing day at the sandbar or near the dock. The surface is made with the same BVA traction pad that Hangout’s paddle boards are made with, and that means no slipping when it’s time for a swim.

SPECS • Perfectly positioned in the middle is a Kula landing to place your cooler.

• BOTE’s grab handles make it easier to transport your hangout.

DOCKTAIL BAR Keep those bottles handy while enjoying a day at the sandbar and avoid losing track of your favorite water bottle while fishing with the Docktail Boat Bar. It comes in different styles to match your boat, and it mounts to most standard sized rod holders.

• D-rings allow you to link up next to your fellow floaters or stay near a boat.

Price begins at $1,394.

SPECS • Two bottle slots for 1.75 liter handles and small bowls for snacks in the two largest slots.

• Three center slots are perfect for 12-ounce bottles, cans or Solo cups.

• Slots for 2-liter sodas and even two more slots for Yeti, Ozark Trail, and RTIC or similar tumblers or 1-liter bottles.

Prices range from $259 to $429.

keysweekly.com 11

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Florida Keys Summer Boating 2022

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TIE UP THE BOAT

AT THESE DOCKSIDE DINING DESTINATIONS

The Florida Keys have something other seaside communities don’t have, and that’s dockside dining. Guests arrive by boat with no worries of where to park the car (although many places are 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.

KEY WEST/STOCK ISLAND Hogfish Bar & Grill Once you find it the first time, you’ll be back for seconds and thirds.

The Hogfish Bar & Grill on Stock Island doesn’t get any closer to the shrimp that are on its menu. The rustic, tucked-away restaurant has a huge menu of seafood, steaks, salads, sandwiches, soups, nachos and decadent dinners, along with daily specials. It sits dockside with the island’s shrimp boats on one side and a pleasure boating marina on the other.

The Hogfish is worth the hunt.

ISLAMORADA Sunset Lounge At Islamorada Marina, there’s a hidden jewel above the established Square Grouper restaurant. Located at MM 80.5, bayside, Sunset Lounge features some of the best, fresh seafood dishes and craft cocktails using freshlysqueezed juices. On the menu, patrons can find an ever changing fresh oyster selection, lobster cocktail, shrimp cocktail and the seafood tower, which comes with shrimp, oysters, ceviche and tuna tartare.

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Florida Keys Summer Boating 2022

MARATHON Burdines Waterfront We’ve got two words for you: burgers and fries. Though the Burdines menu ranges from steaks and sausages to Hawaiian tuna poke, its seasoned hand-cut fries are the stuff of legend. And for dessert, look no further than the shockingly tasty fried Key lime pie. Located along the canal at the west entrance to Marathon’s Boot Key Harbor, the elevated eatery offers sweeping views of the adjacent mangrove island with a steady parade of boat traffic. Keep an eye out for manatees, rays and dolphins, all frequently sighted from Burdines upper deck.

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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 15

SAFE SUMMER EXCURSIONS Designate a sober captain & give corals space

Grecian Rocks Reef. MARIA LAUKAITIS/Contributed

Off the shores of the Florida Keys, the waters bustle with summer activities. A two-day lobster sport season will see boats and people dipping beneath the surface in search of bugs. Meanwhile, scores of boats will pack local sandbars with their floats, coolers and music. Whether you’re exploring the depths or enjoying a summer day with friends, consider these tips to keep you and the surrounding environment safe this season.

IN THE WATER? HAVE THIS DEVICE ON YOU Whether you’re snorkeling to gaze at fish or hunting for lobsters, ensure you have a diversdown device, such as a flag or buoy, to let nearby boats know you’re there. Per Florida boating law, the device must contain a divers-down symbol (a red rectangle or square with a white diagonal stripe) and must be at least 12-inches-by-12 inches in size (the bigger the better).

On open water, boaters must make every attempt to stay at least 300 feet from the person in the water and slow to idle speed.

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DESIGNATE A SOBER SKIPPER (WHO KNOWS THE AREA) Wind, vibration, noise and sun can impair balance and concentration on a boat. And that only intensifies when drinking alcohol or using drugs. According to Sea Tow Foundation, alcohol use is the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents every year. Boaters are encouraged to choose a designated sober skipper before leaving the dock, and Sea Tow encourages skippers to “take the pledge” to not drink or take any drugs. They’ll even send you a wristband to wear as a reminder. Also, be sure your skipper knows the area so you don’t end up aground or in a situation.

Florida Keys Summer Boating 2022

GIVE THE CORALS SPACE While diving, keep hands and fins away from corals. And keep from banging your tickle stick against the corals. Always use mooring buoys when they’re available, and if you’re looking to anchor up, be sure to find a sandy bottom. Coral reefs are facing enough battles from the likes of a stony coral tissue loss disease and pollutants. Let’s give them some space.

ESTABLISH A FLOAT PLAN It’s always a good idea to file a float plan. That means someone on land 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.

CHECK YOUR GEAR Ensure you have a personal flotation device (life jacket) on board for every single person.

And make sure they’re easily accessible.

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COME BY BOAT & ENJOY OUR DOCK

Keys speargun builders create a perfect blend of artistry and engineering

By Alex Rickert Any spearfisherman will agree that a truly effective weapon should feel like an extension of the body, one perfectly suited to an individual’s capabilities and preferences in the most critical points of a hunt. For those living in the sportfishing capital of the world, several weapon artisans offer tools that can do just that, right in their own backyard.

KILLSHOT SPEARGUNS ED MARTIN

With more than a decade of gun-building experience under his belt, Ed Martin’s Killshot Spearguns in Islamorada is quickly making a name for itself among wood gun builders.

“The quality of what goes out that door is of utmost importance,” said Martin of his solid teak creations. “I want that speargun to last forever. You can run it over with your boat or drop it out the back of your pickup truck.”

Taking his woodworking skills from an uncle he described as a “big time perfectionist,” Martin gave a handful of his first guns to local dive centers with gun rental programs to gauge their reactions.

“Those guns were getting used 300 or 400 times a year,” said Martin. “Some of them were experts, but most of them were just total rookie novices who’d never even touched a speargun. I got a lot of awesome feedback, because those people were trying to jam a square peg in a round hole. So now I got to see if I could figure out how to make that square peg fit in that round hole, because maybe I was missing something. Consequently, I tuned them up and they just continued to get better.”

Martin’s signature model is a rear-handle gun with an enclosed epoxy track, finished with a tried-and-true Koah reverse trigger mechanism. The finished products are slightly negatively buoyant, providing a tiny bit of weight to give the user’s hand muscular feedback during the aiming process.

Ed Martin’s Killshot Spearguns in Islamorada is quickly making a name for itself among wood gunbuilders. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly

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Florida Keys Summer Boating 2022

“That little bit of feedback is what you need for your hand to tell your brain that they’re both on the same page,” he said.

Ease of use for beginners and experts alike – primarily when loading the gun or re-wrapping the shooting line – is at the top of Martin’s priority list. He spends time with each client to match a gun’s construction and bands to that individual’s preferred loading styles and strength.

“A speargun you can’t load is simply a club,” he said. “The worst thing in the world is to look at a fish and make a decision whether to pull the trigger based on how painful it is to load your gun.”

Though the early iterations of Martin’s shop, opened in 2015, contained only guns and accessories directly attached to them, Killshot is now a full-featured freedive store, stocking equipment and accessories Martin has personally tested. Keeping up with custom orders while maintaining his shop’s stock – he puts out 150 to 250 guns per year, with each taking around 20 hours to build – keeps Martin more than busy.

“At the end of the day, I build guns for people,” he said.

“I love watching my friends when we’re out and they’re rolling fish left and right with these things.”

To view Killshot’s weaponry, visit killshotspearguns.com or stop by the store at 81902 Overseas Highway in Islamorada.

ANHINGA-SUB founder Morgan Ueberroth first tried his hand crafting a weapon for his brother as a wedding present in 2018.

ALEX RICKET/Keys Weekly

ANHINGA-SUB HANDMADE SPEARGUNS J. MORGAN UEBERROTH

A serious gun builder since September 2021, ANHINGASUB founder Morgan Ueberroth first tried his hand crafting a weapon for his brother as a wedding present in 2018. Setting up shop under his house on Summerland Key, Ueberroth has managed to crank out 40 guns in the last nine months alone – on top of a full-time job as a plumber.

Morgan designs each $1,000 custom gun with an end user in mind, allowing his customers to pick the custom color schemes for their guns’ epoxy spear tracks. For free shaft enthusiasts, he adds magnets to his tracks to keep spears in place without the aid of a shooting line.

The guns make use of Ermes trigger mechanisms, Italian products known for the use of bearing-like components to create a smooth, quiet trigger pull. The finished guns are individually ballasted to sit neutrally buoyant – in layman’s terms, perfectly still – in the water.

And as a hallmark of ANHINGA-SUB’s finished product, each wooden handle is beautifully shaped by eye to fit the measurements of its new owner’s hand.

“I wanted to make something that was a little more special and had a little bit more craft to it,” said Ueberroth, adding that each of his guns take between 30 and 35 hours of active work time from start to finish, including multiple hours on the handle alone. He puts painstaking care into each, ensuring that the wood grain runs at the appropriate angle for every inch of the handle to best absorb impacts.

With a number of custom guns in the hands of happy owners and more on the way — ANHINGA received seven orders in the seven days before this interview – Ueberroth has two major goals for his operation: seek out collaborations with local artists to enhance the exquisite craftsmanship of his custom guns, and work towards producing a “production line” gun that will put his product into the hands of more divers at a much more affordable price point.

“I get kids calling me all the time for guns, and they just don’t have the money for a custom speargun,” he said.

“When I was younger, I went forever without being able to spearfish because I couldn’t get my hands on a gun. … So that’s my end goal, create a good product and get a gun out there for everybody.”

For more product photos or to place an order, contact Morgan on Instagram at @anhinga_sub.

keysweekly.com 19

By Alex Rickert Aaron Young holds a speared African Pompano. JAMES FERRARA/Contributed

For Key West Capt. Aaron Young, the method is as important as the madness

Aaron Young may be a successful charter captain with Dibs on Bottom Adventures, but he’s also dealing with a bit of newfound celebrity. With a skyrocketing subscriber count on his Key West Waterman channel – 1,600 in the last four days, with a total approaching 100,000 – his informal, narrated fishing and cooking episodes have rightfully garnered millions of views from beginners and experienced anglers alike who want a refreshingly honest glimpse into the life of a Key West charter captain. But as Young frequently discusses in his Monday episodes, he’s not out to garner social media buzz by covering the floor of his boat in fish, regularly stressing conservation of heavily fished species and reminding viewers of ways to respectfully handle their catch in every episode. Young took a few minutes out of his schedule to sit down with Keys Weekly and discuss his journey so far. Although we think he might have been a bit too humble – he now has a major speargun manufacturer offering a custom build based on his personal preferences – here’s what we learned: It’s all about life on the water for Capt. Aaron Young. JAMES FERRARA/ Contributed

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Florida Keys Summer Boating 2022

HOW DID YOU END UP DOWN HERE? After high school, I got a job with the power company in Titusville and got laid off. I was really lost, and I posted on Facebook, “Someone talk me out of selling everything I own and driving down to the Keys.” A dude I met in college had a room for rent. I sold everything I owned in a week and drove down with my dog and my little boat in 2013.

HOW DID DIBS ON BOTTOM ADVENTURES START? I never had an intention of being a charter captain, but I knew I wanted to be down here and I wanted to be on the water. I started doing the social media stuff and it started to blow up, because I’d shoot all these fish out of a tiny 16-foot Gheenoe.

I started getting messages: “Do you do charters?” I got so many messages, I decided to start a charter just to pay for the hobby. And the rest was history.

WHEN I STARTED WATCHING YOUR CHANNEL IN JANUARY, YOU HAD 30,000 YOUTUBE SUBSCRIBERS. NOW, YOU’RE BLOWING UP. WHAT CHANGED? (Laughs) You will not guess this. My computer is showing me little balloons. I just hit 85,000 right now. This July was actually three years with the channel. The thing with YouTube is you’ve really got to be consistent. It’s good, because it weeds out people who think “Oh, I’m gonna go make a YouTube (show) and make all this money.” I think people are drawn to it because I’m just trying to have fun. I’m not trying to be a millionaire. As long as my bills are paid and I get to go fishing, I’m a pretty happy guy.

Quests to spear elusive wahoo make for great episodes of “Key West Waterman.”

JAMES FERRARA/Contributed IF THINGS KEEP GOING THIS WAY, WOULD YOU SWITCH OVER TO YOUTUBE FULL TIME, OR KEEP DOING CHARTERS? I’m conflicted about it. I think I would probably still run one or two charters a week, because it gives me some freedom and lets my clients pick the day that’s best for them. But if it gets to the point where YouTube makes more than charters, it’s a no brainer. We do charters because taking other people fishing is the closest thing to going fishing. Like I said, if my bills are paid and I can put food in the fridge, I’m a happy person.

YOU’RE BASICALLY FAMOUS NOW. DO PEOPLE RECOGNIZE YOU? Oh, it’s insane. From when I got off my boat to my truck just unloading stuff, I got stopped four times and got asked for two photos.

YOU’VE TALKED ABOUT NOT WANTING TO “SINK THE BOAT” OR TARGET PRESSURED SPECIES. HOW DO YOU BALANCE CONSERVATION WITH MAKING A LIVING? I harvest all these creatures, but why can’t I respect every single one? I don’t know what made me think that way, but it got worse as I became a charter captain. It’s one thing to see people on Instagram throwing all this fish in the boat, but it’s different when you’re physically witnessing it. I’m like, “Wow. We’re just hammering this resource.” So in my head, I go “Well, how can I be proactive instead of reactive?” In the age of the influencer, if all my YouTube ever does is encourage other fishermen to brain and bleed their fish and say “You know what? We have enough fish, let’s go home,” I consider that a win.

MOST UNDERRATED SPOTS IN KEY WEST? Blackfin Bistro or The Docks Stock Island.

WHAT’S THE MOST MEMORABLE FISH YOU EVER SHOT? My 66-pound black grouper. It ended up on SpearHeads, the original spearfishing YouTube channel. I don’t think I’ll ever shoot a bigger black grouper, and it was in 85 feet of water. It kicked my a**.

ANY SONGS YOU PLAY ON THE BOAT TO GET FIRED UP WHEN YOU’RE HEADED OUT? During wahoo season, “Who Are You” by The Who. Or there’s another one I’ll play to mess with my clients during wahoo season: “Lose Yourself” by Eminem. “If you only had one shot, one opportunity…”

To follow Aaron’s journey, check out “Key West Waterman” on YouTube – with new episodes every Monday – or follow dibsonbottom_adventures on Instagram.

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BEYOND THE SHORE An alternate way to see the Keys

By Erin Stover Sickmen From Miami to Key West, visitors will cross 42 bridges and travel the one main paved thoroughfare. Along the route, they’ll find souvenir shops and art galleries, roadside seafood shacks and upscale dining options. Those who pull to the margins may even find a marina where they can peer down at frisky tarpon, or a rocky coral beach where they can wet their toes. It’s great. It’s certainly enough to satisfy turista wanderlust. But, what those visitors miss is expansive.

As any local knows, it’s the waters beyond the shores where the true turquoise magic of the Keys can be found. To access the realm past the road, would-be mariners can charter a boat or hop on any snorkel trip. Chartering a trip can be expensive and requires the better part of a day though. Snorkel trips are generally at the mercy of that day’s tides, and typically mean keeping company with throngs of sunburned visitors.

Those seeking a more peaceful approach can find it using their own shoulders, and for as little as about $25. Paddling the Keys in a kayak or paddleboard grants intimate access to shallow crystal waters and tangled mangrove tunnels. An hour in a kayak can reveal more than a full day on a motorized tour, and certainly more than a glimpse over the edge of a dock.

From Key West to the mainland, there are nearly boundless options, but the listings below represent the best of the best in terms of customer service, accessibility and, well, sheer magic.

KEY WEST/STOCK ISLAND Lazy Dog Adventures On an island with an almost absurd amount of tour options, Lazy Dog remains the gold standard. Started in 1998, the company has built a reputation on saying ‘yes.’ Whether a visitor is seeking a guided tour through the beautiful twisted routes through the mangrove forests, looking to stand on a paddleboard for the first time, or hoping to paddle under a full moon, owner Sue Cooper and a fleet of friendly faces are eager to say, “sure, we can help with that.”

BIG PINE KEY Big Pine Kayak Adventures A few miles up the road, Bill Keogh welcomes visitors to some of the less-populated areas of the Lower Keys. A naturalist and photographer, whose work has been published by National Geographic and The Nature Conversancy, Keogh knows the backcountry like few others. This is an old-school business so you’ll need to start with a phone call, and end up with a car. If you do make

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Florida Keys Summer Boating 2022

your way to the end of the road though, you’ll be rewarded with unique access — their “Rent & Ride” option that ferries you and your kayak to the backcountry, allowing you to navigate back on your own.

THE MIDDLE KEYS AND ISLAMORADA Keys Kayak and Paddleboard The waters off Islamorada change from the Lower Keys, offering deeper access points for fishing, as well as a few nearshore destinations like Indian Key Historic State Park and the Islamorada Sandbar. Autonomy is key in this area. Visitors will have the best experience when they take the reigns, er, paddles and find their own adventure. Of course, even the most stalwart adventurers need support. Enter, Keys Kayak and Paddleboard. With locations in Marathon, Islamorada and Key Largo and free delivery from mile marker 45 to 106, they can outfit any journey.

Key Largo and beyond As paddlers move north, they’ll find bigger water and more far-flung trips. Among the many outposts from Key Largo to Miami, one of the wilder highlights is paddling among the prehistoric scaled creatures in the nation’s only “river of grass” in Everglades National Park. A bit further north, the less-popular, though no less stunning, Biscayne National Park offers paddle trips. For something different, opt for the journey out to Stiltsville, a historical grouping of architecturally unique stilted homes about two miles offshore. Only well-vetted concessioners are granted access to rent equipment in national parks. Check out Flamingo Adventures in the Everglades and Biscayne National Park Institute in Coconut Grove.

Have Your Own Kayak?

For those who had already gotten the memo and own their own kayaks or boards, the options open up even more. Most parks up and down the Keys have boat launch sites which conveniently double as easy spots to start a paddle. Additionally, most kayak rental and tour companies will allow visitors to launch from their point of entry for a very small fee, or in some cases, completely free of charge. Paddlers with a wilder spirit may want to explore less populated spots. It’s not uncommon to find scratched out sections of mangroves or coral at the end of most public roads.

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Two flamingos sleep in the calm waters of the Everglades. TOM DAILEY/Contributed

A DAY ON THE BAY EXPLORING THE EVERGLADES BY BOAT

By Tiffany Duong

When you first move to the Florida Keys, you hear people talking about the “backcountry” and the Everglades like it’s the Wild Wild West.

And, while there is pristine wilderness to be enjoyed, our closest national park is more accessible than ever — especially by boat.

This ecosystem is unique and special.

Everglades National Park (ENP) is roughly 1.5 million acres, and the predominant feature of the system is water moving throughout it. Florida Bay is a 500,000-acre estuary where the freshwater from Lake Okeechobee and the saltwater from the ocean meet. Various basins connect Florida Bay with the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, the only coral reef in North America.

Keys Weekly spent a day out on the water exploring the Everglades with local experts in Kelly Cox and Alex Blochel of Audubon Florida and Emma Haydocy of the Surfrider Foundation. Here’s what we learned:

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Florida Keys Summer Boating 2022

The Everglades is “where the hemispheres collide,” Haydocy explained.

She’s the Florida policy manager with Surfrider and works on advocating for our water and waves.

Therefore, she added, we see “wild combinations” of plants, animals and wildlife that you won’t see anywhere else in the world, like a bald eagle flying past a palm tree.

In one day in the Everglades, you can also observe multiple environments, blending and working together. Green mangrove islands and shorelines turning into seagrass beds and then coral reefs and open ocean. In this way, you can understand the connectivity of these different ecosystems and how they all rely on the healthy flow of freshwater. We can even connect the dots all the way to the Keys and our blue economy, which thrives on a healthy environment, Cox said. As the director of Florida policy at Audubon, Cox advocates for restoration and protection of these ecosystems.

This unique location and connectivity allows for truly unique flora and fauna to thrive here, said Blochel. He’s the senior scientist at the Everglades

Science Center in Tavernier. Any given day on the water, you can observe everything from manatees and crocodiles to sea turtles and fish of all sorts.

The Everglades is also a birder’s paradise, boasting hundreds of rare and unique species such as the roseate spoonbill, the great blue heron, the snail kite, the anhinga and even the bald eagle, Blochel added.

There’s something for everyone.

Unlike other wilderness areas in the U.S., ENP is flat and water-dominated, so hiking is not the main activity, Haydocy said. You can drive in or boat in, with the latter allowing quicker access to Flamingo and the park’s more remote regions. By boat, it can take 45 minutes to an hour and a half to come across the Upper Keys. Arriving via vessel also protects the grassy wilderness by minimizing trampling and access, she said.

During your visit, you can immerse yourself in the environment by paddling, kayaking, fishing and day boating.

Frontcountry camping in the Everglades is available in Pine Island, Flamingo and in Big Cypress National Preserve, but visitors via vessel can camp on the water on elevated platforms (chickees), Haydocy said. This backcountry camping in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Wilderness Area requires a permit, which you can get online.

You can learn a lot about Florida from the health of the bay.

By observing the Everglades and Florida Bay, we can learn about the health of our waters. These ecosystems are driven by the natural flow, or lack thereof, of freshwater from Lake Okeechobee. Certain spots are “indicator places” that tell us how the hydrology of the region is doing and whether enough freshwater is flowing into the (Florida) Bay, Cox said. “In Madeira Bay, we’re on the ground of one of those places where indicator information is really, really influential to how we manage the Everglades and determine the health of Florida Bay,” she added The invitation of the Everglades is not the same as that of the sandbar. Au contraire, it’s the solitude and the quiet of the former that offers up some comfort and time for reflection.

“The Everglades is one of the most peaceful places in the world,” said Haydocy. “The silence is deafening out there.

But then, [you hear] birds in huge masses and flocks just coming by, and [it’s] one of the most magical experiences [in] life.”

It’s quiet–in a good way.

Cox added, “You are truly in your element; you are in the wild. It’s an opportunity to recharge and be with nature.”

The elusive and magnificent Florida panther calls the Everglades home. If you’re lucky enough, you may spot one wading in the waters. TOM DAILEY/ Contributed

A mangrove grows out of the brackish water of Florida Bay, establishing a new ecosystem for wildlife to thrive in. IAN WILSON-NAVARRO/ Keys Weekly

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By Mandy Miles

NEW KEYS ATTORNEY DREW SANDO FOCUSES ON FWC VIOLATIONS Download the FWC and marine sanctuary phone apps to know which no-take zones to avoid. CONTRIBUTED

Fishing is serious business in the Florida Keys, but so are fishing violations.

And so they should be, says attorney Drew Sando, a former prosecutor who is now a defense attorney focusing his practice on Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) cases and violations for both recreational and commercial fishing. “I formerly worked as a special prosecutor assigned to prosecuting FWC cases and violations,” he said. “Some of the rules can be arbitrary and strange and many people may not know how serious they can become. Actually one of my sources of referrals is from other attorneys, who recommend me as someone competent in these types of cases and in this type of law.”

Sando recently opened an office in Tavernier (by appointment) and is eager to become a part of the community, both on the water and off. He himself is a diver and fisherman who understands and appreciates the critical importance of the Florida Keys’ marine resources and fragile environment. “Of course you’ll always get bad actors in this area, and

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repeat offenders who know the rules (or should know the rules), which emphasizes the need for regulations,” he said. “But so many people are first-time offenders with no criminal history. They come down here from other cities, states and even other countries. They may not know whether they’re fishing in the Gulf or Atlantic, the various size regulations, bag limits or even how to measure a fish.”

Sando emphasized that “ignorance of the law is not an excuse for breaking it. But there has to be a bit of balance in this regard.”

“I want to build my reputation in this community and help people navigate the law as someone who understands these cases, the laws and violations. I think I offer unique and specialized experience in handling FWC cases that can be of real value to Keys residents and visitors.”

As a former recipient of FWC’s prosecutor of the year award, “I am confident in my knowledge of these types of cases,” he said. “And as a defense lawyer in this unique practice area, I know what facts to look for based on what certain rules and/ or statutes require.”

Florida Keys Summer Boating 2022

ATTORNEY DREW SANDO’S TIPS BEFORE HEADING OUT ON THE WATER: DO: Be respectful and polite with FWC officers, even if you disagree with them. You’re being videotaped.

DON’T: Rely on an ignorance defense.

DO: Download the fish app on the FWC website and look at the rules.

Know where you’re fishing, what’s in season and how big they have to be.

DO: Know how to measure a fish properly, including a pinched tail for certain fish and proper lobster measuring devices.

DO: Hire a defense attorney for these types of cases.

Sando emphasized his respect for FWC officers and the agency as a whole.

“Those officers do very good work, and they believe in what they’re doing, and what they do is important. But some of the violations can be more than just a speeding ticket where you pay a fine and walk away. The criminal violations can have serious, real-life implications, and people often don’t know that. Certain violations can even lead to jail time.”

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ODE TO THE DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT

By Mark Hedden

Double-crested cormorants are some of the most common birds in the Keys. Go out on a boat, or stand anywhere near the water for a few minutes, and it is pretty much impossible not to see one.

They tend to fly low and near the water, and to flap energetically the whole time. Largely this is because they are not great flyers and without all the flapping they tend to drop like stones, or at least poorly thrown footballs. If you’ve ever asked yourself what a penguin would look like if it could fly, a double-crested cormorant would be a good guess.

The double crested part of their name comes from these poofy little feathers that grow up behind their eyes during mating season, but which you hardly ever see. The cormorant part comes from the Latin by way of the French and basically means "marine crow.” Crows are some of the most common birds on land, and cormorants are some of the most common birds on the sea, or at least the sea’s edge. Also, like crows, cormorants are really good at what they do, so good, they are generally under appreciated for it.

Young birds have pale-ish faces and necks. Adult birds are pretty much all black, with a slight green shine to their feathers. The one bird they ever get confused with in South Florida is the similarlysized and similarly-behaved an-

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hinga. But anhingas have long necks that taper into very pointy, dart-shaped bills, and cormorant bills have a small hook at the end. Also, anhingas tend to favor freshwater environments and are much more common in the Everglades and mainland Florida.

MARK HEDDEN/Keys Weekly It’s easy to make fun of their mediocre flying skills, but they are essentially a compromise of evolution. Flying seems to be a secondary concern to them, and they’ve given up aerial alacrity for underwater prowess and become highly agile swimmers. (For the double-crested cormorant’s non-migratory cousin, the flightless cormorant of the Galapagos, flying was so unimportant to the species that it went total penguin and gave up flight altogether.)

Why all this downgrading of the importance of flight for their family of birds? Because it made them better at fishing. Or more precisely, it made them better at swimming and catching fish underwater.

Florida Keys Summer Boating 2022

The easiest way to tell apart a cormorant from any other bird on the surface of the water is the way they carry their head with their bill at a slightly upturned angle. The cormorant’s webbed feet are their motors. While floating they propel themselves by paddling with one alternating foot at a time. Underwater they propel themselves by sticking their feet out straight behind their body and moving them in simultaneous synchronicity, like a dolphin’s tail.

The edges of cormorants feathers absorb water, allowing them to be less buoyant and stay underwater with less effort. But the centers of their feathers are coated with a preen oil that repels water, forming an airtight seal around the body and keeping their skin from getting wet. They tend to swim for about 20 minutes per session, with their average dive lasting about 25 seconds, and their average rest interval after each dive lasting for about 10 seconds. They dive several hundred times a day, spending on average a little over an hour of their lives underwater each day. They’ve been known to dive up to 75 feet, but the vast majority of their dives are less than 30 feet.

When they are not swimming they tend to perch on the shore, in the mangroves or on tops of pilings, docks or moored and unoccupied boats. They often catch people’s eye by standing some-

what dramatically with their wings out, which isn’t really for attention so much as to dry their feathers out. They stand when they sleep and generally only lay down to incubate eggs or brood hatchlings, which are unable to regulate their own body temperature for their first two weeks. There is no evidence cormorants sleep on the water.

Fish make up almost all of their diet. (They will occasionally gulp down a crustacean.) A double-crested cormorant, which weighs a little under four pounds, will eat on average a pound of fish a day. Most of what they catch is under 6 inches in length. They can swallow smaller fish underwater and keep hunting. Larger fish they bring to the surface. Their bills are very good at grabbing slippery things. Occasionally they will take a larger fish, throw it into the air, then catch and swallow it head first.

They prefer schooling fish and will occasionally work in teams, leapfrogging over one another between dives.

But the general principle is, if you’re going to be able to chase down and catch a fish underwater, you have to be able to out swim the fish.

The easiest way to tell apart a cormorant from any other bird on the surface of the water is the way they carry their head with their bill at a slightly upturned angle.

If you get close enough to a double-crested cormorant you’ll see that they have incredible luminous emerald green eyes, and that their eyelids form an almost perfect circle of light and dark dashes. What you won’t see is the way that their cornea will change shape to help the bird see more sharply underwater.

I have heard fishermen complain about their resentment of cormorants for, essentially, being better at catching fish than they are. (One rather dramatic article online referred to them as “fish terrorists,” which sounds pretty damn snowflake to me.) But I’m going to argue that if you have issues with a creature that belongs out there in the natural world being better at catching fish than you, how good of a fisherman can you really be?

There are double-crested cormorants in the Florida Keys year round.

Most mangrove islands in the backcountry have at least a small colony of nests on them this time of year. (If you get close to one, but haven’t seen it, you will know it by the overpowering scent of ammonia.) The double-crested cormorant population grows heavily in the winter, when members from more northerly parts of their range – which spreads as far up as Newfoundland and Alaska – head south for open water and warmer climes. That time of year you can see groups of hundreds and hundreds of them flying together as a single mass, undulating just above the shoreline, looking a little bit like the sea monsters people once thought they actually were.

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By Alex Rickert The more we learn about them, the more the word “microplastics” becomes nearly synonymous with ocean pollution. Created when the sun, waves and salt break down larger plastics that enter the ocean – approximately 8 to 10 million metric tons each year – the tiny particles less than 5 millimeters are notoriously difficult to collect and remove.

More importantly, they are a serious threat for the marine life that accidentally or purposely ingest them, posing physical and toxicological risks.

With a commitment to combat the rising threat of microplastics, Suzuki Marine made waves in fall 2020 when it became the first major outboard manufacturer to unveil a microplastics collection device designed to be installed on outboard motors.

Clean ride

Suzuki Marine introduces microplastics filter for outboards

The device concept is relatively simple: using natural seawater continuously flowing through the engine in an open loop to cool the engine block and other components, the device introduces a filter capsule capable of collecting microplastics just before the cooling water is returned to the ocean.

Fear not, outboard experts: most boat owners know too well the pain of having a blocked or nonfunctional cooling system. To avoid ever restricting water flow to the areas that need it most, Suzuki’s filter cleans the water that has already passed through the engine block.

The design also includes a bypass tube.

Translation: a filter that has done its job and collected so many microplastic particles that it’s blocked and full will not stop water flow and risk overheating the engine.

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The collection system is designed to be installed by boaters themselves, and once installed, it works with little effort from the operator. The filters can be removed, cleaned and reused.

“Protecting the marine environment for future generations has always been important to Suzuki,” said Suzuki Marine vice president George “Gus” Blakely in a May 2021. “When (the filter) becomes available to the boating public, this new filtering system will allow our customers to join our effort, simply through the act of using their boats.”

The first of its kind, Suzuki’s microplastics filter will eventually be available as an add-on accessory for popular outboard models. SUZUKI MARINE/Contributed

As of May 2021, testing of the device began at Suzuki’s Marine Technical Center in Panama City. A month later, the devices were installed on a water taxi in Tampa Bay – a vessel that routinely sees more than 3,000 hours of engine runtime per year – to extensively test its capabilities.

Though an exact date has not yet been announced, Suzuki plans to eventually offer the devices as a commercially available optional accessory for certain outboards, starting with its 115 and 140 horsepower models.

Florida Keys Summer Boating 2022

The microplastics collector filters water that has already passed through the engine for cooling purposes, and includes a bypass tube if the filter gets clogged. SUZUKI MARINE/Contributed

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AQUATIC MUSCLE

These PWCs are your best bet in 2022

By Alex Rickert With outdoor time and social distancing at a premium during the COVID pandemic, the market for boats and personal watercraft (PWCs) experienced one of its largest periods of growth ever. The explosion in popularity for all forms of watercraft was met by new innovations from major manufacturers that helped turn PWCs from single-use toys to multidimensional family machines. With so many options available today, here are our recommendations for each type of rider and budget.

FISHING MACHINE SeaDoo Fish Pro Sport MSRP: $15,899

As the flagship model that kickstarted a wildly popular – and growing – segment of the PWC industry, the Fish Pro line from SeaDoo remains the as-yet-unchallenged ultimate PWC fishing machine. The mid-level Sport package features an integrated 6” Garmin fish finder and GPS system, five fishing rod holders, and cup holders. Its extended rear platform provides for extra stability and storage via SeaDoo’s LinQ accessory attachment system (an attached fishing cooler comes standard). A 170 horsepower engine provides more than enough juice to reach any honey hole in decent time.

For anglers on a budget, the baseline Fish Pro Scout model drops to a 130 horsepower engine and nixes the extended rear platform and a few other small accessories for a more manageable price tag of $13,899. Meanwhile, the $17,799 Fish Pro Trophy goes all out with a swivel seat, larger touchscreen fishfinder and GPS, detachable live well, and other small electronics and storage upgrades.

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Florida Keys Summer Boating 2022

Kawasaki JetSki Ultra 310R MSRP: $17,999 The industry’s most powerful ski packs 310 horsepower into a craft just over 11 feet long. Need we say more? Kawasaki has long maintained its reputation for building skis with more horsepower than their industry competitors, but with fewer frills.

Though the Ultra 310 still packs the largest stock powerhouse in the industry, upgraded models of the Ultra 310 will provide an impressive array of features, including a rearfacing camera that broadcasts to the ski’s 7” smartphone-integrated display, forward-facing LED headlights, a booming four-speaker audio system, and numerous options for limited-speed operation and cruise control in no wake zones.

FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

Yamaha VX MSRP: $10,449

SeaDoo GTI 130 MSRP: $10,299

This one is honestly a toss-up and largely dependent on a rider’s priorities. With almost identical price points and equally powerful engines, both the VX and GTI offer full-sized three-rider machines at a modest price point. Those who value accessory uses and adaptable seat configurations may opt for the GTI’s larger swim platform and available LinQ attachment points. With a closedloop cooling system, the GTI also keeps harsh salt water out of the engine block in favor of recirculated chemical coolants. Meanwhile, the VX boasts a larger fuel capacity for long trips, along with the brand’s legendary engine reliability – there’s a reason Yamaha has become the nearly ubiquitous choice for ski rental companies around the country.

Honorable Mention: For riders looking for an engine their families can grow into as they gain comfort and experience, check out Yamaha’s VX Cruiser HO, which swaps out the VX line’s TR-1 powerplant for a 1.8L, 180 horsepower engine.

BUDGET CHOICE Yamaha EX MSRP: $7,199

SeaDoo deserves credit for changing the game with the introduction of its budget Spark lineup in 2014, and Yamaha responded with a formidable counterpunch three years later, introducing the EX watercraft. Though RIDERS’ the baseline EX can’t compete with the cheapest Spark in terms of its price point – the Spark starts at $5,699 – the EX delivers noticeable advantages.

While still a great option, SeaDoo’s baseline Spark is a two-rider machine with a 60 HP engine driving a plastic hull and deck, and even its upgraded $7,899 model only delivers 90 HP. In contrast, the EX’s larger and more stable hull features a fiberglassbased compound, and the heart of the machine is a reliable 100 HP TR-1 engine. Lake and nearshore riders may find the ultra-nimble Spark more to their liking, but the EX is likely a better choice for most Keys riders.

INNOVATIONS THAT MATTER With so many optional accessories and features, it can be hard to sort out the ones that truly make a difference. Ultimately, the value of each option is up to the rider, but here are a few we feel are most critical: • Electronic reverse (iBR on SeaDoo, RiDE on Yamaha, KSRD for Kawasaki): the ability to control its full range of motion with both hands on the handlebars is a game-changer. Though no watercraft has a true “neutral” mode, these systems also allow riders to start their machine’s engine without moving forward or backwards.

• Hands-free pump clearing: any Keys rider knows skis are constantly getting clogged with weeds in their intake grates, reducing performance and causing overheat issues. SeaDoo’s proprietary iDF system allows its jet pump to run in reverse, clearing weeds from the system without forcing the rider to hop in the water and do the dirty work themselves.

• Sound systems (all manufacturers): whether you’re enjoying a day at the sandbar or blasting your favorite tunes while riding, a sound system makes a difference. Make sure you understand the limits of your watercraft’s battery, or get a detachable system with its own power source – there’s nothing like reaching the end of that awesome playlist and then realizing you can’t get home.

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

The Lobster Lowdown Little details matter when hunting

• Spiny lobster must have a minimum carapace length greater than 3 inches and the measurement must take place in the water. The carapace 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 carapace. 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 that could puncture, penetrate or crush the shell of the lobster is prohibited. It is illegal to spearfish lobster.

• 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.

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Florida Keys Summer Boating 2022

• 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-HUNT-FLORIDA (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 lure 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 • Alligator Reef • Carysfort Reef • Cheeca Rocks • Conch Reef • Davis Reef • Elbow Reef • French Reef • Grecian Reef • Hen and Chickens • Key Largo Dry Rocks • Molasses Reef

Zones within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary are closed yearround for harvesting and are no-take zones. CONTRIBUTED

Ecological Reserves • Western Sambo • Tortugas 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

Middle Keys • Coffins Patch • Sombrero Key Lower Keys • Eastern Dry Rocks • Looe Key • Newfound Harbor • Sand Key • Rock Key

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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 neighboron-neighbor 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, or 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 the four days preceding sport season and continues until 10 days have elapsed after the opening of regular season.

No-go zones

Municipalities have different rules Weekly staff report

• 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.

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.”

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 2022

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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