floridakeys

Spent a week in #keywestflorida, #drytortugas, and the middle #floridakeys. Took notes, made 1000 photos and some videos. Summarized in an old-school blog post with links to photo albums: https://jsclarkfl1.blogspot.com/2025/03/no-lofty-peak-nor-fortress-bold.html.

25.2354879, -80.4575100

Had some good Backcountry fishing here, clear shallow water and plenty of snapper. To fish and boat in everglades national park, you need the park pass (get it online), and you need to take an online boating course, which is free. In key largo, if you are north of the intercoastal waterway, you are already in everglades national park.

This spot was fairly easy to get to, but the pass coming out of blackwater sound was pretty shallow at around 2ft, so be careful on the way in. Watch for manatees in the area as well.

Free everglades boating course: https://provalenslearning.com/everglades-boater-education-course

25.0600998,-80.3674239 "Mosquito sandbar"

If you have a draft more than about 24", best approach is from the channel side from the south, or from offshore side. Shallow reefs inshore of sandbar area. Best conditions are at negative tide with seas <= 1ft reported at Molassas Reef. Expect approximately 3-5ft depths at shallowest spots, so bring floats for short people and those who aren't swimmers. Bottom is coarse white coral sand.