http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/Florida-Keys-blog.html The Keys Blog will keep you up-to-date with all additions and changes to N-The-Florida-Keys.com Web site. Subscribe here. en-us Florida Keys Sun, 06 Jul 2008 19:48:51 GMT Sun, 06 Jul 2008 19:48:51 GMT n-the-florida-keys.com http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/American-Shoal.html American Shoal Lighthouse had a Fresnel lens when it was first lit in the Florida Keys Sun, 06 Jul 2008 18:58:11 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/Sambo-Reef.html Eastern, Middle and Western Sambo Reef are popular dive sites in the Florida Keys Sat, 05 Jul 2008 19:36:11 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/Pelican-Shoal.html Pelican shoal is a beautiful dive site where rubble fields use to support the roseate tern in the Florida Keys Sat, 05 Jul 2008 19:19:42 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/lobster.html Florida Keys Lobster, first find them, next catch them, then you get to eat them! Sat, 05 Jul 2008 19:03:49 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/dive-site.html This dive site list has GPS Coordinates for all the popular spots in the Florida Keys Sat, 05 Jul 2008 18:24:37 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/dive-equipment.html eBay auctions are a sure place to find dive equipment for diving in the Florida Keys Sat, 05 Jul 2008 18:17:31 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/Florida-Keys-blog.html#July-Events-for-the-Florida-Keys July has the last of the Dolphin Tournaments and the beginning of the Lobster hunt. Here's what's going in the Florida Keys. Key West-July 5, Conch Republic Ladies Dolphin Tournament with cash prizes. Call 305-304-7674. Lower Keys-July 11-13, Dolphin Flashover Tournament. Fish for the heaviest Dolphin. Call 305-942-7223. Looe Key Reef-July 12, The 24th Annual Underwater Music Festival. Come hear a concert underwater. It's great. Call 872-2411 or <a href="http://www.tripsmarter.com/keywest/archives/events/underwatermusicfest.htm ">Click here</a> Key West-July 15-18 Del Brown Invitational Permit Tournament. It's a fly fishing tournament. Call. 3052-3664-2444. Key West-July 15-20. Hemingway Days Festival. It's the 28th year for this event. It's a week packet with fun and literary events. For fun events call 305-296-2388, literary events call 305-294-0320, or <a href="http://www.tripsmarter.com/keywest/archives/hemingwaydays.htm ">Click here.</a> Key West-July 16-19. Drambuie Key West Marlin Tournament. Anglers go in search of huge Marlin. Big bucks are paid out in this tournament. Call 305-292-2710 or <a href="http://keywestmarlin.com">click here</a> . Islamorada-July 18-20. Holiday Isle & Caribee Boat Sales Dolphin Tournament. It's a Dolphin Tournament open to anglers of all skill levels and ages. Call 305-664-2321 ext. 655. Islamorada-July 27-28. Islamorada Fishing Club Red Ghost Stalk. This is for anglers between the ages of 11-25. The winners qualify for IGFA Inshore Championship. Call 305-664-3864 Florida and Florida Keys-July 30-31. Mini Lobster Season. <a href="http://myfwc.com/marine/lobster.htm ">Click here</a> for rules and regulations for the lobster season. Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:51:22 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/Florida-Keys-blog.html#Gold-Chalice-found-on-Margarita-Shipwreck-off-Key-West On June 24, 2008 an ornate gold chalice was found on the Margarita Shipwreck site. It was buried under a foot of sand. The diver that found it thought he had found a beer can. Click on the link below for the whole story and pictures of the chalice. Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:26:36 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/Erin-Cone.html Erin Cone is proud of her Dad for winning the Florida Keys Dolphin Derby Thu, 19 Jun 2008 17:58:46 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/Florida-Keys-blog.html#The-Florida-Keys-vs-FEMA FEMA and Monroe County Government are working together to undermine the true citizens of the Florida Keys. We need all the support we can muster! Check out the link below to read more on the fight to regain our rights. No donations are requested. We just need support from anyone who wants to help save the Florida Keys from becoming another Miami or Ft. Lauderdale. Fri, 13 Jun 2008 15:01:07 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/Florida-Keys-blog.html#Is-anyone-paying-attention-to-the-Grouper-fishing? Everyone who enjoys fishing for grouper needs to be heard. The National Marine Fisheries Service are trying to pass a new ruling on fishing for grouper. They want to close the season from January 15 thru April 15 starting next year. The new recommendations would allow commercial fishermen to take 6,000 pounds of gag grouper per day during a month when recreational fishermen can't take any! Stay up on this one by going to the link below. Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:35:20 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/Suzi.html Suzi has a story about Key West, remembering Wilhelmina Harvey, Mel Fisher, Charlie Vallet, Thu, 05 Jun 2008 19:40:36 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/fishing-gear.html Get fishing gear on eBay for your Florida Keys fishing trip Thu, 08 May 2008 19:38:50 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/Florida-Keys-blog.html#The-Vandenbers-will-NOT-be-sunk-in-the-Florida-Keys-in-May Yes, lack of funding because of poor planning on the part of the people in charge of the Vandenberg sinking is the real reason the ship will not be sunk in May off Key West. See the whole push to sink the Vandenberg off Key West got off on the wrong foot. The powers that be here tried and got money from the infra structure of Monroe County which was earmarked for waste water and septic tank replacement. Moneys that were supposed to come from the TDC never materialized. They never did their part to raise the funds and have since searched anywhere they could to try and get the remaining 2.3 Million dollars needed to get the ship here and on the bottom of the ocean. This is just a bit of inside information and the status quo for the Florida Keys. You can read their excuses for the postponement by clicking on the link below. Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:02:08 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/Longline.html NMFS Regulations that would affect the fishing in the Florida Keys due to longline gear Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:08:11 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/Florida-Keys-blog.html#Im-really-upset.-Longliners-are-once-again-allowed-to-fish-the-waters-of-the-Florida-Keys I just want to let all of you know that Captain Jim Sharpe told me yesterday that in three years, 15 longline boats will be allowed to fish off the East Coast of Florida and the Florida Keys. This is totally against public opposition. How many years did it take us to get this horrible fishery stopped. It is totally indiscriminate fishing. They kill shark, dolphin, sea turtles, whales, manta rays, billfish, tuna, and swordfish just to mention a few. These longlines are up to 25 miles long. We have to do something about this. I haven't been able to find the exact ruling on this yet, but when I do I will post it here on my blog and my website. Everyone who cares at all about the ocean and having fish in it should get involved. I was able to find this interesting information about a sneaky plan of the powers that be for getting 3 longline boats into protected waters. Click on the link below to read it. Sun, 16 Mar 2008 17:33:22 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/Florida-Keys-blog.html#Gator-Air-has-landed-in-the-Florida-Keys It's official Gator Air landed it's first nine seat Chieftan aircraft in Marathon on Friday, March 7, 2008. There are two scheduled flights leaving Marathon daily. One at 9 AM and the second at 5:30 PM. These flights take passengers to the Ft. Lauderdale Airport not Miami. They've started a similar air service at the Key West International Airport. Gator Air has future plans to expand their destinations to Gainesville, Melbourne, Fort Myers and Nassau in the Bahamas. For more information on Gator Air's services and prices click on the link below. Wed, 12 Mar 2008 15:06:08 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/history.html The new road that's responsible for the destruction of a 20 mile stretch of wetlands and mangroves is scheduled to open to traffic by early this summer. The $300M project began in 2004. It was interrupted during the 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons. We had four close calls by hurricanes in each of these years. The land causeway section over Lake Surprise on the old 18 mile stretch is to be dug out in hopes that the natural water flow through this area will be restored. We'll just have to wait and see what ill effects this has on the environment. A 1.4 mile, 65' high fixed bridge will replace the old Jewfish Creek drawbridge that was built in 1944. (Another piece of Florida Keys history gone). The barrier walls of the new bridge and the concrete median will be painted turquoise. This new road is suppose to increase human safety and be friendly to the environment. This is a bit of an oxymoron since they did so much destruction and caused a horrible algae bloom in the surrounding waters in the process of building the new road. Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:00:56 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/Florida-Keys-blog.html#New-regulations-for-Billfish-Tournaments As of January 1, 2008 all boats using natural baits in billfish tournaments are required to use circle hooks. You can read all about this and information of regulations concerning other highly migratory species by clicking on the link below. Fri, 29 Feb 2008 15:20:14 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/Florida-Keys-blog.html#Florida-Keys-gets-another-aircarrier.-Yep,-Marathons-gonna-try-it-again The airport at Marathon has been without commercial airline service since Delta pulled out in 2000. Gator Air is a commuter airline based in Ft. Lauderdale. The plan is to begin air service with a nine seat passenger plane between Florida Keys Marathon Airport and Ft. Lauderdale International Airport as soon as possible. The schedule will be one daily flight arriving into Marathon at 8:30 AM and leaving to go back to Ft. Lauderdale 15 minutes later. Cost for this flight will be $60.00 plus taxes and fees one way. If you're travels take you beyond Ft. Lauderdale you'll need to book your connection flight separately, retrieve your bags and pass through security again. For more information click on the link below or phone them at 1-888-fly-gator (359-4286). Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:17:15 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/USS-Curb.html USS Curb is a Florida Keys dive site of an artificial reef that's for advanced divers Tue, 19 Feb 2008 17:36:54 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/Joes-Tug.html Joes Tug an artificial reef is a great wreck dive in the Florida Keys Sat, 16 Feb 2008 17:00:40 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/Cayman-Salvage-Master.html Cayman Salvage Master is Key West's best wreck dive in the Florida Keys Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:05:09 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/Alexanders-wreck.html Alexanders Wreck was on her way to be sunk as an artificial reef when she sank in the Florida Keys Thu, 14 Feb 2008 15:42:08 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/Wilkes-Barre-wreck.html Wilkes Barre wreck is the best technical dive on a shipwreck off the reef in the Florida Keys Wed, 13 Feb 2008 17:36:50 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/Florida-Keys-blog.html#High-Tech-hits-the-Florida-Keys-GPS-Tours-of-Key-West Wow how kool! Do your own tour at your own pace of Key West. This is really the only way to go. You will find locations on the island that you would have missed. You carry an easy to use GPS Ranger Unit. It gives you audio and video information that's triggered to play as you walk or drive from place to place in Key West. This GPS Unit is available in German, Spanish, French and English. Price for a 3 hour rental is $29.00 plus tax. Rentals are available for a longer period of time. For more information or to have one of these GPS units delivered to you call 305-293-8891 or email at info@goGPStours.com. Or click on the link at the bottom of this blog post and go to their website. Enjoy your tour! Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:00:45 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/Florida-Keys-blog.html#Florida-Keys-has-a-new-Living-Coral-Reef-Exhibit The Eco Discovery Center has been open for a year. To celebrate the anniversary the new Living Coral Reef Exhibit opened to the public on Saturday, February 3 at the Eco Discovery Center in Key West. In the reef exhibit you can see fish and invertebrates that are indigenous to the Florida Keys as well as hard and soft corals. Information is available on the coral nursery at Mote Marine Laboratory where they're growing 22 different species of corals to plant out on the reef. For more information click on the link below. Tue, 05 Feb 2008 17:03:32 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/Toppino-Reef.html Toppino Reef is a shallow Florida Keys dive site great for night dives Thu, 31 Jan 2008 20:57:24 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/Ten-Fathom-Ledge.html Ten Fathom Ledge is a Florida Keys dive site with coral caves and caverns Sun, 20 Jan 2008 18:12:27 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/Ten-Fathom-Bar.html Ten Fathom Bar dive site is where you can do a wall dive or drift dive in the Florida Keys Fri, 18 Jan 2008 19:08:52 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/Smith-Shoal.html Smith Shoal is a shallow Florida Keys dive site. Wed, 16 Jan 2008 16:34:05 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/Sand-Key.html Sand Key lighthouse is a great dive site to snorkel or dive in the Florida Keys Thu, 10 Jan 2008 18:58:34 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/bridge-fishing.html The Bridge Fishing has really revved up this week here in the Florida Keys. Last weeks cold front turned the fishing off. We now have temperatures in the upper 70's and it's kicking the bridge fishing into high gear. The water on the ocean side of the Keys is 5 to 10 degrees warmer than the backside, so the fish are moving through the channels to get to the warmer water. You can catch your limit of nice big Mangrove Snapper in a short time. There's also mackerel, cobia and sharks searching for warmer water. The bait arrived first so the action is non stop. The bridges are a great alternative to going out in a boat when the wind are up as they are and it's a lot cheaper. Tight lines and good fishing. Tue, 08 Jan 2008 17:37:58 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/Nine-Foot-Stake.html Nine Foot Stake is a Florida Keys dive site where you can do a night dive for lobster Fri, 04 Jan 2008 20:17:41 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/Marquesas-Keys.html Marquesas Keys have many wrecks to dive inshore and out at Cosgrove Shaol Wed, 02 Jan 2008 17:39:12 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/Eastern-Dry-Rocks.html Eastern Dry Rocks and Rock Key are Florida Keys dive sites with old ship wrecks Sat, 22 Dec 2007 19:17:34 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/Aquanaut-Wreck.html Aquanaut Wreck is one of several artificial reef of shipwrecks sunk by Chet Alexander in the Florida Keys Wed, 12 Dec 2007 15:46:40 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/Sturtivent.html Sturtivent, Luckenbach and Gunvor are shipwrecks in murky waters of the Florida Keys Wed, 05 Dec 2007 21:23:48 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/moon-jellyfish.html We had to dive thru 1000's of moon jellyfish to get to the lobster Thu, 29 Nov 2007 21:12:37 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/grouper.html Grouper are plentiful in the Florida Keys and I know just where to find them Thu, 29 Nov 2007 18:13:15 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/Sharks.html Many sharks eat, mate, give birth and swim in the nearshore waters around the Florida Keys Thu, 29 Nov 2007 17:38:30 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/catching-lobster.html A Catching lobster guide for a Florida Keys home grown dinner Thu, 29 Nov 2007 16:33:28 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/Florida-Keys-blog.html#Fort-Jefferson-at-the-Dry-Tortugas-is-getting-a-$6-Million-face-lift Fort Jefferson was built in 1846. She stood at the crossroads of the Caribbean, the <a href="http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/dry-tortugas.html"> Dry Tortugas</a>. The National Park Service has funded a $6 Million Dollar, 3 year restoration project for the 150+ year old fort. The restoration project was scheduled to begin in 2005. But the super active hurricane season put a halt to their plans. It took 16 million bricks to build Fort Jefferson. Engineers estimate that 10,000 to 20,000 new bricks will be needed for the repairs. These new bricks will be made of the same recipe and in the same method it was done in 1846. The first phase of restoration is now complete. Crews replaced 17 replicated shutters made of glass fiber and reinforced concrete. These replaced the iron shutter that were there originally. For more info just click on the link below. Sat, 24 Nov 2007 16:13:44 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/Content-Keys.html Content Keys kept gold bars and coins hidden until 1973 in the backcountry of the Florida Keys Fri, 23 Nov 2007 18:21:29 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/HMS-Loo.html The HMS Loo was burnt to keep it from pirates in the Florida Keys Tue, 20 Nov 2007 16:20:28 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/Thunderbolt.html The Thunderbolt artificial reef is a wreck dive for advanced divers in the Florida Keys Thu, 15 Nov 2007 15:22:08 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/Horseshoe-Reef.html Horseshoe reef if a dive site where turtles sleep under ledges in the Florida Keys Wed, 14 Nov 2007 15:14:01 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/The-Gap.html Near The Gap is another great dive site with stands of pillar coral in the Florida Keys Tue, 13 Nov 2007 16:00:17 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/Sombrero-Key-Reef.html Sombrero Key Reef lighthouse had a Fresnel lens that's still in the Florida Keys Sat, 10 Nov 2007 18:12:16 GMT http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/Joanies-Reef.html Joanies Reef as a large ledge where sharks and turtles sleep in the Florida Keys Fri, 09 Nov 2007 18:48:26 GMT