5 Florida Keys Restaurants You Must Try

Florida Keys Restaurants offer cuisine that is as unique and appealing as the 125-mile island chain itself. From spicy conch chowder to savory Cuban pork, succulent pink shrimp and stone crab claws to sweet and tangy key lime pie, the destination offers a variety of temptations for visitors to enjoy. The Keys’ location and heritage … Read more

FWC Launches Florida Fishing Pier Finder

Are you looking for a place to fish from shore? Check out the FWC new Florida Fishing Pier Finder, an interactive map that allows anglers to find publicly-accessed fishing piers, jetties and fishing-specific bridges in freshwater and saltwater locations throughout the state. It is best viewed using a computer or tablet with a larger screen. … Read more

Free Key West Fishing Tournament Kicks Off Dec 1

Anglers of all ages and abilities can target more than 40 species of fish in the Key West Fishing Tournament, a free-entry multidivision challenge that takes place Dec. 1, 2020, to July 31, 2021.

Now in its 55th year, the tournament features divisions for men, women, junior anglers ages 10 to 15 and Pee Wees under 10 years old — making it ideal for families that want to share the angling experience.

Participants can fish from a boat, bridge or land. At any time during the eight-month timespan they can enter their catches at an official tournament weigh station or online at enter.keywestfishingtournament.com. Weigh stations can be found at several locations in the Lower Keys and Key West.

Key West FishingCelebrating the diverse variety of fish found in Florida Keys waters, the tournament provides recognition and trophies to anglers posting the heaviest catch of each of 33 species. Six different line classes and three artificial casting categories further heighten the competition.

Other awards recognize the most releases of barracuda, blue marlin, bonefish, dolphin, permit, sailfish and tarpon. The Key West Fishing Tournament strongly encourages the release of game fish and will not recognize any killed sailfish, marlin, spearfish, tarpon, redfish, warsaw grouper or shark for award purposes.

All participants receive certificates noting their catches and qualify for a variety of awards including coveted “Master Angler” titles.

Event information: keywestfishingtournament.com or 305-923-5934

Source: Key West Fishing Tournament Kicks Off Dec. 1 with Free Entry for Anglers | Florida Keys Newsroom

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Lifejackets – Variety is the Spice of Safety

“Gone Coastal” column By Amanda Nalley.  I hate to admit it, but for years, our two neon-orange over-the-neck lifejackets (aka personal floatation devices or PFDs) acted primarily as seat cushions in our 40-year-old canoe. We didn’t have much money, and the thought of spending $40 on a personal floatation device seemed… unnecessary. We told ourselves … Read more

Spotted Seatrout New Regulations Begin Feb 1 2020

Spotted SeaTrout

Spotted SeaTrout Statewide Regulations Update At its December meeting in Panama City Beach, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved rule changes for spotted seatrout. Changes will go into effect Feb. 1, 2020. These changes DO NOT replace the SW Florida red-tide-related closures listed below. Monroe County Florida Keys will follow the South … Read more

Keys Treasures Recommends Christmas Gifts

Do you still have some Christmas gift buying to do? The link below will take you to our Keys Treasures Amazon influencer page where you will find some recommendations for Florida Keys books, fishing and diving items, and other gift ideas. Please check them out and help support this page at the same time. Keys Treasures … Read more

The Race to Save the Coral of the Caribbean

Emily Hower, a research assistant at Nova Southeastern University doing field work on coral off Key West in Florida, bobs up out of the water and removes her diving mask. The news is not good. Most of the pillar coral that her team have been monitoring for years are dead.Hower and her colleagues are on … Read more

Applications available for FWC’s 2019-2020 High School Fishing Program

Applications available for FWC’s 2019-2020 High School Fishing Program The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) 2019-2020 High School Fishing Program offers high school fishing clubs or teams the opportunity to apply for the Florida Sport Fish Restoration R3 Fishing Grant. This grant program is focused on recruiting new anglers, retaining active anglers and … Read more

Trulieve Brings Access to Medical Cannabis in the New Key West Dispensary

Trulieve Brings Direct Access to the Florida Keys with New Key West Dispensary

As state approaches 275,000 patients, Trulieve’s latest storefront brings Florida’s largest selection of medical cannabis to patients in the Keys. To celebrate their newest store, Trulieve will be hosting a grand opening celebration on Tuesday, September 17th at 10:00 AM, with doors opening and press tours of the new dispensary immediately following. WHAT: Trulieve Key … Read more