General

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 Jan. 1 to Aug. 31, 2019. The tournament features divisions for men, women, junior anglers ages 10 to 15 and Pee Wees under 10 years old — making it ideal … Read more

Pritam Singh will open Isla Bella Beach Resort on a 24-acre site on Knights Key that he acquired in 2015 for $24.5M Knights Key (Credit: STL News) Key West developer Pritam Singh will open a 199-key resort hotel in the mid-section of the Florida Keys in early 2019. Singh will open Isla Bella Beach Resort … Read more

11 places you should go on your next trip to Key West In this photo provided by the Florida Keys News Bureau, artist Danny Acosta completes lettering the Southernmost Point in the Continental U.S.A. marker Monday, Oct. 23, 2017, in Key West, Fla. One of the most-photographed tourism icons in the Florida Keys was pummeled … Read more

At its September meeting near Tallahassee, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved several changes to recreational and commercial trap fisheries rules. These changes are part of a long-term project to evaluate and improve the management of Florida’s saltwater trap fisheries. Approved changes include: Creating mandatory, no-cost annual recreational blue crab and stone crab trap … Read more

Attendees at the eighth annual Florida Keys Ocean Festival can celebrate the island chain’s vibrant marine environment outdoors in Islamorada with live music, artistry, kids’ activities, educational exhibits and more. Presented by the Florida-based Mote Marine Laboratory, the family-friendly event is set for 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, at the 45-acre waterfront Founders Park … Read more

Table coral (Acropora cytherea) is common throughout the tropical Pacific, but in Hawaii its distribution is limited to French Frigate Shoals and neighboring atolls northwest of the main islands. Credit: Greg McFall/NOAA Coral reefs are large underwater structures composed of the skeletons of colonial marine invertebrates called coral. The coral species that build reefs are … Read more

David Wolkowsky in Key West in 2012. He died Sunday evening, at the age of 99. MIAMI HERALD In the early 1960s David Wolkowsky saw rundown old buildings in his hometown and envisioned a refuge and mecca for writers, artists and other visitors. That vision put Key West on the map as a tourism and … Read more

A History of the Pioneers: The Florida Keys Volume 1 Today, on the Keys between Key West and the mainland, some 40,000 residents and thousands of visitors fish, swim, sail, and dive in the crystal clear waters off a tropical reef; relax in the sun and cooling trade wind breezes, and sleep in the air-conditioned comfort … Read more

Be honest: do you ever give your lifejacket some TLC or do you always assume that it will be there for you, like a doting dog? There are times when maximum buoyancy is a life and death matter, such as when a hydraulic is making like a washing machine and treating you like a dirty, … Read more

The 12-mile distance around the island of Key West is to become a saltwater racecourse for competitors on paddleboards and self-propelled watercraft during the 2018 Key West Paddle Classic. The race is scheduled Saturday, April 28, with accompanying events for participants Thursday through Sunday, April 26-29. Presented by Lazy Dog, the challenge is open to … Read more

Thousands of workers in Florida rely on tips. If you work in a restaurant and get tips, we’d like to talk with you. Recently, Congress OK’d a new rule that would allow restaurants to share tips with restaurant workers who don’t normally get tips, as long as all the workers get paid the non-tipped minimum … Read more

BY MONROE COUNTY TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL January 15, 2018 Key Largo and Key West were least impacted by Hurricane Irma, which struck the Keys September 10, 2017, as were most hotels and businesses on the bayside, or gulfside, in Islamorada and Marathon. On the Atlantic ocean side of Islamorada and Duck Key near Marathon, some … Read more

Cheeca Lodge & Spa will host its 28th annual Presidential Sailfish Tournament Jan. 26-28 at Whale Harbor’s new banquet facility. This year the Presidential will serve as the third leg of the Florida Keys Gold Cup Sailfish Championship, which features 14 Gold Cup boats and benefits the Islamorada Charter Boat Association. “Our Presidential Sailfish Tournament … Read more

Love ’em or hate ’em, those pesky, invasive iguanas are everywhere — and the population is growing exponentially. The Miami Herald reported the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission this month hired a trapper for the first time to focus on managing the population on public land in the Keys. The FWC also started holding workshops on management efforts to show … Read more

A new FEMA Disaster Recovery Center will open Sunday morning in Islamorada at Fire Station 20, the Upper Matecumbe station across from the Hurricane Monument, at 81850 Overseas Highway, Survivors of Hurricane Irma can go there to register for FEMA individual assistance, check the status of their registration if they’ve already signed up and meet with Small … Read more

If your primary residence was damaged during Hurricane Irma and you have a Homestead Exemption, complete the form below. It allows you to keep your Homestead Exemption while you are rebuilding your house, whether you are able to live in it or not. Completing the form also allows appraisers to come to your property and … Read more

From MCSO – Florida Keys Update Florida Keys Curfew Update