HOW TO CHARTER A BOAT FROM KEY WEST, FLORIDA, TO THE DRY TORTUGAS IN LESS THAN 3 MINUTES. Restrictions. People travel from far and wide to experience the untouched fishery. Choose from a 3-day/2-night trip or a 2-day/1-night trip. In almost all cases it is illegal to possess more than one bag limit of any fish species. No fishing is allowed within the Research Natural Area (RNA). Additionally, in an effort to protect the coral reef and spawning aggregations located in the Dry Tortugas region, two Tortugas Ecological Reserves were created in 2001 through the FKNMS process. Since fuel prices are always changing, your fuel cost may be more or less than $550. The Dry Tortugas islands and surrounding waters are a National Park. Fishing in the dry tortugas with 2 Fish Charters, a trip I do every two year with some friends. About the Dry Tortugas. All boats entering the park for recreation purposes must pay the entrance fee and obtain a boating permit at Garden Key. Bait fish may be taken by cast net only; limit is five gallons per vessel. Encompassed within a 100-acre national park, the islands are best known for Fort Jefferson, a 19th century brick fort on a tiny island in the middle of the ocean. Rob Delph showed us. See the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Florida Saltwater Fishing Regulations web page for details. When we fish the Tortugas we mix a variety of fishing into the trip. The Tortugas are considered part of Monroe County, Florida and is subject to FWC regulations for the Gulf, however fishing on the Atlantic side is governed by Federal regulations. Dry Tortugas National Park is in Monroe County, Florida State waters. It spans one hundred square miles and includes both open water and seven small islands. Main dock, when the Yankee Freedom is not present. The New No-Fishing Zone The Dry Tortugas Research and Natural Area, implemented by the State of Florida and the National Park Service on January 19, … When it comes to fishing in dry Tortugas, this one’s a piece of cake! Fishing is also permitted outside the Research Natural Area. The Dry Tortugas are within Monroe County (The Keys) of Florida and follow state regulations for the Atlantic regarding seasons, size limits, bag limits and gear requirements for grouper; be sure to check Florida Fish & Wildlife website for up-to-date regulations, as they may change from year to year, season to season. Things you need to know before fishing in Dry Tortugas National Park. Experience fishing the Dry Tortugas and Marquesas Keys. Being islands, the Dry Tortugas have plenty of inshore fishing locations. However, you can fish from a boat within one nautical mile from the Historic Use Area (marked by yellow buoys). Trip Options: Extra day ----- $1800 - 24 extra hours of fishing, additional day will be Thursday Extra 1/2 day ----- $900 - 16 extra hours of fishing, trip departs 9 pm. Within the RNA (shown in cross-hatch on the map above), fishing and anchoring are prohibited entirely, per NPS Special Regulations. Fishing from a boat is permitted within the one mile Historic Use Area of Garden Key. In the RNA, there is one area exempt from the no fishing rule. How To Fish in the Dry Tortugas Getting out there. In the infographic below, we’ve outlined all relevant parts of Garden Key. The history of the Dry Tortugas is pretty amazing, and so is the fishing. If you have enough time, you should check out the Marathon Humps – an underwater mound teeming with Tuna, Billfish, and other pelagic species. We enjoyed pretty much nonstop action from snapper and grouper all day. For a complete list of current rules of regulations please see the. When Ponce de Leon discovered the islands of the Dry Tortugas he noted the abundant marine life including the sea turtles, and thus named these islands "Las Tortugas". Dry Tortugas National Park is in Monroe County, Florida State waters. A Florida Saltwater fishing license is required for those older than 16 and younger than 65. The water in this area is so clear you can usually see a great distance down in the water. Fishing is forbidden within the Research National Area, which encompasses all the keys. Your options are endless! The Dry Tortugas is a National Park about 70 miles west of Key West. You will need a map to figure out where this area is, plus the longitude and latitude of the boundaries. Today you will still find the Dry Tortugas filled with abundant marine life, making Dry Tortugas National Park an excellent fishing destination. This is a fishing expedition. NPS Response: Commercial fishing within Dry Tortugas National Park has been prohibited since the original Fort Jefferson National Monument was created in 1935. If fishing is your thing, the Dry Tortugas is an excellent choice for an all day charter or a weekend adventure. ----- FREE - for 6 people, includes conventional and spinning rods, terminal tackle Electric Reels ----- FREE - 2 LP S 1200 electric reels, related terminal tackle for deep dropping The Dry Tortugas Research Natural Area (RNA), a 158-km 2 no-fishing, no-anchor marine reserve, was implemented in 2007 in Dry Tortugas National Park (DRTO), Florida to minimize the effects of human activities on marine resources and to enhance the productivity and sustainability of fish populations. Dry Tortugas and Marquesas Keys are small, remote islands located 25-70 miles West of Key West, Florida. Our captains are not licensed to dock at Ft Jefferson, this charter is strictly for fishing outside the perimeter of the Protected Zones of the Dry Tortugas. However, a 1-mile radius around Garden Key is excluded from the RNA. The waters around the Dry Tortugas have been known as a haven for snapper and grouper for decades. Bottom Fishing In The Dry Tortugas. While some of the waters within the Dry Tortugas National Park are closed to fishing, much of the surrounding area is open and, for boats making the long run from Key West, amazingly productive, as Capt. Large, yellow buoys mark the boundary. The seaplane beach east of the main dock, when the seaplane is not present. What makes this place so magical is that it can only be reached by boat or seaplane. The region is most famous for its huge schools of snapper which also go into deeper waters on the ledges. This remote group of islands are surrounded by more than ten thousand square miles of fishing resources that have remained relatively untapped due to the time that it would take to cover this vast and remote area. The Park itself is seven islands and about 100 square miles of open beautiful blue water. Dry Tortugas National Park is almost exclusively in. Fishing the Dry Tortugas is an adventure all on its own. The Dry Tortugas is the last, great vestige of sportfishing in the northern hemisphere. Call 305-453-6070 to reserve your Dry Tortugas fishing charter! From Dry Tortugas, you can fish the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico. Fishing - Park & state regulations, fishing spots and type of fish caught. Merchants and business owners in Key West, where tourists set off from to spend the day in the Dry Tortugas can impress customers by knowing a lot about the area. Commercial fishermen spend many days at a time fishing the area, taking shelter when the occasional storms threaten among the several islands that form the Dry Tortugas National Park, dominated by the circa-1800s Fort Jefferson. You can also head to Sugarloaf Key Island or Cudjoe Key for some excellent flats fishing. “During the day, the shallow coral reefs in 6 to 25 feet of water are covered with yellowtail snapper, mutton snapper, red grouper, scamp, graysby and various wrasses. Most of the RNA is west of Hospital Key, and at first glance it appears to include Garden Key, where everyone is visiting. Camping. Dry Tortugas The Dry Tortugas is the last, great vestige of sportfishing in the northern hemisphere. We caught over 800 pounds of … You can also move out into the deeper reef areas and catch larger snapper and grouper, … Sneaking up on a tailing 15-pound permit in 12 inches of water, presenting a live crab to it, and having the fish scream off a hundred yards of 20-pound braid on the first run will make your heart pump like just about nothing else! Two westernmost finger piers, when they are unoccupied. Our charters accommodate your party of up to 6 people. Fishing on Garden Key is permitted from the following locations: All other areas of Garden Key are closed to fishing. Large yellow buoys mark the Historic Use Area. Seasonal and off season rates available for parties up to 6 anglers. Tackle Pkg. Spear guns must be broken down prior to entering the park. See the Boating web page for details. Things you need to know before fishing in Dry Tortugas National Park. Rates for multi-day and overnight fishing charters with Andy Griffiths. A few weeks ago, I had an opportunity to spend four days and three nights on Garden Key in Dry Tortugas National Park; the experience was one that I will never forget. Between 25 and 75 miles west of our little island of Key West lies the areas known as the Marquesas and the Dry Tortugas National Park. This trip we killed the mutton snapper filling the boat with 60 muttons and some really nice black groupers. Fishing. Avoid casting near sea turtles, and use circle hooks to avoid catching one. It is made up of 7 islands composed of coral reef and sand. Private boaters are required to file a boat permit at Garden Key before fishing within the park. As the Dry Tortugas Reserve illustrates, protecting habitat—along with reducing bycatch and setting science-based fishing quotas—is one of the pillars of restoring our fisheries. Florida Saltwater fishing license is required, unless you are under the age of 16 or a Florida resident senior over the age of 65. The live aboard accommodations will keep you close to all the best fishing areas for non stop, around the clock fishing action. The islands here are surrounded by deep-water reefs and wrecks and are teeming with many different species of grouper, snapper, mackerel, tuna, Wahoo, dolphin, sailfish and more. The Tortugas region owes its very name to the sea turtles once found here in abundance, later decimated by commercial fishing in the late 1800s and early 1900s. When people visit the Dry Tortugas National Park, they often wonder about fishing rules. Either dinghy beach provided that fishing does not occur within 50 feet of the concrete wall of the historic docs and ruins previously used for loading coal. Some of the finest bottom fishing in the world. No special fishing license from the National Park Service is needed. This remote group of islands are surrounded by more than ten thousand square miles of fishing resources that have remained relatively untapped due to the time that it … INTRODUCTION. Dry Tortugas map with Research Natural Area shaded (click to enlarge). No special fishing license from the National Park Service is needed. Fishing is allowed in certain areas of Dry Tortugas National Park, though no lobstering is allowed, nor is spearfishing. DRY TORTUGAS FISHING CHARTERS. Green, loggerhead, Kemp's Ridley, hawksbill and leatherback turtles still travel these waters, protected now from capture. This will be determined according to what is actually used during your charter. Fishing from Garden Key is allowed in certain areas: © 2020 Copyright Steven L. Markos. In other regions such as the Dry Tortugas Research Natural Area (RNA), Florida fishing is prohibited but activities including Florida Keys scuba diving and snorkeling are permitted. Where soldiers once supposedly stocked the moat of Fort Jefferson with sharks, regulators are now helping to ensure that the waters surrounding it remain well-stocked for generations to come. Fishing is allowed in certain areas of Dry Tortugas National Park, though no lobstering is allowed, nor is spearfishing. Our fishing fleet travels to spots around the Marquesas Keys and Dry Tortugas fishing grounds for grouper, snapper, wahoo, mahi mahi and more. Special regulations apply here. All Rights reserved.Designed by www.orange-themes.com, The airplane beach east of the main dock when the airplane is not present, Main dock when the Yankee Freedom is not present, Two westernmost finger piers when they are unoccupied, Either dinghy beach provided that fishing does not occur within 50 feet of the concrete wall of the historic docks and ruins previously used for loading coal. The Dry Tortugas are a group of seven small islands 67 miles west of Key West. 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