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. 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. Large, yellow buoys mark the boundary. Fishing. The region is most famous for its huge schools of snapper which also go into deeper waters on the ledges. NPS Response: Commercial fishing within Dry Tortugas National Park has been prohibited since the original Fort Jefferson National Monument was created in 1935. No special fishing license from the National Park Service is needed. The seaplane beach east of the main dock, when the seaplane is not present. 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. Today you will still find the Dry Tortugas filled with abundant marine life, making Dry Tortugas National Park an excellent fishing destination. 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. If fishing is your thing, the Dry Tortugas is an excellent choice for an all day charter or a weekend adventure. 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. Things you need to know before fishing in Dry Tortugas National Park. Seasonal and off season rates available for parties up to 6 anglers. 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. For a complete list of current rules of regulations please see the. When people visit the Dry Tortugas National Park, they often wonder about fishing rules. 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. The live aboard accommodations will keep you close to all the best fishing areas for non stop, around the clock fishing action. 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. Fishing from Garden Key is allowed in certain areas: © 2020 Copyright Steven L. Markos. Bottom Fishing In The Dry Tortugas. Since fuel prices are always changing, your fuel cost may be more or less than $550. See the Boating web page for details. Sunday or 9 pm. Within the RNA (shown in cross-hatch on the map above), fishing and anchoring are prohibited entirely, per NPS Special Regulations. It is made up of 7 islands composed of coral reef and sand. Avoid casting near sea turtles, and use circle hooks to avoid catching one. 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. 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. This will be determined according to what is actually used during your charter. Call 305-453-6070 to reserve your Dry Tortugas fishing charter! The Dry Tortugas islands and surrounding waters are a National Park. Bait fish may be taken by cast net only; limit is five gallons per vessel. Fishing on Garden Key is permitted from the following locations: All other areas of Garden Key are closed to fishing. This is a fishing expedition. We caught over 800 pounds of … How To Fish in the Dry Tortugas Getting out there. 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. No special fishing license from the National Park Service is needed. Rob Delph showed us. 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. Dry Tortugas National Park is in Monroe County, Florida State waters. “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. All boats entering the park for recreation purposes must pay the entrance fee and obtain a boating permit at Garden Key. 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. You will need a map to figure out where this area is, plus the longitude and latitude of the boundaries. The Dry Tortugas is a National Park about 70 miles west of Key West. Fishing in the dry tortugas with 2 Fish Charters, a trip I do every two year with some friends. 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. You can also head to Sugarloaf Key Island or Cudjoe Key for some excellent flats fishing. Spear guns must be broken down prior to entering the park. A Florida Saltwater fishing license is required for those older than 16 and younger than 65. Fishing - Park & state regulations, fishing spots and type of fish caught. Private boaters are required to file a boat permit at Garden Key before fishing within the park. This is the 2 mile diameter area around Garden Key. Your options are endless! You can also move out into the deeper reef areas and catch larger snapper and grouper, … INTRODUCTION. From Dry Tortugas, you can fish the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico. The Dry Tortugas are a group of seven small islands 67 miles west of Key West. This trip we killed the mutton snapper filling the boat with 60 muttons and some really nice black groupers. However, a 1-mile radius around Garden Key is excluded from the RNA. Most of the RNA is west of Hospital Key, and at first glance it appears to include Garden Key, where everyone is visiting. Dry Tortugas The Dry Tortugas is the last, great vestige of sportfishing in the northern hemisphere. In the RNA, there is one area exempt from the no fishing rule. Restrictions. 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. When it comes to fishing in dry Tortugas, this one’s a piece of cake! Special regulations apply here. No fishing is allowed within the Research Natural Area (RNA). We enjoyed pretty much nonstop action from snapper and grouper all day. 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. Fishing is forbidden within the Research National Area, which encompasses all the keys. However, you can fish from a boat within one nautical mile from the Historic Use Area (marked by yellow buoys). It spans one hundred square miles and includes both open water and seven small islands. The Dry Tortugas is the last, great vestige of sportfishing in the northern hemisphere. The waters around the Dry Tortugas have been known as a haven for snapper and grouper for decades. People travel from far and wide to experience the untouched fishery. 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. Being islands, the Dry Tortugas have plenty of inshore fishing locations. About the Dry Tortugas. Green, loggerhead, Kemp's Ridley, hawksbill and leatherback turtles still travel these waters, protected now from capture. Dry Tortugas National Park is almost exclusively in. Fishing is allowed in certain areas of Dry Tortugas National Park, though no lobstering is allowed, nor is spearfishing. Fishing is also permitted outside the Research Natural Area. Fishing the Dry Tortugas is an adventure all on its own. 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 … In almost all cases it is illegal to possess more than one bag limit of any fish species. 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". The Park itself is seven islands and about 100 square miles of open beautiful blue water. When we fish the Tortugas we mix a variety of fishing into the trip. Fishing from a boat is permitted within the one mile Historic Use Area of Garden Key. Rates for multi-day and overnight fishing charters with Andy Griffiths. Tackle Pkg. 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. Dry Tortugas National Park is in Monroe County, Florida State waters. Some of the finest bottom fishing in the world. Dry Tortugas and Marquesas Keys are small, remote islands located 25-70 miles West of Key West, Florida. DRY TORTUGAS FISHING CHARTERS. 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. Camping. What makes this place so magical is that it can only be reached by boat or seaplane. 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, … 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. In the infographic below, we’ve outlined all relevant parts of Garden Key. Large yellow buoys mark the Historic Use Area. Main dock, when the Yankee Freedom is not present. See the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Florida Saltwater Fishing Regulations web page for details. Thursday. 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. HOW TO CHARTER A BOAT FROM KEY WEST, FLORIDA, TO THE DRY TORTUGAS IN LESS THAN 3 MINUTES. Choose from a 3-day/2-night trip or a 2-day/1-night trip. 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. A Florida Saltwater fishing license is required for those older than 16 and younger than 65. 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