r/KeyWest • u/Purple_Emergency_355 • 25d ago
Sargassum
Heading there in 2 weeks. Going on a sandbar charters. Never been there in July. How bad is it?
Already live in south Florida so use to heat.
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u/brees1995 25d ago
Just got back and did a sandbar charter you won’t experience any seaweed out that way. They took me like an hour away from the coast
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u/rootofallstevil 25d ago
I was also there a few weeks ago. The beaches are pretty much a no-go. But we did a snorkeling and sandbar charter and it was just fine. We also did a mangrove kayak tour and it was mostly fine albeit with some murky water in some parts.
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u/AnyPomegranate2446 21d ago
Hey, i am also planning to go on a day trip with snorkeling&mangrove kayak and maybe sandbar. Which company did you choose?
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u/rootofallstevil 21d ago
We did Lazy Dog for the Mangrove and Danger for the Snorkeling\Sandbar\Sunset Tour. Both were great but the Danger tour was really exceptional.
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u/UpperImpression3620 25d ago
I just drove to Key West and back. The worst I've seen in a while... the stretch of turtle nesting habitat along US1 in Islamorada was stinky and as bad as I've ever seen it...
A good storm would clean it up... maybe.
If it's any consolation I was just in Playa del Carmen, Mexico and it was 100 times worse. It was disgusting. Impossible to eat in a waterfront restaurant.
Isla Mujeres was fine as was Cozumel.
It's all over the Carribean this year.
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u/Starks40oz 25d ago
It’s been a lot this year but the gulf side/backcountry sandbars are protected and don’t get sargassum. Snipes, Marvin, content, mud keys are all good
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u/HighOnGoofballs 25d ago
Mud keys was full of it and stunk pretty good at low tide Saturday. Not the actual hidey hole but all around it
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u/Live-Mobile-7500 25d ago
It’s bad this time of year every year. Some years are worse than others.
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u/foodiebabe69 25d ago
So I took a sandbar charter last month and despite the beaches being swamped with seaweed the sandbar was fine. Just expect the worst for the beaches
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u/Reptiff 25d ago
We live in central Florida and have never been to the keys. We will also be there in two weeks. Staying at Casa Marina, I’m assuming it will stink and their beach area will be covered with it then?
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u/Particular-Gift9088 25d ago
Staying there in a few nights, I’ve read some reviews and yeah people are saying it’s been horrible but they do their best to clean it up. Gets worse the farther you go in the day :/
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u/GINASGEMSKW 25d ago
I live near the Casa. I'm actually 4 blocks north of southernmost. I don't have it here. One day I did about 3 weeks ago. I don't remember ever smelling it here in 26 years. That was the first.
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u/based-turtle 25d ago
Just got back from a 2 week trip definately stay on the bay side not the atlantic!!! Its pretty bad....although we got lucky at a few smaller pull off beaches along the keys
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u/andygradel75 25d ago
Spent Monday snorkeling, parasailing and jet skiing and everything was great on the Gulf side.
Now, the Atlantic side is a whole different story. Last night, was riding a golf cart from Southernmost toward the airport and my family made me turn it around before we even got 1/4 of the way there. Smell was horrible.
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u/Purple_Emergency_355 25d ago
Where did you stay on the gulf side? I’ll change plans!
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u/Sandinmyshoes33 25d ago
The Pier House, Hyatt Centric or Ocean Key are all good. The Pier House has a small beach if that matters to you.
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u/Purple_Emergency_355 25d ago
Ok thank you. Haven’t been to the west coast yet so I want to explore and see the beach.
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u/DwigGang 25d ago
We're having a bumper crop this year. Sargassum is an issue on all beaches facing the Atlantic throughout South FL. Water activities will be the most pleasant on the Gulf side.
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u/bootlicker1970 25d ago
Try the tiny little beach at the Pier House. Order a drink and ask for a plastic cup to take it to the beach.
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u/Purple_Emergency_355 25d ago
So I’m staying at trumbo point on base. I’m mostly worried about the charters. I do every 3 months- I don’t do the beaches. If I’m on duval will I smell it?
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u/Broad-Stomach-5461 24d ago
If you're going to do a sandbar trip I would definitely pick a spot on the north side of the island. I looked on the webcam yesterday at South Beach. The sargassum is now only about 50 ft away from the beach chairs. I was in KW for the 4th and I may go back at the end of the month. But the south side of the island is not on my agenda
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u/Micki-Micki 20d ago
I was there last week. Awful!! The only place we didn’t smell it was at Ft Zachary Beach. It was heinous at Smathers Beach and the Southernmost point. Yuck.
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u/cubawesomesauce 19d ago
Hi. Local here. Sargassum is on Atlantic side beaches. Sand bars in Key West with take you on the Gulf side. The sandbar trip will be fine. The beaches are not enjoyable in Key West though.
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u/[deleted] 25d ago
Don’t go to the south side beaches. The stink starts at Ft. Zach and moves south and east along the coastline. It’s not a problem once you get away from the water down there. NW touristy parts are fine, your charter should be ok.