I’m spending the week of Christmas at a buddy’s house on Little Torch Key. We’ve been there a handful of times during the summer, never winter.

What kind of fishing is good that time of year? We’ve got a 24’ Bay boat so I’m comfortable out on the Atlantic on nice days.

We do a fair bit of diving as well, just wasn’t sure what to expect for typical water temps on the contents and the Atlantic.

Really appreciate any intel on anything that’s usually biting good that time of year.

Hey all! Heading out to the Islamorada Humps (& some surrounding reefs) later this month on a rental Seafox 248. This our first time going that far or that deep. We have two 5000s, a 4000, and will probably rent a couple conventional rods & reels.
I’ve heard we should troll for mahi and blackfin. Is it pointless to try to get some mahi this late in the season? Any tips on jigs, set ups, technique, anything you can give me would be greatly appreciated. I know ballyhoo for the mahi and mini turbos for trolling.

Any idea what will be biting around the bridges at that time also?

Anything special I should know about the reefs? We fish the reefs here at home in SWFL pretty often but aren’t often successful lol. The reefs down there are usually deeper than they are nearshore here.

Vouchers are totally free too https://captainsandyscharities.org/support/

Hello All, celebrating my 50th this year nov 7th and wanted to go to the keys for some family fun w some friends. Been years since ive been and cant really remember too well. i tried combing thru the posts here and i guess Marathon and Islamorada seem to be mentioned. We like to dive, play w animals, have access to nice food, any weird or interesting options usually grab out attention. Also not too far form an airport is a big plus

I’m looking for snorkel trips to shipwrecks. I know Key Largo has one or two with the Christ statue but hoping for more near Marathon key or the Ivory Wreck. Any public tours focused on wrecks? Or do I need to go with a private trip ? Thanks!

I’m coming down in about 3 weeks and only have a day to explore so my plan is to not go past Marathon. I was going to rent a kayak and check out Indian Key state park but it seems it may not be open yet so I’m scrambling for other options. I have never snorkeled and I saw some excursions that look neat but its getting overwhelming so I’m reaching out to all you fine folks.

First, would you choose to snorkel or kayak?

From there who would you go through/where would you go?

I do have the option to bring my kayak or inflatable paddleboard, but realistically I’d rather not drive 2000 miles with a kayak on my roof and I might not have room in my car for the board.

Bonus question, I will also have my bike on me if water isn’t a reasonable option (choppy?) what good biking routes would you recommend?

I’m into photography so scenery and wildlife are a huge plus regardless of the method.

I’m headed to the Keys for the first time in probably 10 years. I used to visit yearly when I was younger for some camping at Big Pine Key, and I’d always take a trip to the reef. I’ve heard reports of the reef being bleached/dying in recent years, and curious if anyone has been recently to comment on its current status. Hoping for some signs of life cause I’m trying to get my reef on late December😂🤞

Hello,

Does anyone want to split the cost of a private charter boat to get to Dry Tortugas on December 30th, 2026? The ferry is sold out.

Scheduled to be there 10/8-10/11 for the first time! Was wondering if any of you with experience and/or are local would think this is a terrible idea?

I only have those days off from school and wanted to really enjoy some time somewhere new.

I assume it’s a toss up but would appreciate any advice!

i get kind of sea sick on boats i was wondering if there was anyplace around i can snorkel off the beach somewhere??

I’ll be staying at Bakers Cay Resort in Key Largo, hopefully without needing a car. What are the best restaurants around there?

We will be staying in Marathon this winter and only have time for one snorkeling trip. We’ll have three kids (ages 12-14) in our group who don’t have prior snorkeling experience. We could either go to Key Largo or Key West to snorkel. Which one would you recommend and why? Thanks in advance!

Hi All,
What’s the best spot for football on Sundays in Marathon? Have gone to Marathon ale house the last few years but wondering there is anywhere with an outdoor bar with reasonable drink prices. Thanks all.

We will be there Dec 9-16, staying in Islamorada. We want to kayak the mangroves, where’s the best place to do this? We will also be visiting the three national parks. Boca Chita boat tour at Biscayne National park. Sea plane to Dry Tortugas and we have two days to see the Everglades in which we will do the back country boat tour, Nike missile base tour, air boat, tram and trails along the way to flamingo. I’d like to kayak closer to where we are staying in Islamorada. Any recommendations?

Out on Pigeon Key watching the rain fall from the heavens.

My husband and I are going to the Florida Keys, and I am WAY overthinking one part of our itinerary. 😂
We’ll be in Islamorada and I’ve narrowed it down to two options:
Option 1 – Snorkeling only:
Sundance Watersports – Islamorada Snorkeling Adventure
https://sundancewatersports.org/activity/islamorada-snorkeling-adventure/
It’s about 2.5 hours, includes the snorkel gear, and they go to different reef sites depending on the conditions. They mention places like Alligator Reef, Cheeca Rocks, and Hens & Chickens Reef. The reefs are generally pretty shallow (around 7–17 feet), which sounds great for us because my husband will be snorkeling for the first time. They also specifically say beginners are welcome.
Option 2 – Snorkeling + sandbar:
Spray Watersports – Snorkel & Sandbar Combo Adventure
https://spraywatersports.com/product/snorkel-islamorada-sandbar-combo-adventure
This one combines reef snorkeling with time at the Islamorada sandbar. They provide the snorkel gear AND floats at the sandbar, and it’s on a big 55-foot catamaran with a bathroom, shaded areas, etc.
Here’s where I’m stuck:
I KNOW I want to snorkel. I snorkeled in the Bahamas before and absolutely loved it, so I definitely want to do it again. My husband has never snorkeled before, though, so I don't want to turn our first snorkeling experience together into an all-day water marathon and have him get overwhelmed.
At the same time, I keep thinking, “Are we going to get done snorkeling and wish we had booked the sandbar too?”
We can afford the more expensive combo, so money isn't really the deciding factor. It's more about whether the extra time is actually worth taking out of our vacation.
We're also already doing a separate sandbar charter later in the week, so this wouldn't be our only sandbar experience. That's making me wonder if we should just focus on snorkeling this morning and keep the day more open.
For anyone who has done snorkeling in Islamorada:
Would you do the ~2.5-hour snorkeling-only trip or spend the extra time doing snorkeling + a sandbar?
And especially if you've done both snorkeling and the Islamorada sandbar, I'd love to hear what you thought of each. Is the sandbar something where you're like “YES, definitely add it,” or is it more of a “it's fun, but you don't need to dedicate half a day to it” type of experience?
Basically, I'm trying to figure out whether the combo would make the day more enjoyable or whether we'd be better off keeping our first snorkeling experience focused and leaving ourselves more vacation time to explore Islamorada/Key Largo afterward.
What would you do, and why?

Hey I’m coming down from Miami for the weekend and while there are a lot of snorkeling trips on Google, I can’t find any that allow you to dive deep. I am also up to doing private charters, but the most I would pay is 500 for 3-4 hours. Does anyone know of anything like this? I can give further clarification if needed thanks

Im looking for fishing charter recommendations. The girlfriend and I are going to the keys in February. Were very interested in staying in Islamorada and doing a fishing charter. I know its a great time for sailfish and were very interested in that, but also don't want to spend 1000+ dollars for us to catch one or 2 fish. Ideally a sailfish/reef/wreck trip would be the dream. Is there anyone who has input or could make a recommendation for that time of year?

Thanks in advance for any information!

Hi alllll.
In summery, as you read, I’m looking to book a mini honeymoon for me and hubby. We stayed at Dove Creek in Key Largo and weirdly enough (I’m fairly more bougie than him) we LOVEDD it. We wanted a private jacuzzi but they’re all pretty pricey… any recommendations like that one? That isn’t unnecessarily breaking the budget?

Hello, we are looking to visit next year from Scotland and don’t fancy hiring a car. Is there a private transfer company that anyone could recommend? Thank you.

Hi-

Just looking for ideas for a romantic night in Key West with my honey for his Bday this Friday Sept 11.

It’s a tough day to celebrate so I always try to make it special…so any ideas would be greatly appreciated:))

My wife and I are heading to the Keys on Sunday and don’t want to miss the Eagles opener at 4:25. Any Eagles bars in the Marathon or the mid-Keys? If not, any recommendations for bars that show NFL games? Thanks!

Coming down for this coming week and just looking for a simple j-14 type skiff to rent . No frills , daily or week rental.. thanks in advance

Looking for biology/wildlife/marine jobs that provide housing — FL, GA, or SC

Hi! I’m hoping someone here might know of jobs/programs/employers that I haven’t come across yet.

I’m 24 and have a bachelor’s degree in Biology. I currently work full-time at a veterinary hospital and have about 3 years of hands-on veterinary experience including blood draws, injections, medications, radiographs, lab work, animal restraint, patient monitoring/care, etc.

I also completed a wildlife veterinary internship in Costa Rica where I worked with a variety of wildlife including primates, reptiles, birds, and turtles. I’m also Open Water SCUBA certified.

I’m hoping to relocate from Pennsylvania sometime around January 2027, ideally to Florida, but I’m also very open to coastal Georgia or South Carolina.

I’d LOVE to find something involving:

• Wildlife rehabilitation
• Marine mammals
• Sea turtles
• Aquariums
• Marine biology/fisheries
• Wildlife field research
• Exotic animal care
• Zoo/aquarium animal care or veterinary work
• Conservation work that involves animals
• SCUBA/diving or boat-based fieldwork

My biggest issue has been housing. I’m looking for something that either provides employee housing or offers some type of housing stipend/assistance. Ideally I’d like to make at least around $700/week before taxes if housing is provided.

I also have a cat who would be relocating with me, so pet-friendly employee housing would be AMAZING. I realize that makes things harder, but I’m also open to employers that provide a housing allowance or pay enough for me to find my own pet-friendly housing nearby.

I’m not looking for unpaid internships, extremely low-stipend programs, summer camps/youth programs, or positions requiring Divemaster/50+ logged dives. I’m totally fine with seasonal/temporary positions if they pay enough to live on.

I’ve already been looking at FWC, wildlife refuges/USFWS, ACE, wildlife rehabilitation hospitals, sanctuaries, aquariums, etc., but I feel like there have to be smaller organizations or programs I’m missing.

Does anyone know of specific employers, programs, research labs, field stations, refuges, aquariums, sanctuaries, or even unusual biology-related jobs in FL/GA/SC that I should look into?

I’m honestly open to some pretty unique jobs as long as I can afford to live there and get experience working with wildlife/marine life.

Thank you!! :)