In the marathon area, you will find these at coffins patch. White sandy beaches at the private cabana club just steps from tads place. Florida keys snorkeling best snorkeling in the keys sombrero reef. Jul 18, 2016 overall, coffins patch is the 20th most popular snorkel dive spot of all 40 snorkeling dives in the florida keys. Coffins patch is a great reef close to the marinas and no more then 30 feet deep, you can see small nurse sharks, barracuda, rays even eels read more date of experience. A lively reef, some coral and plenty of fish around courtesy of the boat crew feeding them. History lovers will be pleased with the shrine for those who built the overseas railroad. The reefs all have names but the donut and the stake are the most popular.
How to fish patch reefs in the florida keys red rum. Key west is just a 40minute drive west of captain tads. Those make the spa also idle speed and no anchor zones in addition to no. Got to cruise with a turtle and he could have cared less, it was awesome. Most of the patch reefs are 5 to 15 feet deep and 100 feet or less in size, and most are accessable with a small boat. Wonderful local restaurants like the keys fishery and annettes seafood. Once you feel a bite,set the hook and most of all,hold oneven the small fish in the keys have good power and at times the bigger fish will move inshore to the patches. So grab your favorite fly fishing rod and reel, and head out to coffins patch. The shallow patch reefs of the coffins patch sanctuary preservation area spa, located approximately four nautical miles away from hawks cay, offer some of the best snorkeling in the middle keys. Overall, coffins patch is the 20th most popular snorkel dive spot of all 40 snorkeling dives in the florida keys.
Fishing times for coffins patch near marathon, florida. An old spanish shipwreck is still luring visitors to its underwater grave. The shallow patch reefs of the coffins patch sanctuary preservation area spa, located approximately four nautical miles off key colony beach, offer some of. This is a part of the florida keys nature preserve. Seen are angel fish, butterfly fish, tangs and other tropical fish. The middle keys gps numbers include florida bay on the bay side and the atlantic ocean out to the. Marathon airport has several flights a week to fort jefferson and the dry tortugas. The 10 best snorkeling spots in the florida keys coastal living. Coffins patch key colony beach updated may 2020 top tips. Oct 07, 2019 alternatives 2, 3 and 4 are identical and would make it into a sanctuary preservation area that is idle speed with no anchoring and no fishing.
Coffins patch is a great reef close to the marinas and no more then 30 feet deep, you can see small nurse sharks, barracuda, rays even eels. Or perhaps you want to take a snorkel or dive trip on one of the many charters to coffins patch or sombrero lighthouse marine sanctuaries where you will feel like you are on an caribbean island. Boating and angling guide to the middle keys, side b key colony beach to lower matecumbe, including marathon, key colony beach, duck key, and long key. Florida keys national wildlife refuges 3058722239 florida keys national marine sanctuary key largo office 3058527717 key west office 3058094700 city of marathon 3057430033 monroe county 3052892805 what to know before you go. Remember to adjust these times based on barometric pressure, and weather changes. It actually gets its name from those rocks because it looks like one. Grassy key has a quick and easy access to fishing on the atlantic and the bay side the bridge for bay side access is 12 mile away.
The great florida reef is the only living coral barrier reef in the continental united states. It is available to anyone that wants to use it and it is always a good idea when you are in an environmentally sensitive area. Coffins patch is a shallow coral reef patch reef located within the florida keys national marine sanctuary. Bringing a few of my semi experienced fishing buddies, along with all our wivesgirlfriends. The florida keys indeed are a haven for marine life and abundant corals. The reef is dotted with several types of coral, including pillar coral and brain coral. Key colony beach, florida 8 contributions 1 helpful vote. Fishing the patch reefs and inshore rock piles in the lower florida keys can be a lot of fun in the winter and can yield some tasty fish. The shallow patch reefs of the coffins patch sanctuary preservation area spa, located approximately four nautical miles off key colony beach, offer some of the best snorkeling in the middle keys.
Fishing patch reefs are a good way to start out fishing in the keys,and learn the techniques of florida keys fishing. Little, if any, displacement of users will occur since other patch reefs in the area will remain open for use. It could have been named ignacio instead a spanish galleon by that name hit this reef and sunk in 1733. Boating and angling guide to the middle keys, side a pdf, 10. East washerwoman shoal and other patch reefs in hawk. Aug 14, 2018 hop on a boat to coffins patch, four nautical miles off key colony beach, for some of the best snorkeling in the middle keys. It is the third largest coral barrier reef system in the world after the great barrier reef and belize barrier reef. Few midchannel patch reefs are found where influx of florida bay water to hawk channel is greatest, i. Find fishing tackle, live bait, fishing guides, fishing charters, campgrounds, and hotels near coffins patch. Anchoring in the florida keys quality boat rentals. Not as dramatic as sombrero but a great little dive. If you didnt bring your boat there are plenty of boats and captains for hire to take you fishing for sharks, tarpon, bonefish, dolphin, tuna or. Boating and angling guide to the middle keys, side b pdf, 12. May 9, 2020 at a depth range of 15 30 feet, this dive site consists of a series of small patch reefs, and is where the spanish galleon ignacio sunk in the 18th century.
Randolph 188 feet location south of coffins patch, 1 mile ssw of marker 20. Not too many sightings of fish coffins patch, key colony. Coffins patch and sombrero reef are a notouchnotake national marine sanctuary protected area. Spearfishing is defined as the taking of any saltwater fish through the instrumentality of a spear, gig, or. Tangs, jacks, stingrays, nurse sharks, grouper, lobster, butterflyfish, and the curious moray all call coffins patch home, plying the easy currents among soft corals, up to threefoot round boulder coral, and some of the prettiest patches of pillar coral in the area. The florida keys interactive destination guide scuba diving. Hop on a boat to coffins patch, four nautical miles off key colony beach, for some of the best snorkeling in the middle keys. Some nice mangsyellowtail for dinner and stuff to keep the ladies busy catching. Snorkel or dive sombrero reef, coffins patch or the shipwreck thunderbolt. Informations on the diving spot of coffins patch marathon key. Coffins patch duck key, florida geographical place. The donut is a rounded mound of rocks that sit deep in the water. It is a beautiful section of reef to which dive trips and snorkeling trips go.
Let the bait flow naturaly with the chum line in the current. Middle keys reefs and shipwrecks florida go fishing. About best fishing times for coffins patch near marathon for you next fishing outing to coffins patch refer to our fishing times chart to determine when the fish are expected to be most active based on solunar tables and our detailed fishing calendar. East washerwoman shoal and other patch reefs in hawk channel. Coffins patch is a great reef close to the marinas and no more then 30 feet deep, you can see small nurse sharks, barracuda, rays. Sanctuary preservation areas florida keys national.
Top snorkeling spots in the florida keys florida yacht. Once you get to your spot place a bag of chum in the chum bag,and let it draw fish to the boat. Coffins patch, top florida keys snorkeling, novice dive site. Whether youre chumming, fly fishing or trolling your chances of getting a bite here are good. The coffins patch area located approximately four nautical miles from hawks cay, offers some of the best snorkeling in the florida keys. A paradise for the snorkelers who want to savor the beauty of the reefs and the heat of the coast. Boating and angling guide to the middle keys, side a little duck key to grassy key, including marathon,key colony beach, sombrero reef, and coffins patch. This reef lies within a sanctuary preservation area spa. Fishing the many different patch reefs that average 20 feet or so in depth is fantastic. Fishing coffins patch, fl on 572020 will be best from 12. The florida reef also known as the great florida reef, florida reefs, florida reef tract and florida keys reef tract is the only living coral barrier reef in the continental united states. Coffins patch key colony beach 2020 all you need to.
Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to. Coffins patch off key colony beach florida is shallow with lots of marine life making it. At hookandbullet, we make it easy for you to find the fishing related businesses in the area. Visit coffins patch on your trip to key colony beach or united states. It lies a few miles seaward of the florida keys, is about 4 miles 6 to 7 km wide. No coffins at coffins patch but it has great florida keys snorkeling when it comes to florida keys snorkeling and novice diving, coffins patch, a reef at marathon, is an amazing florida keys dive site. This is a great way for the whole family to enjoy a great day on the atlantic waters just off of marathon key, florida. Coffins patch key colony beach updated may 2020 top. In addition to the wellknown coffins patch and sombrero reef snorkeling spots, there are many other healthy and beautiful shallow water patch reefs close to marathon and duck key, fl. The 10 best snorkeling spots in the florida keys coastal. Coffins patch is a shallow coral reef patch reef located within the florida keys national. Florida keys information on local attractions for captain.
You can fish by boat on the flats a couple of hundred yards from our dock for bonefish, tarpon and small sharks. Grassy key is an island in the middle florida keys, between crawl key and duck key. Spas encompass discrete, biologically important areas that help sustain critical marine species and habitats. Coffins patch key colony beach 2020 all you need to know. Many species of fish and other sea life are abundant on the patch reefs. In this article, we will go over what we think are the best snorkeling spots in the florida keys. Sanctuary preservation areas florida keys national marine. Coffins patch this reef got its somewhat spooky name when a ship, loaded with new, empty coffins, struck it many years ago. We offer sombrero reef snorkeling trips as well as trips to coffins patch and other shallow patch reefs. Coffins patch duck key, florida geographical place facebook.
If you havent dived these reefs in a few years youll be amazed at not only the sheer quantity of fish, but also how friendly theyve become now that they are no. Protected from fishing its one the best places we have ever snorked. Key was the site of a luxurious fishing resort that. Several of the better snorkeling spots are nearby coffins patch including sombrero beach, sombrero reef, bahia honda state park, newfound harbor reefs, delta shoals and samanthas reef. Consult your license agent for purchasing and exemptions to licensing requirements or visit. Patch reef fishing 2 miles offshore from marathon key, fl. Some tropical fish collecting occurs within and around the reef. Trailer parking, newly remodeled, private pool, private bedroomen suite bath, great outdoor group seating.
Boulder coral, pillar coral, lobsters, eels, and jacks are some of the species divers can find along the group of six patch reefs that make up coffins patch, 3. Bait shops, tackle shops, and fishing charters near coffins. Arrange to visit coffins patch and other attractions in key colony beach using our key colony beach trip planning website. Its home to myriad tropical fish, coral, and marine animals, and its where the spanish ship ignacio sunk in the 18th century. Snorkel trips to the florida keys coral reef, marathon fl. The overall area is composed of 6 different reefs, each sporting a predominantly different coral. The sanctuary preservation area spa is approximately 4nm 7km southeast of key colony beach. Often times, when we get cold fronts here it will blow very hard from the north for days at a time. Visit sombrero public beach for a cookout with friends. Spas have mooring buoys for boaters to use in order to prevent anchor damage to corals. Coffins patch key colony beach all you need to know.
When it comes to florida keys snorkeling and novice diving, coffins patch, a reef at. The stake is roughly 400 feet by 75 feet oval shaped patch reef is the best known and most frequented of the coffins patch. Although coffins patch is fairly close to shore, it has the characteristics of an offshore patch reef system. Our efficiencies are located ideally for fishing in the florida keys.
When it comes to florida keys snorkeling and novice diving, coffins patch, a reef at marathon, is an amazing florida keys dive site. Many divers use the state of the art mooring buoy system in the florida keys national marine sanctuary. Also, in the marathon snorkeling areas, we can go to coffins patch. Thunderbolt wreck formerly the usamp major general wallace f. The sanctuary preservation areas throughout the florida keys offer some of the best marine life in this hemisphere, and off marathon both coffins patch and sombrero reef are spas. Both the fish and coral grow larger here because the reef is in a protected area. Dive with keys huka dive, jerry williams, marathon key, florida, usa. The reef includes rare pillar coral and other coral species unique to the keys. Sanctuary preservation areas spas within florida keys national marine sanctuary protect shallow reefs along the reef tract. Fishing the patch reefs and inshore rock piles in the lower florida keys. Jun 10, 2015 snorkeling the florida keys patch reefs. Jan 07, 2020 coffins patch is a marine sanctuary and the fish know it.
We developed and refined a complex algorithm that tells you when the fish are expected to most. Sometimes we need some expert advice, or we get caught out on the water later than expected. Top snorkeling spots in the florida keys kraken aquatics. Join the crew as we hit up a bunch of high bottom spots from 30 ft. With depths of 10 to 40 feet, this area is frequented by advanced and novice divers alike. Patch reefs are small coral reef formations inside of the main barrier reef. Visit coffins patch on your trip to key colony beach or. Just looking for some atlantic patch reef fishing tips that would be easy to have the ladies enjoy. However, the imprint of nearshore bay water on offshore reefs only became relevant during the most recent 4 to 2 ka, after a rising sea level had flooded the bayfloor. Coffins patch is made up of about 6 different reefs, all unique, and all different.