Dry Tortugas

[theGOLD]

What is the deal with the Dry Tortugas? Is it all encompassed in a National Park (meaning no fishing or hunting- for animals or treasure?) Are you allowed to t hunt there?
Are there any known old wrecks around the group of islands? I would think that area would be absolutely littered with old wrecks being right smack in the middle of the Spanish routes around the tip of Fl and between Fl and Bahamas up to Bermuda, then to the Azores, and then home. Am I correct on that path as being one that was followed?

-GOLD

 

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[old man]

the Gold,
You are right about the wrecks being there. There are even some there from the fleet the Atocha was in, in 1622. No Treasure hunting is allowed as far as I know.

 

[theGOLD]

I wonder if anyone has any zoning maps that would indicate where you can and cannot hunt there. I would imagine the whole thing is probably zoned off, but does anyone know for sure? Anybody have any good stories on findings in the Tortugas?
Same goes for the Marquesas for this topic by the way. Does anyone know the rules on looking in these areas? Towable metal detectors or magging allowed even?

-GOLD

 

[Sapper23]

the gold,


You can camp out on the Island, but you have to go threw NPS, That whole area this there's: they have 4 Ranger's
live out there, with a few volunteer's if you want to spearfish, at one time", you had to stay away 1 Mile from the Fort :
check again with NPS, on fishing and spearfishing!! It's great out there!!

Good luck

 

[wwwtimmcp]

the marine charts for that area show the marine sanctuary portion. I have that chart somewhere 11438 and waterproof chart 34 plus I have a chart cartridge for my garmin gps that has all the keys,dry tortugas and lower florida. neat area but very remote.

 

[theGOLD]

Thats interesting that you can camp there. So throught the NPS do you need to buy a permit or something to camp there? Are you allowed to Thunt there then? Or how would that work? Especially with non-evasive techniques like towable metal detectors or magging?

-GOLD

 

[Fla-Gal]

Some years ago I WAS scheduled to dived the Tortugas on a live aboard.....wierd that it was scheduled in OCT. Yall guessed it,a huge storm raged thru the keys,so we enjoyed the Key West scene instead. Determined to see the fort (on my bucket list),I rescheduled on another live aboard in early March....but, with a birding group. Fun folks from all over the US,but while they had binocs glued to their eyes I snorkeled, and traveled to the out islands with a group of Univ NC guys who were completing their Masters degrees in Turtle Nesting research. There are lots of underwater relics around the fort and elsewhere.....yet they must be left. While there I met a lot of people who moor(mostly sail boaters) at the island and volunteer to do cleanup and park maintenance. Sounds like the life to me.....anyway,if you go on your own boat or camp you MUST have lots of water as there is-or was at that time-no fresh water available. Do your research, I would go back tomorrow,but only if I could dive AND explore.....Feb and March would be a perfect time to go....it was too beautiful to describe----and tons of fun,TOO.

 

[Sapper23]

The Gold,


you check in with the national park office there in the Keywest. It's camping and fishing
ONLY!!, you bring in owen water and food. NPS will give you a list what you can and can't NOT DO and BRING to the
Fort. It's been many, many moon's since I was there. So, check with NPS!!!

good luck.