Archived October 3, 2017 update: Recovery observations, lodging availability, navigation hazards, and charter operations below describe the weeks following Hurricane Irma. They are not current travel or boating guidance.
Every day brings another step forward in the Keys. The work is enormous, but so is the effort going into it. First responders, the National Guard, the Red Cross, contractors, church groups, volunteers, and neighbors have all been helping these islands get back on their feet.
I have lived here most of my life, and I have never seen anything like this. The destruction is difficult to describe, and so is the determination of the people cleaning up and rebuilding. Some scars will remain for years, but I believe Marathon has a strong future ahead.
Recovery Is Progressing, One Day at a Time
Recent rain is bringing some green back to the landscape. At the end of the day, conversations around town now include people who came here specifically to help: responders, volunteers, and crews working through the damage.
For residents, September meant watching, preparing, evacuating, regrouping, and beginning the cleanup. The exhaustion is real. We are grateful for the help, even as we work through everything still ahead.
During this recovery period, visitors interested in volunteering could make a meaningful contribution by coordinating with an established local relief effort. Practical help and consideration for the people living through this have tremendous value.
The Keys spirit is still here. Sunsets, everyday routines, and fishing trips mean a little more when you have been waiting to enjoy them again.
Planning a Visit During the Recovery
Tourism supports much of our local economy, and businesses able to reopen are looking forward to welcoming guests. A visit during this period takes more planning than usual.
Many hotels and vacation rentals are under repair, so your familiar place may not be available. At the time of this report, lodging could still be found, but it required checking alternatives and confirming arrangements directly.
If your usual accommodation is closed, ask me before giving up on your plans. I may be able to help you identify other options to investigate. Please also leave room for changes as businesses work through reopening.
Our First Fishing Charter After Irma
I have just run my first fishing charter since the storm. With very little recent fishing information to work from, it was a chance to find out what our local waters were offering.
A tropical system affecting the first week of October limited our choices, but the bayside gave us workable conditions for snapper fishing. We caught ten species and reached the group’s limit of quality mangrove snapper within a few hours.
It was a solid trip in less-than-ideal conditions, and the result was better than I expected. Getting back out with guests was a welcome milestone.
Changed Waterways Require Extra Care
The water has been clearing, and the dense mats of vegetation that initially restricted access have mostly broken up or dispersed. That is progress, but navigation remains a serious consideration.
Channels and familiar routes have changed, debris remains, and submerged vessels create hazards. Boot Key Harbor was among the areas affected, including routes boaters would normally expect to use.
In these immediate post-storm conditions, I would not recommend arriving with your own boat and assuming familiar charts or memories were enough. Even local experience does not remove every hazard. Knowing recent conditions and choosing routes carefully matters more than ever.
Fishing Is Back; In-Water Trips Need More Time
Florida Keys Reel Adventures is open for business as of this update, with fishing trips available where weather and access allow. I am hopeful that conditions will improve further after the early-October tropical system passes.
Snorkeling and other in-water outings need more consistent visibility before I can confidently plan them. I have heard reports of clearer water in the Upper and Lower Keys, but our own sites need to be assessed on their conditions.
If you are considering a trip while plans and conditions are changing, contact me before reserving. I’ll share what I am seeing locally and help you understand which outings are practical for your group.
