Islamorada

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Islamorada Attractions, Fishing, Watersports & More

Tarpon feeding in Islamorada

Islamorada, the "Fishing Capital of the World" is chock full of places to see and things to do for the first-time and repeat visitor.

Big game fishing is king in the Islamorada area; the many celebrities of the past and present who have been drawn here would attest to that fact. The Gulf Stream comes in close and that is where you find the fish. Islamorada boasts the largest concentration of fishing boats in the Florida Keys. If the price tag for a private charter is beyond your means, you can always reserve a place on a party boat. Bridge fishing is very popular too, but you do need your own equipment and a license. Many restaurants in the area will cook your catch.

Many interesting dive sites grace the waters around Islamorada. Alligator Reef Light, Davis Reef (with its statue of Buddha), Horseshoe Reef (with its statue of Jesus) and Pickles Reef are only a few. The San Pedro Underwater Archeological Preserve and the Eagle site are great for wreck diving. Snorkelers can have great fun at Cheeca Rocks, located 600 yards out from Cheeca Lodge, and Hens and Chickens Reef, with its huge coral heads and caves.

Dolphin Encounter at Theater of the Sea

If you want to get closer to the Keys marvelous marine life, you can feed the tarpons at Robbie's Marina; some of them are as long as 6 feet. You can also swim with the dolphins at Theatre of the Sea, a marine park that is home to dolphins, sea lions, sharks, stingrays and sea turtles. You can also spend time with injured specimens like a blind crocodile and some sea turtles missing fins caused by entanglement with monofilament fishing line.

Robbie's Marina

What the locals call "Islamorada Beach" is actually a wide sandbar jutting out into the ocean close to Holiday Isle. There's only one way to get there - by boat. Another local beach attraction is Anne's Beach and is located on Lower Matecumbe Key and features a great boardwalk.

A history buff will find some interesting places to visit. At the Windley Key Fossil Reef State Geological Site you can explore the geological wonder of long walls of fossilized coral reef. A short trip offshore to Indian Key and Lignumvitae Key State Botanical Site can be an interesting side trip into the historical past of this area. The beautiful and exotic foliage found on Lignumvitae Key will be an added thrill for the nature lover.

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