South Florida is home to a wondrous variety of marine creatures and plant life. Our guided eco-tours can be customized to explore local bay islands and animal sanctuaries. You can also explore mangrove filled coves and enjoy an up-close encounter with manatees, turtles, dolphins, small sharks and other creatures that live in these eco-systems. Our private tours can include the use of ocean kayaks and snorkel equipment.

A great tour for persons of all ages and ability levels. Biscayne Bay and the Florida Keys are the most popular destination for eco tours and this area enjoys great weather year round as well as protection form strong winds from the east.

Kayaking is especially useful to get up close to the wildlife since it is quiet and unobtrusive.

The Florida Keys are of special note, and are home to a whole different assortment of critters. You can find Crocodiles in the brackish waters of Florida Bay, Alligators in the fresh water pools and canals of the Everglades, and Manatees in the calmer waters off Ley Largo and Islamorada. Most marinas have a “pet” manatee family that comes around looking for fresh water. They love tap water and love to drink it out of the hoses that the boats use to wash down with. We do not encourage this practice in any way, because the Manatees could get tangled up in the hose and the chlorine in the tap-water is probably not good for them.

Sharks of different sizes and species abound in the Florida Keys. The best place to see some big ones is to hang out (on a boat of course) in, or close to one of the many channels that crisscross the Keys and wait for the tide to turn. I’ve seen some REALLY big hammer-heads lazing their way across from the ocean-side to the brackish waters of Florida Bay. Besides Sharks, of course there are some amazing other kinds of fish including sea-trout, and some really huge Tarpon. Fishing the shallow flats is very popular in the Florida Keys, especially fly-fishing that needs some considerable skill. Although almost inedible, Permit and Bonefish are the most popular catch for these conditions.

Kayaking in the southern reaches of Biscayne bay and especially in the glades areas that form a part of the John Pennekamp National Marine Park in Key Largo can provide an up-close and personal view of a variety of birds, especially Herons, Cranes, Egrets, various diving birds like pelicans, cormorants and many others including Ospreys (Sea Eagles).

In July each year, the coastal areas of Florida are wall to wall with lobster hunters trying to get their share of this year’s bounty when the official mini lobster season kicks off. There are two Florida Lobster Seasons, the 2 day mini season and the 8 month regular lobster season.

The mini lobster season is always the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July. This year the mini season fell on July 27th and 28th. In 2017 it will fall on July 26th and 27th. Make sure to always verify dates and regulations with Florida Fish and Wildlife It begins at 12:01 am on Wednesday and ends at 12:00 midnight on Thursday. The regular 8 month lobster season is always August 6 through March 31.

Unfortunately the Florida Barrier Reef is NOT is great shape. This beautiful reef stretches from Fort Lauderdale all the way down to Key West and the Tortugas. Although great progress has been made by the park system and other important private and public entities to encourage re-growth and to protect the existing reef, the changing composition of the waters that flow from the Everglades into Florida Bay and out into the Ocean that surrounds the reef has made the job very difficult.

The problem is that there is an excess of nutrients in the waters that originate from our precious River of Grass (The Everglades). The excessive and intensive planting of sugarcane and other crops that encroach on this delicate eco-system have caused irreparable damage to the whole system and this has now reached a critical level – so much so – that our reefs are literally dying before our eyes.

However all is not lost and with the continued efforts of some very dedicated people, the reef seems to be coming back slowly in certain areas. Did you know they are actually “planting” new coral out there?

Here at MiamiCharters.com we can always point you in the right direction and find the right boat for you at the right time and the right place. Right price too. Give us a call, go on the chat line or send us a quick email contact form. We’re always happy to talk to you about our passion for boats and the ocean.

Please contact us to arrange an eco tour or kayak trip rental.

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