Visit Big Pine Key & Lower Keys
For Natural Florida Keys Activities

Just south of Marathon, the Lower Florida Keys begin with tiny Duck Key and Big Pine Key.

Following in a southwesterly direction are Little Torch Key, Ramrod Key, Summerland Key, and Cudjoe Key.

Next are Sugarloaf Key, Saddlebunch Keys, Big Coppitt Key, Boca Chica Key, Stock Island and finally the island of Key West.

Even though the Florida Keys cover a small geographical area, they boast a rather unique characteristic.

Each region is amazingly diverse - and that tenet holds true for the Lower Florida Keys.

From the moment you leave the south end of the Seven Mile Bridge and the somewhat congested 'city' life of Marathon FL, you're embraced by nature.





Unspoiled and beautiful, the Lower Florida Keys are dotted with a number of large wildlife refuges. On Big Pine you'll find the National Key Deer Refuge, home to the tiny key deer and the life sustaining freshwater pond, the Blue Hole.

Further south you'll find the Great White Heron National Refuge, a bird lover's paradise. Adjacent to this, you'll discover the oldest of the sanctuaries, the Key West National Wildlife Refuge.

Abutting onto the Key Deer and the Great White Heron Refuges are Coupon Bight Aquatic Preserve and Newfound Harbor Keys. These two major areas attract all forms of nature lovers from avid sports fishermen to bird watchers and kayak enthusiasts.

No matter where you go or what you're doing, out on the water fishing, or watching for key deer or birds, you'll want to make sure you have the right equipment. A good set of binoculars goes a long way to maximizing your Florida Keys vacation to the fullest!

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Other popular back to nature destinations include Bahia Honda State Park on Big Pine with it's different Florida hiking trails. Bahia Honda State Park also has 3 of the best beaches, Sandspur Beach, Loggerhead Beach and Calusa Beach. Bahia Honda is also a premier vacation destination for camping in the Keys as well as for biking, fishing and a variety of water sport activities.

With a variety of trails, the Lower Florida Keys make it possible for hikers, bicyclists and bird watchers to easily connect with nature. Since there are a variety of trails you can go on that are off the 'beaten path', you'll want to make sure you're fully equipped.

The area is geographically small, and you'll be hard pressed to find stores that will necessarily provide the hiking or biking gear you may want or need.

Knowing this in advance, and bringing the right hiking gear with you, will save you from being inconvenienced or having nasty surprises later.

Sea lovers will find that kayaking and canoeing the shallow flats and tiny inlets will provide glimpses of manatee, dolphin, tropical fish, heron, ibis, anhinga, key deer, and other local and migratory wildlife.





Some of the best snorkeling and diving in the Florida Keys can be found in the Big Pine Key and Lower Keys region. Whether you're exploring magnificent Looe Key Reef, attending the annual Underwater Music Festival every July, or wreck diving the massive Vandenberg, there's no shortage of snorkel and dive sites to explore.

It also wouldn't be a Florida Keys vacation without at least part of a day spent out on the water fishing. Whether you're looking for big game fish and want to go deep sea fishing, or you're excited about backcountry fishing for bonefish, permit, even barracuda, there's no shortage of top notch Florida Keys fishing charters to choose from.

Below you'll find a sampling of different fishing charters coordinated through FishingBooker, an affiliate of mine, that service Big Pine Key and the other Lower Key islands.

The following previews give you quick at a glance information but make sure you click the Check Rates button so you can:

1. Go to the landing page to get current rates for that particular fishing charter
2. Once on the landing page you can click the blue Search Button near the top left of that page
3. Once you're using the Search Charters button you can then fine tune your fishing trip. You can choose where you want to fish, the type of tackle you want to use, and the species of Florida fish you're most interested in catching.

So you know, as an affiliate of FishingBooker, if you click a link to a charter, book it and go on it, I stand to earn a small commission. The item does not cost you any more if you book here or elsewhere. This is called being an "affiliate."

The following large link will take you to all the Key West and Lower Keys fishing charters and below that I've included a brief overview of a fishing charter in the area.

All Key West & Lower Keys Charters

FISHING CHARTER COMPANY

Fish Finder Adventures

Captain Mark Sampson

17', Maverick flats boat, 90 hp Yamaha engine, 2 person capacity

Cudjoe Key Departure

Payment 10% deposit to guarantee reservation, balance day of trip via Cash, Visa, Master Card, American Express, PayPal

Numerous species of most popular backcountry fish targeted, child friendly, free cancellation, pickup agreed upon reservation

Fishing Trip Destinations

Flats Fishing - backcountry and ocean side

Fishing Techniques

Light Tackle     Bottom Fishing     Spinning Jigging     Popping     Fly Fishing

Fishing Trip Description

Fish Finder Adventures flats fishing boat has a maximum cruising speed of 30 knots to get you to the hottest Florida Keys fishing spots. This quiet flat bottom skiff style boat makes sightfishing while spin casting or flyfishing even more successful. Captain Sampson can easily help spot permit, bonefish, barracuda, jack crevalle or any other wily fighter you're after.

Plus, if at the end of the day, getting back to nature is still what you're all about, don't forget to make reservations at any of the Florida Keys campgrounds found from Big Pine Key to Sugarloaf Key.

However, just because the Lower Florida Keys offer a more 'natural flavor' doesn't mean there aren't amenities. Small communities dot the Lower Keys and nestled throughout these islands you'll find cozy Florida Keys lodging facilities, along with bars and restaurants featuring a variety of tasty, local fare.

There's also the standard plethora of Florida Keys marinas and infrastructure basics such as churches, libraries, shopping venues, fire and police stations. Of course, all on a smaller scale then found elsewhere in the Florida Keys.

The Lower Florida Keys have over the centuries been one of the last military outposts, serving as a defense against invasive forces. In keeping with this tradition, Boca Chica, the island next to Stock Island and closest of the Lower Keys islands to Key West, FL is home to a Naval Air Station. The Naval Air Station Key West, is one of the foremost naval aviator combat training facilities in the country, and adds a beneficial element to the economy of the Florida Keys.

From Big Pine Key down through the Lower Florida Keys, the call of nature is the consistent element that draws people here for their Florida Keys vacation. Refreshing and inspiring, leaving this particular piece of paradise is quite possibly the hardest thing of all to do.