Photo via Google Places
About This Spot
This is a remote island national park about 70 miles west of Key West, reachable only by ferry, seaplane, or private boat. There is no fishing pier — shore fishing is allowed from limited areas of Garden Key, and strict no-take zones surround the park. Here’s what to expect.
Dry Tortugas National Park:
Dry Tortugas National Park is the most remote national park in the lower 48 — a cluster of seven tiny islands about 70 miles west of Key West, marking the end of the Florida reef. Most visitors come for Garden Key, home to the massive 19th-century Fort Jefferson, reached only by the Yankee Freedom ferry, a seaplane, or your own boat.
There is no fishing pier here, but shore fishing is allowed from a few designated spots on Garden Key with your own Florida saltwater license. The catch: most of the surrounding water is a protected Research Natural Area where all fishing is prohibited, and the moat, moat wall, and the water within 300 feet of it are closed to fishing. A one-mile radius around Garden Key is open, and the clear flats and channels here can be spectacular.
For most anglers, the real fishing happens from a boat in the legal zones outside the no-take area — many come on charters out of Key West. Whether you fish or not, it is a once-in-a-lifetime place: turquoise water, snorkeling reefs, a haunting brick fort, and some of the darkest night skies in Florida.
Park Facts
Type
Remote island national park
Access
Ferry, seaplane, or private boat
Pier
None — limited shore fishing
Water
Gulf of Mexico
License
Your own FL license
Entry
National park fee
Before You Fish
- There is no fishing pier — shore fishing is allowed only from designated parts of Garden Key (not the moat, moat wall, or within 300 ft of it).
- Most of the park is a no-take Research Natural Area; a one-mile radius around Garden Key is open to fishing. Know the boundaries.
- A Florida saltwater fishing license is required (ages 16–64); no lobstering or spearfishing is allowed.
- Getting here takes planning — book the Yankee Freedom ferry or a seaplane from Key West well ahead.
- Bring everything you need; there are no stores. Pack out all trash and leave shells, coral and artifacts in place.
Plan Your Visit
Garden Key, Dry Tortugas National Park, FL 33040
The most remote national park in the lower 48 — Fort Jefferson on Garden Key, ~70 miles west of Key West. No pier; limited shore fishing with your own license and strict no-take zones. Reachable only by ferry, seaplane, or boat.