Wildlife Watching

A small crab in a pretty white shell crawls on a white sandy beach.

Hermit Crab

The Dry Tortugas has a diverse natural history and a variety of wildlife both above and under water. From birds, to sea turtles and coral reefs, the park is paradise for wildlife viewing.    Things to Keep in Mind    Spring and Fall Migration – The Dry Tortugas are a perfect layover for bird migrating to and from South and North America. If you have come for the birds, come during these special times. Spring migration is the preferred season.    Preserve and Protect – As a National Park, all wildlife is protected. Although we do allow fishing in some areas of the park, you still must comply with all federal and state fishing rules and regulations.    <h4 aria-level="3" lang="EN-US" role="heading" xml:lang="EN-US">Sea Turtles </h4> When Ponce de Leon discovered the islands of the Dry Tortugas he noted the abundant marine life including the sea turtles, and thus named these islands "Las Tortugas". Today you can still find sea turtles swimming around the islands and nesting on the sandy beaches. Two common nesting sea turtles in the Dry Tortugas are the green and loggerhead species. While visiting Dry Tortugas National Park, if you are lucky enough to spot one of the 5 different sea turtles found in the park, please remember to keep your distance and enjoy wildlife from afar.     <h4 aria-level="3" lang="EN-US" role="heading" xml:lang="EN-US">Reefs and Fishes </h4> Ancient coral reefs are the foundation of the Dry Tortugas islands, topped by a shallow basin ringed by living coral reefs. Hundreds of species of marine animals lie just below the surface of the water. There are opportunities to view sharks, sea fans, coral, lobsters, squid, octopus, tropical reef fishes, and Goliath groupers.     <h4 aria-level="3" lang="EN-US" role="heading" xml:lang="EN-US">Birds </h4> Dry Tortugas National Park is a world class birding destination, especially during spring migration. Nearly 300 hundred species of birds have been spotted in the Dry Tortugas. With some species like the magnificent frigate bird, and sooty terns, nesting nowhere else in the continental united states, except for the islands of the Dry Tortugas. Imagine 100,000 sooty terns all coming home to roost on a tiny speck of land in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico. Keep a lookout for pelagic seabirds on your journey out to the park as well. These seabirds spend almost their entire life over the open ocean. With a little luck you may be able to spot such rarities as the elegant White-tailed Tropicbird.

Pets need to be on a leash and both owner and pet should enjoy wildlife from afar. 

Viewing Wildlife in Dry Tortugas

Birds

Fishing

A female angler fights a fish in a small boat atop of crystal clear blue waters.

Fish on

<h3>Important things to know</h3> <ul> <li>Private boaters are required to file a <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210401120013/https://www.nps.gov/drto/planyourvisit/boat-permits.htm">boat permit</a> at Garden Key before fishing within the park.</li> <li> Dry Tortugas National Park is in Monroe County, Florida State waters. </li> <li> Dry Tortugas National Park is almost exclusively in Gulf of Mexico waters. </li> <li> Spearfishing and lobstering is prohibited. If you enter park waters, all spearfishing gear should be disassembled and stored away. </li> <li>"J" hooks are not permitted to be used. Only "circle" hooks may be used. (NOTE: There are no gear or supply shops once you arrive to the park.)</li> <li> Fishing in the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210401120013/https://www.nps.gov/drto/learn/nature/dry-tortugas-natural-research-area-rna.htm">Research Natural Area</a> is prohibited. </li> <li> Large yellow buoys mark the Historic Use Area. </li> <li> Fishing is permitted outside the Research Natural Area. </li> <li> Florida Saltwater fishing license is required, unless you are under the age of 16 or a Florida resident senior over the age of 65. Fishing licenses are not sold at the park and you must obtain a license before visiting. Learn more about purchasing a license by visiting the <a href="https://myfwc.com/license/recreational/saltwater-fishing/">FWC website</a>. </li> <li>For a complete list of current rules of regulations please see the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210401120013/https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/">FWC site</a>. Valuable catch and release information can be found on the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210401120013/https://www.flseagrant.org/">Florida Sea Grant site</a>.</li> </ul>   <h2>Fishing Regulations</h2> Florida fishing regulations apply in Dry Tortugas National Park, including the requirement that people 16 or older have a valid Florida <a href="https://myfwc.com/license/recreational/saltwater-fishing/">fishing license</a>. For Florida fishing regulations please visit the <a href="https://myfwc.com/fishing/">Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission</a> website. The following are prohibited, as per National Park Service regulations: <ul> <li>Commercial fishing, except where specifically authorized by Federal statutory law.</li> <li>Fishing by the use of drugs, poisons, explosives, or electricity.</li> <li>Digging for bait.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Failing to return carefully and immediately to the water from which it was taken a fish that does not meet size or species restrictions or that the person chooses not to keep. Fish so released shall not be included in the catch or possession limit: Provided, that at the time of catching the person did not possess the legal limit of fish.</li> <li>Fishing from or within 200 feet of a public raft or float designated for water sports, or within the limits of locations designated as swimming beaches, surfing areas, or public boat docks, except in designated areas.</li> <li>Introducing wildlife, fish or plants, including their reproductive bodies, into a park area ecosystem. This includes the discarding and/or dumping of bait and bait buckets.</li> <li>The use or possession of fish, wildlife or plants for ceremonial or religious purposes, except where specifically authorized by Federal statutory law, or treaty rights.</li> <li>Except as designated below, fishing with a net, spear, or weapon in the salt waters of park areas shall be in accordance with State law.</li> </ul> Only the following may be legally taken: <ul> <li>Fin fish by closely attended hook-and-line.</li> <li>Bait fish by closely attended hook and line, dip net, or cast net and limited to 5 gallons per vessel per day.</li> <li>Shrimp may be taken by dip net or cast net.</li> <li>Only legally obtained finfish and shrimp may be caught and reduced to harvest. This includes wildlife reduced to harvest for use as bait.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Spearfishing and harvesting lobster are prohibited. Legally taken speared fish or lobster obtained outside the park must be reported prior to entering park waters. Once inside the park boundary, the reporting vessel must transit through to its intended final anchoring/mooring location without stopping or allowing its passengers/crew to enter the water until said mooring location is reached.</li> </ul> The following are prohibited: <ul> <li>Possessing lobster within the boundaries of the park, unless the individual took the lobster outside park waters and has the proper State/Federal licenses and permits. Vessels with legally taken lobster aboard which was taken outside the park may not have persons overboard in park waters. The presence of lobster aboard a vessel in park waters, while one or more persons from such vessel are overboard, constitutes prima facie evidence that the lobsters were harvested from park waters in violation of this chapter.</li> <li>Taking fish by pole spear, Hawaiian sling, rubber powered, pneumatic, or spring loaded gun or similar device known as a speargun, air rifles, bows and arrows, powerheads, or explosive powered guns. Operators of vessels within the park must break down and store all weapons described in this paragraph so that they are not available for immediate use.</li> <li>Use of a hand held hook, gig, gaff, or snare, except that a gaff may be used for landing a fish lawfully caught by hook and line when consistent with all requirements in this section, including size and species restrictions.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Taking, possessing, or touching any ornamental tropical fish or marine life.</li> <li>Dragging or trawling a dip net or cast net.</li> <li>The use of nets except as provided in the previous section.</li> </ul> Specific fishing area regulations: <ul> <li>Fishing from the land bridge between Garden Key and the Bush Key sign on the harbor side only is permitted. To ensure safety and to avoid conflicting use, pedestrians have right of way over those engaged in fishing activities.</li> <li>Fishing is permitted from the two easternmost visitor courtesy piers, provided that they are not occupied by a private vessel. In that case, fishing by the occupants of the boat is permissible.</li> <li>Fishing from the main dock is allowed when the Yankee Freedom Ferry is not present.</li> <li>Fishing from the dinghy beach immediately adjacent to and east of the main dock is allowed.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Fishing from the seaplane beach is allowed when the seaplane is not present.</li> </ul> Fishing area prohibitions: <ul> <li>Fishing is prohibited from any finger pier displaying the signage “Government Use Only” or “NPS Use Only” at Garden Key.</li> <li>Fishing off the Garden Key Dock when the concession ferry is docked is prohibited.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Fishing off Bush Key is prohibited.</li> <li>Fishing off or into any closed area is prohibited. Some of the closed areas include the designated swimming area, the “Coral Special Protection Zone” and “Shark Special Protection Zone”.</li> </ul> The following waters and areas are closed to fishing: <ul> <li>The Research Natural Area (RNA).</li> <li>Garden Key moat.</li> <li>Within any swimming and snorkeling areas designated by buoys.</li> <li>Within 50 feet of the historic coaling docks.</li> <li>Helipad areas, including the gasoline refueling dock.</li> </ul> The following areas are closed to the public: <ul> <li>The elkhorn (Acropora palmata) and staghorn (Acropora prolifera) coral patches adjacent to and including the tidal channel southeast of Long and Bush Keys and extending to 100 yards from the exterior edge of either patch.</li> <li>Hospital and Long Keys.</li> </ul>

Fishing at Dry Tortugas National Park

Fish

Paddling

View incredible underwater worlds while paddling your kayak, canoe, or paddleboard. 

Can be a strenuous paddle for the inexperienced. 

Kayakers

On the harbor side of Garden Key there are two "dinghy beaches" that serve as small vessel launches. These beaches are outside of the swim zone to avoid collisions with snorkelers. <a href="https://www.nps.gov/places/w-garden-key-dinghy-beach.htm">W. Garden Key Dinghy Beach</a> is closest to the campground and shortest distance to Loggerhead.  All small vessels (kayaks, dinghies, canoes) should use the dinghy beach to the West of the dock on Loggerhead to gain safest access to the island.

Loggerhead is the largest island in the park and offers great snorkeling and nearly empty beaches. A boating permit is required for all vessels in the park, including kayaks and paddle boards. Please visit the dock house information room to complete this free permit. Required equipment for any kayak use includes a PFD (Personal Floatation Device), a signaling device (typically a whistle and/or hand-held mirror) and a portable VHF radio. These items should be brought from the mainland by the kayaker, there are no services at the park.  Before starting your trip: Please ask staff for any closures of protected zones. Let staff or a fellow camper know where you are going, as well as an estimated return time. Check the weather, tides, and winds. You can launch your kayak at the dinghy beach, which is between the main dock and the old south coaling dock. When you return from paddling, check back in with either a fellow camper or a park ranger.

<a href="https://www.nps.gov/places/loggerhead-key.htm">Loggerhead Key</a> is only open during daylight hours and it's more difficult to be seen by boaters when paddling before sunrise and after sunset.

Paddle to Loggerhead Key

Wilderness

Snorkeling

Snorkel Little Africa

From the backside of Loggerhead Key, you will enter the water from the beach into the swim zone. If you swim out toward the reef you will come across a patch reef in the shape of the continenent of Africa. 

Located off the north side of Loggerhead Key, this area is protected, shallow, and calm-a great place for snorkelers, and under most conditions, for children. Juvenile barracuda, lobsters, corals heads, soft corals, and tropical fish are usually visible. <h4>Remember: Look, but don't touch!</h4> All coral, reef fish, and cultural artifacts are protected. You should not fear an attack from the marine wildlife, but you need to keep a lookout to make sure YOU don't bump into them. Not only will an accidental brush up against the coral probably kill it, you may be bumping into any number of potentially dangerous animals, include fire coral, jellyfish, sea urchins, or the exotic venomous lionfish.

Coral Reefs

Almost 70 miles (113 km) west of Key West lies the remote Dry Tortugas National Park. This 100-square mile park is mostly open water with seven small islands. Accessible only by boat or seaplane, the park is known the world over as the home of magnificent Fort Jefferson, picturesque blue waters, superlative coral reefs and marine life, and the vast assortment of bird life that frequents the area.