Happy Pi Day! The Florida Keys is known for its World Famous Key Lime Pie’s! Let us “Key” you into some of our agents favorite local eatery’s to get a delicious slice or whole Key Lime Pie in the Upper Keys!

• Lazy Days in Islamorada (MM 79.9)
-The key lime pies are all made on the property, serving a huge slice with graham cracker crust topped with creamy, sweet, filling and medium tartness. It makes an ideal desert after fresh seafood.

American Caribbean Real Estate announces a Significant Sale! THE ZIM ESTATE is an impressive 7.73-acre oceanfront estate located on Millionaire’s Row with a total of 5 homes (8 parcels) on 6.57 acres upland plus 1.16 acres bay-bottom. This property offered the perfect inspiration and was home for Herbert Zim, a well-known author, who wrote or edited more than one hundred scientific books. He is best known as the founder, in 1945, and for twenty-five years, editor in chief, of the Golden Nature Guides, pocket-size introductions for children to such subjects as fossils, zoology, microscopy, rocks and minerals, codes and secret writings, trees, wildflowers, dinosaurs, navigation and more. Jennifer Lopez also filmed her music video for “Ni Tú Ni Yo” at the waterfront property in June. The property was successfully marketed globally through Christie’s International Real Estate and brokered by American Caribbean Real Estate’s Luxury Realtors, Kelly K. Shaw & Trent M.P. Shaw, for the price of $5,000,000. Kelly and fellow luxury Realtor Eric Rizzo had the pleasure of working buyer of this amazing property.

 

Celebrate National Lighthouse Day with Lighthouses in our area!

NATIONAL LIGHTHOUSE DAY is Observed is annually on August 7, National Lighthouse Day honors the beacon of light that for hundreds of years symbolized safety and security for ships and boats at sea.  At one time, the beacon of light could be found across almost all of America’s shorelines.A lighthouse is described as a tower, building or any other type of structure that is designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways. 

We have some great constructed Lighthouses throughout the Florida Keys. In honor of National Lighthouse Day here are some incredible photos and facts:

Alligator Reef Lighthouse:

Alligator Reef Light is located 4 nautical miles east of Indian Key, near the Matecumbe Key, north of Alligator Reef itself. The station was

established in 1873. It was automated in 1963 and was last operational in July, 2014. The light is 136 feet (41 m) above the water. The name honors the U.S. Navy schooner Alligator, part of the U. S. Navy Anti-Piracy Squadron that had recently been established in Key West, which went aground at this location in 1822. The Alligator was blown up after removing as much as possible from it to prevent it from being used by pirates. Countless vessels have also sunk here on the reef’s jagged coral.

Year First lit: 1873

Deactivated: 2015

Height: 136 feet

 

Carysfort Reef Light:

Carysfort Reef Light is located approximately six nautical miles east of Key Largo, Florida. The lighthouse has an iron screw-pile foundation with a platform, and a skeletal, octagonal,

pyramidal tower, which is painted red. The light is 100 feet (30 m) above the water. It was the oldest functioning lighthouse of its type in the United States until it was decommissioned in 2015, having been completed in 1852. Carysfort Reef is named for HMS Carysfort (1766), a 20-gun Royal Navy post ship that ran aground on the reef in 1770.

Year First Lit: 1852

Deactivated: 2015

Height: 120 feet

 

Sombrero Key Light:

Sombrero Key Light is located offshore of Vaca Key in Marathon, Florida. The lighthouse is located on a mostly submerged reef. The name Sombrero Key goes back to the Spanish, and old charts show a small island at

the spot, but by the later 19th Century the island had eroded away, with some parts of the reef exposed at low tide. As a result, the reef and the lighthouse have also been called Dry Banks. The Sombrero Key Light is the tallest lighthouse in the Florida Keys, and was the last lighthouse constructed under the supervision of Lieutenant George Meade of the Bureau of Topographical Engineers.

Year First lit: 1858

Deactivated:2015

Height: 142 feet

 

Sand Key Light:

Sand Key Light is a lighthouse 6 nautical miles (11 km; 6.9 mi) southwest of Key West, Florida, between Sand Key Channel and Rock Key Channel, two of the channels into Key West, on a reef intermittently covered by sand. At times the key has been substantial

enough to have trees, and in 1900 nine to twelve thousand terns nested on the island. At other times the island has been washed away completely. The first navigational light on Sand Key was a 60-foot (18 m) brick tower built in 1827. After the first keeper, John Flaherty, died in 1830, his widow Rebecca took over the job. In 1844 a hurricane eroded part of the island, destroyed the keeper’s house, and damaged the seawall. The Great Havana Hurricane of 1846 toppled the tower, killing Rebecca Flaherty and five others.

Year First lit: 1853

Deactivated: 2015

Height: 109 feet

 

Key West Light House:

The Key West lighthouse is located in Key West, Florida. The first Key West lighthouse was a 65-foot (20 m) tower completed in 1825. It had 15 lamps in 15-inch (380 mm) reflectors. The first keeper, Michael Mabrity, died in 1832, and his widow, Barbara, became the lighthouse keeper, serving for 32 years. The Great Havana Hurricane of 1846 destroyed the lighthouse; the USS Morris, which was wrecked

during the storm, reported “a white sand beach covers the spot where Key West Lighthouse stood”. After the Coast Guard decommissioned the Key West Light in 1969, it was turned over to Monroe County, which in turn leased it to the Key West Arts and Historical Society. The society operates the lighthouse and its associated buildings as the Key West Light House and Keeper’s Quarters Museum. On display at the museum is the first order Fresnel lens from the Sombrero Key lighthouse.

Year First lit: 1849

Deactivated: 1969

Height: 73 feet

 

American Shoal Light:

The American Shoal Light is located east of the Saddle bunch Keys, just offshore from Sugarloaf Key, close to Looe Key, in Florida, United States. It was completed in 1880, and first lit on July 15,

1880. The structure was built to the same plan and dimensions as the Fowey Rocks lighthouse, completed in 1878. As early as 1851 plans were made for the erection of a series of great offshore lighthouses to mark the dangerous Florida Reefs. These towers, all skeleton iron construction, to resist hurricanes, were eventually built one at a time over a period of years, that on American Shoal completed in 1880, being the most recently constructed.

Year First Lit: 1880

Deactivated: 2015

Height: 109 feet

 

 

You know, one of the big questions I get asked by my buyer clients is, “Where do we go fish??” 

What You’ve gotta understand is, that’s like asking, “Hey where is the Oasis in the Sahara??”

It’s a big ocean out there boys and girls, and this question is kind of an ambiguous one as well. A lot of factors go in to determining what’s a great fishing spot.

What maybe great to you isn’t necessarily so great to me depending on the type of fish you like to catch, the style of fishing, and how much you can handle being rocked on a boat in “sporty ” chop, before you are chumming the waters yourself.

The phenomenal thing about our Fabulous Florida Keys, is that they offer such a widdddddeeeee variety of fishing options!!

So, if you’re looking for a constant rod pending action, where the thrill might not be so much catching that elusive big one, as much as being excited with every cast, you can’t beat the Patch Reefs. Small sets of reefs on the Oceanside usually close inshore about 3.5 to 5 miles. They hold of wide variety of fish including Grouper, Snapper, Porgies, Grunts, the so delicious Hogfish, and sometimes Mackerel.

Patch Reef fishing is my personal favorite, and generally what I like to do most, as damn it, I wanna put fish in my box!!

Guess what!? I gotta fever. And the only prescription is more patch reef fishing (that said in my worst Christopher Walken voice from the infamous Cowbell SNL skit). It’s pretty close inshore, doesn’t take a lot of time to get out to, and lots of different spots.

Now, if you’re looking for that real sense of adventure, start going a little bit deeper. But know that the time between catches and bites may be a little bit longer.

When you’re looking just past the reef, in the 125 foot range, now you’re starting to talk about some of your bigger Groupers, your Mutton Snappers, and especially Kingfish and more.

But, if you’re ready for some bad ass Hemingway action, you go deeper, and by deeper I’m talking about 600 to 2000 feet.

Here’s where you strap on your big boy, or big girl, pants and you throw your line and you’re looking for Dolphin, (No, not Flipper, but Mahi-Mahi), Tuna, and especially if you’re lucky, Swordfish, each a tasty, tasty treat.

Your style of fishing can also be determined by Where you are in the Keys.

I find Upper Keys fishing quite different from Lower Keys fishing especially when you talk about going on the Gulf side in the Lower Keys, and Bay side and the Back Country in the Upper Keys.

These are whole different fisheries.

And of course, there are particular habitats for other great target species like Tarpon, Permit, and Bonefish.

The bottom line (pardon the purposeful “line” pun) is, get a rod in your hand, get some bait, learn how to throw a cast net, be safe, and most of all … have fun.

 For more information on the outstanding real estate opportunities that exist in the Keys, call Mykael at 305.439.7730 or email him at [email protected].

Submerge yourself in the long ago ways of the wrecking industry.  This 11-acre island is deserted except for the ruins of a town that existed in the early 1800s, when people made their living salvaging boats that ran aground on local reefs. Get adventurous, rent a paddle board or kayak from Robbie’s Marina or from your private home at Tarpon Point to visit and experience our warm, tropical sunshine and unique history.

It was December 25, 1838 when Hester Perrine and her family arrived at Indian Key. She would later write, “I cannot forget our delight on first seeing the beautiful little island of 12 acres. It was truly a ‘Gem of the Ocean.’ The trees  were many with many of them covered with morning glories of all colors, while the waving palms, tamarinds, papaws, guavas, seaside grape trees and many others too numerous to mention made it seem to us like fairy land, coming as we did from the midst of snow and ice.”

Indian Key is easily accessible by Paddle board or kayak from U.S. Highway 1.

Yesterday kicked off the 2018 Mini Lobster Season!

Every July the coastal areas of Florida are flooded 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 falls on July 25th and 26th. It began 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.

https://www.facebook.com/americancaribbean/videos/2066537733380487/

According to state law,

during the two-day sport Mini lobster season, divers and snorkelers can take up to six lobsters per person day in Monroe County. The lobsters must have a carapace length greater than 3 inches to be legally taken during the open season. Divers must possess a measuring device, and lobsters must be in the water while they are measured.

https://www.facebook.com/americancaribbean/videos/2066544770046450/

Ever considered replacing or putting in a new dock but didn’t know which type of decking was best to use in the Florida Keys? Check out our video with our friend Randy Whitesides at Neptune Atlantic Boat Lifts to help make your decision a little easier & find out why IPE Wood is your best option!

Here are some facts about IPE Wood:

1. IPE Wood is also called Brazilian Walnut. it is a very hard, very dense wood. Harder than Oak, it resembles and performs like Teak.

2. IPE Wood is so hard, that all screw holes should be pre-drilled prior to installation of the Deck screws. While some dock builders use “Blind Clips”, we do not use or recommend them in the Keys.

3. IPE Wood can be left natural, which results in an appealing, soft gray look. The natural look is very similar in color to natural Teak. For maximum beauty, nothing is more beautiful than a IPE Deck that has been oiled with a High quality outdoor hardwood oil. This give a rich, dark finish and highlight the extraordinary grain of IPE Wood.

4. The best feature of IPE Wood is that you can easily switch from natural to oiled finish with no ill effects. IPE Wood can go many years with no maintenance, and with a pressure wash, and fresh oil, be back to its, natural beauty.

5. As with all Docks in the Keys, all components should be of high quality Stainless Steel. Sub-Stringers should never be bolted to pilings with Galvanized hardware. all Stringers, should be installed with Stainless Steel Hangers, nails and Screws. All framing lumber should be Pressure Treated. High quality installations require that stringers are planed plumb and flush before decking.

6. There are three main Choices for decking: Pressure treated Pine/Spruce, Composite (also called plastic Lumber) and IPE Wood.

7. Pressure Treated softwoods are the least desirable as they are prone to splintering, scalloping, twisting, and cupping and have a relatively short life span.

8. Composites are made from a variety of plastic materials. Despite claims to the contrary (read the fine print), these products ALL fade in the Keys Tropics. They are not as strong, and typically require closer Stringer spacing to create a quality Dock. Composites are susceptible to petrochemical staining from Mats, Insect Repellent, Suntan Lotion and Oil products used on boats.  Longevity, while much  longer than softwoods, is still an unresolved question.

9. IPE Wood is one of the hardest woods available for construction. It’s life is estimated at 20-40 years. It can be left natural, or oiled, and it can go back and forth with little effect. It can also be sanded several times in its life, bringing it back to near new condition. It requires skilled craftsmen to install, and inexperienced IPE woodworkers often have problems obtaining a quality finished product.

Costs:

While Size, shape, etc. cause variations in costs, a Composite Dock is approximately 20% more than a Pressure Treated Softwood Dock. An IPE Dock is approximately 30% higher.

Pressure washing typically costs $1.00 to $1.25 per Sq. Ft., and Oiling with a top quality Hardwood oil is $1.25-1.50 per Sq. Ft., and is typically required twice a year.