Cayman Salvage MasterKey West
borderlineswell on the quarter today
- window
- tide
- shelter
- hazard
- access
187-ft wreck near the Vandenberg.
Google MapsKey West spearfishing forecast — wind, swell, visibility, tides & live cameras
5.3
wave 0.7 m
visibility4m
Today — right on the edge — wave, wind and visibility.
Sources: IPMA · NDBC · Copernicus — high confidence · data 01:25
Sources & confidence
- Sources
- IPMA · NDBC buoys · Copernicus Marine
- Method
- Model consensus, read per window
- Freshness
- Re-read every hour, per coast
Compiled by the spearo sea-state engine
The verdict comes from seven water factors and hard safety gates — not ten tabs. Go or stay.
How we score the water
Our own model
Our own forecast engine — not a third-party widget. It weighs these water factors into one go-or-stay verdict for this coast; the 0–10 dial is that verdict, read out as a number.
- Swell & wave memory
- Height, period and direction of the swell, plus the wake of recent storms — an old storm still stirs the water, and the engine remembers.
- Wind & gusts
- Speed and gusts, hour by hour — wind speed and an onshore push chop the surface and cut visibility.
- Tide phase
- Timing and range of the tide, calibrated per coast — big spring tides pull the verdict toward caution.
- Water temperature
- Sea-surface temperature — sharply cold water vetoes a green verdict.
- Currents & outflow
- Direction and drift of the current — it pushes you, and it drags turbid coastal water across where you dive.
- Rain runoff & air clarity
- Rain muddies the water inshore through land runoff, while fog and haze cut visibility at the surface.
- Coast shape & exposure
- How the coast faces the swell — a sheltered cove keeps the water clean; an exposed, head-on point takes a penalty.
Safety gates
- Thunderstorm forecast — an instant red, no exceptions.
- An official warning (MeteoAlarm / IPMA) — yellow, or red for the higher ranks.
- Missing input data — a would-be green is capped to yellow rather than overstated.
- Strong disagreement between forecast models — a green day is pulled back to yellow.
- Night hours — forced red; the window is closed after dark.
It all folds into a single 0–10 score and one verdict: go or stay.
A forecast, not a guarantee — the sea has the last word.
Where to get in, where to hunt
Entry points with coordinates
Seabed relief — promising ground
Surface
Wind, wave and the swell windows — when to go and the best hours.
spearo.app
calmupdated 01:25
Key West — solo, off the rocks
caution — solo off the rocks is risky, check on site · wind-wave — choppy surface
wave 0.7 mwind 18 km/hvisibility ~6 mwindow 06:00–21:00
today, best window 12:00–15:00
fish · Visibility 6 m · Water 30.9°C
confidence high · verdict for the selected day
Whole week — tap a day. is driving swell right now.
Solo risk: carry a float · tell someone your plan and exit time · doubt = don't go. A model-based planner; the call is made on site.
Selected day
Windows, hours
and the day's trends.
The day is picked above, in the hero. Here are that day's windows, the hour-by-hour map and the trends. Tap a window to break down the conditions.
Thursday · today2026-07-23
06:51–20:15 · waxing gibbous
▲ 05:00▼ 12:00▲ 19:00▼ 23:00 · 0.4 m
Hours (06→20)
06
09
12
15
18
Day's trends
Tide-0.22 m
Wave0.68 m
Wind13 km/h
Water31 °C
fish activity: moonset 01:44 · moderate · moon underfoot 08:40 · high · moonrise 15:45 · moderate · moon overhead 21:00 · high
Conditions window06:00–09:00
caution — solo off the rocks is risky, check on site fish
Hs 0.74 mperiod 3.8 swind 18→27surge 0.5viz 4 m
0.74 mup to ~1.48 · 119° at an angle
3.8 sswell moderate
18→27gusts 27 km/h
0.5weak surge
0.11m/s
4 mrecent swell
30.7°C5 mm + hood
▼12:00tide falling
Atmosphere21 kmlandmarks visible
highmoon underfoot
- wind-wave — choppy surface
- wind 18 km/h
- ebb — weaker inshore
confidence hightwilight
The water column
Visibility and what drives it — post-storm clearing, river plume, temperature and the thermocline.
What it is
A marine instrument,
go / no-go for solo hunting.
spearo.app folds wind, wave, swell period, visibility, tides, water temperature and risk into a single verdict — go to the spot or not. It computes 7 days ahead from open marine models (Open-Meteo, IPMA), with no sign-up and no accounts. Built for solo spearfishing off the rocks, where any mistake costs dearly.
Now live: 1152 spots across 189 stretches of coast — mainland Portugal, Madeira and the Azores.
See all spotsThe seabed
Relief and bottom type, tides, and the depths of each spot.
On the rock
The forecast is the plan.
The call is on the rock.
The models set the window. Whether you go in is read only at the water: count the sets, watch the surge on the entry. If in doubt, you don't get in.
Entry points
Where to get in
off the rocks.
Scouted entries, coloured by today. The colour is the sea state at the spot, not a guarantee: the wash and a slippery entry you judge on site.
Open the seafloor map
Hoyt VandenbergKey West
borderlineswell on the quarter today
- window
- tide
- shelter
- hazard
- access
520-ft ship; huntable and world-famous, outside the SPA (~7 km W of Western Sambo ER).
Google MapsJoe's TugKey West
borderlineswell on the quarter today
- window
- tide
- shelter
- hazard
- access
Shallow tug (resident goliaths — no take).
Google MapsSOLO is the biggest risk: underwater you can black out from lack of oxygen silently and fatally, with no one around. Solo is never truly «safe». Below are the best weather windows; carry a buoy, tell someone your plan and exit time, and any doubt — don't go.
Surfacing
Cameras, map and reference — to hand as you come up.
Live cameras, map & reference
Cameras · live
Look at the water
right now.
Check the cam BEFORE you leave. Foam, brown/green murk, or waves washing the entry rocks = No-go. At night/in fog the cam is useless — treat it as «unknown», NOT «green».
connecting to the stream…
Reference
What's in season,
what the law says.
In season now
- sheepshead
- mangrove/mutton snapper
- gag/red grouperSeason is state-set — check before you go.
- hogfish
- cobia
- flounder
Law
- ✓Florida: saltwater licence $17 res / $47 non-res; reef fish need the free State Reef Fish Angler (SRFS) designation. NC: CRFL; SC/GA: saltwater licence.
- ✓Distances (FL): 100 yd from beaches/piers/bridges, 100 ft from the above-water part of a jetty. banned in FL and SC; rebreathers are illegal for spearfishing in FL.
- ✓SC: gamefish (red drum/seatrout/cobia/tarpon/striped bass) hook-and-line only (§50-5-1700). GA: speargun doubtful in state water — real hunting on federal reefs.
- ⛔ 🚫 Do not spear (FL FAC 68B-20.005): snook, red drum, spotted seatrout, tarpon, bonefish, pompano, goliath/Nassau grouper, billfish, sharks, rays + ornamental reef families.
- ⛔ 🚫 Spiny lobster/stone crab — hand-take only (no puncturing). banned in FL and SC. Monroe County (Long Key north to the Miami-Dade line — incl. Key Largo): spearfishing banned; the lionfish licence exemption does NOT override it — hand-held nets only there.
US spearfishing law is state-by-state. License, spearable species, powerhead rules and distances vary; federal sanctuaries (Gray's Reef, the Keys, Flower Garden Banks) ban spearfishing. Always confirm with the state agency and local ordinances.
Safety protocol
- Sets: watch the wave trains ≥15 min before entering; Hmax ≈ 2×Hs, the wash can run 50 m past the foam line. A lull >10 min with period >12 s = a big set «overdue», do NOT enter; enter right after a full set passes and re-check at minute 30.
- Exit FIRST: find your exit AND a backup before entering. On a rocky/boulder shore a 0.5 m rise in swell can make the exit impossible — getting pinned/unable to climb out is the main killer.
- Headland rip: prominent points often have a permanent topographic rip regardless of the model — locate it, enter/exit on the windward side, never swim against it.
- Cold: wetsuit per the SST chip; the first shiver = a metabolic surge and a drop in breath-hold → get out at the first steady shiver. Cap the session at 45–60 min below 15 °C.
- Solo discipline: buoy up; tell someone the spot and exit time; conservative breath-hold (never push it in cold/murky/surfy water); visibility <3 m — don't enter.
- Afternoon wind: on many coasts the wind builds from midday — plan to be out of the water by midday; the chop builds — get out.
- UV 11:00–15:00 (UVI ≥6): sunscreen and cover up on the surface interval.
- Solo is a fundamental risk (hypoxic blackout with no buddy). Any doubt = No-go.
Spearfishing in Key West: spots, seasons and rules
Spearfishing Key West is legally different from Key Largo and the upper Keys. The listed wrecks sit in the Key West area where hunting can be planned outside Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary preservation areas, but every drop starts with a boundary check. Hoyt Vandenberg is the big-name wreck and is described as outside the nearby SPA. Joe's Tug is shallower and has resident goliath grouper that are no take. Cayman Salvage Master is another wreck near the Vandenberg. For Key West water visibility, look at south swell, current and NOAA SANF1.
TL;DR
- Key West spearfishing is a wreck-and-boundary trip: Vandenberg, Joe's Tug and Cayman Salvage Master are the working targets, not sanctuary preservation areas.
- South of Long Key, spearfishing is possible outside prohibited Florida Keys sanctuary zones, but the chart matters as much as the forecast.
- Warm water and good clarity do not remove current, boat traffic or goliath grouper protection. Joe's Tug can hold fish you must leave alone.
- Use FWC rules, NOAA Florida Keys marine zones and NOAA station SANF1 before the boat leaves the harbor. If a zone line is unclear, do not hunt.
Best spearfishing spots in Key West
These are boat dives in warm, clear water, but none should be treated as open unless the sanctuary chart and FWC rules agree. Avoid Sanctuary Preservation Areas, ecological reserves, research-only areas and any uncertain boundary.
| Spot | Type | Depth | Level | Access | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hoyt Vandenberg | Large shipwreck | Deep wreck profile | Advanced boat dive | Boat from Key West | The 520 ft wreck is huntable only when the route and drop are outside closed sanctuary zones. Current and diver traffic need a disciplined boat crew. |
| Joe's Tug | Shallow tug wreck | Shallower wreck water | Intermediate boat dive | Boat only | Resident goliath grouper are protected and cannot be taken. Treat it as a snapper or hogfish check, not a grouper shortcut. |
| Cayman Salvage Master | Wreck near the Vandenberg | Moderate to deep wreck water | Intermediate to advanced | Boat only | A smaller wreck option in the same offshore pattern. Confirm zone status before loading gear. |
When is Key West visibility best?
Key West often has clear water, but the wrecks still respond to wind, tide and swell. The exposed sector is roughly southeast through west, so a south or southwest pulse can add roll and haze around the steel. NOAA station SANF1 at Sand Key gives a close weather and sea reference, while the harbor and charter fleet offer a reality check on current. If the wreck is legal but the pickup plan is weak, the correct decision is to wait.
What can you target around Key West wrecks?
Hogfish, mangrove or mutton snapper, sheepshead, cobia under current rules, and permitted grouper during open seasons make up the reasonable list. Gag and red grouper need date checks. Florida prohibits spearing snook, red drum, spotted seatrout, tarpon, bonefish, pompano, goliath and Nassau grouper, billfish, sharks, rays and ornamental reef families. Spiny lobster and stone crab cannot be punctured or speared. Lionfish rules do not override sanctuary-zone closures.
What zones close Key West water?
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary uses multiple marine zone types, including Sanctuary Preservation Areas and Florida's protected list. For a spearo, the safe operating rule is simple: do not hunt inside protected sanctuary zones, and never assume a buoy line is obvious from the deck. Florida state rules also apply outside those zones. Monroe County's upper-Keys spearfishing ban does not define Key West, but FWC protected species and sanctuary restrictions still control the day.
FAQ
Can you spear on the Vandenberg?
Only if the dive is outside closed sanctuary zones and all Florida species rules are met.
Which NOAA source matters for zones?
NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary marine zones are the key boundary source.
Can you spear goliath grouper at Joe's Tug?
No. Goliath grouper are protected in Florida and must be left alone.
Which weather station is listed?
NOAA NDBC station SANF1 at Sand Key is the listed nearby station.
Are Sanctuary Preservation Areas open to spearing?
No. Treat SPAs and any unclear protected zone as closed to spearfishing.
Sources
Nearby towns
Coming soon
Get the go / no-go verdict for Key West by email
Leave your email — and the moment a window opens at Key West, we'll send the go / no-go verdict. Email is all we need.
26 countries · all spots
Pick your coast
Every covered town has its own live forecast, cameras and entry points. Choose where you're diving.
Portugal
Portugal map →
North
Setúbal · Arrábida
Algarve
Spain
Spain map →Cantabrian coast
Andalusia (Atlantic)
Andalusia (Med)
Italy
Italy map →Tuscany
Central Adriatic
Northern Adriatic
Greece
Greece map →Attica · Saronic
Halkidiki
Thrace · Kavala
France
France map →Hauts-de-France
North Brittany
West Brittany
Pays de la Loire
Charente-Maritime
French Basque Country
Provence — Côte d'Azur
Turkey
Turkey map →
Croatia
Croatia map →Kvarner
North Dalmatia
Central Dalmatia (Split)
Cyprus
Cyprus map →
Malta
Malta map →
Brazil
Brazil map →South Coast
São Paulo Coast
Rio de Janeiro Coast
Bahia Coast
Coral Coast
Chile
Chile map →Norte Grande
Central Chile
Colombia
Colombia map →Caribbean · Guajira
Central Caribbean
Caribbean · Gulf
Islands (Colombia)
Pacific (Colombia)
Venezuela
Venezuela map →Central Caribbean (Venezuela)
Insular Venezuela
Ecuador
Ecuador map →
Mexico
Mexico map →Baja Pacific
Sea of Cortez
Pacific Mainland
Bahamas
Bahamas map →New Providence
Grand Bahama
Bimini
Long Island
San Salvador
Cat Island
Dominican Republic
Dominican Rep. map →Southeast Caribbean
South Caribbean
Southwest Caribbean
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico map →
Peru
Peru map →
Uruguay
Uruguay map →Uruguay · Río de la Plata
Uruguay · Rocha (Atlantic)
Argentina
Argentina map →Buenos Aires
Río Negro · San Matías
Chubut · Golfo Nuevo
Tierra del Fuego
Australia
Australia map →NSW North Coast
NSW Central — Sydney/Newcastle/Illawarra
QLD South-East
QLD Capricorn Coast
QLD Tropical North
Victoria
SA Gulfs & Fleurieu
SA Limestone Coast (Bonney)
WA South-West (Perth–Capes)
WA Mid-West (Geraldton–Kalbarri)
WA North (Ningaloo–Kimberley)
New Zealand
New Zealand map →Auckland & Hauraki Gulf
Coromandel
Bay of Plenty
East Cape / Gisborne
Hawke's Bay
Taranaki & Western NI
Wellington & Cook Strait
Canterbury & Banks Peninsula
Southland & Foveaux
West Coast (South Island)
South Africa
South Africa map →Western Cape
Garden Route
Eastern Cape
Wild Coast
United States
USA map →New Hampshire
Massachusetts
Connecticut
New York
New Jersey
North Carolina
Florida
- St. Augustine
- Port Canaveral
- Vero Beach
- Fort Pierce
- Jupiter
- Palm Beach
- Boynton Beach
- Pompano Beach
- Fort Lauderdale
- Miami
- Key Largo
- Islamorada
- Marathon
- Big Pine Key
- Key West
- Fernandina Beach
- Jacksonville Beach
- Ponce Inlet
- Cocoa Beach
- Sebastian Inlet
- Stuart
- Boca Raton
- Naples
- Venice (FL)
- Sarasota
- Clearwater
- Tarpon Springs
- Steinhatchee
- Apalachicola
- Port St. Joe
- Panama City Beach
- Destin
- Pensacola
- Marco Island
- Fort Myers Beach
- Boca Grande
- Crystal River
- Cedar Key
Mississippi
Texas
California
- San Diego (Point Loma)
- La Jolla
- Encinitas
- Oceanside
- Dana Point
- Laguna Beach
- Newport Beach
- Long Beach (San Pedro)
- Palos Verdes
- Redondo Beach
- Malibu
- Avalon (Catalina Island)
- Two Harbors (Catalina Island)
- Ventura
- Santa Barbara
- Morro Bay
- San Simeon
- Monterey
- Carmel
- Santa Cruz
- Half Moon Bay
- Fort Bragg
- Mendocino
- Pacific Beach (Mission Bay)
- Carlsbad
- San Clemente
- Huntington Beach
- Oxnard (Channel Islands Harbor)
- Goleta
- Cayucos
- Pacific Grove
- Bodega Bay
- Trinidad
- Crescent City
Washington
Philippines
Philippines map →NW Luzon
Western Visayas
Cebu & Negros
Feedback
Help us make it better
What's missing? Tell us what you'd like to see — new spots, species, data or features. We read everything.
