wave 1 m
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.
Visibility and what drives it — post-storm clearing, river plume, temperature and the thermocline.
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: 3016 spots across 406 stretches of coast — mainland Portugal, Madeira and the Azores.
See all spotsRelief and bottom type, tides, and the depths of each spot.
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.
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 mapThe full spot briefing is part of the subscription: entry, bottom, hazards, tide window.
Open in the appA 57 m ship in 26 m, close enough to the Vandenberg to do both in a day. Grouper and snapper; strong current and visibility that swings with the tide.
Google MapsA 159 m ship in 14 m, one of the best-known artificial reefs anywhere — and unlike the Upper Keys, hunting is legal here. WARNING: the Western Sambo reserve lies about 7 km east.
Google MapsSmall, shallow tug in 12 m and one of the most photographed wrecks here, with resident goliath grouper — WARNING: a protected species that may not be taken. Other fish are fair game.
Google MapsThe full spot briefing is part of the subscription: entry, bottom, hazards, tide window.
Open in the appThe full spot briefing is part of the subscription: entry, bottom, hazards, tide window.
Open in the appSOLO 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.
Cameras, map and reference — to hand as you come up.
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».
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.
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.
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. |
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.
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.
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.
Only if the dive is outside closed sanctuary zones and all Florida species rules are met.
NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary marine zones are the key boundary source.
No. Goliath grouper are protected in Florida and must be left alone.
NOAA NDBC station SANF1 at Sand Key is the listed nearby station.
No. Treat SPAs and any unclear protected zone as closed to spearfishing.
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.
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