Things we learned while in the keys......

Key West is called and referred to as "Conch Republic," here's why:

• Key West is sometimes referred to as Conch Republic as a nick name and formerly its own nation.

• From a strict geographical or cartographical point of view, Key West is actually more than a single island. Within its city limits are also the surroundings islands of Dredgers Key, Fleming Key, Sunset Key and a portion of Stock Island.

• When he Spanish controlled Florida (in precolonial times), the keys were called Cayo Hueso. Cayo Hueso does't mean "Key West," it actually means "bone cay" a reference to the multitude of communal graveyards found with scattered bones of the region's original inhabitants.

• During the 1800s, the Civil War, 1900s and several hurricanes, in the 1980s at the time of Mariel Boatlift, which deposited 125,000 Cubans on Florida's doorstep, the U.S. Border Patrol announced a blockade on U.S. 1, the main highway into the Florida keys, with the stated intention of curbing illegal immigration and drugs into the country.

• Based on unintended consequences: An epic traffic jam irritated tourist and residents. The elected officials of Key West protested to the federal government and sought judicial injunctions against the blockade.

• April 23, 1982, The Key West Mayor, Dennis Wardlow, decided since the federal government was treating the island as a foreign nation, he would declare Keys West as independent making it known by the name "The Conch Republic".

Some things you may not know about Key West:

• It was Originally Called “Bone Island”

Spanish settlers referred to the island as “Cayo Hueso” – which roughly translates to Bone Island – and it wasn’t on accident. Apparently the Spaniards were surprised by the sheer number of scattered bones around the island. Intrigued? Book a ghost tour in Old Town to get all the grim details.

• It Has the Most Bartenders Per Capita in the Nation

If you’re thirsty, you’re in good hands. In 2015, an analysis conducted by the website CareerBuilder found that the city had the highest concentration of bartenders in the US at 13.3 per 1,000 residents.

• Temps Have Never Dipped Below 41 Degrees

• Pan American Airways Was Founded Here

That’s right - Pan American World Airways was founded on the humble southernmost island. Its first flight to Cuba was in 1927 and the company only took off from there. You can visit the original Pan Am offices at 301 Whitehead St., which today is a restaurant and brewery – aptly named First Flight.

• Locals are called “Conchs”

Key West-born locals are “conchs,” and those who are locals but were born elsewhere are referred to as “fresh-water conchs.” The island also holds annual conch-blowing contests, conch fritters are as commonplace as a hot dog and the local high school mascot is the Fighting Conch.

• The Island’s Roosters and Hens Caused a “Chicken War”

Roosters and hens have roamed the islands since the 1800s, when Cubans and Bahamians brought over the fowl for food and cockfighting tournaments. When the sport was outlawed in the 1970s, roosters and hens had nothing to do except graze and multiply. Fast-forward to the mid-2000s, when the population numbers hit an all-time high and residents became fed up with the all-hours crowing. Locals still haven’t figured out how to make a rooster comply with a sound ordinance, so until then, they run the roost – especially in Old Town.

• It’s Closer to Havana than it is to Miami

Islamorada, FL:

• Known as the Sport Fishing Capital of the World

• First sighting in 1513 and sometimes referred to as the "purple island," legend has it the area was named by Spanish explorers who, upon seeing the purple sky at sunset and the purple bougainvillea, called it "Isla morado" or purple island.

• Red Street lights were installed to protect turtles, the area where these street lights were installed is called the "red light district".

• There is a famous sandbar located less than a mile offshore around Mile Marker 84 on the Atlantic Ocean side, just off the Postcard Inn and Holiday Isles Marina.

  • This sandbar is very popular during the summer months, especially on holiday weekends, you will see hundreds of boats gathered to create a huge water party. This sandbar is ONLY accessible by water.

  • Because it is so shallow, people bring lounge chairs, BBQ grills, picnic tables, etc. While we were there, we saw a Pontoon Food Bar (for visitors to purchase Burgers and Hotdogs)

• Bloodline - A Netflix series was filmed in the Islamorada area. Side note: I may have told some of you that Outer Banks was filmed here... I was WRONG, it was Bloodline.

Florida Keys:

• The Florida keys are important, they were designated a National Marine Sanctuary in 1990. The keys are surrounded by the continental United States' only living-coral barrier reef (third largest in the world), encompassing more than 2,900 nautical miles of protected water.

• Key Largo has been noted as one of the prettiest of all the Florida keys.

Crab Pots:

I have mentioned crab pots in a few of my past post. Fisherman put these pots out to catch lobster, stone crab and other fish to sell to the local restaurants and businesses. I was able capture a couple of pictures of the crab pots.

15 Best Tasting Fish in the Florida Keys

• Trout (light flavored)

• Kingfish (best in fall time frame, slightly oily with meaty texture)

• Amberjack (dense white meat fish, great for grilling)

• Mangrove Snapper (best in winter season, some claim this is the best tasting snapper in the keys)

• Cobia (difficult fish to catch, sweet / nutty flavor, with sizes reaching up to 100 lbs)

• Yellowtail Snapper (very popular, can be prepared a variety of ways, can't go wrong with this snapper)

• Swordfish (meaty, best when cut into steaks and either grilled or pan-fried)

• Blackfin Tuna (most people cannot tell the difference between Yellowfin and Blackfin tuna. Experts say you should keep on ice and never wash down with fresh water. Trim the dark red meat out and cut into stars or sashimi).

• Red Snapper (it is suggested the best way to prepare this snapper is to roast the whole fish)

• Yellowfin Tuna (worst thing to do with this fish is to overcook it, recommenced to lightly sear or eat raw with a bit of soy sauce)

• Wahoo (firm fish with mild flavor, can cook variety of ways: Grill, back or poach)

• Mahi Mahi (can get year round; but best during the April to August season)

• Grouper (several species of Grouper, can be enjoyed many ways. Blackened grouper sandwich is highly recommended)

• Tripletail (intense flavor, yet still mild tasting, doesn't make sense; but voted #2 in the polls (Islamorada Times)

• Hogfish (voted #1 / Iconic in the state of Florida). Delicate white fish that is thin and cooks quickly.

  • I had this fish in several places while in the keys; but the best place was the Lazy Days Restaurant in Marathon. It was a jalapeño encrusted Hogfish, it was delicious!

HogFish (7 things you may not know about the Hogfish)

1. Uses its elongated pig-likes out to rummage and graze the crustaceans buried beneath the sand. The shape of the snout is what gave the Hogfish its name.

2. Juvenile Hogfish start out as female and then become male as they mature.

3. Have been recorded to live up to 11 years.

4. Hogfish social communities are quite interesting, with one mile mating with and protecting a group of females.

5. The common name for Hogfish in Spanish is "doncella de plume" which translates to "feathered maiden".

6. Males tend to be more intensely colors than females with a signature black spot behind the pectoral fins. Females are a pale grey or brown with males exhibiting brighter red or orange colors.

7. Even though they are a part of the wrasse family, Hogfish are closely related to the parrot fish.