Biscayne National Park Readies for Lobster "Mini-Season"

Biscayne News Release

July 18, 2011

During the July 27 and 28 Spiny Lobster Sport Season, Biscayne National

Park rangers will be actively patrolling both Biscayne Bay and the outer reefs to ensure both public safety and legal lobster harvest. At the same time, park biologists will be stationed at popular boat launching sites to complete surveys on the quantity, size, sex and harvest locations for lobsters. The surveys provide scientists with important information which help them monitor and better understand the Park’s lobster populations.

Harvesting lobsters in the Biscayne Bay-Card Sound Lobster Sanctuary (whose boundaries overlap the Park’s boundaries) is prohibited year-round. The lobsters can live and breed safely year-round to provide a replenishment zone to surrounding areas. The Sanctuary includes all of Biscayne Bay and Card Sound from a line connecting Matheson Hammock to the southern tip of Key Biscayne all the way south to Pumpkin Creek and the Card Sound Bridge. The Sanctuary’s eastern boundary conforms to the high water line on the east side of the Keys, including all natural and artificial tidal creeks and channels in that area.

In Biscayne National Park and in Monroe County, recreational harvesters with a valid Florida recreational saltwater fishing license and lobster permit can take up to 6 legal-sized lobsters (3” carapace length) per person, per day during the Sport Season. Outside Biscayne National Park and Monroe County, the legal limit is 12 lobsters per person, per day during the Sport Season. During the Regular Spiny Lobster Season that opens August 6 and runs through March 31, 2012, licensed harvesters can take six animals per person per day, regardless of where the legal harvesting takes place. The taking of egg-bearing female lobsters and the use of spearguns or otherhook-type instruments is prohibited. All lobsters must remain in whole condition until returned to the mainland.

Superintendent Mark Lewis reminds all participants that if they are at all in doubt as to the location of the sanctuary boundaries, they should err on the side of caution and move further out.  He also stresses that safety is a priority during lobster season.  The use of a 20" x 24" dive flag is required to be displayed on vessels used by divers and snorkelers. Boats must stay at least 300 feet from any boat displaying a dive flag unless at idle speed. Use and display dive flags properly.  Look for dive flags while operating a vessel and exercise caution near them. Diving in or within 100 feet of a marked channel is prohibited in Biscayne National Park. To help ensure safety and protection of the resource and visitors, a unified team of National Park Service Rangers, working in conjunction with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and other enforcement agencies, will be out on the water in both marked and unmarked vessels during the entire two-day event, including nighttime hours.

All harvesters should take special precautions against unintentional interactions with poisonous lionfish, which tend to hide in the same habitats as lobsters. The taking of lionfish anywhere in Florida is not regulated, and the species are considered a delicacy. The Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) has published a cookbook that details safe harvesting and preparation methods, and the book is available in the bookstore at Biscayne National Park’s Dante Fascell Visitor Center.

A downloadable lobster brochure, including a map of the Biscayne Bay-Card Sound Lobster Sanctuary and information on how to properly measure a lobster, is available by going online at www.nps.gov/bisc then clicking on the "Fishing & Lobstering" Quick Link. For further information, please call the park at 305-230-7275, or get updates year-round by following @BiscayneNPS on Twitter.

                                   -NPS-

EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA

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Mile Markers in the Florida Keys

By Jerry Wilkinson

     Mile Markers (MM) is a relative location of a site in reference to the number of miles north of Key West. The business center of unincorporated Key Largo is at about MM 100; therefore, about 100 miles northeast of Key West. The Florida DOT tries to maintain small rectangular green with white number mile marker signs every mile on both sides of the highway.
     Generally except Marathon, addresses along the highway is the MM expressed as a four, five or six digit number. For example, a business with an address of 100511 Overseas Highway would located at about MM 100.5. If the extreme right digit (least significant) number is an even number, it is on the west or Bay/Gulf side. If an odd number it is on the east of ocean side.
    Subtracting two MM's gives the approximate number of miles between two known locations.
    If the MM's are getting smaller, one is traveling south or southwest. These are listed from north to south. Note: the farther south in the Keys one is, the more east and west the highway runs.
    Business/commercial location may change or even disappear. This was compiled early 2003.
     I assume this practice began with Henry Flagler who numbered every mile of railroad beginning at Jacksonville and ending at Key West. They were white and black concrete Mile Post signs along the railroad track and on the printed timetables.
     This list of MM's are approximate as I have recorded them.
     Items listed in italics are historical locations and may not still physically exist.

127.5 = Florida City - Junction with Fla. Turnpike and U.S. 1..
126.5 = Junction U.S. 1 with CR-905 to/from Card Sound Bridge and Ocean Reef Club, Oceanside. Also an alternate route,  $1.00 bridge toll, if southbound. 
126.0 = End/Begin two-lane "18 Mile Stretch." If southbound, please drive carefully.
123.5 = Florida Sand and Gravel site, Oceanside
123.0 = Dade Correctional Institution, gulfside
118.0 to 121.0 = Four-lane passing zone
119.5 = Dirt road turn-off, gulfside
116.3 = C-111 Aerojet canal bridge 
114.1 = to 116.0 Four-lane passing area.
114.0 = South Dade Marina & boat storage, Oceanside
112.5 = MONROE COUNTY LINE - Leave Dade County if southbound.
110.8 = FKAA Water Pump Station, Oceanside. Little Black Water Sound Boat Ramp, gulfside
109.3 = Osprey bird nest, Oceanside
108.0 = Osprey nest, Oceanside. 
107.2 = Jewfish Creek drawbridge. Exit/enter Key Largo. Begin "18-Mile Stretch." If northbound, please drive carefully.
106.6 = Lake Surprise 
106.5 = Card Sound Bridge turnoff to/from Ocean Reef via CR 905 Oceanside. Also an alternate route, $1.00 bridge toll, northbound to Homestead.
     If taking CR905, the following MM's apply and are labeled "C". At C-5 soundside is the solid waste transfer facility. At C-7 oceanside is the former Carysfort Campground. At C-7.5 soundside was the former Nike missile launch site. At C-8.5 oceanside is the remains of the Nike missile radar site. At C-9.25 is a three way stop. Straight goes to the Anglers and Ocean Reef Clubs gated communities. Left goes across the Cardsound toll bridge to Homestead. At C-11 to the left is the Angler's Club and straight ahead is the Ocean Reef Club. Now back to MM's.
106.0 = Key Largo Chamber of Commerce, gulfside;  FKEC Power sub-station oceanside
105.9 = County Animal shelter, oceanside
105.6 The location of the railroad depot and the center of the community of Key Largo from about 1910 to 1940. The depot was in the highway median. The community was gulfside.
105.5 = St. Justin Catholic Church, gulfside
105.4 = Winn-Dixie Shopping Center, gulfside
105.3 = Stillwright Point community entrance, gulfside
104.8 = Key Largo Elem. School, oceanside 
104.5 = Taylor Creek Village, oceanside; Tamarind Park, gulfside 
104.1 = Caribbean Club, gulfside. The set for the 1948  movie Key Largo was modeled for this location.
104.0 = Jimmy Johnson's Big Chill, gulfside
103.5 = The 1920s Key Largo Rock Castle, End of Oceana Drive, Oceanside.
103.4 = Marvin Adams Waterway Bridge (The Cut), a canal that connects Atlantic to Florida Bay
103.8 = Central (Pink) Plaza Shop Center, gulfside
102.8 = John Pennekamp State Park entrance, oceanside 
102.0 = Telephone microwave towers, gulfside
101.5 = Tarpon Basin Road, Key Largo Library, Tradewinds Shopping center, oceanside
101.2 = Hibiscus Park, Oceanside. The was the center of the 1880s community of Newport. 
99.8 = Key Largo Post Office- ZIP 33037, gulfside
99.5 = Waldorf Plaza,  oceanside.
98.0 = Landings of Largo, gulfside; Moose Lodge oceanside; Everglades Park Ranger Station, gulfside.
1st Baptist Church, oceanside; Shell World (center road); Rock Harbor Club, gulfside.
95 to 100 = This was the early community of Rock Harbor. A small railroad depot was also here.
97.0 = Hilton Hotel, gulfside
96.0 = Silver Shores community, oceanside; Winken Blinkin and Nod Estates, oceanside. Buttonwood Bay gulfside 
95.3 = Key Largo Ocean Resorts, oceanside. Key Largo Prof. Center., gulfside.
95.2 = Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary building.
94.8 = Seaside community, oceanside. The 1900s Thompson line packing house was in this area.
94.0 = Red Cross Center, gulfside; Glander Boats oceanside, Sunset Hammock, gulfside.
93.8 = Wild Bird Center, gulfside
93.1 = Hammer Point community, WFKZ Radio tower and offices, gulfside.
92.9 = Jewish Center, oceanside
92.8 = Burton Memorial United  Methodist Church, oceanside
92.6 = Burton Drive, Harry Harris Park oceanside. The early community of Planter included the park area, but the community center was about 1,000 feet south.
92.2 BPOE Lodge, Bank of America, gulfside; Driftwood Trailer Park, oceanside
91.9 Old Tavernier Post office; Old Settlers Park, oceanside Tavernier Hotel, oceanside. This was the center of the early community of Tavernier. Its depot was in the median just south of the post office.
91.8 = Reporter Newspaper; FKEC Power Station, Oceanside; FKAA, gulfside 
91.3 = Tavernier Town Shopping Center, Mariners Hospital, Post Office - ZIP 33070, gulfside 
91.0 = Tavernier Creek Bridge; enter Islamorada; Tavernier Creek Marina, Plantation Marina, gulfside
90.8 = Turek Building, gulfside
90.1 = Plantation Key Colony community entrance, gulfside; Immanuel Lutheran Church, oceanside. A large Indian mound existed in the center of the subdivision.
90.05 = End 4-lane highway if going south.
90.0 = Coral Isles Church; Coral Shores High School, Oceanside; Plantation Key Elementary School
89.5 = San Pedro Catholic Church, gulfside
88.5 = Plantation Key Government Center, Sheriff, Courthouse, Building/Zoning/Tax Collector/ Assessor; Convalescent and Children's Center; Old Mariner's Hospital, gulfside
88.0 =  Futura Yacht Club, gulfside; Plaza 88; Plantation Key Professional Building, oceanside
87.5 = St. James Fisherman Episcopal Church, Executive Bay Club, Gulfside
87.0 = Founders Park (Plantation Yacht Harbor), gulfside
86.8 = Rainbarrel, gulfside
86.0 = Weigh station for trucks, oceanside WXOS Radio station and tower, Venetian Shores subdivision 
85.5 = Snake Creek Draw Bridge; Coast Guard Station, gulfside Enter Windley Key
85.3 = Windley Key State Fossil Reef Geological Site, gulfside
84.3 = This was the center of the community of Quarry that thrived during the construction of the railroad.
84.2 = Theater of the Sea; Holiday Isle Resort oceanside. 
84.0 = Whale Harbor Bridge.
83.4 = Island Christian School, gulfside; Whale Harbor Inn, oceanside
82.6 = Islamorada Post Office- ZIP 33036, oceanside
81.5 = Islamorada Library and park, gulfside; Hurricane Memorial; Cheeca Lodge, Oceanside. The library was constructed as a Hurricane Refuge School after the 1935 Hurricane. During construction, the Florida Keys Memorial, know as the Hurricane Monument, was also constructed and dedicated.
81.2 = Worldwide Sportsman; gulfside
81.3 = Green Turtle Inn; Oceanside. Part of the structure survived the 1935 Hurricane.
80.0 = Roadside park, gulfside
79.8 = Tea Table Relief Bridge. Papa Joe's Marina, gulfside; Bud and Mary's, oceanside. The north 
approach washed out during Hurricane Donna, 1960.
79.1 = Tea Table Channel Bridge
78.0 = Indian Key Bridge. Lignumvitae Key Botanical Site (State) gulfside in distance. Lignumvitae Key Boat Ramp gulfside; Indian Key Archaeological Site, San Pedro Underwater State Park and Alligator Lighthouse, oceanside at a distance. This is area is of historic significance. The islands of Indian Key, Lignumvitae Key and Alligator Lighthouse are prominent artifacts.
77.1 = Lignumvitae Bridge 
77.0 = Robbie's Marina, gulfside; Star of the Sea motel, oceanside 
74.0 = Angelo's Country Store, Port Antigua community, gulfside
74.3 = Safety Harbor community entrance, gulfside
73.6 = Boy Scouts Sea Base, gulfside; Calusa Cove Marina. Oceanside. Gulfside was the location of Camp 3 for the WW-1 veterans. Many perished in the 1935 hurricane. 
73.4 = Anne's Beach, Oceanside. Gulfside is Veteran's Island, which is the grown over approach to the veteran's bridge piers.
73.0 = Off shore on the gulfside can be seen the remains (8) of the concrete bridge piling built by the WW-1 veterans.
72.8 = Apogee of Channel #2 bridge
71.8 = Craig Key. Rowland Craig built his resort of Craig at the north end of this railroad fill. The drawbridge tender for the Channel 5 railroad bridge lived at the south end.
71.4 = Apogee of Channel #5 bridge
70.0 = Fiesta Key campground and FKAA pumping station
68.9 = Tower, oceanside
68.5 = Layton, Long Key Post Office - ZIP 33001
68.0 = Solid waste transfer station
67.5 = Long Key State Park, Oceanside
66.0 = Outdoor Resorts camp ground
65.8 = Henry Flagler's Long Key Fishing Camp occupied the southwest end of Long Key. American author, Zane Grey, vacationed and wrote while at this location in the early 1900s.
64.0 = Middle of Long Key Bridge, If southbound, entering the Middle Keys.
62.9 = Conch Key, fire station
62.2 = Walker's Island (Little Conch Key)
61.2 = Tom's Harbor Cut Bridge
61.1 = Entrance to Duck Key; Hawk's Cay resort, Oceanside
60.6 = Tom's Harbor Channel Bridge
59.9 = Enter/leave City of Marathon
58.9 = Grassy Key, Dolphin Research Center
56.2 = Curry Hammock State Park
54.6 = Coco Plum
54.5 = Begin/end 4-lane
53.5 = Entrance to Village of Key Colony Beach, Oceanside
53.1 = Vaca Cut Bridge, entering the business district of Marathon next 8 miles.
52.0 = Marathon County Airport, bayside
50.0 = Museum of Natural History, Crane Hammock, gulfside; Shopping; High School; Sombrero Beach, oceanside
48.7  = Fisherman's Hospital, Oceanside; Library, Sheriffs substation, Oceanside; Fla Highway Patrol, FKAA bayside;
48.3 = Post Office ZIP 33050 oceanside.
48.0 = Coast Guard, gulfside; turnoff to Boot Key.
47.5 = Knight's Key
47.0 = Begin/end of Seven Mile Bridge, Marathon City limits. To Pigeon Key (old 7-Mile Bridge), gulfside. Pigeon Key visitor's center
44.8 = Pigeon Key, gulf side
43.9 = Moser Channel, apogee of Seven-Mile Bridge. Sombrero Light House seen at a distance, oceanside
41.7 = End of original steel truss railroad bridge and begin concrete arch bridge
40.0 = End/begin Seven Mile Bridge
39.9 = Veterans Memorial Park, oceanside
39.5 = Missouri-Little Duck Channel Bridge 
39.0 = Ohio-Missouri Channel Bridge
38.8 = Sunshine Key Trailer Park
38.7 = Ohio- Bahia Honda Channel Bridge
37.0 = Begin/end a short section of 4-lane highway.
36.8 = Bahia Honda State Park entrance, oceanside.
36.0 = Bahia Honda Bridge (4-lanes) old railroad camelback bridge, ocean
35.0 = End/begin 4-lane 
34.7 = Steel Tower
34.5 = Translator TV tower site, gulfside.
34.5 = Girl Scout Camp, oceanside.
34.1 = Camp Sawyer, Boy Scouts, oceanside.
34.0 = West Summerland Key
33.0 = Spanish Harbor Bridge west end. This potion cut away for good cross-section view. 
31.0 = Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce, Old F.E.C. railway marker, oceanside
30.2 = Big Pine Key traffic stop light; gulf to Key Deer Rd. and Wilder Road. Shopping Ctr, Prison, Preserve, No Name Key turnoff, gulfslde. Continue to No Name Pub, if you can find it. Bogie Channel Bridge (Old Wooden Fishing Bridge) Camp Big Pine Fishing Lodge on oceanside before bridge.
30.0 = USPO- ZIP 33043
29.3 = North Pine Channel Bridge
28.1 = Little Torch Key. 
28.0 = Torch Channel Bridge
27.9 = Middle Torch Key. Entrance to Big Torch Key, turnoff gulfside.
27.7 = Torch-Ramrod Channel Bridge 
27.0 = Aqueduct Authority on Ramrod Key, oceanside
26.6 = South Pine Channel Bridge, east end of bridge, oceanside 
27.0 = Ramrod Key.
26.0 = Niles Channel Bridge, middle.
25.5 = East end of bridge, oceanside.
25.0 - 24.0 = Summerland Key community
24.8 = Summerland Key Post Office - ZIP 33042
24.0 = Summerland Key Sea Base
23.5 = Kemp Channel Bridge,  east end of bridge, oceanside.
21.5 = Cudjoe Key Transfer station
21.0 = Cudjoe Key Subdivision on oceanside. U.S. Navy "Fat Albert" site, gulfside
20.2 = Bow Channel Bridge to Sugarloaf Key.
20.0 = Mangrove Momma's gulfside, KOA Campground oeeanside
19.3 = Crane Blvd. to gulfside, Sugarloaf School 
18.6 = Upper Sugarloaf Key
18.8 = Park Channel Bridge
18.5 = Park Key Landfill
17.8 = North Harris Channel Bridge 
17.6 = Harris Gap Channel Bridge
17.5 = Lower Sugarloaf Key
17.0 = Blinking light, Sugarloaf Blvd ocean, gulfside; Sugarloaf Airport and Bat Tower.
Before blinking 1 light, Gulfside to Sugarloaf Lodge, USPO-ZIP 33040; Fire station.
Sugarloaf Vol. Fire Dep't, Gulfside.
16.3 = Harris Channel Bridge
15.8 = Lower Sugarloaf Channel  Bridge
15.0 = Gate on gulfside to old U.S. Army transmitter site. Now Radio Marti. Bay Point Park.
14.6 = Saddlebunch #2 Bridge, Bay Point Subdivision entrance, Oceanside
14.3 = Saddlebunch #3 Bridge, Saddlebunch Shrs./Bluewater Dr., ocean.
13.1 = Saddlebunch #4 Bridge
12.8 = Saddlebunch #5 Bridge
11.4 = Shark Channel Bridge
11.2 = Shark Key
11.0 = Big Coppitt Boat Ramp, oceanside.
10.5 = Seaside Park, Fire house; SR 941 AKA Old Boca Chica Road, Ocean, to Geiger Key.
10.4 = Porpoise Point entrance, gulfside
10.0 = Big Coppitt Key
9.7 = Rockland Channel Bridge
9.2 = East Rockland Key
8.5 = Tourist welcome center
8.4 = Begin/end 4-lanes
8.0 = NAS Boca Chica Overpass, entrance to N S, ocean. Turnoff from both directions US-1. 
7.0 = Back gate to NAS, closed, oceanside
6.1 = Boca Chica bridge, middle
5.2 = Key Haven, ocean turnoff
5.0 = Stock Island, gulf turnout to Jr. College Road: Dump, FKMH, FKCC, Golf Course, jail
4.1 = Cow Key Channel Bridge and bear right for 
3.9 = Traffic light. End/begin 4-lane.  Bear left for Flagler Street; Airport; Martello Towers, Higgs Beach and Casa Marina. Bear right for N. Roosevelt; Truman Avenue, Fort Taylor
3.0 = Sears Town shopping plaza
2.3 = Salt Run Bridge, N. Roosevelt, Key West
1.7 = Palm Ave; U.S.C.G. Group; NAS Trumbo
1.0 = About South Street
0.0 = Jackson Sq. County Seat; Key West Post Office-ZIP 33040.

First-time Buyers Prepare for Best Market in Recent History

CAMPBELL, Calif. – March 22, 2011 – Inexperienced first-time buyers may not know if the time is right to make a move into real estate.
“It’s not about timing the market. It’s about time in the market,” says Steve Berkowitz, chief executive officer at Move Inc., the online company that oversees operation of Realtor.com. “Once you know how long you expect to own a home, look at the historical value performance of properties in the neighborhood. Be confident about your own job security, downpayment resources and tolerance for upkeep, as well as the lifestyle you want today and in the near term. Today’s housing market, especially for first-time buyers, makes it almost impossible not to think about the possibilities.”
To help first-time buyers decide if they’re ready, Move created a “reality checklist.”
Get your financial house in order
Before you decide to buy a home, make sure your credit is in good shape and repair any damage previously done. Know your credit score: Thirty-five percent of successful buyers recently reported they didn’t know their credit score when they went house shopping, according to a national survey fielded for MortgageMatch.com. Having enough money set aside for a downpayment is a key component. Also, don’t put all your money in the downpayment as other fees or unexpected expenses often arise after closing.
Don’t fall in love with a house you can’t buy
Find out how much you can afford, including how much money will be required for a downpayment and closing costs. Look for special loans available from FHA and government-sponsored loans for first-time homebuyers that reduce the amount of money required to get into a home.
Learn the lingo
Since first-time buyers are new to the market and will finance a significant portion of their purchase, it’s important to get familiar with the processes and terminology associated with home buying. Here are a few key terms from MortgageMatch.com:
• Bait Rate: Misleading mortgages with low rate promises and no contingencies generally for those with extraordinary credit. Rates are based on: credit, debt-to-income and loan-to-value ratios, the size and type of loan, property location and the day you lock your rate, etc. The loan isn’t locked until the application is accepted. By then, it may be too late to find a better rate from another lender.
• Basis Point: A term used in the mortgage industry, which simply means 1/100th of 1 percent.
• Closing Costs: The fees required to process and close your loan. They’re a cash obligation running from three to five percent of the purchase price. Motivated sellers might pay a portion of these costs.
• FHA: Federal Housing Administration, the federal government agency that oversees the U.S. housing market. FHA loans are loans insured by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
• FRM and ARM: A fixed-rate mortgage loan (FRM) is a loan where your interest rate stays the same for the life of the loan. ARMs are adjustable rate mortgages with variable interest rates that fluctuate based on an agreed-upon index.
• GFE: The Good Faith Estimate (GFE) is a document explaining all costs involved in getting a loan.
• TIL: The Federal Truth-in-Lending Form is a document that spells out the costs and fees of the loan.
• Lis Pendens: An official notice that there is a pending lawsuit over real estate.
• Per Diem Interest: Interest you pay per day, from the day you close to the last day of the month.
• Underwriting and Underwriting Fees: Underwriting is a process the lender performs to qualify a borrower for a loan, and the fee is what you pay the lender at closing to cover evaluating the risk involved with loaning you money.
• Warranty Deed: A legal document guaranteeing the seller has a right to sell a property, which is very important if you are considering a distressed or discounted property.
If now isn’t the right time, prepare for your future purchase
If now isn’t the right time to buy a home, make a plan with a target date for when you expect to be ready. Improving your credit, paying down debt, stabilizing your work history and calculating exactly how much you can afford, are the best ways to prepare for your future home purchase. It’s also important to refrain from making any new large purchases or applying for new credit.

© 2011 Florida Realtors®

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