careful with the beer and fisherman
The dry tortugas are a great stop over but as mentioned, there are NO PROVISIONS of any type. There is also no discharge of any type, the park rangers will board you, sometimes band your Y valve and check it before you clear out, sometimes.... You can fish within one NM of the light on Garden Key, the rest of the area is a marine sanctuary, no fishing of any type. Holding is not great, had better results with CQR and Bruce type anchors over the years. The fisherman often arrive late in the evening and often leave early in the AM when the weather is good. During bad weather they will hang out for a bit. It is against the law for them to even have alcohol onboard their vessels. Some stick to that, other don't. In the old day's we would trade a 12 pack of beer for a laundry basket full of shrimp. Like most places, it can be crowded but not usually. When the winds pick up the anchorage is a free for all, boats every where. If you drag your anchor over a reef you will be charged by the DEP for your damages. Don't enter or leave at night unless you have to, it can be tricky in getting in and out until you know your way around. Have fun, it is a way kewl place to explore for a couple of days. By the way, there are usually no mosquitoes there so enjoy that little break as well. Not many places in Florida that can say that. Oh yeah, Perry, I agree with you. I'm a born and bred Florida Cracker who just wants to be left alone, just like my relatives did back in the 1860's.