Danilo Alayon is a fifth-generation “Conch” born and raised in Key West, an avid diver, a self-taught artist and proud grandson of the creator-painter of the island’s famed Southernmost Point buoy.

Danilo has embraced a unique form of artistry: he converts old, nicked and rusty scuba tanks into sustainable and luminously colorful works.

Through his original creations, Danilo draws attention to the Florida Keys’ underwater marine life with brilliant paintings of marlin, whales, dolphins, grouper, sea turtles and coral.

Danilo hails from a large Key West–rooted family that includes a brother and 12 first cousins. As a student in the island city, he was known for winning school art contests.

After high school, Danilo held a variety of jobs that included working at a yacht club kitchen and his family’s plumbing business. Today, he paints during about half of his working time and also tackles landscape design projects.

Now 35 years old, Danilo began painting scuba tanks about five years ago after a client suggested it as a commission. One collector, who doesn’t dive, has purchased five. The artist also paints spearfishing guns, guitars and canvas works.

Inspired by internationally renowned marine life artist Wyland, Danilo has collaborated with Hawaii-based artist Walfrido Garcia on a dive tank project on the Big Island and Maui. Danilo also created a colorful abstract 4-by-7.5-foot painting in the lobby of the Wyvern Hotel in Punta Gorda, Florida.

“I believe art can be taught, but I also believe you are born with (a talent),” he said. “I’m self-taught, but always learning new things.”

Although he recently purchased property in Port Charlotte, Florida, where some of his family members are relocating, Danilo can be found frequently around town and at Art on Duval Key West at 714 Duval St.

He and wife Ashley have three children: Alina, 14; Danilo, 11; and Austin, 7. In the near future, he hopes to open his own gallery.

Keys Voices: When did you first come to the Keys and why? 

Danilo Alayon: I was born in Key West in 1987. My home has always been Key West.

KV: What aspects of the Keys environment or way of life matter most to you? 

DA: The preservation of our coral reefs. Without them, all life would cease to exist. The coral reefs are also what give the Florida Keys their special beauty.

KV: Who or what inspired you to become passionate about respecting and protecting the Keys’ natural world? 

DA: My inspiration for creating my artwork is highly influenced by the creation all around us. I also have been inspired to create by spending many hours with my grandfather Danny Acosta, who is a sign painter and who has made his mark in Key West for many years. He is the original creator and painter of the Southernmost Point buoy that every tourist stops to take a picture with. 

KV: How does that passion influence your work? 

DA: When I create new pieces of art, it doesn’t feel like a job. I only paint from personal inspiration, without a deadline, so that the work doesn’t feel forced.

KV: What are some ways, personally or through your work, that you connect with or help to protect the local environment and unique lifestyle? 

DA: I hope that people will fall in love with the marine life and seascape pieces I create and see the beauty this world has to offer. It may move them to recycle more or leave less of a carbon footprint. In one way, I am trying to do this personally by painting old scuba tanks instead of them being trashed into a huge landfill. I create works of art that people can enjoy in their homes for many years.

KV: What keeps you energized, challenged or focused on your path? 

DA: My family and the natural world of the Keys help to provide inspiration.

KV: What do you hope your positive environmental actions will accomplish? 

DA: Change, so that our children grow up and are able to experience the beauty of creation.

KV: What’s your favorite natural or eco-friendly activity in the Keys? 

DA: Fishing, diving and spending time with family at the beach.

KV: What message do you want your actions and example to communicate to people you encounter? 

DA: Awareness that we all can do a little — and if we all do a little, in turn we will accomplish a lot.

Whether you’re pining for a Keys vacation but can’t get away quite yet, or are prepping for an upcoming trip to the island chain, you’ll want to watch “The Florida Keys: 200 Years of Paradise,” slated to debut this spring on Public Broadcasting Service channels across the U.S.

The fascinating 60-minute TV documentary explores the culture and history of the Keys from the early 1800s to the present. It was produced by South Florida PBS for broadcast during the island chain’s bicentennial year — this year — that commemorates the Florida Legislature’s establishment of Monroe County on July 3, 1823.

The program (partially underwritten by the Keys tourism council) takes you on a journey through the region’s dramatic history, seen through the eyes of residents who live and interpret that history every day.

Topics include the Florida Keys’ booms and busts, cultural and artistic expression, sport fishing and community leaders, industries like shipwreck salvage, natural disasters and renewal, environmental conservation and the legacy of Black pioneers.

Comments from Keys historians and others introduce viewers to the human side of the island chain’s two centuries of history — giving the story a deeply personal flavor.

“The Florida Keys: 200 Years of Paradise” is to be distributed nationally by American Public Television beginning March 1, and it’s expected to air on some 249 public television stations around the country. So check your local listings for scheduled airtimes to make sure you don’t miss it.

Meanwhile, three events are slated in Key West that showcase different elements of the Keys’ intriguing two-century cultural heritage.

Presidents in Paradise. Descendants of former president Harry S. Truman and five other U.S. commanders in chief will discuss their famous relatives and American bipartisanship Saturday, Feb. 18, at Key West’s Harry S. Truman Little White House.

The Presidential Family Forum is the centerpiece of Presidents Day weekend activities at the 111 Front St. residence — the place where Truman spent 11 working vacations during his 1945-1953 administration. Today the property is Florida’s only presidential museum.

In addition, Clifton Truman Daniel (former President Truman’s oldest grandson) will star as his grandfather in the one-man play “Give ‘Em Hell, Harry!” Sunday and Monday, Feb. 19-20. A seasoned actor and author, Clifton is the first direct descendant to portray a presidential ancestor in a stage production — and this one is absolutely unforgettable.

A Conch-Centric Celebration. Join several dozen other people and attempt to “blow your own horn” in Key West Saturday, March 4, during a celebration of the Florida Keys’ rich history known as the Conch Shell Blowing Contest.

In the 19th century, when Key West’s economy was largely based on salvaging cargoes from sinking ships, seafarers used the conch’s fluted pink-lined shells as signaling devices — blowing piercing blasts to attract attention. Today native-born residents refer to themselves as Conchs and the Florida Keys island chain is often called the Conch Republic.

The “conch honk” challenge is presented each spring by the Old Island Restoration Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the architectural and cultural heritage of Key West. In the lush garden of the island’s Oldest House Museum, 322 Duval St., entrants vie to see who can coax the most impressive sounds from their “instrument.”

Remembering Tennessee. Internationally renowned playwright Tennessee Williams, who lived in Key West for more than 30 years, once said of his chosen home, “I work everywhere, but I work best here.” Explore his writing and life in the island city during the Tennessee Williams Birthday Celebration, with events scheduled throughout March.

Expected highlights include guided curator tours of the Tennessee Williams Museum, located at 513 Truman Ave. Birthday month activities also include screenings of films based on Williams’ plays, a walking tour of the playwright’s Key West, a lecture and readings, a theater production and a commemoration of the 112th anniversary of Williams’ March 26 birth.

What else is going on in Key West and the Keys over the next few months? Just check here — and then catch the PBS documentary and begin planning your next visit.

Want to help celebrate the 20th “birthday” of the fabulous Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory? Then be at 1316 Duval St. between midmorning and 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, for a kid-centric family fun day and free admission to the renowned attraction.

Twenty years ago, in January 2003, business partners George Fernandez and Sam Trophia debuted the 13,000-square-foot Key West facility — a wonderland devoted to the creatures sometimes called “flowers of the sky.”

The founders’ goal was simple yet profound: to educate and inspire visitors, who typically range from tiny children to seniors, by providing a close-up look at the incredible wonders of the butterfly world. Today, 20 years later, the conservatory still does just that.

In a climate-controlled 5,000-square-foot glass-enclosed habitat, it houses many hundreds of live butterflies from more than 60 species, plus over 20 varieties of exotic birds, in a breathtaking tropical garden that calls to mind a perfect, unspoiled rainforest.

Entering the facility, you’ll first explore educational displays that offer insights into aspects of the butterfly’s life — identification and country of origin, anatomy and physiology, and the awe-inspiring annual migration of the Monarchs.

But you’ll really feel the magic when you step into the butterfly habitat itself. There you can stroll among hundreds of delicate winged creatures, ranging from the glittering Blue Morpho to the vivid Emerald Swallowtail, as they soar and dip and dance between thousands of tropical plants and trees. It’s easy to lose track of time when you’re following their mesmerizing flight — and if you’re lucky, one of the colorful “flowers” might flutter to rest briefly on your arm or shoulder.

However, that’s not all. In one corner of the habitat, you can watch butterflies actually being born — getting a rare glimpse of the hatching process through the wide windows of the “miracle of metamorphosis” observatory.

Actually, the “hatching” of the center was as intricate and intriguing as that of a butterfly. George and Sam spent many years planning it, took research trips to 13 butterfly facilities throughout the world, and invested significant amounts of money and creativity into making it as perfect as possible.

In July of 2013, some other unique creatures joined the butterflies at the acclaimed attraction: two pink flamingos.

A male and a female, the breathtaking pink birds were bred in Toronto. Coincidentally, since the species is often associated with love and romance, the pair was born on Valentine’s Day 2012. Ultimately, they were dubbed Rhett and Scarlett.

Visitors can watch the lovely birds in their private pond as they “dance” — gently moving their feet to stir up food in the water — and enjoy their lives in the rainforest-like habitat.

As well as flamingos and butterflies, the conservatory also houses a stunning collection of Sam Trophia’s butterfly art. He has spent more than three decades preserving the beauty of the winged creatures in original artwork.

If you’re in Key West for the Jan. 21 “birthday party,” as well as viewing the conservatory’s inhabitants you can enjoy crafts and activities for kids and families, picnic-style food, games, giveaways and plenty of other fun for all ages.

But if you can’t be there in January, don’t worry — the Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory is open year-round with offerings that include daily explorations, guided twilight tours and super-popular small-group “flamingle” encounters with Rhett and Scarlett.

So get a VIP preview here, and put the natural wonderland on the must-see list for your next trip to Key West. You’ll be SO glad you did!

Ever since the Florida Keys were settled two centuries ago, the island chain has been known for its residents’ adventurous seafaring spirit. Today, that spirit remains among the Keys’ most appealing attributes. And contemporary visitors can find it in museums and attractions, tales of sunken treasure and dive trips to famed shipwreck sites.

Many early settlers in Islamorada and Key West were wreckers — salvaging goods from ships that sank along the continental United States’ only living coral barrier reef, which runs parallel to the Keys. While the wreckers’ strict code mandated rescuing crews and passengers first, they also profited from salvaged cargo. In the mid-1800s, wrecking made Key West the wealthiest city per capita in the U.S.

Keys visitors can relive that era at the Upper Keys’ Indian Key Historic State Park, a small island that was once a busy port established by wrecker Jacob Housman in the 1800s, or at the Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum, featuring re-enactors and salvaged artifacts.

A century earlier, fleets of Spanish galleons regularly sailed past the Keys carrying goods and treasures from the New World back to Spain. Many sank in the area, including 13 ships from Spain’s 1733 fleet.

Among the galleons was La Capitana, the flagship of the 1733 fleet, which sank off the Upper Keys. In the late 1930s, pioneering diver Art McKee began salvaging the vessel’s remains — recovering cannons, silver and gold coins, weapons, navigational instruments and silver bars.

Dubbed the father of modern treasure diving, McKee also uncovered the sites of the Infante, Herrera, Chaves, San Pedro and San José. His exploits are chronicled in a remarkable exhibit at the Florida Keys History of Diving Museum in Islamorada.

The Keys’ most famous wreck is immortalized at Key West’s Mel Fisher Maritime Museum. The museum showcases artifacts and treasures from the Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha, lost in a 1622 hurricane and discovered off Key West in 1985 by shipwreck salvager Mel Fisher. Items on display include gold chains, cannons, navigational instruments, coins and heavy silver bars.

Today’s adventurers can indulge their own seafaring spirit by diving the Keys’ Shipwreck Heritage Trail. Featuring nine wreck sites stretching from Key Largo to Key West, the trail was established by the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary to spotlight the island chain’s rich maritime history.

Its wrecks range from McKee’s San Pedro to modern cargo and military ships and artificial reefs. Among them is the Thunderbolt, intentionally sunk in 1986 some 4 miles south of Marathon in 120 feet of water.

Three other significant vessels also beckon Keys divers. The 510-foot Spiegel Grove, the third-largest ship ever intentionally sunk to create a new reef, is positioned about 6 miles off Key Largo in 130 feet of water. It has attracted divers, fish and other marine life since its 2002 sinking.

The 210-foot freighter Adolphus Busch Senior lies in Lower Keys waters approximately 5 miles southwest of Big Pine Key. Divers have been exploring the artificial reef since it was sunk in 1998.

The second-largest vessel ever to be sunk as an artificial reef is the 523-foot General Hoyt S. Vandenberg, scuttled in 2009 about 7 miles off Key West. Its hull rests on sand at depths averaging 145 feet, but its superstructure rises to about 45 feet below the surface.

Only a few ships that sank in Florida Keys waters carried gold or other rich cargoes. But from Spanish galleons to modern-day artificial reefs, they all offer treasured adventures for divers.

To start the New Year off on a tasty note, Keys Voices presents a VIP preview of an upcoming culinary extravaganza written by travel blogger, cookbook author, adventurer and longtime Key West resident Donna Shields.

Donna’s own blog, Open Mind Adventure, is for those seeking the hidden gems of travel. For example, check out her 17 Best Key West Happy Hours for 2023 … but first, tempt your appetite with her insights here on one of Key West’s leading annual events.

If you’ve ever wanted to savor and sip the foods and wines of Argentina, that’s exactly what you can do at the 2023 Key West Food & Wine Festival, set for Jan. 25-29 on the subtropical island at the southernmost tip of the Florida Keys.

Now in its 14th year, the festival is sponsored by Ocean Sotheby’s International Realty and has won accolades from around the U.S. Most recently, it was named the  Best Wine Fest of 2022 in the USA Today Readers’ Choice Awards.

With a “Viva Argentina” theme this year, the agenda is jam-packed with events for foodies and wine enthusiasts alike — all taking place at enticing Key West hotspots and landmarks. Event tickets can be purchased individually, but hurry because this much fun won’t be available for long.

Wednesday, Jan. 25: The fun kicks off with a Malbec tasting led by a Master Sommelier, one of only 269 in the world today, and she will be available throughout the entire festival. Once you wet your whistle at the tasting, head over to the Welcome Reception and Carnival de Buenos Aires. The Gaucho Parade culminates with an extravagant party with handpicked wines from Argentina at the outdoor restaurant Viva Argentinian Steakhouse.

Thursday, Jan. 26: Master the art of making empanadas at the Empanada Making, Eating & Wine Lunch at Frita’s Garden. Now that’s a way to spend the afternoon! The evening’s star attraction is the Che Guevara Piattelli Vineyard Wine Dinner at the Banyan Tree Garden, where the theme is “From Argentine Marxism to Cuban Revolution.” A unique feature of this stunning event is that it’s produced totally by females, from the winemaker to the sommelier to the chef to the food historian.

Friday, Jan. 27: Chimichurri, the national sauce of Argentina, gets top billing at the Choripan & Chimichurri Lunch at Viva Argentinian Steakhouse. It’s a fiesta of sparkling wine and the beloved chorizo sausage. The evening event, held at the one-of-a-kind Lost Beach at Island Farm, is a traditional asado (the Argentine version of a BBQ) paying homage to Francis Mallmann, one of Argentina’s celebrity chefs.

Saturday, Jan. 28: Because the Thursday empanada-making event sold out so quickly, it’s been scheduled again for Saturday. And further demonstrating the popularity of these events, the Eva Peron Wine Lunch, held in the garden of the historic Audubon House & Tropical Gardens, is also sold out. Instead, foodies can savor the evening’s SLaM Grand Tasting at the Key West Lighthouse and Keeper’s Quarters, where wines from the San Juan, La Rioja and Mendoza regions will be featured alongside a curated selection of traditional foods.

(And FYI, because chimichurri will be served at multiple events throughout the festival, guests can vote on their favorite chef and version of the sauce for a chance to win a prize.)

Sunday, Jan. 29: The flavorful festival is capped by the Last Tango in Cayo Hueso Brunch, complete with tango dancers, at KAYA Island Eats’ Gran Patio Trasero. The featured beverage is at the Yerba Mate Ritual Bar, where you’ll learn how to make your own tea-like infusion from the traditional leaves. And a leisurely afternoon at the food and wine edition of the Key West Artisan Market, held directly across from the oceanfront Higgs Beach, is the perfect way to wind up your visit.

If you can’t make it to Key West this month for the Food & Wine Festival, put it on your calendar for January 2024. And in the meantime, check out the great food and drink to explore throughout the Florida Keys.

Sunny, breezy subtropical holidays in the Florida Keys & Key West are filled with warmth and good cheer throughout the 125-mile-long island chain. From Key Largo to Key West, the 2022 holiday season features spirited events such as lighted boat parades, historic inn tours, only-in-the Keys frivolity, sparkling waterfront celebrations and other island festivities.

In the weeks leading up to the holidays, check out the enchanting events listed here.

Now through Dec. 10: Zonta’s Festival of Trees. The Zonta Club of Marathon, a women’s service organization, offers a free-admission display of decorated trees at its 12th Annual Festival of Trees at Marathon Garden Club, 5270 Overseas Highway. Attractions also include “Lunch with the Grinch” Saturday, Dec. 10. The upscale ticketed “Toast to the Season” is scheduled that evening at the garden club with champagne, music, libations and tasty treats. A drawing for all trees and holiday baskets is set for 9 p.m. While admission to the Festival of Trees is free, raffle tickets can be purchased for a chance to win a favorite tree.

Now through Dec. 23: Old Town Trolley’s Holiday Sights & Festive Nights Tours. The popular green and orange trolleys, festively adorned with holiday lights, showcase Key West’s best-decorated neighborhoods, buildings and homes on fun-filled 60-minute excursions. Tours depart each evening from the island city’s Mallory Square at 6:30, 7, 8 and 8:30 p.m.

Dec. 9: Key West Art & Historical Society Holiday Bazaar. The Key West Art & Historical Society hosts its sixth annual concert and holiday shopping event on the sweeping porch and walkway of the historic Custom House Museum at 281 Front St. The 5-9 p.m. free-admission event features a holiday light show produced by Key West High School’s Conch 5 Studios, unique gifts crafted by local artisans, musicians, choirs, food, libations and photos with Santa.

Dec. 9, 10 and 11: Lighted Boat Parades. Lighted and festively decorated boats, from fishing craft and cruisers to tall ships, are to cruise waters surrounding the Florida Keys. Celebrate the season with the Holiday Lighted Boat Parade of Stock Island (Dec. 9); the Key Largo Boat Parade on Blackwater Sound, themed “A Cartoon Christmas”; the Schooner Wharf Bar/Absolut Vodka Lighted Boat Parade (Dec. 10) around the Key West Historic Seaport and harbor; or the Key Colony Beach Christmas Boat Parade (Dec. 11).

Dec. 9 and 16: Holiday Historic Inn Tours. Old Town Key West is filled with unique historic inns, and two Friday evenings of 6-8 p.m. tours offer a chance to glimpse lavish decorations and experience holiday cheer, treats at bed-and-breakfast properties and two popular Key West attractions.

Dec. 10: Pops in the Park Concert “Joy to the World.” Islamorada’s family-friendly, free-admission holiday concert, themed “Joy to the World,” offers traditional and pops music by the Florida Keys Community Concert Band. The Burton Bell Ringers are to be special guests. Attendees can bring chairs and blankets to the 4-5 p.m. outdoor concert at Founders Park’s amphitheater, mile marker 87 bayside.

Dec. 11: Christmas on the Sheriff’s Animal Farm. Children and adults love visiting the unique Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Animal Farm, just northeast of Key West at 5501 College Road on Stock Island. The farm, open 1-3 p.m. on the second and fourth Sundays of each month, is educational for visitors and a haven for feathered, furry and fluffy creatures that are nurtured and cared for by jail inmates. Holiday highlights include photos with Santa.

Dec. 15: Third Thursday Art Walk. Showcasing the area’s fine arts, music and culinary nuances, Islamorada’s Morada Way Arts & Cultural District features national and local artisans whose work is showcased in galleries at Morada Way between mile markers 81 and 82, as well as beer tastings and live music. Admission is free to this outdoor pre-holiday celebration. The 6-9 p.m. Art Walk is held the third Thursday of each month.

Dec. 17: Winter Wonderland at Crane Point. At Crane Point Hammock Museum & Nature Trails, 5550 Overseas Highway in Marathon, families can enjoy an evening winter wonderland. Attractions are to include reindeer ponies and Santa Claus, holiday decorations, a chocolate fountain, other seasonal treats and libations for purchase — plus a forecast of snow!

While this listing outlines a handful of the Florida Keys’ seasonal highlights, there are plenty of other colorful festivities to enjoy as well. A complete roster of holiday activities and special events throughout the Keys can be viewed here.

A group of 15 young rescued sea turtles (one of them a tiny baby) was recently released in Gulf Stream waters off Key West by a dedicated duo from the Florida Keys-based Turtle Hospital — and they were assisted in this worthy endeavor by members of a powerboat racing team who were on the island to compete in the sport’s world championship.

The released reptiles included a juvenile green sea turtle dubbed “Ian” for Hurricane Ian, whose tropical storm-force winds brushed the Key West area in late September.

The little guy was found buried in about a foot of seaweed by a family cleaning up around a boat ramp after the storm — so 8-year-old Khannan Mellies and his family promptly named their unexpected “guest” Ian and reached out to the Turtle Hospital.

The Turtle Hospital’s manager, Bette Zirkelbach, reported that Ian and three other green sea turtles, three hawksbills and eight loggerheads were all released Nov. 12 into a sargassum weed line about 20 miles off Key West in the Gulf Stream. (Sargassum acts as camouflage for young turtles, so it’s an ideal habitat for their stage of life.)

According to Bette, Ian and most of his cohorts were “washbacks” — a term for turtles washed ashore from the Gulf Stream by a storm’s wind and water action. All were cared for at the Turtle Hospital after being found.

The turtles were carried to the release point by a fleet mate of the 39-foot TS Motorsports MTI powerboat that was competing in the 450R Factory Stock class in Race World Offshore’s 2022 Key West Offshore World Championship.

Helping with the release were Taylor Scism, driver of the boat during the championship series; her father Randy Scism, a veteran powerboat racer; Captain Jack Carlson; and Turtle Hospital founder and director Richie Moretti.

The world’s first veterinary facility of its kind, the Turtle Hospital has been rescuing, rehabilitating and returning turtles to the wild for over 30 years. It’s located in Marathon, at mile marker 48.5 on the Florida Keys Overseas Highway, and visiting it provides an inspiring example of environmental passion in action.

Daily educational tours introduce visitors to the resident sea turtles (some are recovering “patients,” and some are permanent inhabitants whose conditions make their release impossible), as well as the hospital’s healing programs for loggerhead, green, hawksbill and Kemp’s ridley turtles.

In addition to their curative efforts, founders and staff work tirelessly to raise public awareness about sea turtles and their needs, collaborate with state universities on sea turtle research, and work toward environmental legislation that makes the beaches and water safer and cleaner for their charges.

The longstanding relationship between the hospital and Florida Keys powerboat race organizers was built on a mutual desire to safeguard the sea turtles, manatees and dolphins that inhabit Keys waters. Before and during each race in the annual championship series, Richie and Bette scan the racecourse from a helicopter to spot any marine wildlife that might be on or near it.

Race World Offshore’s Key West Offshore World Championship wrapped up Sunday, Nov. 13 — and TS Motorsports, with Taylor Scism driving and legendary racer John Tomlinson as throttleman, won the championship in their class.

But despite that impressive victory, the biggest “winners” during the team’s Key West sojourn were clearly Ian and his fellow turtles — who are beginning a new life in the Gulf Stream, thanks to the good-hearted racers and the dedicated group from the Turtle Hospital.

More than half a century ago, Captain Gainey Maxwell conceived a way to encourage people to visit and fish Florida Keys waters — and then come back to do it again. He called it the Key West Fishing Tournament.

The captain, who passed away several years ago after a life rich in experience, had an impressive set of credentials by the time he founded the tournament in 1965. A Navy veteran who ran fishing boats while he served, he subsequently skippered the Lookout III, a 50-footer with two staterooms for overnight trips.

He formatted the tournament in part to showcase the incredible variety of species awaiting anglers in Keys waters.

“I started it to get people interested in coming back and catching different fish,” Captain Gainey said during a 2015 interview. “We’d go fish over wrecks or in shallow water just to change and get different kinds of fish.

“The main thing is just to enjoy it and have fun doing it,” he added.

Today, an impressive 46 backcountry and offshore species are targeted during the free-entry tournament’s eight-month span. The 2023 challenge begins Dec. 1, 2022, and continues through July 31, 2023.

With divisions for men, women, junior anglers ages 10 to 15 and Pee Wees under 10 years old, the event provides a test of skill for seasoned anglers while developing newcomers’ interest in the sport.

It’s also known for motivating parents to introduce their favorite on-the-water activity to their kids. Family members from several generations sometimes compete together, bonding over the shared pursuit.

Among the most motivated young anglers is Miami’s Julia Bernstein. Fishing in the Pee Wee division in 2021, when she was 10 years old, she eclipsed her competitors to earn the division’s Master Angler award — for achievements including a remarkable 104 releases. Her catches included a 23.8-pound Jack Crevalle on 30-pound line that earned a tournament weight record, a 24.8-pound barracuda on 20-pound line that earned divisional “heaviest fish” honors, four other “heaviest fish” winners and three division leaders.

Julia continued her winning streak in the 2022 tournament, then competing in the junior division and earning the division’s out-of-county Master Angler designation with accomplishments that included 41 releases. Notable among them was a 20-pound permit caught on 12-pound line.

In the 2023 challenge as in past years, anglers that post the heaviest catch of each of 33 species earn recognition and trophies. Six different line classes and three artificial casting categories further heighten the competition.

Other awards recognize the most releases of barracuda, blue marlin, bonefish, dolphin fish, permit, sailfish and tarpon. In keeping with the Keys’ eco-conscious ethic to protect the fishery, the tournament strongly encourages the release of game fish and will not recognize any killed sailfish, marlin, spearfish, tarpon, redfish, warsaw grouper or shark for award purposes.

The respected tournament draws at least a thousand entries each year, and entrants can fish from a boat, bridge or land. Visiting and resident fishing aficionados can enter their catches at a tournament weigh station in the Lower Keys or Key West — OR they can enter by submitting photos of their fish at this link.

All participants receive certificates noting their catches and qualify for a variety of awards, including the coveted Master Angler titles.

Now celebrating its 58th anniversary, the Key West Fishing Tournament still adheres to the principles and purpose that Gainey Maxwell established for it in 1965.

“Gainey Maxwell had a vision to organize a tournament to promote the diverse sportfishing in the Keys,” said current tournament director Doris Harris. “Now, more than 50 years later, the event upholds his goal of showcasing the Keys fishery and providing a positive angling experience.”

One October in Key West, I spotted a dog impersonating an iguana. A man garbed like King Tut strolling down the street beside a mermaid wearing sequined gauze and seashells. Five slightly intoxicated guys in pink tutus and bushy beards. Two bewildered goldfish (you might ask how a goldfish can look bewildered, but these did!) swimming atop a pseudo coral reef made out of reef-printed shower curtains. And so much more that it defies description.

You guessed it … Fantasy Fest was underway.

I have a strong affection for Fantasy Fest. It’s an extravagant display of Key West’s creativity, individuality and flamboyant spirit — where people of all ages, shapes and levels of attractiveness can “play dress up” and feel great doing it.

The over-the-top 10-day festival is internationally recognized for its elaborate costume competitions, live music and theater shows, masquerade parties and lavish grand parade featuring motorized floats and exotically attired marching groups. There’s even a costume contest for pets (where I encountered those bewildered goldfish).

Each year, a different theme provides inspiration for costumes and floats. Fantasy Fest 2022 takes place Oct. 21-30, themed “Cult Classics & Cartoon Chaos” (and believe me, a lighthearted dollop of “chaos” is not unlikely).

Participants are encouraged to draw costume ideas from the festival theme, portraying characters inspired by favorite cartoons and television or film productions with a cult following. Influences might include animated offerings like “Family Guy” or “Underdog,” or Hollywood classics like “Mad Max” or “Pulp Fiction.”

The fun begins Friday, Oct. 21, with the “Thanks for the Memories” Royal Coronation Ball to crown the Fantasy Fest king and queen, held at the Truman Waterfront’s Coffee Butler Amphitheater. Aspiring royals earn their titles by raising funds for the Florida Keys’ A.H. of Monroe organization.

Key West’s Bahamian roots are celebrated that weekend with Friday and Saturday’s family-friendly Goombay street party in historic Bahama Village. Attractions include nonstop live music, food and a spirited salute to the cultural connection between Key West and the Bahamas.

And on Sunday “zombies” are to prowl the island streets, when the Zombie Bike Ride gives a pedal-powered twist to ghoulish fare ranging from Bela Lugosi films to television’s “The Walking Dead.”

Subsequent festival highlights include Wednesday’s Pet Masquerade, where costumed dogs, cats, birds and more prance across the stage at the Coffee Butler Amphitheater. You’ll find people dressed as animals and animals dressed as people during this family-style evening of engaging antics.

Contestants might impersonate Scooby Doo and his cohorts, cartoon feline Garfield, a flock of Angry Birds or even the fantastic Wallace and Gromit of British film fame.

Thursday brings the lavish Headdress Ball, also at the amphitheater, featuring prizes for the best masks and headdresses. Typically sporting feathers, glitter and glitzy accessories, many entries tower above their wearers’ heads in a fine display of design artistry.

The cartoon chaos takes to the streets Friday, Oct. 28, during the Captain Morgan Masquerade March, sometimes called the locals’ march for the large number of Florida Keys residents that participate each year — sharing their costuming creativity and party-loving spirit with visiting festival fans. Together, the vividly garbed marchers promenade from Key West’s Frances Street to an after-party at the Green Parrot Bar on Whitehead Street.

Other scheduled standouts include the mini-but-mighty “Smallest Parade in the Universe,” tutu and toga parties, multigenre musical salutes, themed costume contests and the fun-filled Fantasy Market at Truman Waterfront Park.

The festivities will be most spectacular, however, during the Bud Light Fantasy Fest Parade, when brilliantly-conceived floats travel Key West’s downtown streets to the cheers of some 60,000 spectators. Walking groups dressed in bright robes and feathers add fire and color to the procession — as do the cleverly costumed revelers gleefully following the floats.

All reflecting the event’s freewheeling creativity, they start at Whitehead and Southard streets, travel down Whitehead toward the Gulf of Mexico, turn onto Front Street and then proceed along Duval Street to the Atlantic Ocean.

Past parade showstoppers have included a “living orchestra” of instruments conducted by an oversized Mozart replica, a prehistoric “Flintstones” ensemble and a massive dragon float and marchers saluting television’s epic “Game of Thrones.”

Whether you’re heading to Key West for Fantasy Fest 2022, planning to glimpse events from home via social media and webcams, or already vowing not to miss next year’s fun, enjoy a full-scale festival preview by clicking here.

In the unforgettable “Pirates of the Caribbean” films, the buccaneers were guided by a code of conduct that was originally created by the Brethren Court of pirate lords. Theoretically, its rules were strict and unbending — but before the end of the first film, heroine Elizabeth Swann convinced the crew of the pirate vessel Black Pearl that “they’re more like guidelines, anyway.”

Though buccaneers are few and far between in the Florida Keys (sometimes called America’s Caribbean), Keys residents and others who love the island chain are definitely guided by a code of conduct.

This code was designed to protect a treasure richer than any pirate gold — the region’s amazing natural environment. The Florida Keys are paralleled by the continental United States’ only living coral barrier reef, which is often called the third largest in the world. Much like a tropical rainforest, the reef ecosystem supports an incredibly diverse population of plants and animals.

The entire land mass of the Keys is surrounded by the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, which was established in 1990 by the U.S. government. Visitors to the island chain will also find land-based refuges where birds, wildlife and their habitats are protected — including the Lower Keys’ National Key Deer Refuge that’s home to shy, soft-eyed miniature deer the size of large dogs.

So what exactly IS the code of the Keys?

Its core is the 10 Keymandments. Unlike the Bible’s 10 Commandments, which advise people what NOT to do, the Keymandments advise travelers what they CAN do to have a meaningful, memorable vacation while respecting and helping preserve the Keys environment.

Lighthearted yet educational, they’re guidelines for enjoying a sustainable travel experience in the laid-back subtropical spot.

ONE: Plant a coral (or adopt one of the cute little things, but don’t touch them on the reef).

TWO: Support the wildlife (volunteer food, funds or time to a local wild bird center).

THREE: Take out the trash (especially if it’s floating in the water).

FOUR: Capture a lionfish (any time and any size — we can show you how).

FIVE: Leave a digital footprint (share pictures with fans, friends and followers).

SIX: Hike it, bike it or hoof it (it’s low on eco-impact and high on fresh tropical air).

SEVEN: Catch dinner (and release all the fish you know you can’t eat).

EIGHT: Use a mooring buoy at dive sites (save your back and leave the anchor alone).

NINE: Conserve vs. consume (reduce, reuse and recycle even on vacation).

TEN: Get off the beaten path (you can hike, bike, walk, kayak or paddleboard along Keys trails).

While the code of conduct in the “Pirates” films proved to be somewhat elastic, the Keys code should be followed at all times by everyone who cares about the area’s environment. In fact, the Keymandments are a modern-day addition to more than a century of efforts to preserve it.

Discovering the island chain’s natural world is easy with a knowledgeable local eco-tour guide or watersports operator — whether on a kayaking paddle through tranquil waters and surreal mangrove tangles, an excursion to view dolphins in the wild, or a dive or snorkeling trip in America’s first underwater park.

To explore eco-adventures in the Florida Keys, just click here. And don’t forget … to protect and preserve the Keys’ environmental treasures, always follow the code.