Local knowledge
We know which creeks open at which tide and where the water turns swimming-pool blue by noon.
About
Locals who never got tired of it.
Mangrove Monkey Charters is a one-boat operation out of Big Pine Key. That's on purpose.
A love letter to the Lower Keys
This whole thing started because it hurt a little to watch people fly hundreds of miles to the Florida Keys and spend the day in traffic. The Keys we love aren't on a souvenir t-shirt. They're the flats behind the mangroves where the water goes still, the sandbar that shows up at low tide, the island where you can hear nothing but your own crew laughing.
So we built the trip we'd want to be on: private, unhurried, and pointed at the places we grew up swimming.
Meet the Captain
Captain Warren Clary
Warren is a full-time Big Pine Key resident — married, with two very spoiled dogs. You'll spot him by the extra-long dreads and a grin that's impossible not to catch.
He's a former member of the Conch Republic Marine Army, where he spent his time cleaning up the mangroves and keeping our waterways clean and safe. That love for this backcountry hasn't faded a bit.
A licensed USCG captain with a deep knowledge of these waterways and the wildlife that lives in them — and, lucky for you, an amazing cook too.
On the water
The Boat
A Hurricane SD 235 deck boat, Yamaha 200
Our Hurricane SD 235 deck boat runs a Yamaha 200 outboard — plenty of power, and a draft shallow enough to reach the spots bigger boats simply can't. There's a bathroom on board, good shade, a swim ladder off the back and plenty of dry storage. Six guests max, so there's room to stretch out.
- Hurricane SD 235 deck boat
- Yamaha 200 outboard
- Onboard bathroom
- Shade from the sun
- Swim ladder
- Float noodles
- Plenty of dry storage
- Ice provided
- Bluetooth speaker
Take a look around
Our Mission
Share the real Florida Keys — and make memories, not itineraries.
Safe boating
USCG licensed, fully insured, and always honest with you about the weather and the water.
Private experiences
Your group only. No strangers, no shared benches, no schedule but yours.
Relaxed atmosphere
Barefoot, unhurried and easygoing. Bring your cooler and your playlist.
Family-friendly
Calm, shallow water and kid-sized life jackets make this the easiest boat day you'll have with children.
Why Big Pine Key
Thirty miles from Key West, a world away
Key West is a great night out. It's not a quiet day on the water. Down here in Big Pine Key, we're surrounded by the National Key Deer Refuge and thousands of acres of protected backcountry — shallow flats, uninhabited islands and sandbars where you're often the only boat in sight.
No cruise ship crowds, no waiting in line, no engine noise. Just the water we'd pick for our own day off.
See our charters