Stock Island Waterfront Webcam, Florida Keys

The Stock Island Waterfront Webcam looks across a marina basin on Stock Island, the working port that sits just east of Key West in the Lower Florida Keys. Large motor yachts are moored right below the camera, a long floating dock runs across the middle of the picture, and rows of sailboats and cruisers fill the far side of the basin in front of a line of palms and mangroves. Another view from the same camera takes in fuel tanks and a red and white striped stack on the far shore. The island’s deep port is shared, serving the shrimp, lobster and stone crab boats and charter guides that tie up here between trips as well as visiting sailboats and cruising yachts. The scene changes through the day as boats come and go, crews work on deck, and the water in the basin turns glassy on calm mornings. Out of the camera’s reach, the neighborhood is also known for its art studios and waterfront places to eat.

About Stock Island and Safe Harbor

Stock Island is the next key up the chain from Key West, separated from it by Cow Key Channel, which is only about 70 meters (75 yards) wide. U.S. 1, the Overseas Highway, crosses the island near mile markers 4 to 6. The island is usually said to take its name from the herds of livestock once kept and shipped here in the 1800s, although another account credits an early settler. The north side holds the Key West Golf Course and the community college campus, while the marinas line the south shore. The census counted 4,410 residents here in 2000.

FloridaKeysTV, which runs this stream, describes Stock Island as the center of the Florida Keys commercial fishing industry for decades, and Safe Harbor is the heart of it. The harbor was once home to an enormous shrimp fleet and two busy boatyards that serviced most of the resident commercial boats. The fleet is much smaller now, with about 10 shrimp boats based on Stock Island, and Key West pink shrimp remain the catch most associated with them. The fishing docks date back to the early 20th century, and by the 1930s the waterfront supported a fleet working lobster and finfish.

The harbor also has a history that has nothing to do with fish. Local lore holds that Safe Harbor was a staging area for the Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba in 1961, and a ferry that once connected Key West with Havana left from a dock across from the Hogfish. Next door, Stock Island Marina Village has 230 slips and is described as the largest deep-water marina in the Keys, taking vessels up to 91 meters (300 feet) long.

Weather and Climate in Stock Island

Stock Island shares the tropical climate of neighboring Key West, and it never really has a cold season. Mid-January is normally the coolest part of the year, with daily highs around 24 C (76 F) and lows near 18 C (65 F). The months from November to May fall outside the rainy season, so the camera often shows clear skies, flat water in the basin and a steady stream of visiting yachts and sailboats alongside the working boats. Humidity stays high all year, averaging 82 percent at 7 in the morning and 69 percent in the early afternoon, which can leave a soft haze over the harbor at first light.

Summer is hot and humid. Late July and early August bring highs near 33 C (91 F) and nights that stay around 27 C (81 F). The rainy season runs from June through October, and most rain falls in short, heavy afternoon bursts, so a dark shower can pass over the boats and move on quickly. Annual rainfall averages about 1,120 millimeters (44 inches), with September usually the wettest month. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June through November, and hurricanes that reach the Keys most often come in August, September and October. In any given year there is about a 22 percent chance of a hurricane making landfall in Monroe County.

Things to Do Near Stock Island

Hogfish Bar and Grill, right on Safe Harbor, is the obvious first stop for a meal on the working waterfront. Stock Island Marina Village has transient slips for anyone arriving by boat, and the charter guides who tie up on Stock Island take fishing trips out from these docks. The COAST enclave and the other art studios around the harbor show work by local artists, and Oceans Edge Resort and Marina is also on the island. Golfers can play the Key West Golf Course on the north side.

In December, the Stock Island Seafaring Festival brings the waterfront together over several days. Its lighted boat parade sends dinghies, schooners and working shrimp boats, all covered in holiday lights, through the local marinas after dark, and the program has included a traditional shrimp boil, live music, studio tours, history tours and a bike ride around the island. Key West is a short drive west across Cow Key Channel, with Duval Street and the historic harbor within easy reach.

Similar Webcams You Might Like

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Stock Island located?

Stock Island is in Monroe County, Florida, in the Lower Florida Keys. It lies immediately east of Key West across Cow Key Channel, around mile markers 4 to 6 on U.S. 1.

What can you see on the Stock Island Waterfront Webcam?

The camera looks over a Stock Island marina basin, with motor yachts moored in the foreground, a floating dock across the middle and rows of sailboats and cruisers in front of a line of palms. The island’s commercial fishing boats and charter boats share the same deep port with these visiting yachts.

What is the weather like in Stock Island?

It is warm all year. Mid-January highs average about 24 C (76 F), while late July and early August reach about 33 C (91 F). Rain comes mostly from June through October in short afternoon storms.

Is Stock Island part of Key West?

No. Stock Island is its own census-designated place on a separate key, but it sits right next to Key West and shares the 33040 ZIP code, so many businesses there use a Key West mailing address.

Why is Stock Island called Stock Island?

The usual explanation is that livestock was kept and shipped from the island in the 1800s. Another account says it was named after an early settler.

What fishing boats show up on the Stock Island Waterfront Webcam?

Safe Harbor is the base for the Florida Keys commercial fleet, including about 10 shrimp boats, along with lobster and stone crab fishermen and charter guides. Transient cruisers and recreational boaters use the same deep port.

When is the Stock Island Seafaring Festival?

The festival takes place in December. Its lighted boat parade, with shrimp boats and other vessels decorated in holiday lights, runs through the Stock Island marinas in the evening.

Source: FloridaKeysTV