The Pink Gold Rush, a 1890s Ghost, and Lobster Mini Season Madness

Hey Keys lovers! If you are heading down the Overseas Highway this week, you might notice a distinct smell in the air — and no, it's not low tide. A massive sargassum seaweed bloom is washing ashore across the island chain, bringing a rotten-egg scent but also providing critical habitat for juvenile sea turtles and mahi-mahi. This week, we are looking at the "Pink Gold Rush" that transformed Key West in the 1950s, a scandalous 1890s eviction that led to one of the island's most famous hauntings, and exactly what you need to know if you are planning to hunt for lobster next month.

Was this forwarded to you? Sign up here to get on Keys Time every week — it's free!

❓ Keys Trivia

How many islands make up the Florida Keys?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.

📣 The Mile Marker Roundup

🌿 Sargassum Bloom Hits the Keys: A massive sargassum seaweed bloom is washing ashore, particularly in Marathon and Islamorada. While the decaying seaweed smells like rotten eggs, it serves as a critical nursery habitat for sea turtles and juvenile fish. County crews are clearing public beaches daily. Read more →

🪸 Tourism Dollars Rebuild Reefs: The Monroe County Tourist Development Council has allocated $2.4 million to coral reef restoration. Partnering with Mote Marine Lab and the Coral Restoration Foundation, the funds will help rebuild reefs devastated by the 2023 marine heatwave. Read more →

🇺🇸 Florida Freedom Tour in Islamorada: The mobile museum celebrating America's 250th anniversary will visit Founders Park in Islamorada on June 30. The free event features interactive exhibits about American independence. Read more →

🎣 Fishing Report: The yellowtail snapper bite remains excellent on the reef edge in 60 to 80 feet of water. Offshore, mahi-mahi are still running strong along weed lines and floating debris, while permit fishing on the flats is offering daily sight-casting opportunities. Read more →

🦞 Lobster Mini Season Countdown: We are exactly 30 days away from the 2026 Lobster Mini Season (July 29-30). If you haven't booked your lodging or boat rental yet, you are officially behind schedule. Read more →

🤝 Partner Spotlight: 30 Days Out — Your Lobster Mini Season Checklist

The two most chaotic days on the Florida Keys water are exactly one month away. Lobster Mini Season hits July 29-30, and preparation is everything.

The bag limit in Monroe County is strictly 6 lobsters per person, per day. You must have a Florida saltwater fishing license and a free recreational lobster permit. Lobsters must have a minimum 3-inch carapace, measured in the water, and must remain whole until you reach shore. Spearing is strictly prohibited — tickle sticks and bully nets only.

Pro tip: Download the NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary map offline before you launch. Harvesting in a no-take zone carries fines up to $10,000. Arrive at the boat ramp by 5:00 a.m., and pre-load your boat the night before.

Read the full 2026 Mini Season Guide here →

🛡️ This Week's Sponsor

Scams are getting smarter every day—but protecting yourself doesn't have to be complicated.

Whether it's a suspicious text, an unexpected email, a fake delivery notice, or a too-good-to-be-true Facebook Marketplace deal, ScamRank helps you spot red flags in seconds before you click.

Take a few seconds now... it could save you thousands later.

🤿 Deep Dive: The Pink Gold Rush

If you walk through the Key West Historic Seaport today, you will see luxury catamarans, sunset cruises, and waterfront restaurants. But in the 1950s, you could walk from one side of the Bight to the other by stepping across the decks of 500 working shrimp trawlers without ever touching the water.

It started in 1949 when massive beds of nocturnal pink shrimp were discovered off the Dry Tortugas. The discovery triggered a frenzy that became known as the "Pink Gold Rush."

Fishermen from across the Gulf Coast flocked to Key West. New docks and a stone breakwater were constructed to handle the massive fleet. By 1965, Monroe County reported landing 7.5 million pounds of pink shrimp — worth $4 million — in just the first six months of the year. At its peak, the industry brought more than $5 million annually into the island economy.

The processing epicenter was the Singleton Fish House and Ice Plant, built by shrimping pioneer Henry "Boots" Singleton. It housed the largest ice plant in North America at the time, chilling the catch before it was shipped north.

The boom lasted 40 years before overfishing, cheap imports, and rising fuel costs decimated the fleet in the late 1980s. Today, the Miss Key West is the only locally owned, active commercial shrimp boat operating out of the Historic Seaport.

But the history remains. The original Singleton Fish House is now the Conch Republic Seafood Company. If you look closely while dining, you can still see the original concrete floors and the drains that once washed the remnants of the Pink Gold Rush out to sea.

Read more about the Pink Gold Rush here →

🏴‍☠️ Lore & Legends: The Ghost of 410 Fleming Street

In 1890, prominent Cuban cigar maker Francisco Marrero built a grand Victorian mansion at 410 Fleming Street in Key West. It was a gift for his beloved wife, Enriquetta, and the place where they would raise their eight children. It was meant to be their forever home.

Then Francisco went on a business trip to Cuba and died under mysterious circumstances.

Heartbroken, Enriquetta's grief turned to shock when a woman named Maria arrived from Cuba. Maria was Francisco's first wife — a woman Enriquetta never knew existed. Because Francisco had never legally divorced Maria, Enriquetta's marriage was invalid. Maria claimed all of Francisco's assets, including the mansion.

Enriquetta and her eight children were publicly evicted, kicked to the curb with nothing. Standing on the sidewalk outside the home she loved, Enriquetta made a vow: she proclaimed that she would always remain at the mansion, even in spirit.

Today, the home is Marrero's Guest Mansion, a 21-and-over boutique hotel. And Enriquetta kept her promise.

Guests frequently report the sudden, distinct smell of lavender — Enriquetta's signature scent. Shadow figures are seen in the hallways, and objects mysteriously move in Suite 7, which was Enriquetta's bedroom. Despite the strict no-children policy, guests and staff regularly hear the sound of children giggling in the stairwells. The door to the former children's playroom is known to lock and unlock on its own, even after the hardware has been replaced multiple times.

But there is nothing malicious about the haunting. Most guests who encounter Enriquetta report an overwhelming feeling of being "welcomed home" the moment they step through the front door.

Read the full story of Enriquetta here →

✅ Trivia Answer

Approximately 1,700 islands.

While the Florida Keys stretch for about 120 miles from Key Largo to Key West, only about 43 of those islands are connected by the Overseas Highway. The vast majority of the 1,700 islands are uninhabited mangrove clusters accessible only by boat.

Bonus fact: The word "key" is derived from the Spanish word "cayo," which translates to "small island."

Until next week, keep your windows down and your watch off.

The Florida Keys Road Trip Team