Plan your next trip with our online nautical charts. We have assembled links to NOAAonline nautical charts. Jump to the bottom of this page for tips and information on how to get free nautical charts. 
NOAA printable nautical charts by area
Northwest | Big Bend | Northeast | Central West | Central East | Southwest | The Keys | Southeast | Florida
What is Obstn Fish Haven on a nautical chart?
Fish havens are artificial shelters or reefs constructed of rocks, concrete, car bodies, and other debris and put on the sea floor to attract fish. Fish havens are often found in the vicinity of fishing ports or major coastal inlets and are usually considered hazards to navigation. Generally these area's are great fishing spots.
Boaters you should use a GPS and have area nautical charts onboard, especially if you are not familiar with the local waters. Staying within nautical markers is encouraged to protect both wildlife and our waterways, and to keep you from getting lost in the back waters.
The waters on the Gulf of Mexico, The Keys, and inshore waterways can be shallow, so knowing your depth is very important to avoid grounding. Frequently check the depth reference on your chart and watch the color of the water - the darker the water appears, the deeper it is. Always keep in mind charts are not always up to date due to our shifting substrate. The coastal waters of the Gulf and The Keys have little structure, so the sandy substrate is constantly shifted around. Sandbars change locations often - an area could be 4 feet deep this month and sandbar or island the next month. It is also very easy to get lost in the 10,000 Islands or the mangrove islands in and around Florida, so use your charts!
The Boating and Angling Guides by FWC are a great resources consisting of area waterway maps and includeinformation on speed zones, marinas and public access boat ramps, and seagrass and mangrove locations. Get your Guide at the Florida Fish & Wildlife website or pick one up locally.
DISCLAIMER: We provide information on this website for your convenience. This information is provided as a guide for Florida fishing & boating and is not conclusive. We will not be responsible for the accuracy of information on referring websites. We will not be held liable for any damages if you rely on the information or regulations listed on this website.
FAQs
How to Read Nautical Charts:
- Study your chart thoroughly.
- Look at the position from which you will start and visually follow along the course you want to take.
- Look for visual cues especially under water including water depths, and obstructions. ...
- Make a note of each of these on a separate piece of paper.
Fish havens are artificial shelters made up of rocks, rubble, subway cars, ships, airplanes, specially designed concrete structures, and other objects placed on the sea floor to attract fish and enhance their habitat. They are often located near fishing ports or major coastal inlets.
What publication does the Canadian Hydrographic Issue to help boaters? ›
Marine charts and tide tables are published by the Canadian Hydrographic Services (CHS). If you're carrying nautical charts onboard they must be updated with information from Notices to Mariners available from CHS, to be sure they contain the latest changes to routes, buoys and water depth. Marine charts depict: Depth.
What do the charts and nautical publications require? ›
The Charts and Nautical Publications Regulations require that boaters carry the latest and largest scale versions of: Local Marine Charts. Required publications and documents such as Current Atlases and Tide Tables.
What does m mean on a nautical chart? ›
An M would mean hard mud. 2. Select the right type of marine anchor. Most any anchor will hold in protected waters in hard or sticky mud or clay.
Are nautical charts accurate? ›
Today, modern nautical charts are produced using computer technology, satellite imagery, and other advanced techniques (such as smart algorithms for routing and multiple data sources for weather data), which have made them more accurate and detailed than ever before.
What does a dot on a nautical map mean? ›
A dot will be shown instead of the circle on older charts. The diamond may be above, below or alongside the circle or dot. The small circle or dot denotes the approximate position of the buoy mooring. The diamond is used to draw attention to the position of the circle or dot and to describe the aid to navigation.
What does PA mean on a nautical chart? ›
For instance 'Shoal Rep' means that shallow water was reported ('Rep') at that position by a mariner, but it has not been surveyed. Stay clear of any area on your navigation chart marked by these abbreviations. PA - Position Approximate. PD - Position Doubtful.
What does "foul" mean on a nautical chart? ›
Foul is a nautical term meaning to entangle or entwine, and more generally that something is wrong or difficult. The term dates back to usage with wind-driven sailing ships.
How can I get a free nautical chart? ›
NOAA PDF nautical charts are digital formats of the traditional paper charts, and are up-to-date to the day they are downloaded. PDF charts are free. NOAA Raster Navigational Charts (NOAA RNC®) are digital images of NOAA's entire suite of paper charts, updated continually with critical corrections.
The red light indicates a vessel's port (left) side; the green indicates a vessel's starboard (right) side.
What is a buoy used to mark natural dangers? ›
An isolated danger buoy is moored on or above an isolated danger that has navigable water all around it. It may be used to mark natural dangers such as small shoals or obstructions such as wrecks.
Do you need nautical charts on board? ›
A: While commercial mariners are obligated to have up to date navigational charts on board, recreational mariners are not required to do so by law. However, virtually all boating experts agree that paper charts are critical to boating safety — for all mariners.
What size vessel is required to carry a magnetic compass? ›
To comply with the Navigation Safety Regulations, all pleasure craft must be equipped with a magnetic compass. The only exception is a pleasure craft 8 metres (26.2 feet) or less in length that is operated within sight of navigation marks.
What are the 5 basic nautical publication used in planning a passage? ›
The following publications should be consulted when voyage planning;
- International Code of Signals (IMO)
- IAMSAR Manual Vol. ...
- Mariners' Handbook (UKHO)
- Merchant Shipping Notices, Marine Guidance Notes and Marine Information Notes (MCA)
- Notices to Mariners (UKHO)
- Notices to Mariners Annual Summary (UKHO)
You'll see the scale represented as a fraction. For example, if the scale is 1:30,000 it means that 1 inch on your chart equals 30,000 inches in real life. In simpler terms, 1 inch is about 0.4 nautical miles. Therefore, one nautical mile will be around 2.5 inches.
How do you read the sea for fishing? ›
An angler's best friends when reading a beach are waves and sunlight. Waves are because they break over the shallow areas and not break as they travel over deeper areas. As they break, white water is produced. Sunlight is a best friend because shallow areas appear light colored while deeper areas darker.
How to read a fishing map? ›
The closer the contour lines are together the faster the drop-off; the wider apart the contour lines, the slower or flatter the fall of the lake bottom. These lines show you how far points come out into the main lake or cove, where humps or ridges are in the main lake and define the main and secondary creek channels.
NOAA printable nautical charts by area 
The waters on the Gulf of Mexico, The Keys, and inshore waterways can be shallow, so knowing your depth is very important to avoid grounding. Frequently check the depth reference on your chart and watch the color of the water - the darker the water appears, the deeper it is. Always keep in mind charts are not always up to date due to our shifting substrate. The coastal waters of the Gulf and The Keys have little structure, so the sandy substrate is constantly shifted around. Sandbars change locations often - an area could be 4 feet deep this month and sandbar or island the next month. It is also very easy to get lost in the 10,000 Islands or the mangrove islands in and around Florida, so use your charts!