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
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.
How to read a nautical chart for fishing? ›
Read the chart numbers to figure out the water's lowest depth. The black numbers printed on the chart represent water depth. Each number indicates the “mean lower low water” (MLLW) in an area. This is the average water depth at low tide, so most of the time the water is deeper than what you see on a chart.
What is fish Haven on a nautical map? ›
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 are boaters required by law to carry local marine charts and Tide Tables? ›
The Charts and Nautical Publications Regulations require that boat operators carry the latest and largest scale versions of the following onboard with them: Local Marine Charts. The required publications and documents (such as 'Current Atlases' and 'Tide Tables').
How to get Navionics for free? ›
After the free Boating app is downloaded to your device, simply open the app, login or create a Garmin Navionics account, and tap the Start Free Trial button to download any area in the world and begin.
How do I download a chart? ›
You can download charts in SVG, PNG, or PDF format.
- On your computer, open a spreadsheet in Google Sheets.
- Click your chart.
- At the top right of the chart, click More. Download as.
- Choose your file type.
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. Cruisers in island anchorages often dive on sand bottoms to make sure the boat anchor buries up to the top of the shank.
What are the squiggly lines on a nautical chart? ›
Islets (small islands)
Islets surrounded by a wavy, squiggly line cover and uncover with the tide. At higher tides, the islet will be covered. A number indicates its height above water when uncovered at lower tidal stages.
How do you read seconds on a nautical chart? ›
Each minute is broken into 60 seconds, allowing for the pinpointing of exact locations. There is always an equal distance between lines of latitude, and therefore they are able to be used for measurement. One minute of latitude equals one nautical mile, or 1.1508 land miles.
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.
a. B-422.8: Foul Ground is an area over which it is safe to navigate but which should be avoided for anchoring, taking the ground or ground fishing (for example: remains of wreck; cleared platform).
What is the asterisk on a nautical chart? ›
The basic rock symbol looks like a plus sign (not shown here) and indicates rock that's beneath the water surface all the time. The rock awash symbol (which resembles an asterisk) means the rock will uncover (become visible) at low tide.
What should you use if a marine chart is not available? ›
If a nautical chart or publication is not available for a body of water, topographic maps can be a useful navigation tool.
When in a narrow channel, where should you navigate your boat? ›
When approaching a narrow channel, stay to the starboard side and, using a prolonged blast, announce your approach to vessels that may be around the bend. When operating within a narrow channel, vessels must keep as near as is safe and practical to the outer limit of a narrow channel on their starboard side.
Is there a nautical version of Google Maps? ›
We believe planning a sailing trip should be just as quick and simple, which is why we created savvy navvy. Think of us as Google Maps for sailing, or as the only navionics alternative on the market.
Is there a free marine navigation app? ›
Free to Use. With Argo you get easy-to-use navigation and routing, local boating knowledge, and social boating features all in one app! Available on iOS and Android phones and tablets. Argo coverage includes the United States, Canada, and Caribbean.
Can you download Navionics charts? ›
Charts can be downloaded within the Navionics® Boating app during the initial free trial or during an active subscription.
How do I view NOAA nautical charts? ›
You can download an individual ENC and view it in a free viewer like Caris Easy View or use the online ENC viewer hosted on NOAA's Office of Coast Survey website. The ENC Viewer is an especially useful tool in that it allows you to query features by clicking on them.
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!