Captain Vaughn was great.  Started off in the mangroves of Key West, and then out to some smaller islands.  He told us the history of Key West and all kinds of interesting facts/stories about the islands that make up Key West.  Pick up spot was easy.  He was quick to respond to any text messages that I sent him before the trip.  Our party was 4 adults.  We enjoyed the locations that he took us to.  He had snorkel gear and paddle boards for us.  He also supplied a cooler with ice and drinks, with plenty of room to add our snacks and drinks.
Highly recommend Captain Vaughn.  We will use him again for your next trip to Key West.

Vaughn was awesome to go out with. We loved boating through the mangroves out to the open water. Our perfect day was going to sandbars to explore, which is exactly what we did. We were also able to snorkel and use Vaughn’s paddle boards during our stops. It was myself, my husband, my 13 year old and his friend and my 9 year old. There was a perfect amount of space for all of us, with comfy boat chairs. Vaughn grew up in key west, so he’s super knowledgeable about the good spots to go and to watch the tides. Five stars for sure, cant wait til next time with the walkie talkies!

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This was one of the coolest experiences we had in Key West. Instead of meeting at a crowded marina, we met the captain at his house, which sits right on a narrow mangrove canal. Walking through his backyard and stepping directly onto the boat felt like being invited into a true local Key West experience. It was such a unique and relaxed way to start the trip.
From there we took about a 20-minute ride out through the mangroves and open water to a beautiful sandbar where other boaters were hanging out. The captain set us up with beach chairs so we could relax in the shallow water, and he was incredibly attentive—bringing us drinks whenever we needed them.
Later we cruised over to another small island where he had paddleboards ready for us to use, which made exploring the area even more fun.
As if that wasn’t enough, Navy fighter jets were training in the area and flew overhead a few times, which was an unexpected and very cool bonus.
The whole trip felt personal, relaxed, and authentically Key West. If you’re looking for something more special than a typical crowded charter leaving from a marina, this is absolutely the way to do it. Highly recommend Captain Vaughn!

We had a great 4hr charter with Conch Republic charters. Vaughn is a Key West native with so much local history in his family tree. Starting point was in a very unassuming local local canal in a residential area with parking onsite.  Our plan was to sight see and snorkel but increasing winds decided otherwise - Vaughn was flexible and adjusted course.  He shared some great stories and info as we cruised the area, stopping at some great spots to enjoy the water and hammocks.  We would definitely book with him again.  Thanks Vaughn for a great day.

Vaughn was an outstanding guide; both personable and incredibly knowledgeable about Key West’s history. He took us to a variety of secluded islands and beautiful mangroves within the Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge, making the experience feel unique and off the beaten path. He also went above and beyond by providing a cooler, paddleboards, and snorkeling gear, ensuring we had everything we needed for a perfect day on the water. Highly recommend!