Operator operated his vessel in such a manner as to run aground within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. He was traveling from Naples to Key West. He explained that he traveled from the Gulf of Mexico around  Marquesas Key into the Atlantic. He picked up the markers along the reef line and headed east. As he approached  Sand Key light he realized it was too shallow and backed off the throttles, but it was too late and the vessel ran aground. When I arrived on scene I saw the vessel aground within approximately twenty feet of the Sand Key light. The grounded vessels compass read a bearing of 138 degrees and a position of 24 27.243N, 081 52.662W. The vessel was salvaged by Tow Boat US. No one was injured.
KEY WEST