Square Grouper Are Biting Off The Florida Keys

This isn’t your average fishing report, as square grouper isn’t really a fish. It’s a slang term for drugs, in this case – cocaine.

The term ‘square grouper’ came about in the 1970’s as a term for a bale of marijuana that washed up on the Florida shore. As drug runners encountered authorities out in the open waters, they would dump their cargo overboard. Bales of tightly wrapped weed. These bales would sometimes (and still do) wash up on shore leaving the person finding them to make a decision – call the cops, or take them with you. Obviously calling the police was the safest (albeit less profitable) option.

When cocaine took off in popularity in the 80’s, the square grouper term came to used for either drug. Sometimes it was both, as a kilo of cocaine was sometimes packed within a bundle of marijuana. That’s kind of the Columbian version of a ‘turducken‘.

On Wednesday, scuba divers at the Rainbow Reef Dive Center in Key Largo, Florida were picking up some trash off the Atlantic ocean floor at depth of about 100 feet. At around noontime, they picked up a bag they thought was trash. That’s when they made the discovery of 25 individually wrapped kilograms of cocaine.

Monroe County Sherriff’s office was notified and they then turned the packages over to the U.S. Border Patrol. We’re not really sure why the smugglers put a Nike logo on the product. Maybe a reference to the slogan “Just Do It”? No idea, just spitballin’ here.

A beachgoer picking up trash on Coral Road in Islamorada, Florida found several packages of suspected drugs at approximately 10:45 a.m. Saturday. They too, called to the sheriff’s office who turned it over to Border Patrol.

These finds are actually a little too common on our Florida beaches. So much so that they really don’t grab headlines unless it’s a lot of drugs. But a word of advice, if you do stumble upon a square grouper, calling the cops is the safest move. Drug traffickers may have placed a tracking device within the bales and if they track it back to your house, things probably won’t end well.

Taking your family to a beautiful Florida beach can be so much fun and very relaxing. But what kills the fun almost immediately is when you can't find parking anywhere. Driving around in circles only to see that every lot is full can really get you down. But then there's a glimmer of hope when several parking lots where you can pay to park. Paying $5 or even $10 doesn't seem too bad when you have a car full of kids screaming "Are we there yet?" However, the cost of parking at Clearwater Beach and St. Pete Beach has skyrocketed over the years. If you want to know where the best free or cheap beach parking is look no further.

Our biggest tip for finding free parking at one of the most famous beaches in Tampa Bay is to go early. That might not be ideal if you're traveling from far away but trust us, it's worth it. You're not going to deal with the hassle of fighting for parking with every other family. And if you are fighting for parking the worst part is you'll just be following the same cars from street to street hoping for a spot to open up. Which is unlikely because once you get to the beach you're not leaving for a while. The perfect time to get a free parking spot at the beach arriving between 8 a.m. - 10 a.m. which might seem too early, but you'll thank us later. For all available free beach access in St. Pete click HERE. And if you need to find free beach access in Clearwater click HERE.

Parking prices have gotten outrageously expensive. We've seen reports that some parking prices on holiday weekends like Mother's Day charge as much as $70! One mom was extremely upset about the hike in prices saying, "Don’t go to Madeira beach, they just raised their prices again for parking. I paid $70 to park there on Mother’s Day and it was ridiculous." Again, you can find free parking but that's first come first serve so if you don't want to pay that expensive fee make sure you get there extra early. See our options below for affordable parking in Tampa Bay by scrolling down.

Fort Desoto Beach is absolutely beautiful peaceful beach that's a great option. Last time we went it was anywhere between $5-$8 per car for parking. Either way that's a steal compared to other areas that are charging an arm and a leg.

Entrance to the park is free and parking only costs $5 per day. However, they are closed on certain holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. They open daily at 7 a.m. and close at sunset. Great option for families.

Another option you might like is Honeymoon Island. Last time we went it was only $8 for per car and very relaxing. That is way more affordable than $70 at other beaches. Definitely worth the drive to check it out.

Life hack for you! Park behind the shops, where residents live, there’s always parking, and no one tows. Yes, it’s slightly further of a walk, but it’s really not that far, maybe extra 5 minutes of walking, but it’s free parking.

There's several areas there that are hourly and it only costs $2 an hour. You can find the location on the Parkmobile app. Check before you go are on your way there. Again, get there early.