It’s March, and the sailfish bite is officially on! If there’s one thing Florida Keys offshore anglers live for, it’s those magical sailfish tailing conditions—and our crews are no exception. (Not quite sure what we mean by ‘tailing’? Check out our breakdown here.)
The excitement started on Thursday, February 26th, when our very own Captain Marty Lewis noticed the jet stream pushing west. He told his wife and son that Friday was shaping up to be an epic day. When Captain Marty says that, the Lewis family listens—especially since his son is also one of our captains, and his wife, Katie, is the co-owner of Main Attraction and an avid angler.
Of course, dropping everything to go fishing takes some doing. With a charter business, a marina, and a fish packing and shipping operation to manage—not to mention raising a little one and wrangling a brand-new puppy in a house already full of dogs—Katie really had to work some magic to make this spontaneous trip happen!
But she pulled it off. With the logistics sorted, Captain Marty, Katie, Captain Alex, and first mate Harris loaded up the Main One and headed out. Captain Marty hammered down the throttles and didn’t pull back until they found that beautiful blue water the sailfish love.
Friday, February 27th: Hooking Up on the Main One
The action kicked off when Captain Marty yelled from the tower. The crew sprang into action, grabbing rods to pitch baits at the fish. Katie made her cast and immediately bowed up—hooked into the first sailfish of the day! As Captain Marty slammed the boat into reverse to back down on the fish, Katie jokingly begged him not to soak her, a signature move he’s notorious for.
Right after releasing that first sailfish, they stumbled across a massive tailing cobia. Captain Alex tossed a bait right in its path, and it was fish on. Cobia are famously difficult to gaff since they tend to spin violently and can easily twist a mate’s wrist. Knowing this, Alex passed the rod to Katie and grabbed the gaff.
Katie brought the fish alongside the boat, and Alex stretched out, stuck the cobia perfectly, and hauled it aboard.
Captain Marty quickly shouted from the tower for everyone to step back, warning them about the sharp dorsal spines that can cause a nasty injury when a cobia flops on the deck. Seeing a cobia is a bit of a rarity these days, making this catch a huge, unexpected bonus for the day!
The hunt continued, and the Main One kept finding tailing sailfish. Some eagerly took the bait while others were a bit picky, but watching them surf down the waves is easily one of the greatest spectacles in sportfishing. First mate Harris jumped on the rod next and released another beautiful sailfish.
Rare Sights: Bluefin Tunas & A Tailing Marlin
Right after releasing a few more sails, the team was treated to an incredibly rare sight: two giant bluefin tunas tailing in the waves! They migrate through this time of year, but seeing them on the surface is rare, and catching one is even rarer. Before the crew could even get the heavy rod out and ready, the massive tunas had already gone down to the deep.
But the ocean wasn’t done showing off. Around 12:15 PM, a dark silhouette appeared in the water. Assuming it was just a hammerhead shark, Captain Marty initially started to steer away. Katie, standing up in the tower with him, wasn’t so sure. She asked him to edge closer to get a better look.
Good thing she did! As the boat closed the distance, they realized it wasn’t a shark at all—it was a surface-tailing BLUE MARLIN. Captain Alex and Harris immediately grabbed rods and threw multiple baits at the legendary fish. The marlin put on a show, acting as if it were going to eat, but it rejected every bait they threw. Even though they didn’t get the hookup, just watching a majestic blue marlin swimming right at the surface was an unforgettable experience.
The team wrapped up the day with six successful sailfish releases, one massive cobia in the box for dinner, and unforgettable sightings of both bluefin tuna and a blue marlin. It was an absolutely incredible day spent playing in their ocean backyard with family and great friends.
Over the weekend, Main Attraction had a busy schedule filled with multiple charters, so the crew’s fun fishing had to be placed on hold. Nature timed it perfectly, though, as the wind ended up calming down anyway. As many offshore angler know, epic tailing conditions require the wind to blow against the current, which kicks up those rougher seas the sailfish love.
Monday, March 2nd: The Reel One Gets in on the Action
With spring breakers about to flood the docks, Monday, March 2nd was the crew’s last chance to squeeze in a fun fishing day. With our other vessels being booked solid all week, the team took out our new 33’ SeaHunter, the Reel One. Since Captain Alex and first mate Harris were busy running a charter on the Main Attraction, they had to call in reinforcements. Captain Marty and Katie teamed up with Captain James and good friends Robbie and John to help them hunt down some sails.
The morning started with kite fishing, giving the cloudy skies time to clear. You need good sunlight to spot tailing fish, so waiting it out was the right move. While working the kite spread, they caught a nice mahi for dinner and even had a bluefin tuna swim right through their baits!
Pushing west, the tailing sailfish began to appear. John hooked the first sail of the day, and Captain James quickly followed up with a double hookup. At 10:45 AM, Katie was up in the tower with Captain Marty when she spotted a tailing fish—and yes, she found it before Marty did! Robbie pitched a bait perfectly to the fish, and after a fast fight, they got the release. Captain James spotted the next few fish over the next 30 minutes, resulting in another release and earning himself a promotion to the tower perch with Captain Marty.
Midday Madness: Triple Hookups & Tailwalkers
After a midday lull during which they spotted another massive “bus” of bluefin tuna, things went completely wild at 1:41 PM. Captain Marty found a sailfish hanging out with a bunch of its buddies, sparking an insane triple hookup for Captain James, Robbie, and John. It was pure chaos; one sailfish even tailwalked from the bow to the stern, jumping right over another line!
Heading east toward home, Katie spotted one last tailing cobia. The crew threw every bait in the arsenal at it, but the fish just wouldn’t bite. Instead of feeling defeated, the team took it in stride. It’s moments like that that remind them how unpredictable the ocean is, and how lucky they are to call it their office!
The final tally for the trip: eight sailfish releases, two mahi for the dinner table, two rare bluefin tuna sightings, and one very stubborn cobia. Sharing an experience like that with great friends is what it’s all about. Both days were an absolute blast!
Ready for Your Own Offshore Adventure?
If reading this makes you want to get out and make your own memories on the incredible waters of the Florida Keys, look no further. Our experienced crews and spotless, state-of-the-art vessels provide the perfect setup to experience everything this world-class fishery has to offer. Call us at 305-289-0071 or visit our contact page for more information today!
