The Marathon Premier Sailfish Tournament holds a very special place in the hearts of the Main Attraction family. Now in its fifth year, the tournament founded by Main Attraction Co-Owner Katie Lewis continues to grow in both size and spirit. This year, Main Attraction had two vessels registered for the competition: Captain Marty Lewis aboard the privately owned 66’ Viking, Headin’ South, and Captain Alex Lewis leading the team aboard the 43′ Torres, the Main Attraction. The father and son duo were going fishing, and they were going to compete!
Pre-Tournament: Setting the Stage
On Thursday, April 16th, both captains got an early start to catch bait, finish last-minute preparations, and check out the conditions before the tournament. Meanwhile, Katie made sure everyone was taken care of. She brought tournament goodies to the kickoff meeting at the Fairfield Inn and Suites and helped with last-minute registrations as teams arrived for the rules briefing.
This year’s swag bags were a hit. All 100 anglers (a new record) got an Everglades Fishing Company dry backpack, a tournament shirt, custom socks, a hat, and other fun items. With excitement in the air and the rules covered, every team was ready for two days of sailfish competition!
Day One
Friday morning, both boats left Marathon Sailfish Marina early to get ready for lines in at 8:00 am. Just twelve minutes later, the father and son rivalry kicked off. Captain Marty was first on the radio, announcing that Mark Busch on Headin’ South had released the tournament’s first fish. Captain Alex quickly followed at 8:18 am with a release for Steve Anderson on the Main Attraction. The competition was on!
Headin’ South got a second release for Mark at 8:40 am, taking an early lead, but with a full day ahead, anything could happen. Captain Marty kept up the momentum, reporting a release for Ariel Medero at 10:16 am and another for JW at 11:10 am. Soon after, Captain Alex responded with a release for his mate and angler, Harris Still.
After a brief midday lull, the afternoon heated back up, and they were back to trading punches. Captain Alex raised fish for a release from Steve at 1:25 pm and then for Joe Romano at 2:03 pm. What happened next made for lively conversation at the dinner table that night. While Captain Alex was hooked up and had just radioed into the committee boat, Dad came roaring past him. According to Alex, he had never seen a 66′ Viking spin around so fast and get a spread out. Captain Alex got a little taste of what it is like to compete against his dad when he found himself backing down into the wake of a boat that size, and let’s just say it added a little extra excitement to Joe’s fight!
Headin’ South ended Day One on a high note, releasing another fish for JW at 2:52 pm. With just thirty seconds left before lines out, Mark hooked their last fish of the day. The rules let them finish the fight, and fourteen minutes later, Headin’ South released their sixth sailfish, ending the day in first place. The second and third place teams were only one fish behind, and Captain Alex and the Main Attraction crew were close in fourth with four releases. Day One was over, but there was still a lot of fishing ahead!
Day Two
Day two unfolded with an almost eerie sense of déjà vu. Headin’ South once again drew first blood, releasing the day’s first sailfish at exactly 8:12 am, the same minute they had released the first fish on Day One. This time it was angler Robbie Hiro who got the party started, giving the Headin’ South team the distinction of releasing both the first and last fish on Day One and the first fish on Day Two.
The morning was slower for Captain Alex and the Main Attraction crew, but Joe delivered a release at 10:02 am to get them moving. Not long after, the leaderboard took a dramatic turn when the Vice Versa raised a quad and released three fish in short order, a reminder that in sailfish tournaments, everything can change with one pack of fish. Team Headin’ South followed up with another release for Mark at 11:32 am, but as the afternoon wore on, the bite tightened up for both Lewis boats.
When lines out was finally called, the dust had settled. Captain Marty and the Headin’ South team took home 3rd place overall with 8 releases, while Main Attraction finished 7th with 5. It was a heartbreaker as Headin’ South had held first place for a significant stretch of the tournament, but that is the nature of tournament fishing, and both teams had given everything they had.
Awards Banquet
That evening, for the fifth year in a row, everyone gathered at Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters for the awards banquet—a favorite spot for the celebration. Teams looked back on two great days on the water and cheered as the results were announced. Winners received cash prizes, beautiful trophies from Gray Taxidermy, original art from Eddie Forbes Art, and custom Fathom Offshore lures—well-deserved rewards after a tough tournament.
The night was full of good food, cold drinks, generous donations, and lots of smiles. Most importantly, it reminded everyone what the Marathon Premier Sailfish Tournament is really about: giving back. The money raised helps local children and families, making a real difference in the community that supports this tournament.
Congratulations to all the teams, anglers, and sponsors who made the 5th Annual Marathon Premier Sailfish Tournament a success. Special thanks to Katie Lewis for growing this tournament every year with so much heart and dedication. We look forward to seeing everyone back on the water for the 6th Annual Marathon Premier Sailfish Tournament, April 15 to 17, 2027!
For more details about the Marathon Premier Sailfish Tournament, visit MarathonSailfish.com. Want to book a Florida Keys fishing charter? Visit our contact page or call us at (305)-289-0071.
