October is here, and the fishing in the Florida Keys is starting to shift into its fall pattern. We’ve already had a taste of cooler weather this month, but for now, the summer heat is hanging on. The reef has stayed lively through the change, which made for a great setting for one of our favorite trips of the year.
A Trip We Look Forward to Every Year
Every year, we donate a fishing trip to the Stanley Switlik Elementary School fishing club here in Marathon. We’ve been doing it for more than four years now, and it’s a day the whole crew looks forward to. You can read about the trips in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Giving back to our community is really important to us, and we try to do as much of it as we possibly can. This year was no different.
Mr. Bill Eller, the school health and wellness coordinator who leads the fishing club, and Captain Marty’s wife Katie spent the days before the trip trading notes on the forecast. They wanted the best possible day for the students selected to go.
We have no say in which kids are chosen, and we don’t know who’s coming until they walk down the dock. That makes it a fun surprise when a few familiar faces show up.
All Aboard the Main Attraction
The kids arrived at 9am to board the Main Attraction with Captain Alex Lewis and first mate Harris. Mr. Eller was joined by Stanley Switlik’s new principal, Ms. Martinez, along with students Amelia, Carter, Andrew, Abraham, Lucas, and Tristan. A few of those names were familiar to us. You may remember Carter, whose family are friends of ours and have fished with us before.
Before leaving the marina, everyone posed for a group photo at the back of the boat. The excitement was impossible to miss, especially since some of the kids had never been on a charter boat before. Captain Alex went over the safety basics and a few key boat rules to keep everyone safe. Then he pulled away from the dock and headed for the reef.
Blue Skies and Calm Seas
October weather in the Keys can be spotty, and a calm day is never a guarantee this time of year. This one delivered: blue skies, plenty of sunshine, a light breeze, and a warm, flat ride out. It was exactly the kind of day you hope for with a boat full of kids, and it’s why all that forecast watching beforehand pays off.
A Cloud of Yellowtail Behind the Boat
Once the Main Attraction was anchored up on the spot, Harris got the chum in the water. Within a few minutes, a cloud of yellowtail snapper had moved in right behind the boat, close enough that every kid could see them. The crew said the yellowtail were aggressive and eating well, which is just what you want on a kids’ trip.
The students took turns on the rods. With yellowtail, too many lines in the water at once can spook the school. Keeping it to a few anglers at a time keeps the fish fired up and the bites coming. The yellowtail weren’t the only ones biting, either. The kids also hooked a reef shark, which the crew released at the side of the boat.
The kids had a blast catching fish after fish. Within a few hours, the club had their limit of yellowtail snapper.
Back to the Dock, and Back to Class
Since the trip falls on a school day, it was soon time to head back to Marathon Sailfish Marina for photos with the catch. Once everyone was off the boat, the kids lined up with their fish, all smiles and ready to share their fish stories. As a little extra, each student went home with a Main Attraction fishing buff and hat.
Then it was into the van and back to class. Captain Alex stayed hard at work filleting their catch, and Mr. Eller picked it up later that day.
A big thank you to Mr. Eller, Ms. Martinez, and everyone at Stanley Switlik Elementary for letting us be part of this every year. Watching kids hook into their first fish never gets old, and we’re already looking forward to next year’s group.
Fall Fishing in the Florida Keys
As the fall pattern settles in, it’s a great time to get out on the water, whether you’re after yellowtail on the reef or something offshore. Night bullynetting trips for Florida spiny lobster are also running through November. To book your trip, call us at (305) 289-0071 or reach out through our contact page.
