Stanley Switlik Elementary School Fish Club – Marathon, Florida
As a parent living on a small island in the Florida Keys being resourceful and utilizing local programs available to your children is a great way to enrich their childhood. In Marathon, Florida, the local elementary school offers an outstanding opportunity: an inclusive fishing club available to every student. Mr. Bill Eller, the School Health and Wellness Coordinator, leads the school's fishing club. A few years back, when Stanley Switlik Elementary School underwent renovations, they incorporated an observation dock at the rear of the school. This area allows the children to fish off the dock, get [...]
Florida Keys Fishing Report – September 2023
Autumn means more than just a weather change in the Florida Keys. Similar to the pre-pandemic years, our schedule has eased as the kids return to school. During this brief hiatus from daily fishing, our crews are dedicating their efforts to our yearly boat maintenance tasks. The Main One being brought to the boatyard for repairs. Vessel Update We had an engine problem in June on our 49-footer, the Main One. Captain Marty and Katie have been working with a Caterpillar dealership to get all the proper parts and pieces to [...]
Family Fishing Charters in the Florida Keys
If you're reading this article, we share a special bond - a profound love for fishing! At the Main Attraction, our enthusiasm for all things fishing is fueled by countless cherished memories forever etched into our lives. Many of our valued clients have pointed out how lucky we are to fish for a living, and they're right! While in past articles we have shed light on the less glamorous aspects of the job, such as the long hours and physically demanding work, we wouldn't trade this life for anything. People often ask us how we maintain our [...]
2023 Florida Keys Dolphinfish Report
If you follow our fishing reports and updates, you may have noticed we haven't been writing about Dolphinfish nearly as much as in previous seasons. There is a good reason for this; there simply hasn't been much to write about. Fortunately, that is starting to change! Here in the Florida Keys, Dolphinfish, a.k.a. Mahi, are the most requested fish to catch. That suits us just fine in the late spring through summer when Dolphinfish abound. However, this year, the Dolphinfish have been on a different schedule. Better late than never! The Dolphin season is finally starting [...]
Lobster Season 2023 Monroe County, Florida Keys
Last month kicked off Florida's 2023 Lobster sport season. Down here in the Keys we call it "Mini Season". Thousands of visitors get out on the water for two days to catch as much lobster as they are legally allowed before the regular season begins. It is an opportunity for recreational enthusiasts to catch lobster before commercial boats put their traps in the water. Over the years, the locals have witnessed some pretty wild things on the water during these two days. The massive influx of amateur boaters on the water can be dangerous if you aren't paying [...]
Costa Rica Big Game Fishing Charter
About a year ago, one of our repeat clients you all hear a lot about, Mark Busch, went to Costa Rica on an overnight FAD fishing trip. Costa Rica is well known for its Blue Marlin and Sailfish billfish. Other pelagic species, such as yellowfin tunas and mahi, are also available. The primary purpose of using fish aggregating devices (FAD) is to concentrate fish in a specific area, making it easier for fishermen to locate and catch them. This allows fishing vessels to reduce search time and fuel consumption, making fishing operations more efficient and [...]
All About Mutton Snapper – Florida Keys Mutton Snapper Facts
Last week we published an article about the secrets to successfully catching Mutton Snapper. We received such great feedback on it that we decided to spend some time learning more about this fascinating fish this week. We know how to catch it, but what else do we know about this intriguing fish? The Mutton Snapper is scientifically known as Lutjanus analis. Analis refers to its pointed anal fin, which helps to identify it versus other juvenile snappers. Mutton Snappers belong to the family Lutjanidae which contains other famous members such as the Red Snapper, Yellowtail Snapper, and [...]
The Secret To Successful Mutton Snapper Fishing Trips
You may have recently seen quite a few photos of our customers with Mutton Snapper on social media. While our customers love to catch Mahi this time of year, it has been unusually inconsistent lately. Fortunately, there is a variety of species to catch in our waters year-round, including the delicious Mutton Snapper. Depending on where and when you fish for Mutton Snapper, how you target them might be vastly different. If you have ever fished for Mutton Snapper in Key West, you most likely have done it differently than we do here in Marathon, Florida [...]
Bahamas Big Game Fishing Charter
Recently the Lewis family had an opportunity to head to the Bahamas. Despite living a mere 130 Miles from the beautiful Bahamas, the Lewis family had yet to consider visiting for several years. The Main Attraction fishing charter business, the marina, and everything else keeps them all busy. Additionally, Captain Marty started running a 60' Viking part-time for a private client. Recently, their client expressed an interest in going to the Bahamas and trying for a big game such as Marlin, Wahoo, and Yellowfin Tuna. The Lewis's watched the weather and sprang into action when [...]
Ben O’Fishal Main Attraction Fishing Charter Affiliate
You might remember Captain "Big" Ben Zdan, who fished with us last year. The 6' 4'' Captain fished with the Main Attraction team primarily in the summer, as he is also a commercial lobster and stone crab trapper. Ben also fishes with Marty on tournament teams and helps fill in whenever necessary. Ben and his fiancé welcomed their second baby girl recently, and decided he wanted to build a charter boat business for his family. Captain Ben has been around long enough and understands the importance of starting your business on the right foot. Ben approached [...]
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