The Next Generation of a Florida Keys Fishing Family
Main Attraction has some BIG News! As many of our repeat clients know, Alex Lewis has grown up around the family business. If you have fished with us before, you probably have seen Alex at the Marina helping his father Captain Marty Lewis maintain the vessels, out catching bait, or fishing on a charter. Immediately upon graduating from Marathon High School last year, Alex was determined to get his Captain's license, just as his father had. He took the online course, passed, and had plenty of sea hours. With the help of bonus Mom Katie, [...]
2025 Florida Keys Kids Sailfish Tournament
If you have been keeping up with our articles this year, you already know that the Main Attraction team has had a busy 2025! In addition to a busy fishing charter schedule, they have been fishing competitively in many sailfish tournaments here in the Florida Keys. Main Attraction Co-Owner Katie Lewis recently discovered a new sailfish tournament in Islamorada designed for junior and pee wee anglers aged 16 years and younger. If you know anything about Katie's work in the community, she loves to share the joy of fishing with youth, and this sort [...]
2025 Cheeca Lodge Presidential Sailfish Tournament
On the morning of January 18th, 2025, The Main Attraction Sailfishing Tournament Team was pumped and ready to go for day one of the 2025 Cheeca Presidential Sailfish Tournament. The team hoped to keep momentum from their recent second-place win at the IFC Captain’s Cup Sailfish Tournament just three days earlier! Mark Busch catching one of the Sailfish that helped him win Top Male Angler at the IFC three days earlier. The night before the tournament, Captain Marty asked his young daughter to make the team good luck bracelets. She spent well over [...]
IFC Captain’s Cup Sailfish Tournament 2025
Eleven days after fishing the 2025 Fish for Holly Sailfish Tournament in Islamorada, Team Main Attraction was back at it again! This time, it was to fish the Islamorada Fishing Club tournament which is the second leg of the Florida Keys Gold Cup Series. On the morning of Wednesday, January 15, 2025 the team woke up to a chilly morning and a set of sporty conditions. Team Main Attraction would consist of Captain Marty Lewis, Ben Zdan, Alex Lewis, Mike Cangemi, Robbie Hiro, Danny Lombardo, and our star angler, Mark Busch. The Main One [...]
2025 Fish For Holly Sailfish Tournament
2025 is in full swing, and the first quarter brings a busy schedule of sailfish tournaments for our Main Attraction crew. Each year, we look forward to the first tournament, the Fish for Holly, which generally happens on the first weekend of January. For those that are unfamiliar, the tournament is in memory of Holly Givens, an Islamorada local that lost her life tragically to domestic abuse. The tournament director, Annie Hagan, was her best friend. This tournament raises money for victims of domestic abuse and has a huge following. Mark Busch, a good [...]
Main Attraction hosts Mission Fishin’ & Special Olympics
Since 2019, Main Attraction has partnered with a wonderful charity, Mission Fishin', to host annual, cost-free fishing adventures in the Florida Keys for families with foster children or children with special needs. These families are hand-picked by the Mission Fishin organization, which initially contacted Main Attraction about these trips a few years back. Inspired by the joy these fishing trips brought to the children; Main Attraction co-owner Katie Lewis decided to deepen her involvement. This led her to create the Marathon Premier Sailfish Tournament, an annual event now in its fourth year of raising money for [...]
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 [...]
Greater Amberjack Tag and Release Program
Seriola Dumerili, AJ, Reef Donkey, Rock Salmon, Yellow trevally, Jenny Lind. Whatever you call it, the Greater Amberjack is a special fish. It's funny how iconic species of fish that have a significant impact on the lives of us humans seem to go by so many names. The Greater Amberjack is just that; it is the unsung hero of both the commercial and charter fishing industry. Commercial Value Greater Amberjack is fished commercially throughout the South Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico and is often served in restaurants. The species doesn't get much credit; it is [...]
2022 Marathon Premier Sailfish Tournament
2022 Marathon Premier Sailfish Tournament Last weekend was one for the books! The 1st Annual Marathon Premier Sailfish Tournament was held in Marathon, Florida Keys. This non-profit organization was established by Main Attraction co-owner, Katie Lewis. The tournament aims to showcase local talent, bring a much-needed sailfish tournament to Marathon, and raise money for a fantastic cause. This year’s charity of choice was Mission Fishin, a south Florida-based charity that helps special needs children and their families get out on the water and fish, take boat rides, and eco-tours. All four of Main Attraction’s vessels were [...]
Main Attraction Moves To Marathon Sailfish Marina
With the New Year comes some exciting news for the Main Attraction family! No, we are not expecting any babies, but Captain Marty and Katie have recently purchased a 13-slip marina! We are excited to announce that Marathon Sailfish Marina is the new home of Main Attraction Sportfishing Charters. For the past three decades, Key Colony Beach Marina has been our docking home, and by our estimates, we've fished somewhere between 150-180 thousand people out of that marina! Since Hurricane Irma hit the Keys in 2017, the Key Colony Beach Marina has been up for sale. Over the [...]