First Sailfish Of The Season! – November Fishing Update
Earlier this month we published an article entitled: Ten Bluewater Slams in a Single Trip. This article told the story of William Cully and his family, who had an epic offshore trip, catching 10 Wahoo, 10 Tuna, and 11 Mahi in a single day. The day we published that article, William was already back at it with some friends aboard the Main One with Captain Marty Lewis at the helm again. In the article, we promised a follow-up to see what they caught that day; here is that article! Williams Epic Trip Last Month [...]
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 [...]
Florida Keys Elementary School’s Unique Fishing Program
In true Florida Keys fashion, our local Stanley Switlik Elementary School has a special perk: it's very own fishing pier! All the classes and grades schedule times to visit the dock and take advantage of a sport that most of us have grown to love. They get to catch fish and learn about the very ecosystem that supports their community and its economy. Mr. Bill Eller is the organizer of the fishing club at Stanley Switlik Elementary School, where he helps support and guide young anglers. He also has some older grades volunteer as "dock captains" [...]
Florida Keys Fall Vessel Maintenance Update
Fall is officially here; the kids are back in school, and summer vacation is over. This is the time of year when travel to the Keys slows down, and our crew members get to take some well-earned time off to travel and visit family. We have been fishing here and there still; for instance, we had a center console trip this past week after Hurricane Helene passed. Captain Steve and Alex took the trip and caught some Yellowtail snapper, Mutton Snapper, and an excellent big Yellow Jack. [...]
When Life Throws You Wind and Rain: Make Memories!
Mother Nature threw a curveball at the Florida Keys the past few weeks! A giant moisture blob drenched most of the state, with some areas like Fort Lauderdale and Miami experiencing over 20 inches of rain and flooding. While the Keys dodged the worst downpours, travel disruptions caused headaches for our valued customers at Main Attraction. Despite the weather, we were fortunate to get trips out, even if not for the entire duration. But that's not all! This week, relentless easterly winds of 15-25 mph have kept things choppy, making for a challenging fishing environment. However, as [...]
Florida Keys Spring Fishing Report – March 2024
When it comes to fishing in the Florida Keys, March is one of the busiest months of the year, and we happily embrace it! Recently, we've had the pleasure of hosting many spring breakers and their families, who have been fortunate to experience the outstanding, consistent fishing we have been enjoying. Yellowtail Snapper The Florida Keys are a special place to fish because of the variety of species available, and spring is no exception. On the Reef, the Yellowtail Snapper bite is consistent this time of year, and we even get to catch very [...]
Florida Keys’ ‘Hell Week’ Fishing Report
The Snapper bite has been hot on the reef! In true Florida Keys style, we ended 2023 with a flurry of fishing trips. The day after Christmas every year marks the start of the busiest week of the year in the Florida Keys. It can get pretty hectic that week, so the locals commonly call it 'Hell Week!' Hotel occupancies this year were 90-100%, with many families looking to put a unique island twist to their Christmas festivities. During this week, we fished nonstop, with multiple trips per day. We fish a lot of [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Florida Keys Reef & Wreck – May 2023 Fishing Report – Birthday Edition
Katie and her friends celebrating her birthday. The summertime season is just around the corner, and soon we'll be running charters nonstop until the fall. Believe it or not, on our days off, we like to fish, which we call fun-fishing. While we love our jobs, the difference between charters and fun-fishing is that their is no pressure to produce fish. This lets us cut loose, have a beer, and be a little sillier than we might be with a client onboard. Every year on Cinco de Mayo, Main Attraction co-owner Katie Lewis goes fun [...]