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 [...]
Florida Keys Hurricane Update & Fishing Report – November 2022
There is never a dull moment here in the Florida Keys, especially during hurricane season. With only a few days left before the Hurricane season ends, we can only hope that Mother Nature abides by the schedule. Hurricane Ian First, we had Hurricane Ian, a Category 4 Hurricane with wind gusts up to 140mph. We experienced high winds and a lot of rain when it passed through. The storm meant no fishing for a few days. There was also some destruction in the town, such as lost dockage, but it was much worse for other parts of Florida. [...]
Florida Keys Hurricane Season Update & Fishing Report
It's starting to feel like Fall in the Florida Keys. Since that awful Hurricane Ian blew past us, temperatures have dropped to the mid to high 70's, and winds are blowing out of the North. Changes in the weather pattern like this are typical this time of year. But the hurricane seems to have brought the change more abruptly than in previous years. Hurricane Report Hurricane Ian caused massive amounts of damage throughout Florida, including Fort Myers and Cape Coral, one of the hardest hit areas in Lee County. Sanibel island was cut-off from the mainland when the [...]
Florida Keys Fishing Report – March 2022
It sure has been a windy winter in the Florida Keys! We have been experiencing winds from 15 mph to 30mph these past few weeks. Although we run larger boats which allows us to fish in a wider variety of conditions, not everyone enjoys the rocking motion caused by the taller waves. Having to shuffle and reschedule trips due to the weather is an unfortunate but necessary task when running a fishing charter in the Keys. Despite these weather-related challenges, the fishing has been consistently good, and we are excited for the official start of spring which is just [...]
All About The Yellowtail Snapper – Facts About Florida Keys Yellowtail
Well, it's that time of year again, time to catch Yellowtail Snapper! Earlier this year, we published The “Secret” to Successful Yellowtail Fishing Trips in the Florida Keys, which was focused on how to catch Yellowtail and have a great reef fishing trip. Today instead, we will focus on the Yellowtail Snapper itself because while most of us know they are beautiful looking and delicious to eat, there is much more to learn about this fascinating species of fish. Location, Location, Location Yellowtail Snappers (Ocyurus chrysurus) can be found in the Atlantic ocean along the East Coast of [...]
The “Secret” to Successful Yellowtail Fishing Trips in the Florida Keys
Here in the Florida Keys, one of the most sought-after fish to catch on the Reef is the Yellowtail Snapper. People love them because you don’t have to travel very far to catch them and they are delicious to eat! Another bonus of Yellowtail fishing is that since they are smaller fish, we use light tackle to make the fight fun and challenging. These lighter rods are much easier to handle making this fishing style universally compatible with anglers of all ages and skill levels. When the conditions are right, some days the fish are practically [...]
Florida Keys Fishing Report – December 2020
December is off to a great start in the Florida Keys. There has been a wide variety of species caught amongst our vessels, such as Yellowtail Snapper, Black Grouper, Cobia, Mackerel, Kingfish, Sailfish, Yellow Jacks, Wahoo, and various large Sharks. The Winter months typically bring more wind from a direction that is usually out of the North. Fortunately, the Islands help block that wind energy when we fish the Atlantic side, allowing us to fish pretty comfortably. You can expect on average a 2-4 foot chop on the ocean during these months. We have had several “cold fronts” [...]
Yellowtail Snapper Fishing in the Florida Keys
Yellowtail Snapper Fishing in the Florida Keys During the winter months, the Main Attraction gets a lot of requests for reef charters in search of delicious yellowtail Snapper. Yellowtail Snapper is a fish available on the reef year-round but primarily targeted in the cooler months of the fall and winter. Kids love to catch Yellowtail Snapper as we use smaller light tackle rods and reels for these typically 12-16-inch-long fish, giving them a good fight without overwhelming them. These smaller-sized Yellowtails are often available on the reef, a mere 15-minute ride out from the dock, making it an excellent [...]