Every year on Cinco de Mayo, May 5th, our very own Katie Lewis gathers her girlfriends for an annual fishing trip.  May 5th is also Katie’s birthday so she looks forward to this trip every year. You would think she fishes all the time, but sadly that is not the case! Usually, she’s busy fielding calls, booking clients, and preparing them for their fishing adventures.

Despite the windy forecast of 10-20 mph winds from the East, Katie decided to celebrate by taking her girlfriends fishing. She advised anyone with a weak stomach to take seasick meds or consider sitting this one out. Being the troopers they are, her girlfriends showed up all ready to celebrate.

At 8 am, they left Marathon Sailfish Marina and headed towards the reef. Typically, the reef is calmer in rough conditions than fishing way offshore. First mate Alex set the anchor and put out the chum bags. Within minutes, the fish, comfortable in the cloudy water, started biting. Captain Marty threw the first line out, and it was apparent immediately that the big flag-sized Yellowtail Snappers were hungry. Katie, the birthday girl, caught the first fish, marking a great start to the day.

As the boat was anchored, a few ladies started feeling queasy from the boat rocking. To keep everyone involved, they took turns hooking and handing off the rod, allowing everyone to catch the large Yellowtails and distract them from their uneasy stomachs. After catching about two dozen Yellowtail Snapper, they decided to head back to the marina to come up with a plan.

Back at the marina, the ladies took photos with their impressive catches while Captain Marty fileted the fish for everyone to take home. Since it was still early, Captain Marty offered to take them to the sandbar for a few hours. While he was cleaning fish, they loaded up the Reel Attraction with snacks and birthday festivities, ready to enjoy the beautiful, albeit windy, day.

As they exited the canal, the girls spotted a lost Killer Whale raft drifting, which they picked up and made part of the party. They spent the next few hours relaxing on the Vahala sandbar, enjoying delicious snacks, and celebrating both Katie’s birthday and a much-needed mom’s day off. It was the best of both worlds: a morning of fishing followed by an afternoon of relaxation and sun.

Kudos to Captain Marty for handling everything. He went from fisherman to sandbar tour guide, DJ, bartender, and all-around great guy, making Katie’s birthday truly special.

If you plan to celebrate a birthday in the Florida Keys be sure to give Katie a call at 305-289-0071 and she will book  you a memorable birthday trip too! You may also visit our contact page for more information.