Summer will officially be over a week from today, and the weather is beginning to cool. It’s been a busy summer season for Main Attraction co-owners Captain Marty Lewis and his wife, Katie. Their son, Captain Alex, has also been busy running charters while attending college. Captain Alex is enrolled in a marine mechanics program in Key West and plans to graduate in May 2026. Now that the kids are starting to head back to school, the Lewis family is getting a chance to have a little break from the non-stop fishing.
With their youngest daughter about to start homeschool, the Lewis family decided to stay closer to home, given their limited time, and enjoy their surroundings. They booked a hotel stay at Ocean Edge in the Stock Island / Key West area. The boys ran the 33′ Seahunter ‘Reel One’ down from Marathon and tied up at the Ocean’s Edge marina.
The first stop for dinner was, of course, Benihana’s, which is Captain Marty’s favorite. He loves to get the steak and fried rice, but who doesn’t love their fried rice? With full bellies, they settled in at their hotel and got organized for an early start, ready to head out to the Dry Tortugas and see Fort Jefferson.
That morning, Captain Marty got the boat ready with Captain Alex, and the Lewis family angled towards the Dry Tortugas. Along the way, they stumbled on a sunken ship, which they playfully told their youngest that there were once pirates on board. She loved that. As they got closer to the fort, their center engine unexpectedly slowed down on its own and eventually shut off. Losing one motor was a bummer, but luckily, they had two more that worked, so they didn’t let it ruin their day.
They docked at Fort Jefferson and explored the island. The visit was also an excellent history lesson for their young daughter Natalie, who learned all about the forts’ nearly 200-year history throughout the island. While there, she also got to snorkel in the crystal-clear water.
They met a wonderful family from Myrtle Beach, on a beautiful Yellowfin center console, who allowed them to use their Starlink-connected phone. Captain Marty managed to contact their Mercury Mechanic, who tried to troubleshoot the issue over the phone. Although they had no luck, the mechanic agreed to meet them in Key West when they returned from their exploration.
Next, they headed off to explore another island, where Marty and Natalie snorkeled with tarpon and various balls of bait swarming around. Alex and Katie just chilled in the water, surrounded by tiny pompano. And Alex and Marty, of course, can’t go anywhere without fishing, so they tried to bonefish, but ended up catching a jack crevalle.
Next, they started heading back to Key West on two motors. Unable to get the fuel-heavy boat on plane with only two motors, they settled for a slow and steady ride back to Key West. It was a good thing Katie packed plenty of snacks, they didn’t have anything else to do but eat! But they couldn’t complain, they were all together and the weather was beautiful!
They pulled into Ocean’s Edge Marina around 8:15 pm. The girls went to shower and order pizza, while the boys tried to figure out the engine situation. After the mechanic changed the sensor on the engine, they determined that the issue was actually with an injector. They would need to find and install a replacement before they could head back out.
Friday morning, the Lewis family woke up early and grabbed some breakfast at the hotel. While eating breakfast, their mechanic texted that he had the part and was on his way to the hotel. While the boys worked on getting the boat fixed, the girls did a quick run to restock on snacks. Once the motor was repaired, they got on board, topped off the fuel, and headed west to the Marquesas Keys to explore the crystal-clear water.
When they arrived, the boys got their fishing poles, a bucket of shrimp to explore and see what they could catch. Little Natalie snorkeled alongside the boys while Mom got to enjoy some sun and relax a little.
Once they were done, they went and snorkeled some rocks to see if we could find some hogfish or lobster. The crew saw lots of fish, but none of them were of legal size. However, Alex found a single large lobster stuck in a rock. With it being so close to the mini season, they figured it got pretty picked over. As a storm moved in nearby, they decided to snorkel a few other spots and enjoy the day while it passed through.
They headed back to clean up and went out to Outback Steakhouse for dinner. They couldn’t pass up a blooming onion and cheese fries! They had a great evening, and despite being stuffed, they managed to squeeze in an ice cream fix before heading back to the hotel for the night.
The family embraced a slow Saturday morning, sleeping in after several days of non-stop adventure. Opting for a laid-back day, they started with breakfast before dropping Alex at the hotel. Their first stop was a quick shopping trip to TJ Maxx, which led to a relaxed exploration of Duval Street. Unsurprisingly, Marty found his favorite treat: ice cream! They popped into a shop featuring beautiful, homemade sandals and a charming jewelry store, all while enjoying the cool, overcast weather that made walking so pleasant.
The Lewis family spent the afternoon unwinding at the pool and later gathered for their farewell dinner at the Key West Square Grouper. The evening was a perfect, delicious conclusion to their getaway. It was a trip well-spent, full of good food, rest, and wonderful moments together.
If you’re heading to the Florida Keys and looking for a fishing charter, consider booking an excursion with Main Attraction. Even if you’re staying in Key West, it’s a beautiful one-hour drive to Marathon. Share your next adventure with us by calling (305) 289-0071 or visiting our contact page.
