The second week of February was a whirlwind for the Main Attraction Sportfishing crew! On top of running our regular charters, our crew also geared up for two action-packed, one-day tournaments.
Ol’ Timers Sailfish Tournament
Kicking things off on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, our guys fished the hilariously named Captain Al Flutie’s Over the Hill Rip-off Sailfish Tournament. This event has a great twist: all participants must be 50 or older! Rising to the challenge, our friend and master angler Mark Busch joined forces with Dave Whalon as the team’s competing anglers. Our Captain Marty Lewis was at the helm of the Main One, backed up by his son, Capt. Alex Lewis and Capt. Ben Zdan holding things down in the pit.
A Fast Start for the Veterans
The calm weather was a gift; it’s always nice when the ocean treats the veterans with a little respect! They started the day at a sprint: Mark hooked and released his first sailfish at 8:58 am, just 28 minutes after the start. That was the second fish of the day for the entire tournament. By 9:36 am, Mark had already released his second, and the team was officially on a roll. Other boats were starting to report in, but we believed in our “old guys”!
A couple of hours later, Captain Marty raised another pack of fish, and the “old guys” proved they still had the magic touch. At 11:12 am, Mark released his third sailfish of the day, followed almost immediately by Dave at 11:14 am. With the fish finally cooperating and the momentum swinging their way, the team realized they had a real shot at the leaderboard.
The action didn’t stop for a lunch break, either. Right at noon, another pack rose to the baits. Mark released his fourth sailfish at 12:10 pm, and Dave followed suit at 12:15 pm. After that flurry of activity, the Main One saw a bit of a lull until 2:31 pm when angler Dave hooked into one more sailfish, adding one more crucial release to the team’s tally!
When the lines were finally pulled, the Main One crew secured 3rd place overall out of 18 teams. Not too shabby for two “Over the Hill” guys! All jokes aside, Mark and Dave were fantastic, and it was all for an incredible cause: raising funds to fight Cystic Fibrosis. To top off the day, the whole team drove up to Islamorada to celebrate their success and cheer on the 2nd place finishers, Silent Hunter, and the tournament winners, Kimbuktu.
Youngin’s Sailfish Tournament
Just three days after fishing with seasoned veterans, the Main Attraction team switched gears to focus on the rising stars! This Valentines day, our crew skipped the chocolates and headed offshore for the 3rd Annual Keys Kids Sailfish Tournament. The event is hosted by the Tackle Center of Islamorada and they had a fantastic turnout, drawing 21 registered teams and 62 eager junior and small fry anglers.
If you followed us last year, you’ll remember the team took home the 1st place trophy with our youngest captain, Alex Lewis, at the helm. This year, Captain Alex and our other crew members were busy running a large bachelor party across our 49-foot Main One and 43-foot Main Attraction, so Captain Marty Lewis (Dad) stepped up to the helm to help the team defend the title.
With our larger vessels occupied, it was the perfect opportunity for Captain Marty to utilize our newest boat: a beautiful 33’ Seahunter dubbed the Reel One. It features an integrated Seakeeper that greatly reduces rocking in the waves, keeping it an incredibly comfortable and stable ride for the kids.
Down in the pit with First Mate Robbie Hiro, each of our 8-year-old small-fry anglers had a dedicated helper. Natalie Lewis was paired with her mom (and Main Attraction Co-Owner), Katie Lewis, while Carter Bartlett had his dad, local realtor Nate, right by his side.
Small Fry, Big Action!
On the morning of Saturday, February 14th, 2026, Captain Marty and Mate Robbie had the Seahunter fully rigged and ready to go. Once the kids hopped aboard, the team headed out to catch bait at sunrise before heading to the tournament boundaries.
Right after “lines in” was announced over the radio, the action started. Natalie, with a little help from her mom, landed the first fish of the day: a hefty blackfin tuna!
Shortly after, Carter stepped up and reeled in a massive kingfish. Just like that, both small fry anglers had outstanding catches under their belts!
The weather out there was exceptionally calm, meaning Robbie had to work hard to keep the kites flying and the baits looking irresistible to passing sailfish. To compensate for the lack of wind, he tested some new R&R tackle balloons filled with helium, which worked perfectly to keep the kites aloft.
After the kids had a blast reeling in a few more fun fish, things got serious. A sailfish crashed the right long bait, and it was game on! Natalie and Katie jumped on the rod, battling the fish all the way up to the bow of the boat before securing the official release, officially putting the team on the sailfish scoreboard for the day.
The next sailfish bit on the right short line, and it was Carter’s turn. With his dad, Nate, there to coach him, Carter fought the fish to a successful release, putting the team at two sailfish and sending them climbing up the leaderboard.
Between the bites, the kids were all smiles—and who could blame them? The weather was beautiful, the seas were calm, and the fish were hungry. In the middle of the chaos, Carter even managed to pull in an unexpected bonus mahi! Of course, being eight years old, the day wasn’t just about the trophies; there were plenty of snack breaks and time spent playing with the bait in the live wells.
Later in the afternoon, the team connected with one last sailfish. Natalie was back on the rod for this one, and it proved to be a feisty fish. Just like her first one, she had to work it all the way to the bow of the 33′ Seahunter to secure the release. That final fish sealed the deal: team Reel One/MainAttraction secured 3rd place overall, and Natalie took home the title of Top Angler in the Small Fry Division!
As soon as the team hit the dock, it was a race to clean the boat and load it up to head to the awards banquet. Everyone had a blast at the ceremony, but the kids were the real stars of the night. Both Natalie and Carter walked away with more than just trophies—they each won new Grundens boots and brand-new fishing rods!
Of course, none of this would have been possible without Captain Marty and our rockstar First Mate, Robbie. Robbie worked all day tirelessly, keeping baits in the water and making every single bite count. A huge special thanks goes out to the Tackle Center of Islamorada for putting on another incredible tournament for the kids. We’re already looking forward to next year—we’ll definitely be back!
If you’re heading to the Florida Keys and looking to fish with a top-tier crew on a world-class boat, look no further! Give us a call at 305-289-0071 or visit our contact page for more information.
