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 [...]
Florida Keys Fishing Report – December 2023
A large Mangrove Snapper caught on the reef recently. Can you believe it's December already? 2023 seems to have passed in a flash. There were many ups and a few downs, but as always, we managed to surmount the challenges we encountered. As the new year approaches, we are happy to report that the fishing in the Florida Keys has been exceptional! A few weeks ago, we had what felt like a tropical storm come through. Despite its classification as a low-pressure system, the deluge of rain and relentless high winds we endured were [...]
Islamorada Sailfish Tournament December 2023
As the song goes, It's the most wonderful time of the year, but for us in the Florida Keys, it isn't just because it's the Holidays. It's also because Sailfish tournament season is here! On social media, you mostly see the fish that were caught, the scoring results, and the trophies. But you only get to see a small portion of the necessary prep work leading up to the tournament. Fishing sailfish tournaments competitively takes a significant amount of preparation and planning. Sailfish Tournament Season Preparations Every year Main Attraction crews begin to prepare for [...]
34 Cuban Migrants Rescued From Sinking Vessel in The Florida Keys
Last Friday started like any other typical day at the Main Attraction. Still dark out, the crew met at the marina and loaded the bait boat to catch live bait for their charters that day. Once they returned to the Marathon Sailfish Marina, they loaded the 49-footer, Main One, with lots of fresh live bait and finished prepping the boat. Upon the customer's arrival, Captain Marty Lewis reviewed the proper way to use the fishing equipment, the location of life jackets, and other safety protocols. Taking advantage of the unusually tranquil weather for this [...]
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 [...]
Florida Keys Fishing Report – September 2023
Autumn means more than just a weather change in the Florida Keys. Similar to the pre-pandemic years, our schedule has eased as the kids return to school. During this brief hiatus from daily fishing, our crews are dedicating their efforts to our yearly boat maintenance tasks. The Main One being brought to the boatyard for repairs. Vessel Update We had an engine problem in June on our 49-footer, the Main One. Captain Marty and Katie have been working with a Caterpillar dealership to get all the proper parts and pieces to [...]
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 [...]
2023 Florida Keys Dolphinfish Report
If you follow our fishing reports and updates, you may have noticed we haven't been writing about Dolphinfish nearly as much as in previous seasons. There is a good reason for this; there simply hasn't been much to write about. Fortunately, that is starting to change! Here in the Florida Keys, Dolphinfish, a.k.a. Mahi, are the most requested fish to catch. That suits us just fine in the late spring through summer when Dolphinfish abound. However, this year, the Dolphinfish have been on a different schedule. Better late than never! The Dolphin season is finally starting [...]
Costa Rica Big Game Fishing Charter
About a year ago, one of our repeat clients you all hear a lot about, Mark Busch, went to Costa Rica on an overnight FAD fishing trip. Costa Rica is well known for its Blue Marlin and Sailfish billfish. Other pelagic species, such as yellowfin tunas and mahi, are also available. The primary purpose of using fish aggregating devices (FAD) is to concentrate fish in a specific area, making it easier for fishermen to locate and catch them. This allows fishing vessels to reduce search time and fuel consumption, making fishing operations more efficient and [...]
The Secret To Successful Mutton Snapper Fishing Trips
You may have recently seen quite a few photos of our customers with Mutton Snapper on social media. While our customers love to catch Mahi this time of year, it has been unusually inconsistent lately. Fortunately, there is a variety of species to catch in our waters year-round, including the delicious Mutton Snapper. Depending on where and when you fish for Mutton Snapper, how you target them might be vastly different. If you have ever fished for Mutton Snapper in Key West, you most likely have done it differently than we do here in Marathon, Florida [...]
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