Captain
Carl Bish

Member since June 2017 Marathon, United States
Background
I earned my first Captain's License at the age of 20 and immediately began operating charters on the Great Lakes. On Lake Ontario, we fished for King Salmon, Steelhead, Atlantic Salmon and Lake Trout. Walleye ruled Lake Erie, so we went after it, while Smallmouth bass always made for a fun trip. During the offseason I taught science in high school. The two careers were soon complementary – I focused on providing family-based trips aimed at getting children into sport fishing. I ran this service each summer during the fishing season until selling it in 2015 to move to the Florida Keys. Here in the Keys I continue to focus on family-based fishing in a relaxed "go out and have fun" style. I enjoy educating families on the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and the surrounding ecosystem. Onboard, our goal is to fish up the food chain or as our slogan says: "Start with a shrimp....end with a monster!"

Hey, I'm Captain Carl Bish

Marathon, United States
Background
I earned my first Captain's License at the age of 20 and immediately began operating charters on the Great Lakes. On Lake Ontario, we fished for King Salmon, Steelhead, Atlantic Salmon and Lake Trout. Walleye ruled Lake Erie, so we went after it, while Smallmouth bass always made for a fun trip. During the offseason I taught science in high school. The two careers were soon complementary – I focused on providing family-based trips aimed at getting children into sport fishing. I ran this service each summer during the fishing season until selling it in 2015 to move to the Florida Keys. Here in the Keys I continue to focus on family-based fishing in a relaxed "go out and have fun" style. I enjoy educating families on the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and the surrounding ecosystem. Onboard, our goal is to fish up the food chain or as our slogan says: "Start with a shrimp....end with a monster!"
Anglers Choice
Verified

My Charter Listing

Excellent
4.9 / 5
(215 reviews)
Angler's choice
Marathon
 Last booking: 6 days ago
 Instant Confirmation
trips from US $500

Fishing Reports

Big Winter Snapper on the Calm Side of M
Big Winter Snapper on the Calm Side of M
Feb 14, 2024 Marathon
The weather this year has been challenging. We have had a lot of wind here in the Florida Keys, some weeks we have only been able to fish a day or two. Foodchain Fishing has made it our craft to fish the Gulf side of Marathon in the winter time. We have perfected techniques to catch plenty of Mangrove (Gray) Snapper, Mackerel and Yellowjacks for the dining pleasures of our clients. We also regularly tie into large sharks or Goliath Grouper for the sport of it. Our clients really enjoy the consistent action on light tackle as well as the calmer water that is found on the Gulf side this time of year. We are finding the fish on the grass patches north of Marathon. The technique that is the most fun is throwing a baited jig on a 15 pound leader out into the chum slick. As the bait sinks the smaller fish bat the bait around attracting the attention of the larger snapper. The snapper shoots in and grabs the bait and swims off, as the line is stripping from the open spool the patient fisherperson waits until they believe the fish has eaten the bait and then simply closes the bail, as the line draws tight the sharp hook finds its mark and the fight is on! Today the bite was mostly Snapper, and big snapper at that, so we just stayed right with them. Other days the Mackerel show up in the chum slick and we will cast bucktail jigs tipped with bait and retrieve it rapidly, enticing vicious strikes and ballistic runs. At the end of every trip our clients are happy with the fun fishing action and thankful that they had fished on the calm side of Marathon.
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Fall winds, dropping temps hot Snapper B
Fall winds, dropping temps hot Snapper B
Oct 19, 2023 Marathon
Mom, dad and daughters alwys make for an exciting trip. Autumn winds have arrived so to keep our crews comfortable and provide a good time we used the island geography of our area to our advantage. Our trip started with an 11 mile run out to a group of islands to the north west. Oit first spot was on the windward side of the island. The island was diverting the direction of the tide and we immediately noticed the presence of much cooler water. We pulled the throttle back in 4 feet of water and the idled in a bit closer, finally dropping the anchor in about 30 inches of water. The bite was slow at first with lots of weeds. We changed up the tactics and put a bobber on the 8 year olds rod. Within 20 minutes of dropping the chum bag we were yelling " Bobber Down"! Things got busy as we converted the other lines from jigging to bobbers. Meanwhile we had a few sharks circling our boat so we threw a bait out on the heavy lifter. Back on the bobber side of the boat the young girls bobber went down the reel started screaming then the bopper went 6 feet into the air as a monster tarpon let us know that he meant business. The fight was short lived as the 12# snapper leader did not stand a chance against the beast. Returning to snapper fishing and adding a few to the bucket. Action was hot and on the shark side of the boat we saw a huge swirl then a plume of mud but the sharck rod did not move. The shark sliced the 11 inch bait right behind the hook leaving just the head. Replaced the bait and it was not long until the drag on the heavy lifter was singing. The shark was a small blacktip much smaller than the larger lemon we had seen earlier. With big predators in our slick the snapper bite shut off so we deicided to make a move to the deeper, leeward side of the island. The ladies were really getting a kick out of fishing with the bobbers, so we adjusted the hook to bobber lead and the action continued. Our 8 year old fishing champion nailed the biggest snapper of the trip. As a captain I really enjoy a family trip like this where the skill level varies and we can facilitate the fun of fishing for the entire crew.
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Customer reviews

Rating summary
Excellent
4.9 / 5
out of 5 stars from 215 reviews
Boat
Excellent
4.8 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience
Excellent
4.9 / 5
Photos & videos by reviewers (259)
Great Day!
Great Day!
Great Day!
+256
Angler rating
199
12
2
0
0
Anglers claimed
Good experience
98%
Friendly captain
100%
Recommend this charter
99%
Appropriate for children
98%
Satisfied with the boat
100%
Caught fish
96%
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Showing:
5 of 215 reviews
Ryan W.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Great Day!

VERIFIED   NEW  Half Day Trip (PM) on April 11, 2024
Captain Carl took my wife and I out into the Gulf and provided an amazing day of fishing. It was clear to the both of us that...
Ryan W. recommends Foodchain Fishing
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Jason E.

The captain canceled

VERIFIED   NEW  March 26, 2024
The charter operator canceled on trip date. This is an automated posting.
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Tom H.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Best Family-Friendly Charter

VERIFIED   NEW  3 Hour Trip โ€“ Sunset Fishing on March 26, 2024
Captain Carl was punctual; his boat and gear were clean and in working order.ย  He knows the waters and kept us on the fish...
Tom H. recommends Foodchain Fishing
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Elizabeth C.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Best trip ever!

VERIFIED   3 Hour Trip โ€“ Sunset Fishing on February 12, 2024
We had such a great time. Captain Carl had some really excellent spots to fish. Every time I cast, I was reeling a fish in...
Elizabeth C. recommends Foodchain Fishing
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Steve S.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Capt. Jim put us on the fish!

VERIFIED   NEW  5 hour Fish with Captain Jim on March 21, 2024
Capt. Jim is a great guy! The kind of guy you could be friends with for a long time. Kind, patient, friendly, smiley and knows...
Steve S. recommends Foodchain Fishing
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