What would you recommend to anglers fishing in Marathon, Florida for the first time?

January can be rough month with weather and what is biting. I felt I could trust them to recommend where to invest the time to put us on the fish that we wanted without pressure to even go out due to the sea conditions. We were comfortable in a not ideal day (5-8ft), but the boat and crew did great!

Buy or make a Bally Hoop net to catch ballyhoo for live bait. Get a trolling motor that has the ability to hold a gps position so you don’t have to mess with an anchor. Take 4 blocks of chum for a day on the water. Take plenty of water to drink.

Get a guide for your typical fishing trips. It will save you time learning the areas and recommended techniques. Also talk with your captain before the trip to cover specifics. Contact Captain Jays for a fun half day lobster lesson. Ben took good care of us.

These guys are so helpful. Anything you need for fishing is provided. Don’t forget sunscreen and a to take Dramamine the day before not the morning of… makes folks real tired when taken same day. WE did half day reef fishing trips. Excellent experience.

Look for a trip that allows you to go Offshore, and do any type of fishing. I prefer a reef and wreck / Offshore combo tour. I prefer 6 hours. I also prefer a boat that is 30 feet or longer. If you are fishing with children or females look for a toilet on board. I also prefer to have a charter with a first mate.

I know that there are better times of the year to fish the Florida Keys but the fishing in late January 2022 was great. The advantage of fishing in January/February is the wonderful weather with air temperature in the low 70's and water temperature in the mid 70's.

Make sure you get a guide that knows where to go for the fish. Our guy did not. We went on a fishing trip with a guy from our campground and caught a load of fish. So it's all in knowing how and where the fish are going to be.

The fishing is great, but it is difficult when waters are hot for certain fish. Definitely recommend getting out there and trying regardless!

The half-day reef fishing was a good opportunity to check out the weather, the fishing, and the captain, anticipating the possibility of a follow-on trip. Johnny Maddox Charters was excellent.

Lots of people here are away on vacation in September since it's typically a slow season for them.

Get a good guide. Someone with knowledge of the area. Makes for a better experience

Try earlier in the summer for some Mahi or later in the year for wahoo when the water is colder.

Yes but check the wind first. I heard it’s better to fish later in the year or around February if you’re trying to catch Mahi. We were not able to catch Mahi because winds were too high.

No fault of the captain, the weather did not cooperate. I’d recommend late May instead of early June. Marathon overall was great though. Lots of great flats.

Yes, capt Quinn was a very knowledgeable and professional captain. I would most definitely recommend him to others

As long as you’re flexible in following the advice and experience of the guide, you’ll have a good time fishing.

If your coming to Marathon in May for the great fishing of several species in the same month bring cool clothing and lots of sunscreen.

It’s a little more expensive but take the big boat to be sure that you have a great day, even if the seas are a little rough.

We were fishing for the first time and had fun so we’d recommend going with Captain Jay and ask for Captain Bryce!

Go out to the Hump. It's worth the extra time and the fishing is great. It would have been nice to get into some Mahi, but they were hit and miss this time of year.

End of March is a bit of a shoulder season for some species but Infinite Blue kept us in the action all day.

Make sure you have a long sleeve shirt and SPF 30 or higher on your face neck and ears wear a hat if possible. Also bring your own snacks and lunch.

If you are interested in lots of action, especially for kids, the reef is great. The wrecks and kite fishing are more for bigger fish, but likely fewer.

Weather was in the 70’s and calm. Don’t expect to catch mahi mahi until May when they run. But plenty of other fish like Amberjack to catch.

This was a great Charter. Captain Chris knows all these waters, took us fishing under the 7 mile bridge and also out into the Atlantic. What a beautiful trip. Thank you.

Wear your sunscreen, bring a snack, polarized sunglasses, bring your own beer if you’re a drinker, and LOOK UP CAPTAIN CHRIS HARPSTER WITH KEYS DISEASE FISHING CHARTERS!!!

Make sure and ask what fish you're targeting on the trip.That will let you know whether you are along the shore or out a ways.

Research the charters you are looking at. They may have great ratings but unfortunately that doesn't mean they are true.

Crappy weather, but better than most parts of the country! Little chilly, but again no problem with the guide at all!

Depending on weather conditions and your tolerance for ocean waves, it may be prudent to book an inshore charter if you have any reservations about sea/motion sickness