Marathon Fishing Charters
& Deep Sea Fishing

Compare 44 Marathon fishing charters, with deep sea and inshore & bay trips. Contact the captain directly by phone or through their website. We don't take bookings or fees.

Contact details checked on each captain's own website

When are you going?

Typical conditions for the month, from NOAA records.

Charters in Marathon

Call or visit a captain's website to ask about trips, dates and prices. If they're out on the water, leave a message.

44 charters in Marathon

Fish you can catch out of Marathon

Counted from what each captain lists on their own website. Open each for the season and limits.

Sailfish34Mahi-Mahi32Wahoo31Mutton Snapper29Mangrove Snapper27Tarpon26Yellowtail Snapper25King Mackerel25Amberjack24Barracuda22

Deep sea fishing in Marathon

29 of the 44 charters in Marathon list offshore trips on their own websites.

Offshore fish you can keep in September

State or federal water

The Keys sit between both: state waters run 9 miles out on the Gulf side and 3 miles out on the Atlantic side; beyond that is federal water. Which side of that line you fish on can change the season and the limits.

Federally permitted boats

Aboard a charter with a federal Gulf reef fish permit, the federal season applies to red snapper, gag grouper and amberjack, even inside state waters. Ask whether the boat is federally permitted.

Harvest status is September's rule for Marathon from FWC and NOAA Fisheries; state-waters distances are FWC's. Tap a fish for dates, sizes and limits.

Fishing in Marathon, month by month

What 21 Marathon charters say on their own websites about when each fish is around. Each number is how many different charters name that fish in that month; three is the fewest we print.

FishJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecCharters
Tarpon··1011121212933··14
Mahi-mahi··4578873···10
Sailfish8843····33489
Wahoo44······44447
Mangrove snapper·····44·····6
Blackfin tuna·····333····4
Snapper·····444····5
King mackerel44······33345
Grouper····3333····3

Read down a column for a month, across a row for a season. A dot means fewer than three charters name it.

  • Tarpon — “We target tarpon in the late Spring into the summertime during their massive annual migration through the Florida Keys.” mainattraction.org
  • Mahi-mahi — “May & June are our busiest month for mahi fishing.” huntress.fish
  • Sailfish — “Sailfish season lasts from winter time to early spring but they can be caught year round in the right conditions.” catch-em-all.com
  • Wahoo — “Winter brings aggressive king mackerel and wahoo screaming through the wrecks, and it’s not unusual to hook into a sailfish, blackfin tuna, or other pelagic species passing through the deeper water.” floridakeysreeladventures.com

What a trip costs in Marathon

The rates Marathon charters publish on their own websites, by trip length. These are the price of the whole boat, and a range across many boats rather than any one boat's rate. Read on 2026-09-23. Confirm with the captain when you call.

  • Half day (3-5 hours)$400 – $1,095 19 charters publish a rate · middle of the range $850
  • Three-quarter day (6-7 hours)$950 – $1,500 8 charters publish a rate · middle of the range $1,500
  • Full day (8+ hours)$1,150 – $2,600 13 charters publish a rate · middle of the range $2,000

Prices move, and a quiet Tuesday is not a holiday weekend. Nothing here is a booking; we take no fee and hold no rates.

Where the boats leave from, and where they fish

Docks and fishing grounds named by Marathon charters on their own websites. A place is listed when at least two of them name it.

Departure docks and marinas

  • Captain Hook's Marina3 charters

    “Always Late Charters runs year-round out of Captain Hook's Marina in Marathon, FL, accommodating up to 6 guests on a 32-foot SeaVee.”

  • Grassy Key Marina2 charters

    “The city is on a collection of keys that include Boot Key, Long Point Key, Fat Deer Key, Knight’s Key, Crawl Key, and Grassy Key Islands.”

  • Marathon Sailfish Marina2 charters

    “Marathon Sailfish Marina | 100 Avenue I | Marathon, Florida Keys 33050”

Fishing grounds they name

  • Middle Keys10 charters

    “Tour the Middle Keys area and natural habitat by boat.”

  • Florida Bay9 charters

    “From Marathon Key we can access the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and the Everglades in Florida Bay.”

  • Marathon Hump8 charters

    “The famous Marathon Hump lies 27 miles southeast of Marathon, and provides for some of the most consistent deep sea fishing.”

  • Seven Mile Bridge6 charters

    “Seven Mile Bridge — One of the most iconic landmarks in Florida, the Seven Mile Bridge is visible from the water and makes for a memorable photo opportunity.”

  • Duck Key4 charters

    “Derrick had captained multiple vessels within Marathon and Duck Key since obtaining his captain’s license.”

  • Sombrero Reef3 charters

    “Explore the scenic beauty of the Seven Mile Bridge, enjoy the stunning beaches, or dive into the vibrant underwater world at the nearby Sombrero Reef.”

  • Summerland Key3 charters

    “He worked as a first mate on Summerland Key to start his professional career and earn his captains license as quick as possible.”

  • Big Pine Key3 charters

    “This allows us to provide you with charter fishing on the waters of Islamorada, Marathon, Summerland Key, Key West, Key Largo and, Big Pine Key, wherever the bite is!”

Planning a trip to Marathon

Check tides for your dates, see what each month is usually like, and see the closest airports.

Tides on your fishing day

Choose a date to see high and low tide

NOAA tide predictions for Vaca Key-Fat Deer Key bridge.

Typical conditions by month

  • Warmest water: May to October
  • Fewest rainy days: March and April
  • Coolest water: January, around 72°F
  • Warmest air: August, highs near 92°F

Closest airports

With airline service

  • EYWKey West International 48 miles away
  • MIAMiami International 87 miles away

Local public airports

  • MTHThe Florida Keys Marathon International 2 miles away

Straight-line miles from the centre of Marathon.

See the month-by-month averages
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Sunset5:57 PM6:19 PM7:33 PM7:46 PM8:01 PM8:15 PM8:16 PM7:59 PM7:28 PM6:57 PM5:37 PM5:38 PM
Water72°75°78°80°85°87°89°89°88°83°77°74°
Air (high)76°78°81°84°88°90°91°92°90°86°81°78°
Rainy days332256889733

Water temperature: NOAA Vaca Key, Florida Bay station (3 miles away), 2021-2025 averages. Air temperature and rainy days: NOAA 1991-2020 normals, MARATHON AP. A rainy day has 0.1 inch of rain or more. Tides: NOAA predictions for Vaca Key-Fat Deer Key bridge. Sunrise and sunset: Calculated for Marathon, 15th of each month. Airports: FAA airport registry for public-use airports and their locations, FAA CY2024 passenger boardings for which have airline service, town centre from the Census 2024 gazetteer, Marathon city.

What you can keep out of Marathon in September

Harvest rules for the fish these charters name, under the seasons FWC and NOAA Fisheries list for 2026. Being open is not the same as being in season to catch.

You can keep one

Depends on the dates or the boat

  • GrouperAtlantic: gag: closed · Atlantic: red and black: open

Harvest closed this month

Catch and release only

Seasons change, sometimes mid-season. Each fish links to its own page with the dates, sizes and limits, and the agency they came from. Confirm with your captain before keeping anything.

Florida state records caught at Marathon

2 saltwater all-tackle records list Marathon as the catch location.

  • Wahoo 139.56 lb May 18, 1960 · George Von Hoffman
  • Nassau grouper
    9.00 lb January 28, 2007 · Nicholas F. Grecco

From FWC Florida Saltwater Fishing Records (All-Tackle), checked Sep 2026. The place is the catch location FWC recorded.

Questions about fishing charters in Marathon

What happens if it is too windy to go offshore?

Often the trip just moves inshore rather than being called off — 22 of the 44 boats here run both, so a blown-out morning can become a back-country or bay trip. Ask what the captain does with weather, and what the cancellation terms are.

How long is a trip out of Marathon?

Four and six hours are the lengths Marathon captains list most often, with longer days at ten. The clock starts at the dock rather than at the fishing grounds, so the run out and back comes out of your time on the fish.

Do I need to bring rods and tackle to Marathon?

No. Rods, reels, bait and tackle come with the boat on every Marathon charter that says so on its own site — fly anglers are the exception, and usually bring their own. As Main Attraction puts it: “Bait, tackle, and fishing licenses are included in the charter rate.”

Do Marathon charters clean your catch?

Most do, at the dock when you come in, and a good few say so plainly on their own sites. As Captain Jay Charters puts it: “Jay will clean your catch free of charge, so you can throw it on the grill as soon as you leave the marina.” Whether it costs anything is up to the boat, so ask when you book.

What should I bring on a Marathon charter?

Sun protection and your own food and drink. Sunscreen, drinks, food and water come up most often on Marathon charter sites.

Are there family-friendly fishing charters in Marathon?

25 charters in Marathon mention kids or families on their websites. Ask the captain about children's life jackets, trip length and whether there's a restroom on board.

How do I book a charter in Marathon?

Call the captain or use their website. CharterFishingBoat doesn't take bookings or payments, and there's no fee to use the directory.

What should I ask the captain?

Ask what the trip includes, how long it lasts, how many people can come, what you're likely to catch that time of year, and the cancellation policy if the weather turns.

Where do state waters end off Marathon?

The Keys sit between both: state waters run 9 miles out on the Gulf side and 3 miles out on the Atlantic side; beyond that is federal water. Federal seasons and limits apply beyond it, and for some fish they also apply to federally permitted charter boats inside state waters.

When is the water warmest near Marathon?

May through October, when the nearest NOAA station averages 83–89°F. It's coolest in January, around 72°F.

What airports are closest to Marathon?

The closest airports with airline service are Key West International (EYW), 48 miles away and Miami International (MIA), 87 miles away. Local public airports nearby: The Florida Keys Marathon International (MTH), 2 miles away. Distances are straight-line miles from the centre of town.

How many fishing charters are in Marathon?

This page lists 44 fishing charters in Marathon, Florida, each with a phone number and website checked on the captain's own site.

Charters near Marathon

Key Colony Beach4Duck Key6Big Pine Key12Little Torch Key3Summerland Key9Cudjoe Key5

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