Top-Rated Inshore Fishing in Marathon, FL

Captain Johnny and mate Nick did an excellent job putting us on the fish. We wrapped up the day with 16 keeper yellowtail snappers, plus plenty of shorts that were released healthy and alive. Caught a variety of other species as well, all safely released. This was our second year fishing with Captain Johnny, and we couldn't be happier with the entire experience. Hoping to squeeze in one more trip before heading home!

Captain Johnny and his first mate Chris were top-notch! Spent the day on the water with the kids and ended up with 19 keepers—nonstop action, the kids were reeling them in the whole time. Absolutely worth booking with Captain Johnny. What a great time!

Captain Johnny and Nick did an excellent job! There were six of us on board, and everyone had a great time. We even enjoyed our fresh catch for lunch at The Key Fishery Restaurant right at the marina. An all-around fantastic experience!

We really enjoyed our fishing trip! The captain and crew were super friendly and worked hard the entire time to keep us on the fish.

Really great crew — friendly, easygoing, and made the whole trip a blast!

Brought three kids and a grandpa — and we all had a fantastic time! The boat was perfect, and the crew couldn’t have been better. They delivered exactly the kind of trip we asked for: close to shore and laid-back. We caught plenty of fish and had some great chats along the way. Definitely booking with them again. Highly recommend!

Captain Brian and deckhand Cody were great to fish with! When the weather forced us to move the trip up a day, Johnny Maddox made sure everything ran smoothly. We targeted whatever was biting that day, and it turned out to be a solid trip all around — no complaints here!

Fishing near the reef was a great time — we had so much fun out there!

Booked a half-day inshore trip to introduce my young boys to saltwater fishing, and it couldn't have gone better. Captain Brian and First Mate Cody were fantastic — they got us on the fish (enough for several dinners!) and were incredibly patient with my boys, answering every single question they had. I’d absolutely book with them again and highly recommend them to anyone visiting Marathon!

Headed out this morning with Captain Brian and Mate Cody — and it was non-stop action from the first drop! Brian had us on the fish right away, and we never had to move. Cody was quick with bait and handling the catch, keeping things smooth the whole time. Both guys were easy to talk to, and the good conversation made the trip even better. This was our third year fishing with Johnny Maddox Charters — no reason to book with anyone else. Thanks again for another great experience!

Had an awesome day on the water with Brian and Cody! We reeled in plenty of yellowtail snapper and took them over to Lazy Days to have them cooked up. The whole trip was relaxed, fun, and full of good vibes. Highly recommend!

Captain Johnny wasn’t feeling his best, so Captain Brian took over — and he, along with Nick, did a fantastic job. We ended the day with 10 keepers and a few near misses, and we can’t wait to fire up the grill tonight!

From beginning to end, the crew was incredibly welcoming. We spent the day reef fishing and stayed on the bite the whole time. Overall, a great experience!

We had a fantastic morning of fishing with our three kids (ages 8, 11, and 13)! Nick and Bryan were amazing with them — super patient, even when our youngest kept tangling her line. We caught a variety of fish including yellowtail, surgeonfish, porkfish, and houndfish. The boat was great, and the crew really knew their stuff. Highly recommend this charter — definitely a 5-star experience! 🌟

Johnny Maddox. You and Nick gave us a special gift.... The universe was definitely on our side. Nick said it best “we aren’t going in until we catch a fish!” 🐠 the mahi mahi listened. Smooth sailing our new friends!!! Crystal, David, and Kathy

Captain Johnny and First Mate Chris were outstanding! Spent the day on the water with the kids and ended up with 19 keepers — the action didn’t stop, and the kids were reeling them in nonstop. Absolutely worth booking with Captain Johnny. We had an awesome time!

Captain Brian had us on the fish in no time — we quickly started loading up the cooler with Yellowtail and Mangrove Snapper. Both he and Nick were professional, friendly, and made the trip fun from start to finish. The boat was spotless and fully geared for fishing. Whether you're seasoned or just starting out, I’d highly recommend them. We’ll definitely be booking again!

Captain Jim and Mate Brian were fantastic! They went above and beyond to make sure we were catching fish and gave extra attention to my grandsons — patient, helpful, and genuinely great with kids. I can’t say enough good things. If you get the opportunity to fish with them, don’t pass it up! We went out on both Monday and Thursday, and both trips were excellent.

Had an awesome morning fishing the reef — we hit our limit on yellowtail snapper and released plenty of smaller ones and other catches along the way. The captain and mate were extremely knowledgeable and worked nonstop to keep us on the bite, baited, and ready. Super friendly crew and a great way to spend the day on the water!

Captain Johnny Maddox and First Mate Chance were a great team — knowledgeable, helpful, and a blast to spend the day with. We’d absolutely book with them again!

One of the best days we’ve ever had! The crew was friendly, professional, and truly knew their stuff — they made the entire experience unforgettable. Absolutely recommend them, without hesitation!

Spent 3 1/2 hours on reef fishing dor Yellow Tail, caught 17, everyone had fun.

This was our first time fishing in the keys and it did not disappoint!

We had a fantastic day with Captain Johnny and Isaac! Our kids had a blast and truly enjoyed the entire fishing trip. Isaac was an outstanding first mate — incredibly patient with our three boys and took the time to teach them. By the end of the day, they felt like seasoned anglers! It was a beautiful day on the water and an experience we won’t forget.

Perfect trip, started slow but crew was amazing and ended up no stop action. Definitely the best charter I've had in years.

We caught a lot of fish! The girls had a great time, catching many different species! And we came home with a good amount of snapper fillets 😋. Our crew was great as well!!!

Jim and Isaac went above and beyond to make sure my wife — on her first-ever fishing trip — and our three young kids had a great time. We brought in plenty of keepers along with a bunch of other fun catches. We’ll definitely be back to fish with them again next summer!

We made the drive from Miami to Marathon so our son could enjoy his first fishing trip — and it was absolutely worth it! Captain Jimmy and Roy took us to a great spot where we caught plenty of mangrove snapper for a full feast. The crew was fantastic, and we’ll definitely be coming back. They made the day unforgettable!

As promised we were brought to the fish and we started pulling in snapper almost as soon as the chum lines went out! The guys were great and incredibly knowledgeable about their craft and the local waters. We will be coming back again and look forward to some offshore action next time!

Great fishing and top notch service. Once the anchor was dropped we got right to it. Would definitely go again with the same crew.

We had an amazing day with these guys today! It was our first time fishing with our girls (ages 8 and 11). They were both so friendly, patient and knowledgeable. I highly recommend!!

Awesome day on the water with Johnny and has capt Chris and Mate Dillon. These guys are awesome. Caught plenty of fish had great conversations. Book this boat and crew you will not regret it.

We spent a half day on the water with Captain Johnny and First Mate Jim, and it was a blast. Captain Johnny knew exactly where to go—no wasted time chasing spots, just straight to fishing. The boat was clean and well-kept, and Jim made sure we were always ready to cast, keeping our hooks baited and handling everything smoothly. He even cleaned our catch when we returned. Great crew, great trip!

Fantastic crew—professional, efficient, and clearly experienced. They knew right where to take us, and it paid off big time. In just four hours, the four of us were nearly at our limit with Yellowtail Snapper. Couldn’t have asked for a smoother or more productive trip!

What a fun day we had with captain Chris & first mate Dylan! Thanks for having us!

The crew was outstanding—super helpful and especially great with my young grandchildren. They made the trip easy, fun, and comfortable for everyone on board. We really appreciated their patience and attentiveness!

The crew was fantastic with our little ones—ages 7, 6, and 3. Each of them caught a fish and had a blast cruising on the boat. The crew also made sure mom and dad got in on the action too! Big thanks for a fun, family-friendly trip and a day we’ll all remember.

Captain Johnny had us right where the fish were, and First Mate Ross kept my line ready to go the entire time. I ended up reeling in a bunch of hefty gray snapper—and the highlight was landing a massive 4-foot barracuda with Ross’s help. Easily the biggest catch of my life! I highly recommend Pappa Pip’s for an unforgettable fishing trip.

Capt. Johnny and mate put us onto the fish right away and worked very hard to see to it that we had a pleasant fishing trip..

Awesome trip, great fish, fantastic crew. Recommend this trip.