Johnny Maddox Charters Papa 31 Customer Reviews

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!

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Captain JohnnyReplied on April 6, 2026

Michael Y, Thank you! You folks were awesome. Looking forward to our next trip.

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!

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Captain JohnnyReplied on April 6, 2026

Michael D, Thank you! You folks were awesome. Looking forward to our next trip.

You can't limit out on every trip, and while Captain Rip certainly tried with us, the conditions were fair to poor (even after delaying a day hoping for improvement). He made the absolute most of the day, using both trolling and reef drops, but it seemed like no one was having luck bringing in keepers. The boat was clean and perfectly rigged, and the Captain and mate were both knowledgeable and friendly. We explored good spots and had an enjoyable ride. We will definitely book with them again on our next visit. Thanks again!

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Captain JohnnyReplied on May 13, 2026

Dave C., Thank you! You folks were awesome. Looking forward to our next trip. yes, hard to control the weather and the fishing. Lol so hurry back hope to see you soon. Tight lines, Riplines Charter.

We had a beautiful day on the water with Captain Rip two days ago. As a mom and I brought my 12-year-old son, who is an avid fisherman dreaming of landing a Mahi-Mahi. Rip clearly possesses tremendous knowledge, reading the wind, currents, and using other tricks of the trade to help us actually reel in "the big one." He accommodated our later start, and we headed out trolling for Mahi. He instructed us to look for floating objects or flocks of birds, which would indicate bait and swirling Mahi. Sure enough, we soon brought in a small/medium Mahi, and right after, my son hooked a massive 25 lb Mahi! He was absolutely thrilled! Later, we moved to the reef, catching lots of blue runners and yellowtails. None were keepers, but the continuous action was exciting, and Rip made sure to explain everything happening on the rods. As we headed in, he took our catch back to his marina, expertly filleted it, and drove the fish to our condo! I’ve never seen a captain provide that kind of service! We’re now flying home to PA with several bags of frozen Mahi. Thanks, Captain Rip!

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Captain JohnnyReplied on May 13, 2026

Kathryn R., Thank you! You folks were awesome. Looking forward to our next trip.

Captain Rip successfully got us on the fish, and we had a great trip! We caught blackfin tuna, mahi, and a couple of "Rosies" (rosefish). As locals of Key West, we truly felt like we were just out fishing with family—it was a wonderful experience. We will certainly be back again, and we’ll definitely be chartering with Captain Rip and Ripline Charters.

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Captain JohnnyReplied on May 13, 2026

Vince B., Thank you! You folks were awesome. Looking forward to our next trip.

What a wonderful time! We had a great day of fishing, and Captain Rip actually changed the date of our trip to avoid incoming bad weather, which was absolutely the right decision. We would fish with him again anytime and highly recommend his services.

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Captain JohnnyReplied on May 13, 2026

Cheryl G., Thank you! You folks were awesome. Looking forward to our next trip. tight lines Riplines Charter thank you Captain Johnny Maddox

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

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Captain JohnnyReplied on May 13, 2026

Crystal G, Thank you! You folks were awesome. Looking forward to our next trip.  yes, well, that’s the way we roll Johnny Maddox Charters. We didn’t get in before dark lol. Still got some nice fish. Hurry back soon. Captain Johnny Maddox.

I truly wish I could rate Rip higher than five stars. He's amazing and simply an expert when it comes to catching fish. I would highly recommend booking a trip with him at any time.

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Captain JohnnyReplied on May 13, 2026

John P., Thank you! You folks were awesome. Looking forward to our next trip. hurry back soon. Glad to take a couple extra stars on the Review five stars plus it’s great for us. Tight lines Riplines Charter, Captain Johnny Maddox.

It was my first time out on the sea! I successfully caught a Mahi-Mahi, but unfortunately, my girlfriend became seasick, so we had to end the trip early. I am incredibly thankful for the Captain's help in taking care of her. I would definitely book this trip again.

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Captain JohnnyReplied on May 13, 2026

Nathen W., Thank you! You folks were awesome. Looking forward to our next trip.  yes, I had a great time catching some mahi mahi. A little seasick never heard anybody you still had fun. Tight lines Riplines Charter, Captain Johnny Maddox.

Captain Rip made my mother and me feel instantly comfortable, like we were long-time friends. The experience couldn't have been better.

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Captain JohnnyReplied on May 13, 2026

RANDALL E., Thank you! You folks were awesome. Looking forward to our next trip. tight lines hope to see you soon Capt. Johnny

Had a great time caught a lot of fish captain and crew were top notch.

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Captain Rip was fantastic. We started by trolling for Sails, but since conditions weren't favorable, we quickly shifted our focus to the reefs. We hooked up a fantastic number of times—around 18—but unfortunately, the sharks were extremely active and stole approximately 14 of our catches. Captain Rip continually adapted his strategy, trying various approaches to beat the sharks and increase our landing odds. Despite the tax, we managed to bring in some fish for dinner, and the experience was truly awesome. I will absolutely look to book with Captain Rip again when we return to the Keys.

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