Johnny Maddox Charters Papa 31 Customer Reviews

Our fishing trips on the 23rd and 25th with Captain Brian and Mate Cody were outstanding. We successfully hit our tuna limit on one day and, as we requested, brought in a great haul of yellowtail snapper on the other. Brian and Cody are incredibly friendly, helpful, and have an instant rapport—it felt like we were long-time friends. Having fished with numerous guides globally over the years, I can honestly say I had the most fun with this crew. The head of the operation, Captain Johnny Maddox, is excellent—so responsive and caring. He made sure every detail for our trips was taken care of beforehand. This is a very professionally and efficiently run business.

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Captain Brian quickly got us onto a hot spot! We reached our fishing limit within the first hour, and spent the rest of the trip having a blast with catch-and-release fishing. It was an absolute pleasure fishing with Captain Brian.

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We scheduled our Mahi trip with Captain Johnny Maddox to cap off our two-week vacation in Marathon. Captain Brian was our guide, and he delivered—he definitely knew where to find the fish! We had an amazing day and a wonderful time out on the water. Without a doubt, we'll be booking another charter with Johnny Maddox Charters the next time we're in Marathon!

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The Captain demonstrated deep knowledge and explained every step clearly. The Skipper was incredibly fast, helpful, and friendly—he was right on top of things the moment the fish started biting. We had high hopes for this trip, and catching both snapper and mahi-mahi made it a success.

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We had a wonderful time out fishing! The crew was fantastic and worked hard to help us catch more than enough fish to provide dinner. We are already looking forward to booking our next trip with them.

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We had an absolutely fantastic morning out on the water with Skipper Brian. The action started immediately: my son, Adam, hooked a fish on the very first drop, and they just kept biting after that! Our catch included a couple of Blue Runners, an uncountable number of Yellow Snappers, a Rainbow Runner, and a small Bonito to finish the morning. We followed Brian's recommendation and took our catch to a local restaurant where it tasted incredible. This trip is highly recommended!

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Our group had a fantastic day, successfully landing a strawberry grouper and a mackerel that we immediately turned into delicious dockside sushi! We were reef fishing, and the yellowtail and red snappers were really hitting, providing more than enough for both lunch and dinner. The Captain clearly knew all the best spots, kept our rods ready for action, and kept us thoroughly entertained with fascinating stories about the Keys. We enjoyed the short trip so much that we’ve already booked a full-day excursion with the same captain this week!

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My kids and I had an amazing time fishing with Riplines and Captain Johnny Maddox! The whole experience, from beginning to end, was excellent. The communication after booking and right before our trip was perfect. We took a half-day trip to the reef with my teenagers, and Captain Johnny had us catching fish almost immediately. The time flew by as we constantly reeled in Yellowtail and Mangrove snapper. It's clear that he is an expert on the local waters and knows exactly where to place the boat. Beyond the successful fishing, Captain Johnny and his crew were professional, friendly, and ensured every person felt comfortable and had a blast. They're genuinely great guys, and I really enjoyed chatting with them. Whether you're a seasoned fisherman or just want a fun day on the water, this is the charter you need to book. We highly recommend them and will absolutely be returning!

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The seas were quite rough, making it a challenging day for fishing. Captain Johnny explored several different locations, but unfortunately, we didn't have any luck with the bite. Despite the tough conditions, we still had an enjoyable day on the water. As the saying goes, that's why it's called "fishing," not "catching!"

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My son and I had an amazing introduction to fishing in the Keys! We spent the day reeling in mahi with the help of an outstanding captain and deckhand. Their skill and determination made the trip a success — we’ll be eating well for the rest of our stay in Marathon. Huge thanks for an unforgettable day out on the water!

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Since the seas were a bit rough heading to the hump, he quickly adapted and had us trolling for dolphin (mahi) on the way, where we caught quite a few! The tuna bite was slow once we reached the hump, but we kept trolling and landed more fish. We even hooked a nice-sized tuna, though a shark beat us to the punch! Despite the challenge, it was an A+ day overall, and Alex is a fantastic guide. You should definitely book a trip with him!

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Captain Rip successfully navigated us out to the "Hump," even though the conditions were challenging. He quickly put us onto some Blackfin tuna, which resulted in a delicious dinner!

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