Bud N Mary's Fishing Marina

Bud n' Mary's Fishing Marina has worked the oceanside docks at mile marker 79.8 in Islamorada since 1944, in a village that calls itself the Sportfishing Capital of the World. The Stanczyk family has owned it since 1978, and more than 40 captains and guides run out of here across a fleet of roughly 44 boats.

Whatever you want to fish for, somebody on this dock does it. Offshore boats chase sailfish, dolphin and tuna. Backcountry and flats guides work tarpon, bonefish and the Everglades. There is daytime swordfishing, reef and wreck trips, shark trips, lobster and crab charters in season, and a head boat for anyone who would rather split the cost and just go.

The rest of it is built so you never have to leave. The tackle shop carries bait and ice, there is fuel at the dock and transient dockage for up to 45 boats, and the Swordfish Grill opens at 6 in the morning for breakfast and will pack a boxed lunch for your charter. Lodging runs from hotel rooms and an oceanfront house to a row of houseboats tied up at the dock, the Mama Linda, Sailfish, Bonefish, Swordfish and Aqua Lodge among them, plus a trawler called the Lucky Lady II. Reservations are taken by phone at (305) 664-2461 or (800) 742-7945.