Sportfishing History in The Florida Keys

Islamorada’s reputation as the “Sport Fishing Capital of the World” began taking shape during the early 20th century. The area became a proving ground for backcountry sportfishing, saltwater fly fishing and light-tackle angling, traditions that continue to influence the sport today.

Charter fishing operations in Islamorada began developing in the late 1930s with Captain Walter A. Starck and his son, Walter E. “Buck” Starck. The elder Starck had already spent years carrying affluent anglers from Miami to Bimini and The Florida Keys before purchasing the property now associated with Whale Harbor.

Following World War II, Buck Starck established a fishing camp near the location of today’s Robbie’s Marina. For years, members of the Starck family were among the region’s most prominent sportfishing operators.

Another chapter began in the mid-1940s when Bud and Mary Stapleton acquired the land that became Bud N’ Mary’s Marina. What started as a hotel and tackle shop entered the charter fishing business after Captain Don Gurgiolo persuaded the Stapletons to let him build a small dock and operate offshore trips from the property.

As mosquito control, road access and marina development transformed the Keys during the 1950s, the number of visiting anglers and professional guides rapidly increased. In 1950, local fishermen, guides and charter captains established the Islamorada Fishing Club, helping strengthen the area’s tournament traditions and commitment to responsible angling.

The Keys’ tradition of innovation did not end with the early pioneers. Decades later, Captain Richard Stanczyk, Vic Gaspeny and their fellow anglers adapted specialized tackle and deep-dropping methods to consistently target broadbill swordfish during daylight hours off Islamorada.

Before the technique was perfected locally, swordfish were generally pursued at night. The development of daytime swordfishing opened an entirely new fishery and helped establish Islamorada as one of the world’s leading destinations for broadbill swordfish. Stanczyk’s influence on the sport and his role in advancing daytime swordfishing were recognized with his induction into the International Game Fish Association Fishing Hall of Fame.

Few figures are more closely associated with Key West fishing than Ernest Hemingway. During his years on the island, Hemingway spent countless hours offshore pursuing marlin, tuna and other powerful game fish.

In 1934, he purchased a customized 38-foot fishing boat that he named Pilar. The vessel was outfitted with a livewell, a wooden roller for hauling large fish aboard, increased fuel capacity and separate engines for cruising and trolling. Hemingway brought Pilar to Key West and docked it at the Navy Yard, just a short distance from his Whitehead Street home.

His fishing adventures influenced his writing, strengthened his reputation as an adventurous sportsman and helped cement Key West’s place in the history of big-game angling.

The enduring appeal of fishing in The Florida Keys comes from the incredible variety found along the island chain. In Key Largo and Islamorada, anglers stalk bonefish, permit and tarpon across shallow flats and mangrove shorelines. Marathon offers productive reef, wreck, bridge and offshore fisheries. The Lower Keys are known for remote backcountry waters, while Key West provides access to reef fishing, deepwater wrecks and the powerful currents of the Gulf Stream.

In Islamorada, it can even be possible to pursue a sailfish offshore and then search for bonefish, permit, tarpon, snook or redfish in the backcountry during the same day.

Generations of pioneering captains, presidential anglers, celebrated sportsmen and everyday fishing enthusiasts have all contributed to the story. Yet the heart of Keys fishing remains much the same: an early departure from the dock, an experienced captain at the helm and the possibility that the next cast could become part of sportfishing history.