Marathon Florida Private Wreck Charters

Targeting Mutton Snapper, Amberjack, Grouper and more!

If you want to know what fighting big fish in the Florida Keys feels like, wreck fishing is where it happens. I’m Captain Kevin Johnsen with Florida Keys Reel Adventures, and these 6-hour wreck fishing charters out of Marathon are some of the most exciting trips I run!

I’m taking you offshore to the sunken ships, downed planes, and concrete rubble piles that sit in deeper water — the kind of structure that holds truly big fish. Amberjack, black grouper, mutton snapper, and whatever else decides to show up that day. Out here, something is usually biting, and it’s often something with shoulders.

Why Wreck Fishing? Because That’s Where the Monsters Live

The artificial reefs and historic shipwrecks off Marathon create underwater cities. Every piece of sunken structure becomes a sanctuary — attracting baitfish first, then the predators that feed on them. The deeper water means bigger residents, and the fish that patrol these wrecks aren’t the same ones you’ll catch inshore.

Amberjack are the main event at many of these spots. If you’ve never fought one, you’re in for a surprise — there’s a reason anglers call them “reef donkeys.” They’re stubborn, powerful, and they will absolutely try to drag you back into the wreck. Fish over 100 pounds are a real possibility, and even the smaller ones will have your arms burning. Just be sure to reel them in before something EVEN BIGGER shows up to eat them (yes it happens). Add in trophy-class black grouper and big mutton snapper, and you’ve got a wreck fishing trip that delivers fun consistently.

What’s Biting? Seasonal Fishing on the Florida Keys Wrecks

The resident fish — your amberjack, grouper, and snapper — are down there year-round. But the wrecks also pull in seasonal visitors that make every trip a little different.

Winter brings aggressive king mackerel and wahoo screaming through the wrecks, and it’s not unusual to hook into a sailfish, blackfin tuna, or other pelagic species passing through the deeper water.

Spring shifts the action toward schools of permit and the highly prized African pompano — two species that serious anglers travel from all over the country to target.

No matter when you book, there’s always something worth catching. I fish these wrecks constantly, and I’ll put you on whatever is running hot that day.

How the Trip Works

I designed these 6-hour trips to give you the best of both worlds — great eating fish and a shot at something that’ll test your strength.

We start the day on the closer reefs. This is where you get comfortable, dial in your technique, and stack the cooler with delicious fillets — yellowtail snapper, mangrove snapper, lane snapper, the kind of fresh fish that makes the best dinner you’ll have all week. If you’re newer to fishing, this is your time to get your sea legs and learn the ropes. I’ll walk you through everything.

Once you’ve got some food in the box and everyone’s warmed up, we push offshore to the deeper wrecks. That’s when it gets serious. We’re targeting the big stuff now — the amberjack that peel drag, the grouper that try to hole up in the structure, the fish that make your whole trip worth talking about. The goal is that you go home with a full cooler and a fish story nobody’s going to believe!

Is This Trip Right for Your Group?

You don’t need to be an experienced angler to have a great time wreck fishing. I provide hands-on guidance the entire trip — from rigging your line to coaching you through the fight when a big amberjack decides to test you. I’ve had first-timers land fish they’ll never forget, and I’ve had seasoned anglers tell me it was the best day they’ve had on the water.

That said, I do list this trip as intermediate on my site, and here’s why: wreck fishing often means tangling with bigger, stronger fish that very young children will need help reeling in. It’s also a full 6-hour day on the water, which can be a long haul for little ones — a 4-hour reef trip might be a better fit for families with younger kids. We do start the day on the reef, which is perfect for beginners to warm up and get comfortable, so plenty of groups with mixed experience levels do great on this trip. Use your best judgment, and take a look at the trip details below to make sure this option is the right match for your group.