Catch or Release?
Sometimes, being able to guarantee to catch on every charter is a double-edged sword.
Yep, you heard that right. We catch fish on every trip, guaranteed. I am not sure that there is another fishing destination where they can do that, but fishing out of Key West, you always catch.
However, you don’t always keep! Remember, it is called Sportfishing for a reason… Fun. We advise our anglers not to put their stomachs before their fun. In other words, if it is legal and edible, sure we keep it. If not, we put it back knowing that there will be something left for our generations to come. Anyone with children (or some of us with grandchildren!) will be able to feel a little better about the future of our world.
On the “Mr. Z,” nothing goes to waste. The pictures that you see on this weblog and site that are on the dock, are taken moments before Capt. Steve puts them on the cleaning table and converts them to fresh-cut fillets ready for the trip to a local restaurant or a ride home to become the best seafood dish that maybe you’ve ever had! With the other photos, if you see beautiful blue water and clear sky in the background, we probably pulled the fish up for no more than 30 seconds, took its picture, and gently put it back. We aren’t necessarily tree huggers, but we do know that the fish stands a better chance of survival in the ocean than in our fishbox!
We don’t mind when our anglers specify that they would like fish to eat. We never talk anyone out of the fish caught on a charter. We are in the charter business, we are not commercial fisherman. Note: It is not customary on any charter to leave the fish for the crew. However, if you do choose to leave the fish, they won’t go to waste. Yes, we do sell fish. But, we will be more likely to cut the fish and give it away to friends, dockmasters, concierges, or eat it ourselves 
Sportfishing in Key West is most certainly about catching, but there should also be room for camaraderie, relaxation, a little silliness and being a good world citizen!
