FishMonster & IslandJane Charters — Local services in Key West

Now that we are back Home, I can sit down and write the Review that FISHMONSTER deserves. We did a 1/2 Day, 2:30 to 6:30 Fishing Trip. Capt. Cass and her Crew of Max & Luke are one of the nicest, most helpful and Excited Crew one could hope for. We have been coming down to KW for a week to 10 days every year for the past 13 years. This is the first time my Wife and I have gone out Fishing on a Large Fishing Boat like Fishmonster Max. We had fished with the former owner of the property where we stay, in a Small Boat. I guess for us, we kind of lucked out, there were only 17 other Folks on board with us for this trip. So, Luke and Max had time to spend with each guest on board to help them out and to answer questions. At the beginning of putting our Lines in, I was absolutely Snake bit!! I caught 1 little Yellowtail that had to go back to grow up, so it could be a keeper. My Wife had caught a few Grunts and 1 Yellowtail. Capt. Cass had to reposition the Boat a few times looking for a good area to fish. Well, it was nearing the end of our time out when Luke asked if I wanted to change Rod and Reel to a Spinner Reel. Plus, he changed bait. My Wife kept the Open Reel and Fishing with a weight to the bottom. I woke up, Success!!! I got a tight line, I started to reel in when the tip of the rod started to bend big time!!! With the help of Luke and Max I boated the Biggest Catch of the day, a Mutton Snapper. Max and Luke, I believe were more excited for my catch than I was. Just as we got the Mutton into the Boat, my Wife said she that her line was caught on the bottom again. Guess what? No it was not!! She had hooked into something BIG, too. By the time Max and Luke helped her get her fish onto the Boat, I no longer had the BIGGEST CATCH of the Day!! Her GROUPER was Thicker and heavier than my Mutter Snapper!! We were very pleased with what we had caught and was going to call it a day. However, I had bait on my hook so, I tossed the line back into the water. We only had about 10 minutes left before it we head back to the Marina. That is when I caught something BIG!!! It was taking all of my line heading out to port and the bow of the Boat, we were at the stern!! Max took the rod so we could get it over the other rods and to the bow when he said; you hooked a SHARK!! He saw the Fin!! We tried to get the Shark to the Boat to take a picture, to confirm the LARGEST CATCH OF THE DAY, but, those Shark teeth cut the line. So, my Wife took honors for the Largest Catch of the day and I got the 2nd Largest!! Once again, we want to Thank Luke, Max and Capt. Cass for a great time on the water of Key West fishing from Fishmonster Max!! We will be back on our next trip to the Conch Republic!!

Below are pictures of Luke, Max and Capt. Cass, plus, our Catch. We did get a few more Yellowtails and Grunts, they are on...

23 Dec 2024: I would not have conceived of it or expected it but this trip with Capt Ken was even better than the first (see below). Every aspect of the experience was absolutely superior. Concern over our comfort on the boat relative to the weather and sea state, safety briefing regarding the features of the boat being used for our trip, very pleasant and engaging conversations both on board and with the front office staff. The fishing was great and was our first full-day trip where my wife and I had to be told it was time to return to port and call it a day. Over the course of the balance of this week my family is looking forward to a 90-minute sunset cruise and a half-day ecco reef tour, which if past experience is any indication will both be delightful. Our fish were cleaned and eaten within 30 minutes of our arrival. I recommend making the tiny additional effort when reserving from out of town to call the office as the interface is completely pleasant and provides up-to-the-minute data to inform your decisions for great seaborne adventures. Way to go FishMonster & Island Jane Adventures

Columbus/Indigenous Peoples Holiday Oct 2024: In my wife's and my opinion if you go to Key West with the intention of charter fishing and don't ask for Ken from FishMonster & Island Jane Charters you are letting the best in life pass you by. The company and the captain were absolutely top-of-the-line. We can't wait until our next opportunity to cross paths and fish with them again. We recommend any of the charter trips offered; but plan ahead so you can choose from the full array of options best suited for your time on Key West. We made our reservation 48-hours in advance and could only take the last remaining 4-hour flats trip...it was phenomenal. Give them a full day of your time and it will be the outing of a lifetime. NOTE: Stay and watch the tarpon and sharks by the fish-cleaning station after your return. DO NOT FALL IN THE WATER...

Extremely Disappointed – A Complete Waste of Time and Money

I've been on many fishing charters over the years, and unfortunately, this one stands out for all the wrong reasons. It was, without a doubt, the most frustrating and disappointing experience I’ve had on the water.

What truly ruined the day was how the crew handled our catch. We reeled in several legal-sized grunts, groupers, and yellowtail — fish we were well within our rights to keep. Instead, the captain and mate insisted on throwing them back, saying they “weren’t big enough” for their standards. This wasn’t a matter of legality; it was personal preference — and completely disrespectful to paying customers who came to fish and bring home their catch. It made us feel like our efforts were meaningless and our time wasn’t valued.

To make matters worse, when I finally hooked into what felt like a big fish and was fighting it for a good 15 minutes, the mate asked me to move to the back of the boat — only to immediately tell me to move again because there was “too much going on” back there. It was chaotic, disorganized, and incredibly frustrating.

After spending an entire day and traveling hours to get there, I walked away empty-handed, disrespected, and extremely disappointed. This charter did not deliver on even the most basic expectations of a professional fishing experience. I cannot recommend it to anyone, and I strongly suggest...