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Robbie’s Marina: Feed the tarpon; it’s the best cheap fun you can find in the Keys

A few years ago, you learned about how to feed the tarpon at Robbie’s Marina in Islamorada via word of mouth.

Robbie’s at Mile Marker 77 is famous now — it draws big crowds.

It’s still fun, although more crowded and commercial. The nearby restaurant, the Hungry Tarpon, has expanded to provide extensive waterfront dining. When we first visited, it was little more than a weathered wooden cottage.

The dock at Robbie's Marina in the Florida Keys, where visitors gather to feed the tarpon.  (Photo: Bonnie Gross)
The dock at Robbie’s Marina in the Florida Keys, where visitors gather to feed the tarpon.  (Photo: Bonnie Gross)

The big draw at Robbie’s Marina is the chance to see 50 to 100 enormous tarpon swimming around the dock in clear water only a few feet deep.

You pay $2.50 to go out on the dock and it’s another $5 for a bucket of fish pieces to toss to them. It might be the most entertainment you’ll find in the Keys for a few bucks.

Feeding the tarpon at Robbie's Marina in Islamorada. (Photo Bonnie Gross)
Daredevils hand-feed the tarpon; others just toss the fish into the water, where the tarpon lunge, splash and compete for each morsel. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)

Tarpon grow to 5 to 8 feet long and weigh 80 to 150 pounds, so these aren’t the usual fish that gather when you throw bread crusts into the water in the Keys. These are among the great saltwater game fish, prized for their fight (but not as food.) They’re nicknamed the Silver King.

“Visit” Robbie’s Marina via it’s webcam, with views both above and underwater.

Robbie’s is a good marina to book a fishing charter, diving trip or rent a kayak.

It became the favorite buffet for tarpon through an act of kindness.

Sign at Robbie's Marina, where you feed the tarpon. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)
Sign at Robbie’s Marina, where you feed the tarpon. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)

More than four decades ago, the owners of Robbie’s saw a tarpon they named Scarface floundering in shallow water. When Robbie went to guide the fish into deeper water, he discovered its jaw was ripped open.

According to the story on Robbie’s website, he summoned a friend who stitched the jaw with twine and a mattress needle. After hand-feeding the fish for six months in a tank, a healthy Scarface went back into the wild. But not quite. Scarface kept coming back. And then he began bringing his friends.

Feeding the tarpon at Robbie's Marina in Islamorada. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)
Feeding the tarpon at Robbie’s Marina in Islamorada. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)

Today, the dock is filled with visitors in awe of the tarpon convention that happens every day.

The powerful silver fish flash in the sunlight as they lunge for the snacks dropped by visitors. Brave (dumb?) visitors try to hand-feed the fish, providing entertainment for those content to keep a distance.

Be prepared for aggressive pelicans that try to steal the fish before they reach the tarpon. Visitors often see manatees or nurse sharks near the docks too. 

The tarpon-feeding dock is open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The Hungry Tarpon is a popular waterfront restaurant located in Robbie's Marina in Islamorada. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)
The Hungry Tarpon is a popular waterfront restaurant located in Robbie’s Marina in Islamorada. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)

Dining at Robbie’s Marina

Overlooking the marina and fish frenzy are outdoor tables from the Hungry Tarpon, a funky wooden fish shack built in 1947 and expanded in recent years to a large outdoor waterfront patio.

For years, its breakfasts have been famous and its fish sandwiches popular for lunch.

Thanks to photos on social media, the Hungry Tarpon is now famous for its “Trailer Trash Bloody Mary,” made with house-infused cucumber vodka with bleu cheese, pickle, garlic olives, pickled green beans, crisp strip of bacon, celery, meat straw and a shrimp cocktail!

The Hungry Tarpon is open 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

robbie's marina ice cream robbies marina Robbie's Marina: Feed the tarpon; it's the best cheap fun you can find in the Keys
When visiting Robbie’s Marina, stop at Charli’s Shave Ice for cool treat. We loved the Key Lime Pie Ice Cream. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)

Robbie’s Marina also has several booths at an open-air market, where you can browse.

We particularly liked the excellent Key Lime Pie Ice Cream at Charli’s Shave Ice at Robbies, located in an adorable Airstream camper. (In summer 2023, Charli’s specialty ice creams are $7 for a 6 ounce serving; $8 for an 8 ounce serving and $9 for a 12 ounce serving.)

Feeding the tarpon at Robbie's Marina in Islamorada
Feeding the tarpon at Robbie’s Marina in Islamorada is often a family affair. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)

Robbie’s Marina as a base for outings

Robbie’s has become a full-service destination for Keys recreation seekers. You can book charter fishing boats, snorkeling tours, party fishing boats, and sunset cruises. You can rent kayaks and jet skis.

Our favorite outing is to rent kayaks and paddle to an island ghost townIndian Key Historic State Park, where you can explore the remains of a once-thriving village. It takes about 30 to 45 minutes to kayak to Indian Key.

It’s an uninhabited, undeveloped island where you still walk the roads of the original village, past the ruins of historic building foundations. It’s sparsely visited, perfectly quiet and seems utterly timeless. It’s also a great place to snorkel.

A new offering at Robbie’s Marina in fall 2023 is glass-bottom boat tours. The new Transparensea glass-bottom boat is offering day and night tours of reefs such as nearby Alligator Reef. It’s a 46-foot boat that has a stabilizer to reduce motion. It can carry 49 passengers. Details: glassbottomtour.com.

Feed the tarpon at Robbie’s Marina: Useful links

Robbie’s Marina is located on the bay side of the Overseas Highway at Mile Marker 77.5. Phone number for the tarpon booth and booking office is 305-664-8070.

Resources for planning a Florida Keys vacation

Hungry Tarpon, a restaurant at Robbie's Marina
Hungry Tarpon, a restaurant at Robbie’s Marina. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)

Special places to discover in the Middle Keys

Special places in the Upper Keys

Camping and lodging near Robbie’s Marina


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