Robbie's of Islamorada

The tradition of tarpon feeding at Robbie's began, as the story goes, with a single injured fish. An ailing tarpon was nursed back to health at the marina, and once recovered it kept returning, joined over time by others, until a whole school made the docks their regular gathering place. From that beginning grew the famous feeding that draws visitors today.

Over the years the marina became a Keys institution, adding the market, the restaurant, and the water-tour operations while keeping the tarpon at its heart. It is the kind of place that grew organically rather than by design, which is much of its charm, an easygoing tangle of docks and stalls with the fish always waiting below.

The tarpon is a magnificent fish, silver-sided and armored in large scales, prized by anglers for its size and its acrobatic fight. The fish that gather at Robbie's are fully wild, able to come and go as they please, drawn by the reliable feeding, and seeing them mass in the clear water is a genuine wildlife encounter rather than an aquarium exhibit.

Feeding them by hand is a lively business. The fish lunge and roll at the surface, water splashing, while brown pelicans crowd the dock hoping to steal a bait fish and the occasional nurse shark or ray drifts through below. It is a little chaotic and a lot of fun, and it leaves visitors with a vivid, close-up sense of these great fish.

Away from the feeding dock, Robbie's spreads into an open-air market of stalls selling the work of local artists and craftspeople, from jewelry and art to Keys souvenirs, alongside a waterfront restaurant serving fresh seafood. It has the relaxed, browse-and-linger feel of a good waterfront market anywhere, with the bay always in view.

The marina is also a working gateway to the water. From here, visitors can join fishing charters into the famous flats and reefs of Islamorada, take boat tours to backcountry islands and sandbars, or rent kayaks to paddle the mangroves. That combination of a wildlife spectacle, a market, and easy access to the water is what makes it such a natural stop on a Keys trip.

Islamorada bills itself as the sport-fishing capital of the world, and for good reason: its position between the shallow backcountry flats of the bay and the deep water and reefs of the Atlantic puts an extraordinary variety of fish within reach. Anglers come from around the world to chase bonefish, tarpon, and permit on the flats, and sailfish and dolphin offshore.

The surrounding Keys offer far more than fishing, from the coral reefs and wrecks that draw snorkelers and divers to the quiet mangrove creeks made for paddling. Robbie's makes a fine base or a fine stop within all of that, a hub of the easygoing, water-centered life that defines Islamorada.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

Robbie's of Islamorada, in Islamorada in the Florida Keys, is a famous and beloved marina and waterfront attraction best known for the chance to hand-feed enormous wild tarpon, giant silvery fish that gather at the docks. Visitors can buy a bucket of fish and feed the massive tarpon, which leap and gulp right at the dock, an exciting and unforgettable experience. Beyond the tarpon, Robbie's is a lively spot with a marina, boat tours and rentals, an eclectic outdoor market with local crafts and food, restaurants, and Keys character. A quintessential Keys stop, it is fun for all ages. With its tarpon feeding and waterfront fun, Robbie's of Islamorada offers a delightful destination in Florida.

Yes, hand-feeding the giant wild tarpon is the signature experience at Robbie's of Islamorada, where visitors can buy a bucket of baitfish and feed the enormous tarpon that gather at the docks, watching them leap and gulp the fish right from your hand or the dock, a thrilling and memorable activity. Because the tarpon are large and powerful and pelicans also crowd in for a meal, following the guidance, holding the fish properly, and being careful of your fingers is wise. Feeding the massive tarpon is an unforgettable highlight of a visit to Robbie's of Islamorada in the Florida Keys.

You can hand-feed the giant tarpon at the docks, take boat tours or rent boats and kayaks, browse the eclectic outdoor market with local crafts, art, and goods, dine at the waterfront restaurants, watch the pelicans and marine life, and soak up the laid-back Keys atmosphere. The tarpon feeding, the market, and the waterfront dining are highlights, offering a fun and quintessential Keys experience for all ages. With its tarpon, market, boats, and dining, Robbie's of Islamorada offers an enjoyable stop in the Florida Keys.

Robbie's is enjoyable year-round, with winter and spring offering the most comfortable weather, while summer is hot and humid but lively. The tarpon are typically present at the docks much of the year, though numbers can vary, and daytime is best for feeding them and enjoying the market and boats. Mornings can be less crowded. For the most comfortable weather and the fullest experience, aim for winter through spring, during the day, at Robbie's of Islamorada in the Florida Keys.

Robbie's of Islamorada is in Islamorada in the Florida Keys, near the History of Diving Museum and Anne's Beach, within reach of John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo, Marathon with the Turtle Hospital, and the route toward Key West. That makes Robbie's of Islamorada a delightful stop to combine with the History of Diving Museum, Anne's Beach, and the other attractions of the Florida Keys on a visit to the state.