Robbie’s of Islamorada in Islamorada

At Robbie’s of Islamorada, the main attraction is not on the menu, in the gift shop, or even really on land. It is in the water below the dock, where big, silver tarpons gather to be fed. 

The ritual traces back to 1976, when Robert “Robbie” Reckwerdt and his wife Mona found an injured tarpon near the marina. The fish had a badly torn jaw, and the couple nursed it back to health. Even after the tarpon (later nicknamed Scarface) recovered, it kept returning to the dock. Other tarpons soon followed, and the impromptu rescue story turned into the marina’s defining activity.

Toss a bait fish among these “Silver Kings”, and the water churns as they vie for the snack, causing quite an unforgettable spectacle. You can even watch the fun of this feeding frenzy at home with Robbie’s underwater livecam, where the hundred-plus tarpons mingle with other Islamorada local fish.

The marina itself sits at mile marker 78 in Islamorada and has grown far beyond the dock itself into a full-on visitor hub. Once you’ve given the tarpons their grub, you can get your own eats at the on-site bar and restaurant, where there’s seafood galore and the famous “Trailer Trash Bloody Mary.” From there, you can explore surrounding shops for quirky souvenirs or make use of Robbie’s boat rentals and watersport adventures, from snorkeling to snuba diving (no certification required!).