Islamorada Fish Company

Islamorada Fish Company occupies a spectacular waterfront position on Florida Bay at mile marker 81.5 in Islamorada — the self-proclaimed sportfishing capital of the world. The restaurant commands sweeping views over the backcountry flats where bonefish, permit, and tarpon have been pursued by fly fishermen for generations, and the dock where tarpon routinely congregate makes this as much a natural attraction as a dining destination. The tarpon feeding — guests can purchase fish pieces from the restaurant to toss to the massive silver tarpon that mass at the dock's edge — is a unique Florida Keys experience that children and adults find equally captivating. The seafood menu reflects the Keys' position at the southernmost edge of Florida's fishing culture: stone crabs in season from October through May are among the freshest available anywhere in the archipelago; Florida spiny lobster tails, with their distinct sweetness, appear during lobster season; and the key lime grouper, baked with a key lime butter glaze, is the restaurant's signature dish. The atmosphere is casual, festive, and tropical — open-air dining on the Florida Bay side with breezes off the water and frigate birds circling overhead. The bar serves frozen cocktails and cold beer suited to the afternoon Keys heat. Islamorada Fish Company does not accept reservations; the afternoon crowds are heaviest from 1–3 PM. Morning visits offer calmer waters, cooler air, and a more intimate tarpon feeding experience.