718LB SHORT FIN MAKO
Epic Key West Offshore Adventure: Hooking a 718-Pound Shortfin Mako Shark
Fishing offshore in Key West has always been about chasing the next great story—and sometimes, those stories turn into legends. One unforgettable trip back in the 1980s proved just that.
It was a warm May morning when we set off on a 12-hour deep sea fishing adventure. We headed out to the famous deep drop-off, where the ocean floor falls away between 1,000 and 1,800 feet deep. This area, just offshore from Key West, is a magnet for big game fish like mahi-mahi, wahoo, sailfish, and the occasional marlin. That day, luck was on our side early—we limited out on mahi-mahi within just a few hours, the deck a colorful mix of bright green, blue, and gold.
Feeling good about the haul, we decided to switch things up and target something even bigger. We rigged a fresh cero mackerel onto a heavy marlin rod and set it back. Moments later, the ocean exploded in a violent splash. No one saw exactly what hit the bait, but one thing was clear—we were hooked up to something massive.
Onboard that day was a young couple from up north, and the wife, full of excitement, took the rod. What followed was an epic 2.5-hour battle against a creature that refused to give up. As the leader finally came into view, we realized we weren’t fighting a marlin or a swordfish—it was a massive shortfin mako shark, one of the fastest and most powerful sharks in the ocean.
Captain Teddy Bair expertly maneuvered the boat while Sharky positioned himself for the final moment. With the mako thrashing alongside the hull, Sharky dispatched the beast using a 12-gauge bang stick—a method commonly used for safe shark handling at the time.
After securing the shark, we headed back to the dock at a steady pace. Word traveled fast, and by the time we returned to Key West, a crowd had gathered, eager to see what we’d brought in. The shortfin mako tipped the scales at a staggering 718 pounds. It was a once-in-a-lifetime catch, and the couple decided to mount the giant shark along with one of their beautiful mahi-mahi from earlier in the trip—a perfect way to memorialize a day they’d never forget.
Key West offshore fishing isn’t just about filling coolers—it’s about making memories, chasing legends, and sometimes, catching the kind of fish that stories are written about. Whether you’re after mahi, marlin, or even a monster shark, there’s no better place to experience the adventure of deep sea fishing than right here in the Florida Keys.
Ready to write your own Key West fishing story? Join us at Cowboy Cowgirl Sportfishing and let’s go offshore fishing in Key West the way it’s meant to be—legendary.