Three generations of the Baumgarten family, one dock, and six decades of Key West sportfishing.
60+
Years on the Water
3
Generations
6
Tournament Boats
1000s
Anglers Guided
Cowboy Cowgirl SportFishing Charters traces back to 1965, when Hans Baumgarten began running charters out of Key West. Back then the fleet was small, the electronics were simple, and success came down to reading water, weather, and bait.
Hans built a reputation the slow way: showing up early, running honest trips, and treating every angler on the deck like family. That standard is still the measuring stick for every captain who runs one of our boats today.
Mark grew up on his dad's deck, working his way from cutting bait to running the bridge. He fished the Straits of Florida in every condition the Keys can produce, learned the wrecks and humps by heart, and eventually took the helm of the family operation alongside his wife, Michelle.
Mark spent decades chasing sailfish, tuna, wahoo, and sharks with the same crews returning season after season. Now retired from full-time charter work, he remains the heartbeat behind Cowboy — mentoring captains, tuning boats, and keeping the family standard intact.
Mark and Michelle's children, Chris and Kristin, grew up in the same wheelhouse. Captain Christopher Baumgarten now runs trips of his own, carrying the third generation of Baumgarten knowledge into the fishery.
Mark's brother, Michael Baumgarten, a well-known Conch filmmaker, has documented the family's Key West roots along the way — proof that this story belongs to the island as much as it belongs to us.
Today our fleet runs from 34 to 47 feet, covering everything from light tackle and reef trips to full-day offshore runs and dedicated shark fishing. Captains and mates are USCG licensed, and every boat carries current safety equipment for up to six passengers.
Whether it is your first time holding a rod or your fortieth season chasing tournament fish, the goal has not changed since 1965: put you on fish, keep you safe, and send you home with a story worth retelling.
