Will a restaurant cook my catch in Islamorada?
Yes. Islamorada has a hook-and-cook tradition. Hungry Tarpon at Robbie’s charges $21.95 a person for a pound of cleaned fillets, Lazy Days $23.99, Wahoo’s $21 and Lorelei $17.95, read on their own sites in October 2026. Most want the fish already filleted, which the charter crew does at the dock.
At the dock
Operators say the crew does the cleaning. Shake N Bait says the mate or captain cleans fish at the dock and that it is included in the trip. A Fishing Guru’s captain explains what is legal and fillets and bags anything you keep. EarlyBird’s Capt. Ross cleans and bags the fillets, and points customers to a local hook-and-cook restaurant or to Ship Your Catch, which vacuum-seals the fish and mails it home.
Only legal fish come home: the captain measures and counts against FWC’s limits, and some species, tarpon and bonefish among them, are always released. What fish you can keep has the limits.
Restaurants that cook your catch
The Islamorada Chamber’s 2026–27 visitor guide also lists Captain Craig’s, Green Turtle Inn, Islamorada Fish Company, Island Grill, Old Tavernier and Kindler Wood Fire Eats as restaurants that cook your catch. Their own websites, where read, do not say so or give a price, so call ahead.
| Restaurant | Where | Price | Rules |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hungry Tarpon | Robbie’s Marina, MM 77.5 | $21.95 adult, $14.95 child, for 1 lb; $12.95 each extra lb | Cleaned fillets only |
| Lazy Days | MM 79.8, ocean side | $23.99 a person, up to 1 lb of fish or two lobster tails | Filleted and de-boned; legal size and in season |
| Wahoo’s Bar & Grill | Whale Harbor, MM 83.4 | $21 | Up to 1 lb of cleaned fillets a person; grilled, fried or blackened |
| Lorelei | MM 82, bay side | $17.95 | Must arrive filleted; served with fries and slaw |
Read for this page on 6 October 2026: Hungry Tarpon ; Lazy Days: we cook your catch ; Wahoo’s Bar & Grill: menu ; Lorelei: dinner menu ; EarlyBird Fishing Charters: FAQ ; Shake N Bait: FAQs .
Your fish: questions
Who cleans the fish on an Islamorada charter?
The crew, at the dock. Shake N Bait says cleaning is included in the trip, and A Fishing Guru and EarlyBird say the captain fillets and bags what you keep. Ask your operator if cleaning costs extra.
How much does hook and cook cost in Islamorada?
Between $17.95 and $23.99 a person on the restaurants’ own sites in October 2026: Lorelei $17.95, Wahoo’s $21, Hungry Tarpon $21.95 for a pound, and Lazy Days $23.99. Most want cleaned fillets, up to about a pound each.
Can I ship my fish home from Islamorada?
Yes: EarlyBird Fishing Charters mentions Ship Your Catch, a service that vacuum-seals the fillets and mails them. Otherwise, pack them on ice in a cooler for the drive.
Next step
Looking for fishing trips in Islamorada?
Islamorada Charters Fishing is an independent guide — no boats, no bookings, nothing to sell. It exists so you can ask better questions before you hand an operator a deposit.
Islamorada Charters Fishing takes no bookings and earns nothing from a click. You book with the operator directly.