Good Karma Fishing Charters

09/09/2026

Bull shark madness 😂 yesterday.

Seven years later, and Tom, Eric, and Carol picked right back up where they left off.

The new moon brought the tax collectors out in full force, but we stayed one step ahead by sticking to the game plan: hit the spot, put fish in the box, and keep on moving before the gray suits catch on.

Because let’s be honest—these guys have learned where to look and when to show up, and they don't miss.

Clients worked hard yesterday for their cooler and they were super grateful for the yield.

No reel pumping—just straight cranking.

Long leaders. Kills that underwater pulsing action that rings the dinner bell. Sometimes😭😭

Zero dead bait. Only clean, bait nostril rigged so it wouldn't bleed.

Them bull sharks love the dead gogs, but really cannot resist that dead speedos and can tune in a wounded live bait rig.

They selected no electric reels, I am good with whatever.

They worked hard, cranked through burning forearms, and llegit 29-to-30-inch mutton snappers.

Water skied a few up using the 50 lb. fluorocarbon leader. That's always interesting.

The margats are thick in September they typically bite first, they let me know the bull sharks were there so I moved.

Next week in the new course, I’m diving deep into reading current and using SatFish to avoid high-activity shark zones—or at least stay a step ahead of them until they figure out where you went! 😂

When a family stays competitive and puts in the sweat, beating the conditions is the best feeling on the water.

Thank u guys again for coming back to fish with me and see u guys next fall.

Capt. Ryan

09/09/2026

Fishing Report from yesterday.

The bull sharks are hungry and waiting....

Have at it.💯

Capt. Ryan

09/07/2026

The space between the bites ...

When you charter for a living, your head never stops running the numbers, nor should it.

But for fishing for wahoo alone in the fall cuts through all that noise.

The hours between the bites feel just like those freezing mornings in the duck blind with my dad, staring into gray skies between duck sets.

Some days we got our shots, then others days we did not.

The bite gives me that "feeling", but the quiet waiting on it is church.

It's more than just fishing.

Capt Ryan

09/06/2026

Just in time for the Wahoo season...

Handcrafted in Panama and built with a purpose. 🇵🇦🎣

The story behind Black Marlin Custom started when lure maker Craig Lewis was running a charter operation and B&B out of Pedasí, Panama.

Down on the Tuna Coast, local fishermen deal with a frustrating reality: you’re either stuck pulling cheap, low-end plastic heads that break, or spending half a week's pay—$50 or more—on big-name brands.

These are not made with foil. Don't be confused. U can do ur own research. 💯💯💯 These are the real deal.

Craig set out to change that dynamic completely. His mission was simple: craft tournament-grade, battle-tested trolling heads that everyday anglers and local commercial guys could actually afford—even selling them at cost back to the local fishermen in Pedasí.

Every single head carries that direct-from-the-grounds DNA:

Authentic Hand-Cut Abalone Shell: Natural abalone shell refracts light dynamically from every angle, shifting hue underwater to mimic living baitfish scales as the lure swims.

Keel-Weighted for Real Speed: Built heavy and precisely balanced so you can run them hard. They track true without tumbling or blowing out—even running clean at 10–12 knots while pumping out a thick smoke trail.

Grab-&-Go Rigged: Rigged turnkey with premium Jinkai smoke blue leader, custom-spaced skull beads, and razor-sharp stainless steel hooks dialed right to the skirt tail.

Available Profiles & Patterns in the Shop:

6.5″ Cup-Face Keel-Weighted Abalone: Hot Maddy (the proven pink with polka dot belly), classic bonito, and Green/Orange.

7.5″ High-Speed Metal Jet Heads.💥

These are stocked exclusively on the racks at Chris’ Bait & Tackle Chris Bait and Tackle located at Tavernier Creek Marina (MM 90.5).

Grab a couple on ur way out the Tavernier Creek and drop them straight into your spread, and see the shell flash for yourself.

Capt. Ryan

09/06/2026

Forgot my net...

Gaffing builds a new fisherman's confidence.

Whenever I teach a new angler about gaffing or see them freeze up on the gaff, I ditch the technical or "Capt Speak", look them dead in the eye, and ask them if they remember the Jon Snow line from the Game of Thrones...

Jon handed the "needle" to Arya Stark:

"Stick 'em with the pointy end."

About 90% of people immediately recognize the line.

The moment they crack a smile, I know we're golden.

When you get less technical, everything changes. You can literally watch their shoulders drop, the white-knuckle grip loosen on the gaff handle, and the panic evaporate into confidence.

A relaxed angler makes clean, lethal moves.

Next time you see "color" take a breath, find your target, and just stick 'em with the pointy end.

Capt. Ryan

09/05/2026

September 8th marks my official 4-year anniversary using SatFish

Back on September 8, 2022 I bought my first SatFish membership because I needed help.

Between 2020 and late 2022, our nearshore waters took an unprecedented beating.

Extreme heat, decaying Sargassum, and dirty bay flushes degraded water quality across the Keys. Tropical systems pushed enough sand to literally reshape the seafloor—creating an exposed new island right on Conch Reef.

When Hurricane Ian blacked out visibility in September 2022, followed immediately by Hurricane Nicole in November, the water quality was a mess.

That crisis forced a pivot. On September 8, 2022, I bought my first SatFish membership.

I didn't know the platform inside and out yet, but I believed in the team behind it—Alex Danko and Dr. Jeff Barr.

Grounding my charter operations in raw oceanographic data instead of guesswork saved my seasons during those nasty years.

Been a good couple years, but history does repeat itself. Comfort is the killer. I learned that the hard way.

In my new blog, Why Tagging Mahi Mahi and Migratory Ducks Might Be Hurting Migrations there is a section of the blog where I cover:

April 2023: I became SatFish’s first South Florida affiliate.

Community Impact: A wave of Keys captains and YouTube creators began adopting and teaching the platform after hearing it broken down on the Good Karma Sportfishing podcast, YouTube, Instagram and blog.

​SatFish SST Science: Collaborating with Dr. Barr allowed us to build out Masterclass content—translating sea-surface temp breaks, altimetry, and current dynamics into actionable intel for wahoo, snapper and groupers.

When conditions go south. You just need the tools and the grit to interpret the water.

Head over to the SatFish website, sign up for a free trial, and use code GOODKARMA for $20 off your annual subscription.

Check out the new blog it may be insightful for some of you.

Invest in yourself.

Capt. Ryan

09/04/2026

Stop guessing your leader length—current dictates the bite.

Module 5 of Fishing Complex Currents for Mutton Snapper is live.

Inside, I break down:

​Forecasting moving water and edges using SatFish

Tuning leader length to current direction, speed, tide, and eddies so your bait sits in the strike zone

Dialing in specific terminal rigs for natural, bottom-hugging presentations or suspended muttons snappers.

​Master the current, match the rig, put muttons in the box.

​🔗 Link in bio to sign up.

Capt. Ryan

09/04/2026

Celebrating 15 years this week with this blog.

Why Tagging Mahi Mahi & Migratory Ducks Might Be Hurting Migrations | The Pelagic Trap

How Mahi Mahi tagging data became a roadmap for commercial fleets—and why the Anglers Edge app focuses on real ocean literacy, conservation, and responsibility.

09/03/2026

I get asked a lot about fishing line. Here you go. From Yo-Zuri Pink, Seaworx Clear Matte and Ande Pink Mono.

Tavernier Bait and Tackle at Tavernier Creek Marina (MM 90.5) and visit Tavernier Bait and Tackle at Tavernier Creek Marina for top gear.

09/03/2026

Not all chuggers are created equal.

When you run a Jason Gore chugger, you notice the difference the second it hits the spread: the head design grabs clean water, smokes hard, and holds tracking without blowing up.

This isn’t officially launched yet, but here’s a quick sneak peek of what’s hitting Tavernier Creek Marina soon.

When the program drops, picking up a Gore’s chugger at Tavernier Creek will unlock a specialized video directly from Capt. Jason Gore—breaking down the exact lead position, troll speed, and rigging tweaks needed to make it irresistible to mahi mahi right here in the Keys.

We want you to catch many fish on one lure.

Quality over quantity.

Full launch details coming shortly.

These are sold exclusively Chris Bait and Tackle.

Pick up one this Labor Day weekend.

Capt. Ryan