Robbie and his wife Mona started feeding Scarface 18 years ago. Scarface appeared floundering in the shallow waters near the dock; Robbie saw the struggling tarpon and, thinking it had swum too shallow and gotten stuck on the bank, went out into the water to free it.
He lifted the fish and saw that the right side of its jaw was torn open. Hoping to revive the tarpon, Robbie placed it in the oxygen-rich shrimp tank and called old Doc Roach.
The doctor showed up with his wife’s mattress needles and some twine, and Scarface became the first known tarpon with stitches.
After several days of force-feeding, Scarface showed good recovery and weight gain; six months later, he was released into the waters off the dock.
Afterward, Scarface continued to frequent the docks, sometimes bringing a friend. Soon, more and more of the fish began to appear.
That’s how the history of Robbie’s started. Now, we were voted the number 1 place in The Keys that every tourist should visit.
Whether you want to hand-feed a massive tarpon, seek some thrills with our water sports, or stock up on handcrafted souvenirs at our fun, local shops, we’ve got something for everyone at Robbie’s!
Gorge fresh, delicious seafood and sip one of our signature cocktails, local draft beer, or our famous loaded Trailer Trash Bloody Mary on the waterfront deck and enjoy the show of the tarpon feeding frenzy!
As a must-visit destination in the Florida Keys, our site shares what to do and where to eat at Robbie’s Marina of Islamorada to help you plan your stop and create memorable moments with your family and friends.
Remember, it’s not a trip to the Keys without a visit to Robbie’s!