Seafood differently

Head down to the docks of Hawks Cay Marina at MM61 for the coldest draft beer and freshest Key specialties in the lower latitudes. Order off our menu or, bring us your filets for some great hook and cook options.

Lunch: 11:30am - 3:30pm Daily

Captain’s Hour - 3:30pm - 5:30pm Daily

Dinner: 5:30pm - 10pm Daily

12420 OVERSEAS HWY | MARATHON

Live and work in paradise. Retail commercial space on the lower level with fully appointed and furnished two bedroom, two bathroom apartment on second level. Large covered porch to enjoy the views and afternoon breezes of the gulf. Great US 1 exposure, signage and parking. Convenient, luxurious living quarters above for employees or a vacation rental. Beautiful both inside and out. OFFERED FURNISHED AT $1,195,000

City of Marathon City Council Agenda 9805 Overseas

(*Denotes Item Is Passed By Consent Upon Approval of Agenda)

Public Comments taken on all times and at 6:30pm time certain for items not on the agenda or as soon as possible thereafter of after the last agenda item; whichever comes first.

City Council Items

* A. Approval of Minutes

B. Baptist MSTU/Financials Discussion

C. Discussion of Vacation Rental Trash and Adding an Additional Position (Councilmember Matlock)

D. Electric Bike Discussion (Vice Mayor Still)

City Manager Report

* A. MCSO Marathon Substation Report

* B. Grants Update

* C. Building Report

* D. Park and Recreation Report

* E. Marathon Fire Rescue Report

* F. Marina Report

* G. Code Report

* H. Wastewater Utilities Report

* I. Public Works Report

J. Request for Parcel Split at 126 Calle Ensueno

Quasi-Judicial Public Hearings:

A. Resolution 2023-27, Approving The Allocation Of Commercial Building Permit Allocation System (CBPAS) To St. Columba Episcopal Church For Period 2, Year 31 (January 14, 2023 To July 13, 2023); And Providing For An Effective Date.

B. Resolution 2023-28, Approving The Allocation Of Commercial Building Permit Allocation System (CBPAS) To Floridian Holdings LLC For Period 2, Year 31 (January 14, 2023 To July 13, 2023); And Providing For An Effective Date.

C. Resolution 2023-29, Approving The Ranking And Allocations Of The Market Rate And Affordable Residential Building Permit Allocation System (RBPAS) For Period 2, Year 31 (January 14, 2023 To July 13, 2023); And Providing For An Effective Date.

Ordinances for Second Public Hearing and Enactment

A. Ordinance 2023-02, Amending The City’s Land Development Regulations, Chapter 104, “Specific Use Regulations,” Article 1, “General Provisions,” Section 104.64, “Waterfront Walkways And Docks:”; Providing For Severability; Providing For The Repeal Of Conflicting Provisions; Providing For The Transmittal Of This Ordinance To The State Department Of Economic Opportunity After Final Adoption By The City Council; And Providing For An Effective Date.

B. Ordinance 2023-03, Amending The City Of Marathon’s Comprehensive Plan Modifying Chapter Seven, “Transportation Element,” And Intending To Modify Policies 7-3.1.1 Through 7-3.1.3, “Ensure Consistency With The Plan,” “Protect Environmentally Sensitive Lands,” And “Protect The Airport Hammock Buffer,” Respectively, Providing For Severability; Providing For The Repeal Of Conflicting Provisions; Providing For The Transmittal Of This Ordinance To The State Department Of Economic Opportunity After The First Hearing By The City Council; And Providing For An Effective Date.

C. Ordinance 2023-04, Amending Chapter 102, Article 13, Entitled “Conditional Use Permits''; Providing For The Repeal Of All Code Provisions And Ordinances Inconsistent With This Ordinance; Providing For Severability; And Providing For Inclusion In The Code Of Ordinances, City Of Marathon, Florida; And Providing For An Effective Date.

Resolutions For Adoption

A. Resolution 2023-30 Authorizing The City To Pursue The Dissolution Of An Extinct Church Located At 500 42nd Street, Having Real Estate Number 00336520-000000, Further Authorizing The City To Contact The Nearest Church Of The Same Denomination As Part Of The Dissolution Process; And Providing For An Effective Date.

B. Resolution 2023-31 Approving Amendments To The Rates And Rental Fee Schedule For The Use Of Boot Key Harbor City Marina Facilities; and Providing An Effective Date.

C. Resolution 2023-32, Approving A Modification To The City’s Fee Schedule For Building Permits Providing An Approximately Forty-Two Percent (42%) Reduction In The Immediate Future “Cost Of Construction” And “Cost Per Square Foot” Building Fees; Providing That There Will Be Further Modifications In Future Years; Providing That There Will Be An Approximate Annual Review Of Fees Base On The Statutory Requirements Of 530.80 F.S.; And Providing For An Effective Date.

D. Resolution 2023-33 Rescinding Resolution 2022-104, Establishing City Boat Ramp Usage Fees, Trailer Parking Fees And Parking Fees At Sombrero Beach, Establishing An Annual City Resident And Qualifying Owner’s Registration And Establishing The Process And Fines For Violations

Pursuant to Section 286.0105, Florida Statutes, if a person decides to appeal any decision made by the City Council with respect to any matter considered at such hearing or meeting, one will need a record of the proceedings and for such purpose that person may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made; such record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based ADA Assistance: Anyone needing special assistance at the City Council hearing due to disability should contact the City of Marathon City Attorney at (305) 289-4130 at least five days prior thereto. Please contact the City Clerk at clavierd@ci.marathon.fl.us if you would like to receive any of the items on the agenda by email.

CAPTAIN JOEL’S FISHIN’ HOLES

Ballyhoo: Every Fish’s Favorite Dish

If you're ever reincarnated as a fish, don't come back as a ballyhoo.

Almost every saltwater gamefish loves to eat ballyhoo. We catch ballyhoo on Sabiki rigs, with cast nets, with BallyHoops, hook and line and we like chumming them in with green label Tournament Master chum made in Virginia. When we can't catch them, we buy them.

It would be hard to run a saltwater charter business in south Florida without using ballyhoo. We use them dead, alive, fresh, frozen, brined, pre-rigged and unrigged. We cut them in slivers, chunks, filets and butterfly them. We sink them, float them, flat- or free-line them, plane them, troll them, kite-fish them, deep-drop them and sight-cast with them.

Ballyhoo is by far the most popular and versatile bait around, but the downside is that they’re not hardy and can only live in captivity for a day in the livewell. Another downside is you can't troll them fast. If you high speed troll a ballyhoo, it will rip apart. Here are a few important tips to remember when fishing with ballyhoo baitfish:

Many gamefish prefer a live ballyhoo. In order to present a lively ballyhoo to a gamefish, you must get the ballyhoo out of the livewell quickly, hook them appropriately and even rest them in the water over the gunnel when you're deciding where to cast. This is a game of seconds and inches, not minutes and feet.

Ballyhoo and most baitfish can only keep their heads out of the water as long as you can keep your head in the water. So many times I witness inexperienced anglers carrying on a conversation while hooking the live ballyhoo, swinging it around like a samurai warrior before casting, or taking a live ballyhoo out of the livewell and walking across the boat to get their rod and reel with the baitfish in hand – by the time they get it on the hook and cast it, the ballyhoo is already doing the dying flutters when it hits the water. It should only take five or 10 seconds from the time you pull it out of the livewell to the time you cast. Fast is key.

Snap off the ballyhoo’s bill prior to putting it out as bait.

From left: As these Ana Banana customers can attest, lively, properly-handled ballyhoo can be the key to landing a variety of species. CONTRIBUTED

While they’re a prized target for game fish, properly handling ballyhoo from net to hook is a game of seconds and inches. CONTRIBUTED

The ballyhoo’s bill is a unique structure, but should be removed before using the fish as bait.

WIKIPEDIA/Contributed

Fish like to eat a ballyhoo without its bill better. The bill can act as a rudder, giving your ballyhoo bad action, or it can get wrapped around the line. In the right situation, it can also hinder or block a good hook set.

A live ballyhoo should have only one handler. When someone hands you a ballyhoo, their hands took the fish’s slime and scales off. Now you’re taking even more of the same slime and scales off, reducing the ballyhoo’s longevity on the hook.

…is a fifth-generation Floridian and second-generation fishing captain who owns and operates Ana Banana Fishing Company in Marathon. His passions include fishing, hunting and spending time with his family.

When using dead ballyhoo, use slivers for yellowtail and vermillion snapper; chunks for mangrove and lane snapper, mahi, tuna, tripletail, snook, redfish, trout and cobia; butterfly for mutton snapper and grouper; filets for all species of mackerel and jack; and whole ballyhoo for tarpon, shark, barracuda and all billfish.

Fresh is best. If you've frozen or brined your ballyhoo and they've thawed and been refrozen, every hour that goes by reduces the ballyhoo’s effectiveness. Gamefish prefer fresh fish as much as us humans do.

When trolling live or dead ballyhoo, the most important thing to remember is to keep them streamlined and hydrodynamic. Whether you troll with mono, braid, wire, skirt, naked, two hooks or one, keep your bait straight. No swerving, no ramping, no helicoptering. It's ok to slither and hop a little, but at the end of the day all you're trying to do is imitate a flying fish.

I can think of over 20 species this month that we've caught off of ballyhoo. Try ballyhoo more and you'll see your quality, quantity and variety increase greatly.

To book a charter with Ana Banana, call or text Capt. Joel at 813-267-4401 or Capt. Jojo at 305-879-0564, or visit anabananafishing.com.