Ocean’s Edge Resort & Marina: A Fishing and Boating Playground on the Edge of Two Oceans

I recently found myself waiting for Key West fishing legend Capt. Robert Trosset to arrive on the dock, bristling with anticipation at the world-class light tackle fishing opportunities waiting just offshore. It had been two decades since I last fished with “RT,” as he’s affectionately known throughout the fishing community, meeting up with him in the same general place where we would forklift launch his center console boat and hop aboard.

I knew in my mind this was the same Oceanside Marina I had once visited regularly, but nothing looked familiar. “Funky” is about the best word I can come up with to describe the 20-year-old pictures of the place I had bouncing around in my head.

These prior experiences made the stark contrast with today’s new Ocean’s Edge Resort & Marina all the more impressive. What used to be a neglected corner of Stock Island (technically separated by a small bridge from Key West proper) now offers boaters, fishermen, travelers and outdoor adventures of all types a deluxe waterfront pleasure park.

Renovated Facilities
The centerpiece of this new development is an expansive marina with 111 wet slips that accommodate vessels ranging from 25’ to 140’ in length, along with a fully covered and secure dry rack storage facility for another 52 boats. Twelve feet of water depth ensures that all types of power and sailing vessels can access slips. The marina also provides guests with 24-hour security for peace of mind and, while the docks themselves are not individually gated, the entire hotel and marina complex requires entry through a 24-hour security hut. A marina bathhouse/laundry provides some comforts of home to short and long-term marina residents.

To meet the needs of its largely fishing and cruising customer base, the marina also offers pump-out services and a fuel dock that is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, dispensing not only diesel and gasoline, but also the three most important necessities for Key West anglers — ice, bait and chum.

The entire facility looks and feels new because it is. The sprawling hotel complex, complete with six heated swimming pools, waterfront dining and bars, and on-site watersports facilities, was constructed in 2017 on what was mostly parking areas and empty land around the “old” Oceanside Marina. As the hotel was being built, Oceanside Marina was expanded and renovated to better match the look and user experience of this new high-end resort.

The Oceanside Marina maintained its name, even though it is also an integral part of the overall Ocean’s Edge Resort & Marina. While both entities are independently owned and operated, the symbiotic partnership they both enjoy is clearly evident. A big part of this revolves around the world-class sport fishing that draws visitors to Key West from across the country and around the globe.

Sport Fishing is the Heartbeat
Key West’s location on the edge of two oceans makes it an ideal base camp for those in search of inshore and offshore angling opportunities. Heading out of Oceanside Marina, turn left and you’re fishing the rich waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Turn right, and the warm tropical waters of the Gulf of Mexico stretch to the horizon and beyond.

Fly and light-tackle anglers travel to Key West in pursuit of bonefish, permit, tarpon, snook and other inshore species. When you’re here, some of the best flats fishing this side of Belize or Bermuda awaits right at your back door.
Those who prefer big game can venture offshore to tangle with sailfish, tuna, king mackerel, wahoo, and more, not to mention a litany of wrecks and reefs called home by cobia, jacks, grouper, and mutton snapper.

With all this opportunity, it’s no surprise that this marina and hotel complex appeals especially to fishermen. The marina docks are home to Key West’s largest charter fishing fleet, ranging from basic outboard-powered center consoles to luxurious blue water yachts ready to provide luxurious angling experiences for well-heeled clients. The marina’s guides account for more than 400 different International Game Fish Association (IGFA) World Record catches — testimony to both their collective skill and the area’s amazing fishing. Whether it’s anglers who stay at the hotel during their Key West fishing adventure, or hotel guests who happen upon the fishing fleet while strolling the manicured grounds, there is no denying that the partnership works for all.

“While we get some bookings from locals, the majority of our customers are out-of-towners who travel from the Northeast or Midwest to come fishing in the Keys,” said Capt. Chris Trosset of Reel Fly Sportfishing, part of a potent father-son fishing duo with his dad, RT. Many of these anglers stay at the hotel, where they can literally walk out of the door in the morning and step onto the boat.

“Aside from my planned bookings, I’ll often have guests staying at the hotel approach while I’m fileting fish or washing the boat after a trip,” added Trosset. “We can tailor trips for all types of people, whether they’re hardcore anglers who want to run 60 miles offshore or a family that just wants the experience of being out on the water.”

The marina’s resident tarpon play a crafty, if unwitting role in this cozy little business arrangement. As the fishing boat crews are cleaning fish at the end of the day — right about the time hotel guests and marina occupants usually stroll the grounds to enjoy a cool drink and the evening breeze — schools of 100-pound tarpon move in to pick up the scraps, in full view of the gawking onlookers. It’s a powerful lure for catching would-be charter fishermen.

At the end of the day, the resort provides an opportunity to take a dip, relax with a cocktail and have the restaurant cook up your day’s catch, if you like. Those who want a break from pulling on fish can explore nearby waters using complimentary paddleboards and kayaks, or take a free shuttle into town to play tourist. Guests at the marina have the same access to all of the hotel’s amenities and activities, making it an ideal destination for those who want to combine fishing and boating other family centric activities.

A Variety of Boaters
“We definitely cater to the sport fishing crowd, but we also have a diverse customer base that varies with the seasons,” said Oceanside Marina Dockmaster Mike Bender. Bender was dockmaster at nearby Hurricane Hole Marina — a sister property of Oceanside — before coming to manage the newly renovated facility in 2017. “We have three general seasons that alter the overall make up of our marina customers,” said Bender. “December through March is when the snowbirds bring their yachts down from up North. April through July is fishing season, when our customers bring their sport fishing yachts back from Mexico or other parts of the southern U.S. to take advantage of our world-class fishing. Starting in August until when school starts, we see an influx of family vacationers who bring their smaller open center console-type boats. They use the marina as a home base for fishing and boating excursions, while staying in the hotel for the comfort and amenities during the hot and humid weather,” added Bender. He also added that as soon as hurricane season wanes in November and insurance regulations allow, the southern migration of yachts from up north begins the cycle again.

When asked what makes his marina stand out, Bender suggested it was the unique, all-inclusive Key West experience and variety of activities it offers. “It’s new, it’s beautiful and you have everything you could ever need right here.”

Optimism for 2021
While Key West will always be a boater’s paradise, it was in no way immune to the hellish business impacts of COVID-19 during 2020. From March through June, the entire Florida Keys were closed, the only highway blocked with barricades to all but residents. While the hotel was completely shut down during this time, Oceanside Marina remained in operation to serve the needs of its residents as well as transient boaters.

Since re-opening, the hotel has been aggressively promoting travel packages (along with its COVID-19 mitigation efforts) to help bring business back and get on vacationers’ radar when interstate and international travel ramps back up. The marina business rebounded more quickly, not surprising given the nationwide increase in boat purchases and new boaters seeking healthy, family friendly out-of-doors alternatives to flying, amusement parks and other typical activities. Despite the still-ongoing challenges, a strong boating market and increase in participation should bode well for the future.

“I’m happy to say we’re operating at 100-percent capacity right now and the phone is ringing with people wanting to get on the waiting list,” said Bender. “With the complete experience our resort has to offer boaters, I’m confident we’ll all be doing better when things get back to normal.”