Sweet E’Nuf is the focused offshore and bottom fishing boat in Marathon, run by a nationally recognized Master captain. Dave Schugar has fished the Marathon area for more than 24 years, has been featured in the angling press for his bottom fishing, and runs a fast 33 foot twin engine boat with a full deep water menu, from swordfish to deep drop, and the rates posted on the site. The fishing pedigree is real and the pricing is clear. The honest gap is the public record: the review trail is the thinnest of the ranked boats in the port, so the case here rests more on the captain’s reputation than on the volume of reviews behind it.
The verdict and where it ranks
At 7.4 Sweet E’Nuf is fifth in the Marathon ranking, behind the four boats above it mainly on the depth of its public record rather than on the fishing. The reasons to book it are a Master captain with a real reputation, posted prices in a port where most quote on request, and a genuine deep water menu including swordfish and deep drop. The mark against it is simply evidence: where Infinite Blue and Big Game carry hundreds and dozens of reviews, the public trail here is short, so the consistency is less proven in volume. Book it for a focused offshore or deep drop day with an expert captain, and confirm who is running your trip.
The boat
Sweet E’Nuf fishes a 33 foot twin engine Hydra Sport rigged for up to 6 anglers, a fast, capable boat for the runs offshore and to the deep drop grounds. It is a sportfishing boat built for the work, and the twin engines matter on the longer runs the swordfish and deep drop trips ask for. Like most of the Marathon fleet it is an open boat rather than a cabin sportfisher, so a full 8 hour day in a sea is less sheltered than on the larger boats in the port. For the offshore and bottom trips it is well matched, and the operation keeps it set up for serious fishing.
The fishing and what you target
The menu leans into what the captain is known for. Offshore, the boat trolls for sailfish in the cooler months, mahi mahi from late spring into summer, and tuna, wahoo, and king mackerel as they run. On the bottom and the wrecks it works grouper, snapper, and amberjack, and the deep drop trips reach queen snapper and other deep species, which is where Captain Schugar’s recognized bottom fishing expertise shows. The boat also runs dedicated swordfish trips and a shorter tarpon trip at the bridges. The grouper season closes on the Atlantic side from January into April, so the bottom box shifts with the calendar, and the captain plans around it.
Trips and prices
Sweet E’Nuf posts its rates, sold by the whole boat for up to 6 anglers: $1,100 for a half day, $1,600 for a full day, $2,200 for an 8 hour swordfish trip, $1,900 for an 8 hour deep drop trip, and $750 for a 4 hour tarpon trip. All gear, bait, and tackle are included, with water and ice provided and a captain gratuity on top. Posted pricing is a real plus in this port, and the deep drop and swordfish rates are in line with the longer, specialized days they cover. Our cost guide sets the benchmark for a private Keys day, and the Marathon ranking lays out the cheaper party boat seat.
The crew
Captain Dave Schugar is the reason to book, a licensed Master captain with more than 24 years on Marathon water and national recognition for his bottom fishing, and reviewers describe a captain with deep knowledge who consistently puts groups on fish and keeps them coming back. Captains Quinlyn Haddon and Chuck Nowicki also run trips, so the boat is not always under the owner, which is worth confirming when you book. The honest limit is volume rather than quality: the public review count is the smallest of the ranked field, so while the sentiment that exists is strong, it is a shallower record to read than the bigger operations carry, which is the main reason the track record factor sits lower here.
Booking and what to know
Book through the operator’s site or by phone, and confirm which captain is running your trip and the departure from Coco Plum Drive in Marathon. Bring food, sun protection, and a cooler; gear, bait, tackle, water, and ice are provided. For a swordfish or deep drop trip, plan for a full day and a settled weather window. No fishing license is needed, since the boat’s license covers everyone aboard.
How we scored it
Sweet E’Nuf scores 7.4: a nationally recognized Master captain, posted prices, and a genuine deep water menu, marked down on track record because its public review trail is the thinnest of the ranked field and on service because the owner does not run every trip. Captain and crew and value transparency are its strongest factors. See how we scored this boat for the full rubric and weighting, and compare it against the rest of our Marathon rankings, including Top Notch and the Marathon Lady.