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Tourism & Fishing2 weeks

Islamorada Sport Fishing

Charter Booking Website + Online Reservations

~40%

Est. online bookings

3 mo

Expected time to impact

Top 5

Target search rank

2 wks

Build & launch time

The Client

A family-owned sport fishing charter operating out of Islamorada — the self-proclaimed “Sport Fishing Capital of the World”. With decades of local knowledge, a fleet of fully rigged offshore boats, and a loyal base of repeat customers, the business was thriving in peak season. The problem: every booking still happened by phone or in person at the marina, and the owner had no web presence to capture the thousands of tourists researching Keys fishing trips months in advance.

The Problem

  • No website — the charter was completely invisible to online search
  • All bookings required a phone call or showing up at the dock, creating friction for out-of-state tourists planning ahead
  • Competitors with booking sites were capturing the high-value 'advance planner' segment first
  • No way to showcase trip types, pricing, gear, or catch history online
  • Peak season overwhelmed staff with booking calls that could be self-served
  • No Google Business profile, no reviews platform, no social proof

What We Built

A conversion-focused charter booking website with:

FareHarbor booking integration

Industry-standard charter booking platform wired directly into the site — customers select date, trip type, group size, and pay a deposit in under 3 minutes

Trip catalog with clear pricing

Half-day inshore, full-day offshore, private and shared charters — each with gear lists, what's included, and captain bios

Catch gallery

High-resolution photo gallery showcasing real catches: mahi, sailfish, tarpon, snook — the social proof that converts first-time visitors

Local SEO structure

Optimized for 'Islamorada fishing charter', 'Keys offshore fishing', and 'Florida Keys sport fishing' — the queries tourists actually use

Mobile-first design

Over 65% of fishing charter searches happen on mobile; the booking flow is fully optimized for thumb-only navigation

Google Business integration

Coordinated site launch with Google Business Profile setup and review request flow

Projected Outcomes

Before

Expected After

Bookings only by phone or walk-in

Estimated 30–40% of bookings shifted online

No website — invisible to search

Targeting Page 1 for 'Islamorada fishing charter'

No way to show trip options online

Full trip catalog: half-day, full-day, private & group charters

Zero photo presence online

High-resolution gallery showcasing catches and experiences

Seasonal call volume overwhelming staff

Self-serve booking with real-time availability — reducing staff load

Projections based on similar clients in the Keys tourism market. This is a prospective case study.

Why It Matters

The Florida Keys tourism economy runs on advance planning. Families and groups visiting from out of state book their activities weeks or months before arrival — and they book online. A charter with no website doesn't exist to this segment. With a frictionless online booking flow and first-page search visibility, a charter like this could shift 30–40% of booking volume to self-serve within a single season — reducing phone load on staff while capturing higher-value tourists who plan ahead.

Tech Stack

Next.js 15TypeScriptTailwind CSSFareHarbor APIVercelGoogle Analytics

Own a charter, tour, or experience business in the Keys?

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