No matter how many individuals appear in the pages of each edition of Keys Weekly, there are always so many more of our community members who deserve to be recognized. In an effort to shine a spotlight on more of the incredible individuals who live and work in these islands, Keys Weekly is proud to present our Neighbor of the Week feature, dedicated to celebrating a community member with each issue.
Our Neighbor of the Week is Chris Still, who owns the Tackle Box with his wife, Marathon city councilwoman Robyn. After retiring from law enforcement, Chris and his family traded the North Georgia mountains for Marathon in 2016. Their island adventure began with the purchase of the shop, which has become the center of their lives in the Keys.
An avid fisherman and cook, Chris is also a dedicated sports fan, rarely missing a Braves game or a Georgia Bulldogs kickoff. When they aren’t working, he and Robyn enjoy relaxing at home or heading out on the water, only occasionally leaving “the rock” for shopping trips to the mainland.
CHRIS STILL
The Tackle Box
What is your favorite thing about living in the Keys? It’s a small town on every island; I love it!
What is your favorite lure? Well, the Triple D of course! We hand make each one at the Tackle Box. Mahi, tuna, sailfish and wahoo can’t resist them. Pink and white is my favorite.
Does your family have a favorite song/movie/show to watch/listen/dance to together? Absolutely. We watch “Christmas Vacation” religiously every year together.
My significant other would say I am… The biggest kid she has.
What is your favorite kind of fish to catch? Definitely mangrove snapper. They are plentiful and excellent table fare.
What is your favorite Keys meal? That’s simple: fried fish!
If you could be any character from a TV or movie, who would it be? Jim Carrey.
If you’re having a rough day, what’s the best way to cheer you up? A good hug and jokes.
If you were a salad, what type of dressing would you be? Caesar. With fried fish.
Sweet or salty? Absolutely a combination of both.
If you could have any superhero power what would it be and why? Definitely underwater vision so I can see where the fish are at.
What’s the pettiest thing that annoys you? People who drag their feet when they walk. That’s so annoying!
Give us your favorite fishing story… Without a doubt it was when I was with my Pawpaw. I was around 5 or 6 years old. We always left around 5 a.m. on the boat to fish on the lake. As we came out of our cove one morning, the motor stopped and shut off. As Pawpaw and my uncle Jamie raised the motor to investigate they discovered that someone overnight had set a trotline across the cove. Here in the Keys they are known as longlines. Anyways, they started to untangle the line from the propeller. I noticed the fish hanging from the hooks on the line and pointed that out to them. My Pawpaw and uncle began removing the bass and catfish from the hooks and filling the floor of the boat with fish. We spent till sunup clearing the fish from the line. Once the sun was up, I remember them hurrying to get back to the dock at the lake cabin before anyone saw us. We had so many fish on the floor of the boat there was nowhere to put our feet.
What’s a secret about you that people might be surprised to learn? I have a lot of creative ideas and can be pretty crafty when I want to be.
Know someone who would be a good “Neighbor of the Week?” Email keysweeklyjen@gmail.com.
