HISTORIC CLUB REELS IN A NEW ERA WITH STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY & HEIGHTENED MENU

While 2025 was the 75th anniversary year of the Islamorada Fishing Club’s founding, 2026 marks the first full year in its newly constructed home on Madeira Road, MM 82, in Islamorada. 

This year boasts the return of fishing tournaments to the storied location as well as additional member offerings and benefits. 

Originally founded in 1950 at what was then known as Dewey’s Bait and Tackle Shop, the mission then and now is the focus on conservation, recreational fishing and furthering strong family and community bonds. The fishing club’s new three-story building is on the same property purchased by the club membership in 1955. Opening day was on Thanksgiving when members and their guests enjoyed a full holiday spread.

The first floor has covered parking, an entry lobby which will soon include historic photos of the club’s decades, and an elevator. It also includes a chunk of coral rock that was outside the old IFC entrance along with a commemorative plaque.

The second floor is home to the main dining room, an elegant bar, open outdoor patio and retail space. It can seat 140 comfortably for lunch, dinner, brunch or special events. While most everything is new, the tables and chairs are the same. 

“Keeping the dining furniture was intentional,” said Joe Roth III, board president. “You know you are walking into the fishing club when you enter the second floor. It kept a bit of the history and a sense of nostalgia.”

Chef Oscar Pajares was brought in after an extensive search by general manager Vinnie Feola, who himself is a Culinary Institute of America trained chef. 

“I know what I was looking for in a chef and found him in Oscar,” he said. “He worked at Two Chefs in South Miami for 20 years among other places. When we met, I witnessed his skill and saw in him a commitment to bringing IFC to the next level.”

The menu maintains some of the original dishes, such as conch chowder and lobster bisque, fish prepared several ways and steaks. New lunch and dinner items are creations of Pajares. 

The new lunch menu includes a steak pita sandwich, smoked prosciutto sandwich and tuna niçoise. Dinner options are smoked duck and gnocchi, steamed mussel pot, double cut pork chop and roasted vegetable quinoa. 

“One of the things I wanted to do was expand the menu beyond seafood for more variety with pasta dishes and braised meat entrees,” Pajares said. “I especially like the new desserts we now offer.” 

These include warm carrot cake, two different soufflés and a classic hot fudge sundae.

Prime rib nights are held weekly. Sunday brunch is offered on holidays and alternating Sundays.

On the third floor, members and guests can enjoy an elegant full bar with more than 25 chairs, large TV monitors for watching sports, and a rooftop lounge with unparalleled views and seating for 80. The bar menu includes a charcuterie board, shrimp cocktail, fish ceviche and beef carpaccio, along with a selection of wood-fired pizzas baked in a brick oven.

“Tuna tartare and charred octopus are best sellers,” Pajares said. “Octopus is the thing to have from the bar menu.”

As part of the IFC tradition, the fishing club is ready to host larger audiences than those allowed by the now-demolitioned one-story building, said Feola. “We are looking at those not-for-profit organizations which align with our conservation goals.” 

Most recently, the club was the host for an informational presentation with its not-for-profit arm, Islamorada Fishing Club Trust for Education & Conservation in conjunction with Save Alligator Lighthouse, as attendees heard about the conservation efforts to save the iconic lighthouse. More than 60 people turned out.

The private member club is long the home of backcountry and offshore fishing tournaments. Two hosted and organized by the club include the IFC Captain’s Cup Sailing Tournament, held in January, and the IFC Captain’s Cup Dolphin Tournament, scheduled for June 24-25.  

This spring brings back the Golden Fly Tarpon, May 18-20; Don Hawley Invitational Fly, June 1-5; Ladies Tarpon Fly, June 9-11; and Gold Cup Tarpon, June 15-19.

“I’m hoping to fill up the place with events and tournaments as these are fun opportunities for our members too,” Feola said. “We’ve got this beautiful place and people will want to celebrate here.”

Anyone interested in membership can be proposed by two members and must complete an application. Membership includes access to the club facilities during business hours, the ability to have private events and an annual meeting/member appreciation event. 

“Being here is like an extension of your backyard with familiar faces,” Pajares said. “It is like having a get together at home without the cooking and cleaning.”

Feola loves the family environment and the familiarity of the people. 

“It is a place where you are going to be welcomed every visit. You know the food will be good, the atmosphere is 100% better than before, and you will always get a table.”

“A big plus with membership is the ability to reserve tables for large parties,” Roth said. “A lot of places around town don’t do that.”

Roth has served on the board for nearly 20 years, 10 as president, and sees the needs of members changing. The club is looking to expand offerings.

“I love that we are getting a younger demographic of members on the Board,” said Roth. “We are looking to offer events and theme nights that appeal to families. We are bringing all the ideas to the table and seeing what works.” 

Feola, who has been with the club for 17 years, is the longest serving general manager, Roth said. 

“Just about a year into working at the club, my mother was sick in New York and I left town to be with her,” Feola said. “After she passed, the board president told me to take all the time I needed to be with my family. There were flowers from the board and random members at the funeral. I was blown away by that. And the stack of notes and sympathy cards in my office upon my return was overwhelming. I knew I made the right decision to come here. It doesn’t feel like a job, it is bigger than that.”

The club now employs 33 people, including mostly a local front-of-house staff and a manager to assist Feola. Staff is up from 13 in the old building. Two of the staff members, Annie Wittwer and Connie Crowley, have worked at IFC more than 20 years each.

For more information on membership, call 305-664-4735 and ask for Vinnie.