Blackfin tuna fishing out of Clearwater means a 40-60 mile trolling trip, not a reef trip. Stella Fishing Co. says blackfin are not often seen on this side of the Gulf, so treat the run as a chance rather than a sure thing. Every distance and bearing below reads from Clearwater Pass, the inlet behind our Clearwater port page. Species biology is in our blackfin tuna guide.
When blackfin tuna show up off Clearwater
Blackfin off Clearwater turn up on the long offshore trips, not on the nearshore reefs. The only seasonal information we have is that the extended trips list them as a target.
On the extended trips
FishEye Sportfishing lists blackfin among its targets on its 40-60 mile extended trips. The reefs closer in are a different trip.
How often
Stella Fishing Co. says blackfin are "not often seen on this side of the Gulf." For the wider Gulf picture, see our Gulf of Mexico blackfin guide (see also the Gulf of Mexico region guide).
How far boats run from Clearwater Pass
Boats that target blackfin out of Clearwater run 40-60 miles offshore. That is a full offshore day from the pass, well beyond the reefs most Clearwater boats fish.
The 40-60 mile water
FishEye’s extended day fishes 40-60 miles out, and that is where local boats target blackfin. Every named reef in the table below sits inside 15 miles.
Structure inside 15 miles
These are the named reefs and ledges you pass or work inside 15 miles of Clearwater Pass.
| Name | Depth (ft) | Distance (mi) | Bearing from Clearwater Pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clearwater Reef | 27-32 | 5.0 | 311° |
| Sand Key Reef | 20 | 5.0 | 194° |
| Loggerhead Ledge | 40 | 9.4 | |
| Rube Alan Reef | 50 | 12.0 | 260° |
| Veteran Reef | 45 | 12.8 | 300° |
| Gregs Ledge | 55 | 13.8 | 289° |
| Indian Shores Reef | 42 | 14.3 | 238° |
| Dunedin Reef | 27-33 |
The Clearwater Reef position comes from ReefsNwrecks.
The structure falls into two bands. Clearwater Reef and Sand Key Reef sit at 5 miles. Loggerhead Ledge, Rube Alan Reef, Veteran Reef, Gregs Ledge and Indian Shores Reef sit at roughly 9-14 miles. Veteran Reef and Gregs Ledge lie on the westward bearings, at 289-300°.
All of these reefs and ledges are in 20-55 ft of water, within 14.3 mi of the pass, while the blackfin water is 40-60 miles out. Plot these bearings on Chart Contours to build the route. Chart layers are not for navigation.
Reading conditions before the run
The nearest NOAA station is NDBC CWBF1 at Clearwater Beach, 27.978N 82.832W, which is also NOAA tide station 8726724. Read it for wind speed and direction, and use station 8726724 for the tide at the pass.
CWBF1 reports conditions at the beach, not 40-60 miles out. Pair it with the National Weather Service marine forecast for the offshore water, and read the wind, wave height and period as numbers before you decide.
How blackfin are fished out of Clearwater
Local boats troll for blackfin on the long offshore trips.
Trolling on the long runs
Trolling on the 40-60 mile trips is the method local boats use. For technique, start with our tuna fishing guides.
Who fishes for blackfin out of Clearwater
Two Clearwater charters list blackfin tuna: FishEye Sportfishing and Stella Fishing Co.
FishEye Sportfishing
FishEye Sportfishing extended trips fish 40-60 miles out, with blackfin listed among the targets and trolling as the method. Capt. Brandon Fraley is named as the author of its fishing reports.
Stella Fishing Co.
Stella Fishing Co. in Clearwater lists blackfin tuna and says they are not often seen on this side of the Gulf.
FAQ about blackfin tuna fishing out of Clearwater
How far offshore do you run for blackfin tuna out of Clearwater?
Boats run 40-60 miles from Clearwater Pass. FishEye Sportfishing lists blackfin among the targets on its 40-60 mile extended trips, which is the usual shape of blackfin tuna fishing out of Clearwater.
Are blackfin tuna common off Clearwater?
No. Stella Fishing Co. says they are not often seen on this side of the Gulf. They come on the long offshore trips.
Do the nearshore reefs off Clearwater hold blackfin?
The named reefs are 20-55 ft structure inside 14.3 mi of the pass. Local boats target blackfin 40-60 miles out.
What buoy should I check before running offshore from Clearwater?
NDBC CWBF1 at Clearwater Beach, which is also tide station 8726724. It reports beach conditions, not offshore water. Pair it with the National Weather Service marine forecast.
Which Clearwater charters list blackfin tuna?
FishEye Sportfishing, which runs 40-60 mile extended trips with reports by Capt. Brandon Fraley, and Stella Fishing Co.
