Blackfin tuna fishing out of Cocodrie centers on a few named pieces of bottom. This guide gives the marks, their depths, and the one distance that has a source. It’s written for owner-operators running their own boat. For when blackfin show up, the blackfin tuna fishing guide covers the species and the Gulf of Mexico blackfin guide (see also the wider Gulf of Mexico guide) covers seasons and movement across the Gulf. What follows covers the grounds, depths, the local method, and who fishes them.
Where boats run for blackfin out of Cocodrie
The grounds range from a natural rock bank to an artificial reef and the rigs. Start with the marks below, then pick the depth that suits your drift.
| Structure | Type | Depth | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ewing Bank | natural rock bank | about 185 ft (crest) | – |
| Limestone-capped feature | on Ewing Bank | – | on Ewing Bank |
| Jacob Meek Reef II (South Timbalier 165) | CCA reef | 91 ft | about 45 miles south of Terrebonne Bay |
| Production platforms | rigs | – | – |
On the Chart Contours layer in Breakpoint, the bank’s crest stands out from the surrounding bottom. Chart layers are not for navigation.
Ewing Bank, "Wonderland"
Ewing Bank is a natural rock bank with its crest at about 185 ft. Capt. Tommy Pellegrin runs it and calls the grounds Cocodrie’s offshore Wonderland grounds.
The limestone cap on Ewing Bank
A limestone-capped feature sits on top of the bank and was the first drift of a 2013 trip. It’s a distinct piece of hard bottom, so it makes a logical place to start a drift.
Jacob Meek Reef II (South Timbalier 165)
The reef began as Jacob Meek Reef, a CCA reef at South Timbalier 165. It was later expanded and renamed Jacob Meek Reef II; the reported expansion of the reef came in 2025. It sits at 91 ft, about 45 miles south of Terrebonne Bay, which makes it the shallower mark compared with Ewing Bank’s roughly 185 ft.
Production platforms
Production platforms were fished on a 2026 Cocodrie-area trip. Treat the rigs as a third kind of structure alongside the bank and the reef.
How blackfin are fished off Cocodrie
The local method follows from the bottom: drifts with bait over natural reef.
Drifting natural bottom with bait
Locally, blackfin are fished by drifting bait over natural reef bottom. Ewing Bank and the limestone cap are the natural places to start a drift.
The mixed bag
Blackfin came up as one of many species on that trip, alongside amberjack and snappers, and a single bottom-and-bait drift setup covers all three. For other tunas and how they’re fished, see our tuna fishing guides.
Who fishes for blackfin from Cocodrie
Capt. Tommy Pellegrin docks his offshore boat at Cocodrie and lists blackfin tuna. Ewing Bank and "Wonderland" are his grounds, so he’s a useful reference point for what the local bottom produces.
FAQ: blackfin tuna out of Cocodrie
How far do boats run from Cocodrie for blackfin?
Jacob Meek Reef II sits about 45 miles south of Terrebonne Bay, at 91 ft. Ewing Bank is the deeper ground, with its crest at about 185 ft. No other distances are given here.
How deep is Ewing Bank?
The crest of this natural rock bank sits at about 185 ft. A limestone-capped feature on the bank serves as a drift start.
What is "Wonderland"?
It’s Capt. Tommy Pellegrin’s name for the grounds on Ewing Bank, a natural rock bank cresting at about 185 ft.
What else bites on a blackfin drift?
Amberjack and snappers come up with blackfin on drifts over natural reef bottom with bait. Check state rules for every species you keep.
Is there a charter that targets blackfin from Cocodrie?
Capt. Tommy Pellegrin docks his offshore boat at Cocodrie, lists blackfin tuna, and fishes Ewing Bank.
