Blackfin tuna out of Cortez
Blackfin tuna fishing out of Cortez is an offshore game, and every run starts at Cortez and Longboat Pass. This page covers 8 named reefs and ledges with depth, distance and bearing, and how local boats fish them.
When they show up
One six-hour offshore trip out of Cortez reported a blackfin in the catch. For the general season and behavior picture, see our blackfin tuna fishing guide.
Who fishes for them
Local boats troll. Trolling is the most common method for mackerel, mahi, tuna and billfish, and a six-hour offshore trip has put a blackfin in the box. Boats run the same offshore water from Longboat Pass, so the grounds below are the ones local boats work.
Where boats run from Longboat Pass
Boats run offshore from Longboat Pass, then turn onto a bearing for the structure. Every position on this page is a bearing and distance from one of 4 reference points:
- Longboat Pass entrance (used for 1 Mile Reef)
- Longboat Pass (used for 3 Mile North, 3 Mile South, 7 Mile South, Near Shore and Anna Maria Ledge)
- The NW tip of Anna Maria Island (used for 7 Mile North Reef)
- The tip of Anna Maria Island (used for Gucken Reef)
Check which reference point a bearing uses before plotting it, because the 4 points are not interchangeable. Distances for 1 Mile Reef are in nautical miles (nm); the others are in miles, as listed.
Conditions and ANMF1
The nearest NOAA buoy is NDBC station ANMF1 (Anna Maria, FL, 27.538N 82.739W). Its page shows no recent data, so read the official marine forecast for wind, wave height and period before the run.
Reefs and ledges off Cortez
These are places to look, not promises of fish. Near Shore, 1 Mile, 3 Mile North and South, and 7 Mile North and South are named artificial reefs in the Manatee County artificial reef program.
| Ground | Depth (ft) | Distance | Bearing | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Near Shore Reef | 16 | 0.6 miles | 321 degrees | Longboat Pass |
| 3 Mile South Reef | 30 | 3.5 miles | 270 degrees | Longboat Pass |
| 1 Mile Reef | 25 | 4.3 nm | 320 degrees | Longboat Pass entrance |
| Gucken Reef | 33 | 4.6 miles | 250 degrees | the tip of Anna Maria Island |
| 3 Mile North Reef | 28 | 7.0 miles | 305 degrees | Longboat Pass |
| 7 Mile South Reef | 40 | 8.0 miles | 270 degrees | Longboat Pass |
| 7 Mile North Reef | 40 | 8.2 miles | 270 degrees | NW tip of Anna Maria Island |
| Anna Maria Ledge | 46 | 14.7 miles | 290 degrees | Longboat Pass |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
Chart layers are not for navigation. Depth runs from 16 ft at Near Shore Reef to 46 ft at Anna Maria Ledge as distance grows.
Near reefs
- Near Shore Reef sits in 16 ft, 0.6 miles at 321 degrees from Longboat Pass.
- 1 Mile Reef sits in 25 ft, 4.3 nm at 320 degrees from the Longboat Pass entrance.
- 3 Mile South Reef sits in 30 ft, 3.5 miles at 270 degrees from Longboat Pass.
- Gucken Reef sits in 33 ft, 4.6 miles at 250 degrees. It is the one ground in this group measured from the tip of Anna Maria Island.
- 3 Mile North Reef sits in 28 ft, 7.0 miles at 305 degrees from Longboat Pass.
Outer structure
Both 7 Mile reefs sit in 40 ft on a 270 degree bearing, but from different reference points. 7 Mile South Reef is 8.0 miles from Longboat Pass. 7 Mile North Reef is 8.2 miles from the NW tip of Anna Maria Island.
Anna Maria Ledge is the deepest and farthest named structure on the list, at 46 ft and 14.7 miles at 290 degrees from Longboat Pass.
How blackfin are fished out of Cortez
Trolling
Trolling is the Cortez guide’s most common method for mackerel, mahi, tuna and billfish, and blackfin are among the tuna those spreads cover. For the wider picture, see the regional page on blackfin tuna in the Gulf (see also the Gulf of Mexico fishing guide).
FAQ: blackfin tuna out of Cortez
How far do boats run for blackfin out of Cortez?
Boats run offshore from Longboat Pass. The named grounds run from 0.6 miles to 14.7 miles from Longboat Pass.
What is the deepest named structure near Cortez?
Anna Maria Ledge, at 46 ft, 14.7 miles at 290 degrees from Longboat Pass.
How are blackfin caught locally?
Trolling is the most common local method for mackerel, mahi, tuna and billfish. Blackfin ride in the same spreads as other tunas and offshore species.
Where do I check conditions before running out of Longboat Pass?
The nearest NOAA buoy is NDBC station ANMF1 at Anna Maria, and its page shows no recent data. Read the official marine forecast for wind, wave height and period before the run.
Where are the fishing rules for Cortez?
The FWC sets Florida saltwater rules. Check the agency page before fishing.
