Season: when blackfin show up off Madeira Beach
Blackfin tuna fishing out of Madeira Beach starts in July. Capt. Steve Papen of Fintastic marks July as the start of trolling season, with blackfin on trips to 150 ft or more. For the rest of the port, from the pass to the docks, see the Madeira Beach page.
July is the month the local fleet marks, and it doesn’t guarantee fish. For how the species behaves across its range, see the blackfin tuna guide. This page covers timing, depth, distance, structure, rigging, and who fishes it.
How far and where boats run from John’s Pass
Blackfin out of Madeira Beach are fished in about 120 to 150+ ft of water, in the deeper offshore water boats reach from John’s Pass. The depth band is a standing figure. The long-run distances belong to one named trip.
The depth band
Papen’s July report puts pelagics at depths of 120 ft or more and trolling at 150 ft or more. Read 120 ft as the point where local reports start counting pelagics, with trolling lines going in from about 150 ft.
That band is deeper than the reefs near the pass, so plan the run to the band rather than to the structure.
The long run
Hubbard’s 39-hour trip runs to grounds 100 to 150 miles out, the Elbow and the Middle Grounds, and lists blackfin among its catches. The trip’s depth range is 120 to 250 ft; that range belongs to the trip, not to either ground.
For the wider view, see blackfin across the Gulf of Mexico (see also the Gulf of Mexico offshore fishing guide). Compare those distances with your own boat’s range before planning the run.
Grounds and structure near Madeira Beach
The named structure near Madeira Beach falls into two groups: FWC reefs at 25 to 33 ft close to the pass, and the long-range grounds 100 to 150 miles out.
| Reef | Depth (ft) | Position (per FWC) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madeira Reef (Madeira Beach Reef) | 29-32 | 27 46.3 N, 82 54.9 W | Concrete culverts |
| Treasure Island Reef | 29-33 | 27 44.5 N, 82 52.9 W | Concrete culverts |
| St. Pete Beach Reef | 25 | 27 40.6 N, 82 51.8 W | |
| Clearwater Reef | 27-32 |
Positions are printed as FWC lists them. Chart layers and plotted positions are not for navigation, so check them against your chart.
The blackfin water in local reports starts around 120 ft, well past these reefs. They are landmarks and structure near the pass and are not the blackfin grounds.
The Elbow
The Elbow is a long-range ground on Hubbard’s 39-hour trip, 100 to 150 miles out. Blackfin are among that trip’s listed catches.
The Middle Grounds
The Middle Grounds are on the same 39-hour trip and in the same 100 to 150 mile range, with blackfin among the listed catches.
John’s Pass jetty and bridge
The John’s Pass jetty and bridge are named structure at the pass, and they are the first and last marks of any run.
How blackfin are fished locally
Locally, blackfin are fished two ways: free-lined pinfish on flat lines, and a trolling spread built around small Billy Baits and deep-diving plugs.
Free-lined pinfish on flat lines
Local boats free-line pinfish on bare hooks, on flat lines, in deeper water. Deeper water here means the same 120 to 150+ ft band Papen’s report describes, so start there and skip the reef.
The trolling spread
The local spread has two parts:
- Two smaller Billy Baits, about 100 yards back, for tuna and mahi.
- Deep-diving plugs, run near the boat.
The long baits sit far back and cover both target species, while the plugs work the water close to the boat. Papen puts trolling at 150 ft or more.
Who fishes for them out of John’s Pass
Two John’s Pass operations list blackfin tuna: Hubbard’s Marina and Fintastic Fishing Charters.
Hubbard’s Marina names Capt. Dylan Hubbard on its pages. It is the source of the 39-hour overnight trip to grounds 100 to 150 miles out.
Fintastic Fishing Charters is run by Capt. Steve Papen. It is the source of the July trolling report and the depth figures, and its Fintastic’s blackfin tuna page covers the species locally. Following these reports is one way to see what the fleet is seeing.
FAQ: blackfin tuna fishing out of Madeira Beach
When does blackfin trolling start out of Madeira Beach?
Capt. Steve Papen of Fintastic marks July as the start of trolling season, with blackfin on trips to 150 ft or more.
How deep do you fish for blackfin off John’s Pass?
About 120 to 150+ ft. Papen’s July report puts pelagics at 120 ft or more and trolling at 150 ft or more.
How far is the run to the Elbow and the Middle Grounds?
Hubbard’s 39-hour trip runs 100 to 150 miles out to those grounds and lists blackfin among its catches. Check that distance against your own boat’s range.
What trolling spread do locals pull for blackfin?
Two smaller Billy Baits about 100 yards back for tuna and mahi, plus deep-diving plugs near the boat. The other local method is free-lined pinfish on flat lines in deeper water.
Do the nearshore reefs off Madeira Beach hold blackfin?
The FWC reefs sit at 25 to 33 ft, while the blackfin water in local reports starts around 120 ft. The depth facts are all we print on the reefs.
Where do I check the rules, and where can I read about other tunas?
See the Regulations section above for the Florida and federal rules pages. For other tunas, see our tuna fishing guides. For seas and wind, read the official NWS marine forecast.
