Blackfin Tuna Fishing Out of Pompano Beach: Where Boats Run

When blackfin tuna are off Pompano Beach

Blackfin tuna fishing out of Pompano Beach runs through Hillsboro Inlet to the Gulf Stream edge. Local charters disagree a little on when it peaks, so read what each one says and plan around where they overlap. For the wider picture, see blackfin along the Atlantic Southeast (see also the Atlantic Southeast region guide) and the Pompano Beach port guide.

The spring peak

RingMaster names March to June as the best months for blackfin, the window its crew works the bird plays.

A year-round fishery

Captain Sunshine and Don’t Panic both list blackfin year-round, strongest in winter and spring. Spring falls inside both windows.

Where boats run from Hillsboro Inlet

Boats run out Hillsboro Inlet to the Gulf Stream edge and work the ledges along it, the same water the fleet runs for wahoo and mahi.

• Gulf Stream edge: where bird plays set up.
• Ledges: where schooling fish stack with wahoo and mahi.
• Hillsboro Inlet: the way out for every boat in this guide.

Bird plays on the Gulf Stream edge

Blackfin show up under bird plays on the Gulf Stream edge, where birds work bait over feeding fish, and local boats look there first. A bird play marks where to look but doesn’t guarantee fish.

Ledges shared with wahoo and mahi

Schooling blackfin use the same ledges as wahoo and mahi, so one run covers all three. The Pompano Beach Fishing Rodeo counts blackfin as 1 of its 5 species, which makes that overlap useful on a Rodeo day.

Grounds and structure off Pompano Beach

Work from the edge inward. These are named sites off the port to mark on your plotter, not confirmed blackfin spots. The only fishing link is the one above: schooling fish share ledges with wahoo and mahi.

Grids refer to the Pompano Beach visitor dive map. Chart layers are not for navigation.

Sailfish Alley and the Edge

This is the shelf drop-off off Pompano Beach, the outermost structure on this list and the nearest to the Gulf Stream.

Pompano Drop Off

Pompano Drop Off sits at map grid K-8 on the Pompano Beach visitor dive map.

Shipwreck Park

Lady Luck lies in 126 ft, about 1 mile southeast of Hillsboro Inlet, at grid K-7. Okinawa lies in 70 ft, also at grid K-7.

Named reefs and ledges

The named reef and ledge sites off the port:

• Pompano Trench
• Lost Ledge
• Suzzane’s Ledge
• Pompano 3rd Reef Ridge
• Steve’s Twin Ledges
• Shark Reef
• Touchdown Reef
• Grouper Bend
• Nursery

Hillsboro Ledge, Lighthouse Ledge and Horseshoe Reef are listed as Pompano Beach dive sites.

Named wrecks

The named wrecks off the port:

• Sucre
• Miller Lite
• Mariner II Tug
• Union Express
• Mary St. Philip
• Rodeo 25
• Quallman Tugs
• RSB-1
• RBJ
• Chris Corey
• Renegade
• Lowrance
• Captain Dan
• Guy Harvey
• SS Copenhagen
• Caicos Express

How blackfin are fished from this port

Two methods show up on the local charter sites, each tied to a situation. Rigging detail is in the blackfin tuna fishing guide.

Feathers, livies and jigs on bird plays

RingMaster works bird plays with feathers, livies and jigs, putting live bait, artificials and jigs in front of the same school.

High-speed trolling

Captain Sunshine runs high-speed trolling to cover water between plays and along the ledges.

Who fishes for blackfin out of Pompano Beach

These 4 charters list blackfin tuna:

• RingMaster Charters’ 53′ Hatteras: the 53′ Hatteras RingMaster, with 3 fighting chairs.
• Killin’ Time Charter: the 53′ Hatteras ‘Killin Time’.
• Don’t Panic Sportfishing out of Pompano: Don’t Panic (47′ Buddy Davis) and Don’t Panic!! (42′ Post).
• Captain Sunshine Fishing Charters: Captains Jade and Zoli.

The Pompano Beach Fishing Rodeo

Blackfin is 1 of the Rodeo’s 5 species. Boats that fish it often run the same ledges and edge listed above.

FAQ: blackfin tuna fishing out of Pompano Beach