Blue marlin fishing out of St. Augustine is a Gulf Stream troll, and charter boats run 40 to 55 miles offshore to reach it. Sly-Fox lists late spring as prime time. For inlet, ramp and marina detail, use the St. Augustine port guide. For biology and general methods, use the blue marlin species guide.
When blue marlin are off St. Augustine
Season sets the plan before distance or waypoints do. The window and tournament months below show when the local fleet is out.
Late spring prime time
Sly-Fox lists late spring as prime time for blue marlin on its 12-hour trips. The May tournament at Camachee Cove falls in the same window.
Tournament months, May and November
Two billfish events anchor the calendar, so expect more boats on the water in those months:
- Salt Life Bluewater Tournament: usually May, at Camachee Cove.
- El Pescado Billfish Tournament: usually November.
How far boats run
The local method is trolling the Gulf Stream. For the regional picture, see the Atlantic Southeast blue marlin guide (see also the Atlantic Southeast region guide).
Gulf Stream trolling grounds, 40 to 55 miles
Sly-Fox 12-hour trips run 40 to 55 miles offshore. The farthest stated reef distance is 26 miles (Moody Reef), so the marlin grounds lie well past every named reef site.
Reading conditions on the run
NOAA NDBC station 41012 is the nearest buoy, and no active replacement was found. Measured wind and wave readings along the run are thin. Use the NWS offshore marine forecast for wind speed, wave height and period, and make your own call from those numbers.
Reefs and structure on the way out
The named reefs off St. Augustine sit in 56 to 104 ft of water. They are artificial reef structure and waypoints on the run east. Blue marlin are not fished there.
| Name | Structure | Depth (ft) | Position/distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nine Mile North Reef | Concrete culverts | 56 | 29 54 47 N, 81 07 01 W |
| North Nine Mile Reef sites 1 to 7 | Concrete culverts, dumpsters, rubble | 56 to 80 by site | Near 29 54 N, 81 07 W |
| Andy King Reef | Bridge of Lions permit area | 60 | 29 52.591 N, 81 09.207 W |
| Nine Mile Reef | Tug Leon Roddy | 63 | About 9 miles off St. Augustine |
| Capo Reef North | Artificial reef | 97 | 29 51 4 N, 80 46 2 W |
| Capo Reef South | Artificial reef | 97 | 29 50 59 N, 80 46 1 W |
| Moody Reef | Artificial reef | 100 | 26 miles east of St. Augustine |
| Intruder Reef 1 and 2 | A-6 aircraft frames | 104 | Reef 1 at 29 54 20 N, 80 48 10 W |
Coordinates are for planning, not navigation. Long Line puts Nine Mile Reef about 9 miles off St. Augustine.
Nine Mile band
Nine Mile, North Nine Mile and Andy King cluster near 81 07 to 81 09 W in 56 to 80 ft. This inside band holds the first waypoints past the inlet, and the tug Leon Roddy is the Nine Mile Reef structure.
Capo, Moody and Intruder band
Capo and Intruder sit near 80 46 to 80 48 W in 97 to 104 ft, and Moody Reef is 26 miles east at 100 ft. This outer band lies roughly 20 minutes of longitude east of the Nine Mile sites. By the listed positions, Intruder Reef 1 (80 48 10 W) sits about 2 minutes west of Capo (80 46 W), even though its listed depth is greater. The trolling grounds lie beyond this band, at the 40 to 55 mile range.
How blue marlin are fished here and who fishes them
Trolling is the local method. For more on the species and tactics, see our billfish guides.
Trolling
Blue marlin off St. Augustine are fished by trolling the Gulf Stream. Baits, spreads and tackle are covered in the linked guides.
Sly-Fox from the Conch House
Captain Red Beard and crew run Sly-Fox out of the Conch House. The Sly-Fox 12-hour trip listing names blue marlin and puts those trips 40 to 55 miles offshore.
El Pescado and Salt Life Bluewater
Camachee Cove is the base for the Salt Life Bluewater Tournament, usually May. The El Pescado Billfish Tournament is usually November.
FAQ: blue marlin fishing out of St. Augustine
When is the blue marlin season off St. Augustine?
Sly-Fox lists late spring as prime time. The Salt Life Bluewater Tournament is usually held in May and the El Pescado Billfish Tournament in November.
How far do boats run for blue marlin from St. Augustine?
Sly-Fox 12-hour trips troll the Gulf Stream 40 to 55 miles offshore.
Do the nearshore reefs hold blue marlin?
The named reefs sit in 56 to 104 ft and serve as structure and waypoints on the way out. The trolling grounds lie 40 to 55 miles offshore.
Which tournaments target blue marlin out of St. Augustine?
The Salt Life Bluewater Tournament is usually May, at Camachee Cove. The El Pescado Billfish Tournament is usually November.
Which St. Augustine charter lists blue marlin?
Sly-Fox, with Captain Red Beard and crew, departs from the Conch House. It lists blue marlin on 12-hour trips that run 40 to 55 miles offshore.
Where can I get offshore conditions for the run?
NOAA NDBC station 41012 is the nearest buoy, and no active replacement was found. Use the official NWS marine forecast for wind, wave height and period.
