Where cobia boats run out of Madeira Beach
Cobia fishing out of Madeira Beach starts at John’s Pass and works the Pinellas County reefs and wrecks offshore of it. Boats run in three tiers: the pass itself, the nearshore culvert reefs, and long-range grounds that take a multi-day trip. If you’re new to the port, the Madeira Beach port guide covers the pass, ramps and marinas.
Fintastic describes its cobia water as the offshore waters off John’s Pass and the Pinellas County reefs and wrecks. Work from the closest structure outward.
| Tier | Where | Who runs it |
|---|---|---|
| Closest | John’s Pass jetty and bridge | Private boats |
| Nearshore | Madeira Reef, Treasure Island Reef, St. Pete Beach Reef, Clearwater Reef | Private boats and charters |
| Long range | The Elbow and the Middle Grounds | Multi-day trips |
Nearshore reefs and wrecks
For a day trip, this is the water to work. The closest named reefs are FWC culvert reefs in 25-33 ft: Madeira Reef, Treasure Island Reef and St. Pete Beach Reef. Clearwater Reef lies to the north. Bent Charters shows a cobia "just north of Johns Pass," so the water north of the pass is worth a look as well.
Long-range grounds
The far options are The Elbow and the Middle Grounds. Hubbard’s runs a 39-hour trip to them, 100 to 150 miles offshore. The 120-250 ft range applies to the whole trip, not to either ground individually. Whether to run that far depends on you and your boat.
Timing
The cobia species guide and the Gulf of Mexico cobia guide (see also the Gulf of Mexico fishing guide) cover when cobia move through this coast.
Cobia grounds and structure near Madeira Beach
The positions and depths below come from the FWC artificial reef listings, ordered from closest to farthest.
| Name | Depth (ft) | FWC position | Structure |
|---|---|---|---|
| John’s Pass jetty and bridge | At the pass | ||
| 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 | ||
| The Elbow and Middle Grounds | 120-250 (trip range) | Hubbard’s 39-hour trip, 100 to 150 miles offshore |
Coordinates are listed as published by FWC. Chart layers are not for navigation.
John’s Pass jetty and bridge
This is the closest structure, at the pass itself. Fish it before you commit fuel to a longer run.
Madeira Reef
Also known as Madeira Beach Reef. Per FWC, it sits in 29-32 ft at 27 46.3 N, 82 54.9 W, and the structure is concrete culverts. Pinellas County also publishes a document on Pinellas County Madeira Beach Reef.
Treasure Island Reef
Per FWC, Treasure Island Reef sits in 29-33 ft at 27 44.5 N, 82 52.9 W. The structure is concrete culverts.
St. Pete Beach Reef
Per FWC, St. Pete Beach Reef sits in 25 ft at 27 40.6 N, 82 51.8 W. It is the shallowest of the listed reefs.
Clearwater Reef
Clearwater Reef lies to the north. Per FWC, it sits in 27-32 ft.
The Elbow and Middle Grounds
Hubbard’s Marina long-range trips run a 39-hour trip to these grounds, 100 to 150 miles offshore. The 120-250 ft depth range is the range for the trip.
How cobia are fished out of John’s Pass
Fintastic lists the methods below for its cobia trips. They show the local options and are not a full tackle guide.
Live bait
Fintastic lists these live baits:
- live crabs
- pinfish or sardines
- jumbo shrimp
Artificials
Fintastic lists these artificials:
- artificial eels
- jigs or bucktails
Chumming
Fintastic also mentions chumming.
Who fishes for cobia out of Madeira Beach
Fintastic Fishing Charters, run by Capt. Steve Papen, lists cobia among its targets. Its listing covers the offshore waters off John’s Pass and the Pinellas County reefs and wrecks, along with the methods above.
Bent Charters Fishing shows an 80 lb cobia and a cobia "just north of Johns Pass." Treat both as indications of where to look rather than a promise of fish.
FAQ: cobia fishing out of Madeira Beach
How deep are the reefs off Madeira Beach?
Per FWC, Madeira Reef sits in 29-32 ft, Treasure Island Reef in 29-33 ft, St. Pete Beach Reef in 25 ft and Clearwater Reef in 27-32 ft.
What is the closest cobia structure to John’s Pass?
The jetty and bridge at the pass are the closest structure. After that come the FWC culvert reefs: Madeira Reef, Treasure Island Reef and St. Pete Beach Reef.
What baits are used for cobia out of John’s Pass?
Fintastic lists live crabs, pinfish or sardines, jumbo shrimp, artificial eels, and jigs or bucktails. It also mentions chumming.
How far do long-range cobia trips run?
Hubbard’s runs a 39-hour trip to The Elbow and the Middle Grounds, 100 to 150 miles offshore. The trip depth range is 120-250 ft, which is not the depth of either ground.
Where is the wider gamefish picture?
The coastal and offshore gamefish guides cover the other species you will meet along this coast.
