When cobia are around St. Pete Beach
Cobia fishing out of St. Pete Beach centers on structure: reefs, pilings, ledges and wrecks from the pass out to about 15 nautical miles. For timing and water temperature, see our cobia species guide and the eastern Gulf migration picture (see also the Gulf of Mexico region guide).
NDBC station 42098, Egmont Channel Entrance, is the nearest waverider buoy, at 27.590 N, 82.931 W. Before every run, read wave height in feet, dominant period in seconds and wind speed in knots, then check the official NWS marine forecast.
| Buoy reading | Unit | What to note before the run |
|---|---|---|
| Wave height | ft | Compare against your boat’s range |
| Dominant period | seconds | Shorter periods stack up steeper seas |
| Wind speed | knots | Watch the trend, not one reading |
Where boats run from Pass-a-Grille
Most runs start at Pass-a-Grille. The St. Pete Beach port page covers ramps, the pass and conditions context.
The usual order of the run:
- Out the pass at Pass-a-Grille.
- To the Pass-a-Grille tri-pod, a couple of miles offshore.
- West from the tri-pod to the ledges and rockpiles in 60 to 120 ft.
The longest run is to Nohab, the South Jack Wreck, which rests in 66 ft about 15 nautical miles off Egmont Key. Monster Charters lists cobia on its Pass-a-Grille offshore page.
Grounds and structure near St. Pete Beach
The grounds stretch from inside the pass to the farthest wreck, and each is structure worth checking.
| Ground | Depth (ft) | Position note |
|---|---|---|
| Merry Pier pilings | ||
| Pass-a-Grille Jetty | Southwest tip of Pass-a-Grille | |
| Egmont Key Reef | 18 | Just inside Tampa Bay, east of Egmont Key |
| Pass-a-Grille tri-pod | A couple miles offshore from Pass-a-Grille | |
| St. Pete Beach Reef | 35 | |
| South County Reef | 45 | |
| Pass-a-Grille ledges and rockpiles | 60 to 120 | West of the tri-pod |
| Nohab (South Jack Wreck) | 66 | About 15 nautical miles off Egmont Key |
Merry Pier pilings
The Merry Pier pilings are inshore structure worth checking.
Pass-a-Grille Jetty
The jetty sits at the southwest tip of Pass-a-Grille.
Egmont Key Reef (18 ft)
Egmont Key Reef sits in 18 ft, just inside Tampa Bay, east of Egmont Key. ReefsNwrecks lists it as Egmont Reef.
Pass-a-Grille tri-pod
The tri-pod sits a couple of miles offshore from Pass-a-Grille and is the turning point for runs west.
St. Pete Beach Reef (35 ft)
The reef sits in 35 ft. The St. Pete Beach Reef listing has the reef record.
South County Reef (45 ft)
South County Reef sits in 45 ft, the deeper of the two named nearshore reefs.
Pass-a-Grille ledges and rockpiles (60 to 120 ft)
These sit offshore in 60 to 120 ft. From the tri-pod, head west.
Nohab, the South Jack Wreck (66 ft)
Nohab rests in 66 ft, about 15 nautical miles off Egmont Key. It is the longest named run here.
You can check these positions against Chart Contours in the Breakpoint app. Chart layers are not for navigation.
How cobia are fished here and who fishes for them
Tackle and technique are covered in the species guide and in our coastal and offshore gamefish guides. Two local charters list cobia.
White Pearl Fishing Charters
Capt. Zack Arnold runs a 24 ft Nauticstar with White Pearl Fishing Charters.
Monster Charters
Monster Charters lists cobia on its Pass-a-Grille offshore trip page.
FAQ about cobia fishing out of St. Pete Beach
How far do boats run for cobia from Pass-a-Grille?
The tri-pod is a couple of miles out. The ledges lie west of it in 60 to 120 ft. Nohab is about 15 nautical miles off Egmont Key.
What depths are the named reefs off St. Pete Beach?
Egmont Key Reef is 18 ft, St. Pete Beach Reef is 35 ft and South County Reef is 45 ft. Nohab sits in 66 ft.
Where is the Nohab wreck?
Nohab, also called the South Jack Wreck, rests in 66 ft about 15 nautical miles off Egmont Key.
Which buoy covers the water off St. Pete Beach?
NDBC station 42098, Egmont Channel Entrance, at 27.590 N, 82.931 W. Read wave height, dominant period and wind, then check the official forecast.
Which local charters list cobia?
White Pearl Fishing Charters (Capt. Zack Arnold, 24 ft Nauticstar) and Monster Charters, on its Pass-a-Grille offshore page.
