King mackerel fishing out of Fernandina Beach works three rings of water off the St. Marys inlet. Pipe Dream Charters puts the first ring inside about 9 miles of the marina, the second 10 to 25 miles out on kingfish "drift lanes" and nearshore wrecks and reefs, and the third 50 to 70-plus miles out at the Gulf Stream temperature break. Most of the fishing sits in about 40 to 80 ft. Inlet, ramp and conditions detail is on the Fernandina Beach port page, and the king mackerel guide covers the general picture. This page is the run sheet for this port.
When king mackerel are off Fernandina Beach
Operators here describe a spring arrival, a summer peak and a fall taper. For the coast-wide picture, see how the run moves along the Atlantic Southeast coast (see also the Atlantic Southeast fishing guide). The local windows below come from the boats that fish them.
| Window | Timing | Source |
|---|---|---|
| First arrivals | Late April or May | Pipe Dream |
| Peak | June through August | Pipe Dream |
| Fall bite | September | Pipe Dream |
| Taper | October | Pipe Dream |
| Booking range | April through October | Big Fin Charters |
First arrivals
Pipe Dream reports the first kingfish in late April or May. Big Fin’s booking page lists king mackerel trips April through October, but that is the range the operator takes bookings, not a window for the fish.
Peak months
Pipe Dream puts the peak in June through August, the window most trips are built around.
Fall bite and taper
Pipe Dream reports a September fall bite, with the fishing tapering in October.
Where boats run from the St. Marys inlet
Boats leave through the St. Marys inlet and work outward in rings, as Pipe Dream describes them.
| Ring | Distance from the marina or inlet | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Nearshore water | Inside roughly 9 miles | Pipe Dream |
| Kingfish "drift lanes" | 10 to 25 miles | Pipe Dream |
| Nearshore wrecks and artificial reefs | 15 to 25 miles | Pipe Dream |
| Gulf Stream temperature break and weed lines | 50 to 70-plus miles | Pipe Dream |
Inlet and Sea Buoy
Pipe Dream names the St. Marys "Sea Buoy" as a reference point. It is the outer marker for boats leaving the inlet.
Inside 9 miles
Pipe Dream works nearshore water inside roughly 9 miles of the marina, the shortest run on the sheet.
Drift lanes, 10 to 25 miles
Pipe Dream puts its kingfish "drift lanes" 10 to 25 miles out. The term is local to the captains who run them.
Wrecks and reefs, 15 to 25 miles
Pipe Dream fishes nearshore wrecks and artificial reefs 15 to 25 miles out. The named sites are in the next section.
For range planning, HooDoo runs a dedicated 6-hour kingfish trip and an 8-hour trip that goes up to 45 miles.
Gulf Stream break, 50 to 70-plus miles
Pipe Dream puts the Gulf Stream temperature break and weed lines 50 to 70-plus miles out of the inlet, in 100 to 1000 ft. That water holds more than kings, and the other offshore species in that water have their own guides.
Grounds and structure that hold kings
Most named structure here sits in 60 to 83 ft, within or just below the 40 to 80 ft band for the fishery. Depths and positions below are as published. Blank cells mean no figure is published.
| Site | Depth (ft) | Position |
|---|---|---|
| The Ledge | ||
| Captain Daddy (CD-06-#01) artificial reef | 67 | 30 25.920 N, 81 15.953 W |
| Captain Daddy (CD-06-#02) artificial reef | 67 | |
| Fernandina Snapper Banks culverts (FC sites, 1988 to 1991) | 70-83 | About 30 36 to 30 38.7 N, 81 11 W |
| Fernandina Banks Barbett (wooden boat) and 1989 culverts | 70 | About 30 36.6 N, 81 10.6 W |
| FB-6 culverts site | 60 | About 30 39.9 N, 81 11.0 W |
| BA reef sites (BA Reef, BA Site) | 60-65 |
Coordinates and chart layers are for planning only. Check them against official charts before navigating.
The Ledge
The Ledge is a named piece of bottom structure off Fernandina Beach.
Captain Daddy reefs
There are two Captain Daddy artificial reefs, CD-06-#01 and CD-06-#02, both in 67 ft. The FWC guide gives CD-06-#01 at 30 25.920 N, 81 15.953 W.
Snapper Banks culverts
The Fernandina Snapper Banks culverts are concrete culverts deployed from 1988 to 1991 (the FC sites). They sit in 70 to 83 ft at about 30 36 to 30 38.7 N, 81 11 W.
Barbett and 1989 culverts
The Fernandina Banks hold a wooden boat, the Barbett, and 1989 culverts in 70 ft at about 30 36.6 N, 81 10.6 W.
FB-6
FB-6 is a culvert site in 60 ft at about 30 39.9 N, 81 11.0 W.
BA sites
BA Reef and BA Site sit in 60 to 65 ft.
How kings are fished here
Local boats either slow-troll live bait or troll dead baits and plugs over the structure above. Every rig runs wire.
- Slow-trolled live bait. Pipe Dream slow-trolls menhaden, cigar minnows and pogies.
- Wire and stinger trebles. Pipe Dream rigs those live baits on wire leaders with stinger trebles.
- Trolled dead bait and plugs. Big Fin, via Guidesly, trolls ballyhoo, cedar plugs and diving plugs on wire leaders.
Who fishes kings out of Fernandina Beach
Local charters
These Fernandina Beach charters list king mackerel:
- Pipe Dream Charters, Captain Scott Thompson
- HooDoo Sportfishing Charters, Captains Tim Altman and Chris Altman, father and son
- Big Fin Charters
- BeatTheOddz Charters, Captain Kenny
- Crawfish Charters, Captain Kenny Crawford
- Reel Dream Fishing Charters, based in St. Augustine, runs a Fernandina trip
Kingfish Tournament and Fishing Rodeo
The Kingfish Tournament and Fishing Rodeo is held out of Fernandina Beach, usually in May, the front edge of Pipe Dream’s arrival window.
FAQ: king mackerel fishing out of Fernandina Beach
When do kingfish show up off Fernandina Beach?
Pipe Dream reports first arrivals in late April or May, a peak from June through August, a September fall bite and a taper in October. Big Fin’s booking page lists king mackerel trips April through October.
How far do boats run for king mackerel from the St. Marys inlet?
Pipe Dream works inside about 9 miles, kingfish drift lanes 10 to 25 miles out, wrecks and reefs 15 to 25 miles out, and the Gulf Stream break 50 to 70-plus miles out. HooDoo runs a 6-hour kingfish trip and an 8-hour trip up to 45 miles.
What depth do kings hold in off Fernandina Beach?
Most of the fishing is in about 40 to 80 ft. The named reefs and culvert sites sit in 60 to 83 ft. The Gulf Stream break sits in 100 to 1000 ft.
What bait do local boats use for kingfish?
Pipe Dream slow-trolls live menhaden, cigar minnows and pogies on wire leaders with stinger trebles. Big Fin, via Guidesly, trolls ballyhoo, cedar plugs and diving plugs on wire leaders.
Is there a kingfish tournament in Fernandina Beach?
Yes. The Kingfish Tournament and Fishing Rodeo is held out of Fernandina Beach, usually in May.
