King mackerel fishing out of Jupiter centers on the 120 ft ledge along the Jupiter Inlet to Juno Beach stretch, and the bite is best at sunrise and again late afternoon. This page covers the run from the inlet outward, with depths you can mark in your plotter. For the species itself, see our king mackerel guide.
Where boats run for kings off Jupiter
Boats leaving Jupiter Inlet head for the ledge rather than open water. For the wider picture, see our guide to Atlantic Southeast king mackerel (see also the Atlantic Southeast region guide). Everything below stays between Juno Beach and the inlet.
The 120 ft ledge
Boats run for kingfish along the 120 ft ledge off the Juno Beach to Jupiter Inlet stretch, in about 120 ft of water. It is the main waypoint for the day.
How far from the inlet
Structure is the easiest way to gauge distance. The ledge runs along the Juno Beach to Jupiter Inlet stretch, with the nearer reefs inside it and No Shoes Reef about 1.5 miles off the inlet. Depths step from 35 to 45 ft on Step Reef to about 120 ft on the ledge.
Grounds and structure near Jupiter Inlet
Mark these in your plotter in the order you reach them.
| Name | Depth (ft) | Location note |
|---|---|---|
| Jupiter Inlet Step Reef | 35–45 | |
| Andrew "Red" Harris No Shoes Reef | 40–59 | About 1.5 miles off Jupiter Inlet |
| 120 ft ledge | 120 | Off the Juno Beach to Jupiter Inlet stretch |
| Juno Ledge | ||
| Push Button Hill | 200–300 (blackfin bite depth) |
Chart layers and contours are not for navigation. Run off official charts.
Jupiter Inlet Step Reef
Step Reef sits at 35 to 45 ft, the shallowest named structure on the run.
Andrew "Red" Harris No Shoes Reef
Coastal Angler places No Shoes Reef about 1.5 miles offshore of Jupiter Inlet. The reef spans 40 to 59 ft and was built out in stages:
- The original 2015 cell, about 40 ft
- The 2016 cell, 55 ft
- The 2017 boulder reef, 59 ft at the base and 43 ft at the top
Juno Ledge
Juno Ledge is named structure near Jupiter.
Push Button Hill
Push Button Hill sits at 200 to 300 ft, the depth of the blackfin tuna bite. It is not king water, but it works as a reference for other offshore gamefish.
When and how kings are fished here
Two bite windows and two local approaches cover most of it.
Sunrise and late afternoon
The bite is best at sunrise and again late afternoon, so time the run to be on the ledge for those windows.
Live baiting
Seek The Deep lists live baiting for kingfish among its Jupiter trips.
Drifting reefs, ledges and wrecks
Country Club Drift Fishing lists king mackerel among its drift-trip catches over reefs, ledges and wrecks.
Who fishes kings out of Jupiter
Country Club Drift Fishing runs out of Jupiter with Captain Jim Barton and Captain Jimmy. It lists king mackerel among its catches over reefs, ledges and wrecks.
FAQ
How far do boats run for kingfish out of Jupiter?
Boats run to the 120 ft ledge off the Juno Beach to Jupiter Inlet stretch. Nearer structure includes No Shoes Reef, about 1.5 miles off the inlet.
What is the best time of day for kings off Jupiter?
The best bite is at sunrise and again late afternoon.
What depth is No Shoes Reef?
It runs 40 to 59 ft. The 2015 cell is about 40 ft, the 2016 cell is 55 ft, and the 2017 boulder reef is 59 ft at the base and 43 ft at the top.
How are kingfish fished locally?
Seek The Deep lists live baiting. Country Club Drift Fishing lists kings on drift trips over reefs, ledges and wrecks.
What is Push Button Hill?
It is a deep ground where the blackfin tuna bite is at 200 to 300 ft. It is not king water.
