Red grouper off St. Augustine
The St. Augustine Inlet area is credited with the Florida state record red grouper. Red grouper fishing out of St. Augustine means bottom fishing a set of artificial reefs in 56 to 104 ft of water, and Long Line’s artificial reef list includes red grouper among the species on those reefs. The wider picture is in the red grouper fishing in the Atlantic Southeast and the Atlantic Southeast region guide.
Biology and general habits are covered in our red grouper guide. This page sticks to the port itself: run distances, reef positions and depths, and how the reefs are fished.
How far boats run
Runs range from about 9 miles at Nine Mile Reef, per Long Line, to 26 miles east of St. Augustine at Moody Reef. Depth increases with distance, and so does the number of structures to choose from.
Nearshore reefs, 9 miles and in
Nine Mile Reef sits at 63 ft and holds the tug Leon Roddy. North Nine Mile Reef sites 1 to 7 are listed at 56 ft, with depths reaching 80 ft depending on the site. Nine Mile North Reef is listed at 56 ft and Andy King Reef at 60 ft. Andy King’s position is in the table below.
Deeper sites, 97 to 104 ft
Capo Reef North and South are listed at 97 ft. Moody Reef is listed at 100 ft, 26 miles east of St. Augustine. Intruder Reef 1 and 2 are listed at 104 ft and carry A-6 aircraft frames. These sites mean a longer run and roughly 40 ft more water than the nearshore listings.
Reading conditions
NDBC station 41012 has no active replacement, so offshore wave readings off this port are limited. Check the official forecast before the run, and plan from these numbers in the NWS marine forecast:
- Wind: speed and direction, in knots
- Wave height: in feet
- Wave period: in seconds
Reefs and structure that hold red grouper
These are the published artificial reef listings near St. Augustine, ordered from shallow to deep.
| Reef | Structure | Depth (ft) | Position or distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Nine Mile Reef sites 1 to 7 | concrete culverts, dumpsters, rubble | 56 (56 to 80 by site) | Near 29 54 N, 81 07 W |
| Nine Mile North Reef | concrete culverts | 56 | 29 54 47 N, 81 07 01 W |
| Andy King Reef | Bridge of Lions permit area | 60 | Offshore; 29 52.591 N, 81 09.207 W |
| Nine Mile Reef | tug Leon Roddy | 63 | About 9 miles off St. Augustine per Long Line |
| Capo Reef North | 97 | 29 51 4 N, 80 46 2 W | |
| Capo Reef South | 97 | 29 50 59 N, 80 46 1 W | |
| Moody 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 |
North Nine Mile Reef sites 1 to 7 and Nine Mile North Reef are separate listings, but both sit near 29 54 N, 81 07 W and both list concrete culverts, so it makes sense to treat them as one general area when planning a run.
A tug, culverts, dumpsters, rubble and aircraft frames are the hard structure you position over. Printed coordinates and chart layers are not for navigation. Each position saves as a waypoint in Breakpoint.
How red grouper are fished here
The local method is bottom fishing on the reefs. Rigs, baits and broader technique are in our reef fish guide.
Bottom fishing the reefs
Bait goes to the bottom on the listed structure, and the table shows what you are setting up over. A tug or aircraft frames at 104 ft make for a different drop than rubble and culverts at 56 ft.
Keeping fish out of the rock
Long Line notes that groupers dig into rock when hooked, so the first seconds of the fight matter most. Turn the fish’s head off the bottom quickly, before it reaches the structure.
Who fishes them
Endless Summer Charters is a local charter that lists red grouper.
FAQ
What is the deepest listed reef off St. Augustine?
Intruder Reef 1 and 2, at 104 ft. They carry A-6 aircraft frames, and Reef 1 is at 29 54 20 N, 80 48 10 W.
What is the closest reef for red grouper fishing out of St. Augustine?
Nine Mile Reef, the tug Leon Roddy at 63 ft, is about 9 miles off per Long Line. The North Nine Mile listings sit at 56 ft near 29 54 N, 81 07 W.
Is the Florida state record red grouper from St. Augustine?
The St. Augustine Inlet area is credited with the Florida state record.
Who runs red grouper charters out of St. Augustine?
Endless Summer Charters lists red grouper.
Where are the red grouper rules for this port?
FWC sets the state rules, and the Florida regulations page linked above points to them. Check it before you fish.
