Red grouper fishing out of Stuart starts at St. Lucie Inlet and runs to reefs in 90 to 140 ft, with muttons and reds mixed in 120 to 160 ft. This guide covers the depth bands, the named structure and the local rigging for skippers running their own boats from Stuart. For biology and seasonal behavior, use the red grouper species guide. For the wider coast, see the red grouper fishing in the Atlantic Southeast and the Atlantic Southeast offshore fishing guide.
Where boats run out of St. Lucie Inlet
Boats run out of St. Lucie Inlet to reef bottom in 90 to 140 ft. Muttons and reds mix in the deeper 120 to 160 ft range. Plan inlet departures and returns around NOAA tide station 8722207, the St. Lucie tide source.
| Depth band | What it covers |
|---|---|
| 90 to 140 ft | Reef bottom, the main red grouper water |
| 120 to 160 ft | Muttons and reds mixed |
90 to 140 ft reefs
A Stuart tackle shop fishing report puts reds on reefs in 90 to 140 ft. This is the main red grouper water for boats out of the inlet and the place to start.
The 120 to 160 ft mix
Muttons and reds mix in 120 to 160 ft. The band overlaps the deeper end of the 90 to 140 ft reefs, so both species can show up on the same ground.
Grounds and structure off Stuart
The named structure off Stuart runs from nearshore reef out to 200 ft. Some of it sits shallower than the main grouper depths and some deeper. The table runs shallow to deep.
| Name | Depth | Location note |
|---|---|---|
| Sandpile reef | Nearshore reef | |
| Pushbutton Hill (the Hill) | Offshore of St. Lucie Inlet | |
| Six Mile reef | 80 ft | Named for six miles |
| Eight Mile reef | 80 ft | Named for eight miles |
| Loran Tower (Hobe Sound) | 80 ft | Off the Loran tower in Hobe Sound |
| The Rankin (USS Rankin wreck) | ||
| Boo McCulley Reef (Borocho) | 180 ft | 9 mi offshore of St. Lucie Inlet |
| Brause Girls Reef (Penobscot tug) | 200 ft | 9 to 10 mi offshore, reached from Stuart |
The Chart Contours layer in Breakpoint shows the depth breaks around these sites. Chart layers are not for navigation.
The 80 ft reefs
Six Mile, Eight Mile and Loran Tower all sit in 80 ft, shallower than the 90 to 140 ft reef band. Six Mile and Eight Mile are named for their distances in miles, and Loran Tower lies off the Loran tower in Hobe Sound.
Pushbutton Hill and Sandpile
Pushbutton Hill, known locally as the Hill, lies offshore of St. Lucie Inlet. Sandpile is a nearshore reef.
The Rankin
The Rankin is the USS Rankin wreck, a named piece of structure off Stuart.
Deep artificial structure
Boo McCulley Reef, called the Borocho, sits in 180 ft, 9 mi offshore of St. Lucie Inlet. Brause Girls Reef, the Penobscot tug, sits in 200 ft, 9 to 10 mi offshore, and is reached from Stuart. Both are deeper than the 120 to 160 ft mix.
How reds are fished out of Stuart
Locals fish reds with live bait or chicken rigs baited with squid, on heavy leaders with enough lead to hold the bait on bottom. Skippers running their own boats use the same setups where muttons and reds mix. The reef fish fishing guides cover the wider picture.
- Bait: live bait, or a chicken rig with squid
- Leader: heavy
- Lead: enough to hold the bait on bottom
Live bait or chicken rigs
Both setups work: live bait, or a chicken rig with squid. Whichever you choose, rig it heavy.
Heavy leaders, enough lead
In about 90 ft, run a heavy leader and enough lead to keep the bait on bottom.
FAQ about red grouper fishing out of Stuart
How deep do reds hold off Stuart?
Reefs in 90 to 140 ft. Muttons and reds mix in 120 to 160 ft.
What is the Hill?
It is Pushbutton Hill, a named ground offshore of St. Lucie Inlet.
What is the Borocho?
It is Boo McCulley Reef, in 180 ft, 9 mi offshore of St. Lucie Inlet.
What rig do locals use for reds?
Live bait or chicken rigs with squid, on heavy leaders, with enough lead to hold bottom in about 90 ft.
When are reds around off Stuart?
For seasonal behavior, see the red grouper fishing guide. Open seasons are on the state regulations page.
