Blackfin tuna fishing out of Fort Pierce is a spring and early-summer run for anglers on their own boats, with named shoals and numbered wrecks off the inlet to plot before you go. This page covers when the fish are around, the structure off Fort Pierce Inlet, the local charters that list blackfin, and where the rules live.
When blackfin are off Fort Pierce
The window is April through July, according to the Colossal Catch season chart. That is one local charter’s chart, so use it for choosing trip dates rather than predicting a catch.
For biology and general tactics, see the blackfin tuna species guide. For the regional picture, see the Atlantic Southeast blackfin guide (see also the Atlantic Southeast offshore fishing guide).
Spring around shrimp boats
A 1999 Florida Sportsman article describes an interesting spring bite around shrimp boats off Fort Pierce, within the April through July window. The species page linked above covers method in more detail.
Where boats run and what structure lies off the inlet
Boats run offshore for blackfin, and Chosen One lists blackfin among the species caught on its trips. No distance or specific blackfin ground is established here.
What follows is the terrain off Fort Pierce Inlet, meaning what you would plot and run past, not a list of confirmed blackfin spots. Plot the SL numbers on your own charts, and don’t rely on chart layers for navigation.
North of the inlet
An unnamed artificial reef about a mile long sits just north of Fort Pierce Inlet. Artificial wrecks and rock areas lie farther north, in 120 to 180 ft of water.
The shoals
- Capron Shoal: east-southeast of Fort Pierce Inlet.
- Pierce Shoal (SL-5): due south of Capron Shoal.
- St. Lucie Shoal (SL-4): about halfway between Fort Pierce and St. Lucie inlets.
Numbered artificial sites
- USS Muliphen (SL-20): a C-2 attack cargo ship, 459 x 63 ft.
- Ft Pierce Artificial, Deep Tug (SL-22): a 155-foot steel tug.
- Ft Pierce Artificial Reef (SL-60): five 25 x 60 ft barge loads.
| Name | SL number | Description | Position relative to the inlet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Artificial reef (no name given) | About a mile long | Just north of Fort Pierce Inlet | |
| Artificial wrecks and rock areas | Wrecks and rock in 120 to 180 ft | North of Fort Pierce Inlet | |
| Capron Shoal | East-southeast of Fort Pierce Inlet | ||
| Pierce Shoal | SL-5 | Due south of Capron Shoal | |
| St. Lucie Shoal | SL-4 | About halfway between Fort Pierce and St. Lucie inlets | |
| USS Muliphen | SL-20 | C-2 attack cargo ship, 459 x 63 ft | |
| Ft Pierce Artificial, Deep Tug | SL-22 | 155-foot steel tug | |
| Ft Pierce Artificial Reef | SL-60 | Five 25 x 60 ft barge loads |
Who fishes for blackfin out of Fort Pierce
Two local charters list blackfin tuna.
Colossal Catch Charter Fishing
Colossal Catch Charter Fishing runs with Capt. Jonathon and takes up to 6 guests. Its season chart is the source of the April through July window.
Chosen One Fishing Charters
Chosen One Fishing Charters is run by Capt. Remus Griffin and lists blackfin among the species caught on its trips.
FAQ: blackfin tuna out of Fort Pierce
When is blackfin season at Fort Pierce?
Blackfin tuna fishing out of Fort Pierce runs April through July, according to the Colossal Catch season chart. A 1999 Florida Sportsman article also describes an interesting spring bite around shrimp boats. Treat the window as a planning range: it comes from one charter’s chart and doesn’t guarantee fish.
Where do boats run for blackfin out of Fort Pierce?
Boats run offshore, and Chosen One lists blackfin among species caught on its trips. The structure off the inlet includes the mile-long reef and the wrecks and rock in 120 to 180 ft to the north, Capron, Pierce (SL-5) and St. Lucie (SL-4) shoals, and the numbered sites SL-20, SL-22 and SL-60. None of it is confirmed blackfin ground.
What is the USS Muliphen?
It is SL-20, a C-2 attack cargo ship measuring 459 x 63 ft, one of the artificial sites off Fort Pierce. The others are Deep Tug (SL-22), a 155-foot steel tug, and SL-60, five 25 x 60 ft barge loads. Plot them against your own charts.
Which Fort Pierce charters list blackfin?
Colossal Catch Charter Fishing, with Capt. Jonathon, takes up to 6 guests and shows April through July on its chart. Chosen One Fishing Charters, with Capt. Remus Griffin, lists blackfin among the species caught on its trips.
Where can I find tuna rules and other tuna species?
FWC and NOAA Fisheries rules both apply offshore, so check both before you fish, using the Regulations section above. For other tuna species, see our tuna fishing guides.
