Blue marlin fishing from Sebastian Inlet
Local boats make the blue-water run from Sebastian Inlet to the Gulf Stream, 30 to 70 miles offshore, and Nauti Girl’s offshore tuna trip is best May through October. This page covers the months, the run, the grounds along the way, the method and who fishes here, for anglers running their own boat. It helps with deciding when and where to look. It doesn’t promise fish.
The May through October window
Nauti Girl’s offshore tuna trip is best May through October, which shows when local boats are running to the Gulf Stream. For the wider season along the Space Coast and Treasure Coast, see the Atlantic Southeast blue marlin guide (see also the Atlantic Southeast offshore fishing guide).
- Window: May through October
- Source: Nauti Girl’s offshore tuna trip
- What it tells you: when boats are making the Gulf Stream run from this port
How far boats run from Sebastian Inlet
Boats run 30 to 70 miles offshore to troll the Gulf Stream. The Sebastian Inlet port page covers the inlet itself.
30 to 70 miles to the Gulf Stream
The near end and the far end of that range make for very different days on the water.
Planning the range
A run of 30 to 70 miles sizes the boat and the fuel plan, which has to cover the trolling and the trip home as well as the run out. Check the official marine forecast before you leave, and plan from its numbers for wind, wave height and period.
Grounds and structure on the way out
The run passes nearshore bottom and reefs, then the 1600 ft drop, then the Gulf Stream edge.
| Ground | Depth | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Jetties and T-dock | At the inlet | |
| Bottom north of the inlet | 100 ft | Just north of Sebastian Inlet |
| Indian River County reefs (8) | 65 ft | 11 to 12 miles east |
| Big Easy reef complex | 85 and 90 ft | |
| Monster Hole (shoal) | ||
| Nauti Girl swordfish drop grounds | 1600 ft | 35 to 45 miles off Melbourne and Sebastian |
| Gulf Stream edge |
These grounds can be plotted as waypoints on Chart Contours. Chart layers are not for navigation.
The jetties and T-dock
The north and south jetties mark the inlet mouth, and the T-dock is the inlet’s dock area. Treat the inlet as your starting waypoint, and use the NOAA Coast Pilot inlet section as the official navigation reference.
Bottom north of the inlet
There is 100 ft of bottom just north of Sebastian Inlet.
Indian River County artificial reefs
Eight reefs sit at 65 ft, 11 to 12 miles east of Sebastian Inlet, managed by the county artificial reef program. Reef anglers know this ground well, and it serves as an early checkpoint on the longer run.
Big Easy reef complex
The Big Easy complex has named reefs at 85 and 90 ft.
Monster Hole
Monster Hole is a named shoal and works as a reference point on the way out.
Nauti Girl swordfish drop grounds
Per Nauti Girl, the swordfish drop grounds sit at 1600 ft, 35 to 45 miles offshore of Melbourne and Sebastian, overlapping the 30 to 70 mile trolling run.
The Gulf Stream edge
The Gulf Stream edge is where the trolling run ends and the local method begins.
How blue marlin are fished here
Local boats troll huge marlin lures on the Gulf Stream spread.
Trolling marlin lures on the Gulf Stream spread
The local method is huge marlin lures run as a spread on the Gulf Stream. For tackle, spread setup and biology, see the blue marlin species guide.
Who fishes for blue marlin from this port
Two groups work these waters: the local charter operator and private owner-operators.
Nauti Girl
Nauti Girl is the local operator behind three facts on this page:
- Its offshore tuna trip is best May through October.
- It trolls the Gulf Stream 30 to 70 miles offshore.
- Its swordfish drop grounds sit at 1600 ft, 35 to 45 miles offshore of Melbourne and Sebastian.
Owner-operators
Private boats running their own trips are who this page is written for. The 30 to 70 mile range sets your fuel plan, your boat and your timing. For context across other ports, see the billfish guides.
FAQ: blue marlin fishing out of Sebastian Inlet
How far is the Gulf Stream run from Sebastian Inlet?
Boats run 30 to 70 miles offshore to troll the Gulf Stream, per Nauti Girl. That distance sizes the boat and the fuel plan, which has to cover the run out, the trolling and the run home.
What months do boats run offshore from Sebastian Inlet?
Nauti Girl’s offshore tuna trip is best May through October. Treat that as the blue-water window, the months local boats make the Gulf Stream run. It describes tuna fishing and is not a marlin season.
What is the 1600 ft drop off Sebastian?
It is the Nauti Girl swordfish drop grounds, at 1600 ft, 35 to 45 miles offshore of Melbourne and Sebastian. That range overlaps the 30 to 70 mile Gulf Stream trolling run.
How do local boats troll for blue marlin?
Local boats troll huge marlin lures on the Gulf Stream spread. For tackle, spread setup and more on the species, see the blue marlin species guide.
Where do I check the rules before fishing?
The trip crosses into federal waters, so check both FWC and NOAA Fisheries rules before fishing. The Regulations section above points to the official pages.
