This is a working guide to cobia fishing out of Stuart for anglers who run their own boat through St. Lucie Inlet. The fish are around from late winter into spring, and local reports name March and April. The cobia species guide covers why cobia travel with rays and sharks. This page covers when the fish show up, where boats run, the named structure, how it’s fished and who fishes it. It won’t promise fish, but it should help you decide where to look.
When cobia are off Stuart
The window runs from late winter into spring, with March and April named in local reports. The coast-wide cobia migration (see also the wider Atlantic Southeast guide) is covered in the regional guide, so this page stays local. The months set the window, and bottom water temperature decides where boats run within it.
Where boats run from St. Lucie Inlet
Most cobia fishing out of Stuart comes down to one reading: bottom water temperature. When it drops into the 60s, boats run the beach. Otherwise they work the nearshore reefs, such as the Sandpile, and the reefs and wrecks along the route.
The run is short, and the structure stacks up along the way:
- Sandpile reef: the closest named structure, nearshore.
- Six Mile and Eight Mile reefs: named for their distances from the inlet.
- Boo McCulley and Brause Girls: the deeper wrecks, 9 to 10 miles off the inlet.
NOAA tide station 8722207 is the St. Lucie tide source. It is a tide station, not a buoy. Check it and the official NOAA marine forecast before you run the inlet, and read the numbers yourself: wind, wave height and period.
Reefs and wrecks near Stuart
The grounds below run from nearshore to deep. Depths are in feet where charted.
| Name | Type | Depth (ft) |
|---|---|---|
| Sandpile reef | Nearshore reef | |
| Pushbutton Hill (the Hill) | Offshore of St. Lucie Inlet | |
| Six Mile reef | Reef | 80 |
| Eight Mile reef | Reef | 80 |
| Loran Tower (Hobe Sound) | Structure | 80 |
| The Rankin (USS Rankin) | Wreck | |
| Boo McCulley Reef (Borocho) | Wreck | 180 |
| Brause Girls Reef (Penobscot tug) | Wreck | 200 |
You can view named structure on the Chart Contours layer in the Breakpoint app. Chart layers are not for navigation.
Sandpile reef
The Sandpile is a nearshore reef and the closest named structure. It figures in the beach-or-reef decision: when the bottom water stays out of the 60s, it is where boats go first.
Pushbutton Hill
Pushbutton Hill, known as the Hill, sits offshore of St. Lucie Inlet.
Six Mile and Eight Mile reefs
Both reefs sit in 80 ft of water. Each is named for its distance from the inlet, 6 miles and 8 miles.
Loran Tower, Hobe Sound
The Loran Tower ground sits in 80 ft, off the Loran tower in Hobe Sound.
The Rankin
The Rankin is the USS Rankin wreck, a named wreck on the Stuart grounds.
Boo McCulley and Brause Girls
Boo McCulley Reef (Borocho) sits in 180 ft, 9 miles off St. Lucie Inlet. Brause Girls Reef (Penobscot tug) sits in 200 ft, 9 to 10 miles out, reached from Stuart.
How cobia are fished here
Local cobia fishing uses two approaches: fish you can see get a jig, and structure gets live bait.
Sight casting jigs
Cobia swim with sharks and rays. When you see a cobia with one, throw a cobia jig at it. Spot the fish first, then put the jig in front of it.
Live baits
The local baits are pilchards, threadfins and crabs. Fish them on the reefs and wrecks along the route.
Who fishes cobia out of Stuart
These local charters list cobia:
- Hate 2 Lose Fishing Charters
- Stuart Big Game Fishing, the 61-foot custom sportfisher Unbelievable
- Captain VJ Bell
- Catch Of The Day Charters, Ocean Yachts 37-foot Billfish
Cobia are one of several species on this coast. See other nearshore and offshore gamefish for the rest.
FAQ: Cobia fishing out of Stuart
When is the best time for cobia off Stuart?
Late winter into spring. March and April are named in local reports.
What water temperature sends boats to the beach?
When bottom water drops into the 60s, boats run the beach. Otherwise they work the nearshore reefs and the reefs and wrecks along the route.
How deep are the wrecks off St. Lucie Inlet?
- The 80 ft grounds are Six Mile, Eight Mile and Loran Tower.
- Boo McCulley is 180 ft, 9 miles out.
- Brause Girls is 200 ft, 9 to 10 miles out.
What baits work for cobia here?
Live pilchards, threadfins and crabs on structure. Cobia jigs work for fish seen with sharks or rays.
Do Stuart charters target cobia?
Yes. Hate 2 Lose, Stuart Big Game Fishing, Captain VJ Bell and Catch Of The Day Charters list cobia.
Where do I check St. Lucie tides?
NOAA tide station 8722207 is the St. Lucie tide source. Check it along with the official marine forecast before you run the inlet.
