Where boats run out of the Lower Keys
Golden tilefish out of the Lower Keys are caught at around 600 ft. The local method is deep-dropping with custom rigs and electric reels, covering 600 to 1,600+ ft. Boats leave from Cudjoe Key, Stock Island and Key West. The wider picture is in the golden tilefish fishing in the Atlantic Southeast and the Atlantic Southeast region guide.
Departure points
Cudjoe Key is the origin for the deep-drop trip run by Above & Below Fishing Adventures, with Stock Island and Key West as the other departure points. The Lower Keys port guide covers the port itself. Boats reach open water through the Newfound Harbor, Spanish Harbor and Niles Channels.
How far
Two distances anchor the run, in order from the beach:
- Looe Key Reef is about 6 miles south of Big Pine Key.
- Wood’s Wall is about 30 miles off the Atlantic coast of Big Pine Key.
The run to 600 ft water goes past the reef line.
When to go
Pick a weather window before committing to the run. Read wind, wave height and period from the official marine forecast, and check observed conditions at the NDBC Florida buoy stations before leaving the dock, since conditions can change after you read a forecast. For the general biology and seasonal picture, see the golden tilefish species guide.
Grounds and structure
Depths around the Lower Keys range from 35 ft at the reef to 600 ft where the fishing happens and 2,000 ft at Wood’s Wall. Moving outward from the channels, the named spots line up like this:
| Spot | Depth | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Looe Key Reef | 35 ft | About 6 miles south of Big Pine Key |
| Adolphus Busch Sr. artificial reef wreck | 112 ft | |
| American Shoal | Southwest of Big Pine Key | |
| The Humps | Offshore of Cudjoe Key | |
| Wood’s Wall | 2,000 ft | About 30 miles off the Atlantic coast of Big Pine Key |
| Newfound Harbor Key SPA | NOAA Sanctuary Preservation Area |
The Humps
The Humps lie offshore of Cudjoe Key. The Chart Contours layer shows where the 600 ft line runs relative to The Humps and Wood’s Wall. Chart layers are not for navigation.
Wood’s Wall
Wood’s Wall bottoms out near 2,000 ft, about 30 miles off the Atlantic coast of Big Pine Key. That is deeper than the 600 to 1,600+ ft band the local method covers.
Shallow reference points
Three spots mark the run rather than the fishing depth:
- Looe Key Reef: 35 ft, about 6 miles south of Big Pine Key.
- Adolphus Busch Sr. wreck: 112 ft.
- American Shoal: southwest of Big Pine Key.
Newfound Harbor Key SPA
NOAA lists Newfound Harbor Key as a Sanctuary Preservation Area within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Account for it when routing out of Cudjoe Key.
How golden tilefish are fished here
Boats here deep-drop with custom rigs and electric reels across a 600 to 1,600+ ft band.
Depth band
The fish are around 600 ft. Because the local method covers 600 to 1,600+ ft, a rig fished at fish depth has plenty of water below it.
Rigs and electric reels
Custom rigs and electric reels handle the deep drop. For the basics, see the guide to deep-drop rigging and reels.
Who fishes for them out of this port
The deep-drop trip out of Cudjoe Key, which also runs from Stock Island and Key West, is operated by Above & Below Fishing Adventures (aboveandbelowadventures.com) under Captain Jose Rodriguez, on a 32-foot SeaVee per the Greetwell listing. The operation lists tilefish and golden tile among its targets. The Above & Below Fishing Adventures listing is a good place to look at the trip before running your own.
FAQ about golden tilefish fishing out of the Lower Keys
How deep are golden tilefish fished out of the Lower Keys?
Around 600 ft. The local method covers 600 to 1,600+ ft with deep-drop custom rigs and electric reels.
How far is Wood’s Wall?
About 30 miles off the Atlantic coast of Big Pine Key. It bottoms out near 2,000 ft.
Where do boats leave from?
Cudjoe Key, Stock Island and Key West. Routes out to open water run through the Newfound Harbor, Spanish Harbor and Niles Channels.
Is Looe Key Reef tilefish water?
No. Looe Key Reef sits at 35 ft, about 6 miles south of Big Pine Key. The fishing happens around 600 ft and deeper, so the reef is a reference point on the run.
Who runs deep-drop trips here?
Above & Below Fishing Adventures, with Captain Jose Rodriguez, on a 32-foot SeaVee per the Greetwell listing. The operation lists golden tile among its targets.
What’s the gear?
Deep-drop custom rigs with electric reels, fished in 600 to 1,600+ ft.
