King mackerel fishing out of Clearwater follows two runs, spring and fall. Boats work about 40-80+ ft of water, and kings, called kingfish locally, also show on nearshore trips as bait schools move through. Trips leave from Clearwater Pass, which is covered along with conditions on the Clearwater port page. This page gives the named grounds by distance and bearing from the pass, how the local fleet fishes them, and the buoy to check. For biology and rigging, see the king mackerel species guide.
When King Mackerel Run Off Clearwater
Kings pass Clearwater twice a year. Local charters describe a spring run and a fall run, and the table below follows their windows.
| Run | Window | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March to May | Stella Fishing Co. |
| Fall | October to November | Stella Fishing Co. |
| Both | Up and down the west coast, spring and fall | Reel Deal Sportfishing |
Spring run
Stella Fishing Co. gives March to May. Reel Deal says the fish run up and down the west coast in spring and fall. For the wider Gulf picture, see the Gulf king mackerel guide (see also the Gulf of Mexico fishing guide).
Fall run
Stella gives October to November for the return run. When bait schools move along the beach, kings show on nearshore trips, so watch the beach bait as well as the calendar.
Where Boats Run and the Grounds That Hold Fish
All distances and bearings are from Clearwater Pass. The grounds fall into three runs: about 5 mi, 9.4 mi, and 12 to 14.3 mi.
| Ground | Depth (ft) | Distance from Clearwater Pass (mi) | Bearing (degrees) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sand Key Reef | 20 | 5.0 | 194 |
| Clearwater Reef | 27-32 | 5.0 | 311 |
| Dunedin Reef | 27-33 | n/a | n/a |
| Loggerhead Ledge | 40 | 9.4 | n/a |
| Rube Alan Reef | 50 | 12.0 | 260 |
| Veteran Reef | 45 | 12.8 | 300 |
| Gregs Ledge | 55 | 13.8 | 289 |
| Indian Shores Reef | 42 | 14.3 | 238 |
Pick the run that suits your boat and the day. The named grounds top out at 55 ft, while the fleet’s working band runs to 80+ ft.
Nearshore reefs, about 5 miles
Sand Key Reef sits at 20 ft, 5.0 mi out at 194 degrees. Clearwater Reef sits at 27-32 ft, 5.0 mi out at 311 degrees (ReefsNwrecks gives the 311-degree bearing). Dunedin Reef sits at 27-33 ft. When bait is on the beach, the short reefs are worth a look before the 12 to 14 mile run.
Loggerhead Ledge
Loggerhead Ledge holds 40 ft, 9.4 mi from the pass. It is the first named ground in the fleet’s 40-80+ ft band. The chart data gives a distance but no bearing.
The 12 to 14 mile reefs and ledges
Four grounds sit out here:
- Rube Alan Reef, 50 ft
- Veteran Reef, 45 ft
- Gregs Ledge, 55 ft
- Indian Shores Reef, 42 ft
All four fall in the 42-55 ft band, inside the fleet’s working depth. Bearings spread from 238 to 300 degrees, so you can choose by heading and the day’s conditions.
NDBC station CWBF1 sits at Clearwater Beach, 27.978N 82.832W. It is also NOAA tide station 8726724. Check it and the official marine forecast before running. Chart positions here are not for navigation.
How Kings Are Fished Locally
These are the fleet’s methods, credited by name.
Slow-trolling live blue runners
On FishEye’s king mackerel trips, the crew slow-trolls live blue runners, which covers ground along a ledge such as Loggerhead or Gregs.
Anchoring and live-chumming sardines
FishEye also anchors and live-chums sardines, which holds the boat on one spot, such as a named reef.
Trolling hardware and flatlining
Stella and Reel Deal also troll hardware and flatline live bait.
Wire leaders
The local fleet runs wire leaders.
Who Fishes for Kings Out of Clearwater
Three charters list king mackerel from this port:
- Stella Fishing Co. lists king mackerel, gives March to May and October to November, and trolls hardware and flatlines live bait.
- Reel Deal Sportfishing out of Clearwater runs Reel Deal and Reel Deal II, both 34 ft diesel sportfishers. It describes the spring and fall west-coast run and trolls hardware and flatlines live bait.
- FishEye Sportfishing names Capt. Brandon Fraley as the author of its fishing reports. It slow-trolls blue runners, or anchors and live-chums sardines.
FAQ: King Mackerel Fishing Out of Clearwater
When are king mackerel off Clearwater?
Kings run in spring and fall. Stella Fishing Co. gives March to May and October to November. Reel Deal Sportfishing says the fish run up and down the west coast in both seasons. Kings also show nearshore as bait schools move through.
How far do boats run for kings out of Clearwater?
From Clearwater Pass, boats run about 5.0 mi to the nearshore reefs, 9.4 mi to Loggerhead Ledge, and 12.0 to 14.3 mi to the outer reefs and ledges.
What depth do kings hold in?
The fleet works about 40-80+ ft. The named grounds run 20 to 55 ft. Loggerhead Ledge and the 12 to 14 mile grounds fall at 40 to 55 ft, inside the working band.
What bait and method do local captains use?
FishEye slow-trolls live blue runners, or anchors and live-chums sardines. Stella and Reel Deal also troll hardware and flatline live bait. The fleet runs wire leaders.
Which buoy should I check before running?
Check NDBC station CWBF1 at Clearwater Beach, 27.978N 82.832W. It is also NOAA tide station 8726724. Read it alongside the official marine forecast before you leave the dock.
What else is on the same grounds?
The coastal and offshore gamefish guides cover the other species fished from this port.
