King mackerel fishing out of Fort Pierce is mostly reef trolling. Boats run from Fort Pierce Inlet to offshore reefs, with natural shoals to the south and artificial structure to the north. One local charter’s chart puts the season at March-August, and other sources say spring to fall. For the biology of king mackerel, start there. This page covers when, where, how and who, for this port only.
When king mackerel are off Fort Pierce
Kings are off Fort Pierce from spring into fall. Colossal Catch Charter Fishing charts March-August, and the FishingBooker Fort Pierce guide says to target kingfish spring to fall. Spring and summer fall inside both windows.
The spring run opens that window, and the local tournament is timed to it. The regional king mackerel guide (see also the Atlantic Southeast fishing guide) has the migration context for the Atlantic Southeast.
| Source | Window |
|---|---|
| Colossal Catch chart | March-August |
| FishingBooker Fort Pierce guide | Spring to fall |
Where boats run and the grounds that hold kings
Boats troll the offshore reefs in roughly 30-80 ft, work the shoals south of the inlet, and run north to artificial structure in deeper water. The 30-80 ft reef band comes from a 1999 Florida Sportsman report. It is old, and fish move with bait and water, so treat it as a starting band.
The shoals sit close in, while the deeper artificial wrecks and rock lie north of the inlet in 120-180 ft. The SL numbers below let you match each ground to your plotter. Save them as waypoints, since chart layers are not for navigation.
| Name | SL number | What it is | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capron Shoal | Natural shoal | East-southeast of Fort Pierce Inlet | |
| Pierce Shoal | SL-5 | Natural shoal | Due south of Capron Shoal |
| St. Lucie Shoal | SL-4 | Natural shoal | About halfway between Fort Pierce and St. Lucie inlets |
| Unnamed artificial reef | Artificial reef, about a mile long | Just north of Fort Pierce Inlet | |
| Wrecks and rock areas | Artificial wrecks and rock, 120-180 ft | North of Fort Pierce Inlet | |
| Ft Pierce Artificial, Deep Tug | SL-22 | 155-foot steel tug | |
| USS Muliphen | SL-20 | C-2 attack cargo ship, 459 x 63 ft | |
| Ft Pierce Artificial Reef | SL-60 | Five 25 x 60 ft barge loads |
Capron Shoal
Capron Shoal lies east-southeast of Fort Pierce Inlet. It is the first natural ground out from the inlet on this list.
Pierce Shoal (SL-5)
Pierce Shoal is due south of Capron Shoal. Match the SL-5 number to your plotter.
St. Lucie Shoal (SL-4)
St. Lucie Shoal is about halfway between Fort Pierce and St. Lucie inlets. St. Lucie Inlet is a reference point only.
Artificial reef north of the inlet
This reef is about a mile long and sits just north of Fort Pierce Inlet. It has no name.
Wrecks and rock in 120-180 ft
These artificial wrecks and rock areas lie north of the inlet in 120-180 ft of water. They are the longest run on the list.
Deep Tug (SL-22)
Ft Pierce Artificial, Deep Tug is a 155-foot steel tug.
USS Muliphen (SL-20)
The USS Muliphen is a C-2 attack cargo ship, 459 x 63 ft.
Ft Pierce Artificial Reef (SL-60)
This reef consists of five 25 x 60 ft barge loads.
How kings are fished out of Fort Pierce
Two patterns are common locally: a 5-inch chrome spoon trolled on a planer or downrigger, and a multi-line spread of live bait or spoons. Both fish the offshore reefs. For the wider picture, see the other coastal and offshore gamefish guides.
Spoon on a planer or downrigger
The Florida Sportsman report describes trolling a 5-inch chrome spoon on a planer or downrigger over the offshore reefs.
Multi-line spread
The FishingBooker guide describes running multiple lines with live bait or spoons on downriggers or outriggers.
Who fishes kings out of Fort Pierce
Local charters and tournament anglers both fish kings out of the port. Colossal Catch Charter Fishing, run by Capt. Jonathon, lists king mackerel and takes up to 6 guests, which makes it an option if you don’t run your own boat. The Fort Pierce King Mackerel Invitational fishes out of the port, usually in April.
FAQ: King mackerel fishing out of Fort Pierce
When is king mackerel season out of Fort Pierce?
The FishingBooker Fort Pierce guide says spring to fall, and the Colossal Catch chart says March-August. Spring and summer fall inside both.
How deep do boats troll for kings?
Boats troll the offshore reefs in 30-80 ft, per the 1999 Florida Sportsman report. The figure is old, so treat it as a starting band. Artificial wrecks and rock north of the inlet sit in 120-180 ft.
What is the USS Muliphen?
It is a C-2 attack cargo ship, 459 x 63 ft, listed as SL-20 among the Fort Pierce artificial structure. Save it as a waypoint.
When is the Fort Pierce King Mackerel Invitational?
Usually April, early in the local window.
Can I book a kingfish charter out of Fort Pierce?
Colossal Catch Charter Fishing lists king mackerel. Capt. Jonathon takes up to 6 guests.
