King mackerel fishing out of Pompano Beach starts at Pompano Beach and Hillsboro Inlet, where boats run to a reef line in about 80 to 180 ft. Captain Sunshine fishes ledges, wrecks and reef lines 1 to 3 miles out. General biology and tackle are covered under king mackerel. This page covers one port: when local operators see kings, how far and deep boats run, the named structure by depth and grid, and how the local fleet fishes it.
Structure is listed by name, depth and grid reference, from the Edge to Shipwreck Park and grid K-7. That helps you decide where to look, but it doesn’t promise fish.
When kings are off Pompano Beach
Local operators don’t describe the same season, so each view below is attributed to the operator who gave it. For the broader migration picture, see the wider southeast run (see also the Atlantic Southeast region guide).
| Operator | Season for kings |
|---|---|
| RingMaster | Spring and fall |
| Captain Sunshine | November through April |
| Don’t Panic | Strongest runs in winter |
| Hillsboro Inlet Fishing Center | Winter |
RingMaster: spring and fall
RingMaster Charters, out of Pompano, puts kings off Pompano in spring and fall and fishes the reef line in 80 to 180 ft.
Captain Sunshine: November through April
Captain Sunshine gives the window as November through April.
Don’t Panic: strongest in winter
Don’t Panic sees the strongest runs in winter.
Hillsboro Inlet Fishing Center: winter
Hillsboro Inlet Fishing Center names winter as the season. Three of the four views include winter.
Fronts and north winds
Fronts and north winds fire up kings along with sails. On front days the reef line becomes a crossover target, with the Edge close by for sailfish.
How far and how deep boats run
RingMaster fishes the reef line in 80 to 180 ft. Captain Sunshine fishes ledges, wrecks and reef lines near Hillsboro Inlet and the Pompano Beach Pier, 1 to 3 miles out.
The two ranges are compatible. Lady Luck sits about 1 mile SE of the inlet, inside that 1 to 3 mile range. Okinawa, at 70 ft, is shallower than the 80 to 180 ft band.
Chart layers and dive maps are not for navigation. Use official charts and the NOAA forecast for the day you fish.
Grounds and structure that hold kings
The named structure off this port runs from the Edge inshore to Shipwreck Park, with the drop-off and a long list of ledges and wrecks. Grid references K-7 and K-8 locate these sites on the Pompano Beach visitor dive map, which is not for navigation.
The Edge and Sailfish Alley
The Edge, also called Sailfish Alley, is the shelf drop-off. Fronts and north winds fire up kings there along with sails.
Shipwreck Park: Lady Luck and Okinawa
Lady Luck lies in 126 ft, about 1 mile SE of Hillsboro Inlet, grid K-7. Okinawa lies in 70 ft, also grid K-7, below the 80 ft top of the reef-line band.
Pompano Drop Off
The Pompano Drop Off is at grid K-8 on the Pompano Beach visitor dive map.
| Site | Depth (ft) | Grid/Location |
|---|---|---|
| Lady Luck (Shipwreck Park) | 126 | K-7, about 1 mile SE of Hillsboro Inlet |
| Okinawa (Shipwreck Park) | 70 | K-7 |
| Pompano Drop Off | K-8, Pompano Beach visitor dive map |
Ledges and reefs
The named ledge and reef sites are:
- Pompano Trench
- Lost Ledge
- Suzzane’s Ledge
- Pompano 3rd Reef Ridge
- Steve’s Twin Ledges
- Shark Reef
- Touchdown Reef
- Grouper Bend
- Nursery
Hillsboro Ledge, Lighthouse Ledge and Horseshoe Reef are listed as Pompano Beach dive sites.
Named wrecks
The named wrecks are:
- Sucre
- Miller Lite
- Mariner II Tug
- Union Express
- Mary St. Philip
- Rodeo 25
- Quallman Tugs
- RSB-1
- RBJ
- Chris Corey
- Renegade
- Lowrance
- Captain Dan
- Guy Harvey
- SS Copenhagen
- Caicos Express
Captain Sunshine works wrecks and current edges with high-speed trolling and live-bait drifts, so this list is the pool of structure that style of fishing draws from.
How and who fishes kings locally
The local fleet uses three methods: planers, live-bait drifts and high-speed trolling. Sailfish share the front-driven bite, so the same trips often cross into offshore gamefish water.
| Method | Operator | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Planers | RingMaster | Reef line |
| Live-bait drifts | RingMaster, Captain Sunshine | Reef line, wrecks, current edges |
| High-speed trolling | Captain Sunshine | Wrecks and current edges |
Planers
RingMaster fishes planers.
Live-bait drifts
Both RingMaster and Captain Sunshine drift live baits. Captain Sunshine works them over wrecks and current edges.
High-speed trolling over wrecks and current edges
Captain Sunshine trolls at high speed over wrecks and current edges, which is where the named wrecks above come into play.
Local charters that fish kings
RingMaster Charters fishes the 53′ Hatteras RingMaster, which has three fighting chairs. Captain Sunshine, Don’t Panic and Hillsboro Inlet Fishing Center are the other operators cited on this page.
FAQ about king mackerel fishing out of Pompano Beach
When is kingfish season off Pompano Beach?
RingMaster says spring and fall. Captain Sunshine says November through April. Don’t Panic and Hillsboro Inlet Fishing Center point to winter.
How far out do boats fish kings?
Captain Sunshine works 1 to 3 miles out near Hillsboro Inlet and the Pompano Beach Pier. RingMaster fishes the reef line in 80 to 180 ft.
How deep is Lady Luck?
Lady Luck sits at 126 ft, about 1 mile SE of Hillsboro Inlet, grid K-7. Okinawa sits at 70 ft, also grid K-7.
What methods do locals use?
RingMaster uses planers and live-bait drifts. Captain Sunshine uses high-speed trolling and live-bait drifts over wrecks and current edges.
Do kings and sails overlap?
Yes. Fronts and north winds fire up kings along with sails. The Edge is the shelf drop-off locals call Sailfish Alley.
Where are the regulations?
FWC covers state waters, and federal rules cover federal waters. Both are linked in the Regulations section. Check them before fishing.
