King mackerel fishing out of Steinhatchee, on Florida’s Big Bend, is thinly documented. The one named ground near the port is a reef described in terms of snapper and grouper, and nothing documented ties kings to the port’s water. For the port itself, start with the Steinhatchee port page. For the wider coast, see the king mackerel fishing in the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico offshore fishing guide.
When king mackerel are around Steinhatchee
No season for king mackerel is documented for Steinhatchee, so there is no port calendar to plan around. Across the Gulf, spring and fall are the peak migration periods for kings, and winter fish concentrate in warm water farther south. Use the regional pattern and check the water yourself.
Where boats run
Steinhatchee sits on a short river that reaches the Gulf through a dredged, marked channel across Deadman Bay. The channel runs from Steinhatchee River Light 1 to a turning basin about 2 miles upriver. Outside the markers, the Gulf bottom slopes very gently and the mean tide range is about 3 feet, so water can be thin at low tide. Tide height may matter more than distance for a deeper boat. For about 10 miles offshore the bottom is broken, with reefs and coral heads. Follow the marked channel well past the entrance light, and check conditions yourself before you go out.
Grounds and structure
Buckeye Reef, about 22 miles west of Steinhatchee in 50 feet of water, is the one named ground with both a depth and a distance. It is described in terms of snapper and grouper, and it is not documented as a king ground. Other named features include Super Ledge, a favorite hot spot, Steinhatchee Reef, Birdrack Reef and the Crack. None has a stated depth or distance, and none is tied to kings. The Birdrack reef sites are named for bird guano racks that once stood on the outer shoals, and broken pilings from some racks may lie at or just below the surface. Approach slowly with the sounder running.
How king mackerel are fished out of Steinhatchee
No method is documented for kings at this port. The general Gulf approach applies: slow-troll live bait along reefs and edges with a wire leader and a trailing stinger treble, and use spoons and planers to cover water while you search. Kings cut monofilament, so the wire is not optional. Drifting near the reefs is the other approach when the bait is holding.
Who fishes it
No charter is documented with a king mackerel trip out of Steinhatchee, so none is named here. No king mackerel tournament at the port is documented either.
FAQ
Is Steinhatchee a good king mackerel port?
The evidence is thin. The one named ground with a depth is a snapper and grouper reef, and no season, method or charter is documented for kings from the port. Explore the water yourself and check conditions before each trip.
How far out is Buckeye Reef?
About 22 miles west of the port, in 50 feet of water. It is not documented as a king ground.
Is the channel hard to run?
The channel is marked and dredged, but the shallow water outside the markers and the tide range mean you should stay in the channel and check the tide before you run.
