King mackerel fishing out of Stuart: when and where boats run
King mackerel fishing out of Stuart centers on the reef areas off St. Lucie Inlet. Boats run to Sandpile, Six Mile and Loran Tower, mostly in 50 to 90 ft. Fish show in better numbers on reefs in that band, and a typical depth is about 50 ft.
Local operator calendars list king mackerel. For timing across the Treasure Coast, read the regional picture (see also the Atlantic Southeast fishing guide) and match it to what you see on the water.
Start in the 50 to 90 ft band, where the 80 ft reefs are the core. From the inlet, the run falls into three tiers: nearshore Sandpile, the 80 ft reef line, and deeper named structure at 180 and 200 ft.
| Tier | Where | Depth |
|---|---|---|
| Nearshore | Sandpile reef | Nearshore reef |
| Core band | Six Mile, Eight Mile, Loran Tower | 80 ft |
| Deep structure | Boo McCulley, Brause Girls | 180 ft and 200 ft |
Reading conditions at St. Lucie Inlet
NOAA tide station 8722207 is the St. Lucie tide source. Check the tide there before you run the inlet, and look up wind, wave height and period in the official marine forecast.
The grounds and structure off St. Lucie Inlet
The grounds below are listed in the order of a run out of the inlet, measured against the 50 to 90 ft band.
| Ground | Depth (ft) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Sandpile reef | – | Nearshore reef |
| Six Mile reef | 80 | Named for six miles |
| Eight Mile reef | 80 | Named for eight miles |
| Loran Tower (Hobe Sound) | 80 | Off the Loran tower in Hobe Sound |
| Pushbutton Hill (the Hill) | – | Offshore of St. Lucie Inlet |
| The Rankin (USS Rankin wreck) | – | – |
| Boo McCulley Reef (Borocho) | 180 | 9 miles offshore of St. Lucie Inlet |
| Brause Girls Reef (Penobscot tug) | 200 | 9 to 10 miles offshore, reached from Stuart |
Chart Contours shows the 50 to 90 ft band. Chart layers are not for navigation.
Sandpile reef
Sandpile is the nearshore reef and one of the three areas boats run to.
Six Mile and Eight Mile reefs
Both reefs sit at 80 ft, inside the 50 to 90 ft band. Six Mile is named for six miles and Eight Mile for eight miles. Six Mile is one of the three areas boats run to.
Loran Tower (Hobe Sound)
Loran Tower sits at 80 ft, off the Loran tower in Hobe Sound. It is inside the band and is one of the three run areas.
Pushbutton Hill
Pushbutton Hill, known as the Hill, is named structure offshore of St. Lucie Inlet.
The Rankin
The USS Rankin wreck is named structure near Stuart.
Boo McCulley and Brause Girls
Boo McCulley (Borocho) sits at 180 ft, 9 miles offshore of St. Lucie Inlet. Brause Girls (Penobscot tug) sits at 200 ft, 9 to 10 miles offshore, reached from Stuart. Both are outside the 50 to 90 ft band where fish show in better numbers, so treat them as named structure.
How kings are fished out of Stuart
Local anglers troll and fish live baits around the reefs. For rigging and baits in more depth, use the species guide.
Trolling the reefs
Trolling is a local method on the reefs. It lets you cover reef areas and find fish.
Live baits around structure
Live baits are fished around the reefs. Work them close to the structure you marked.
Working the 50 to 90 ft band
Fish show in better numbers on the reefs in the 50 to 90 ft band, and the typical depth is about 50 ft. The 80 ft reefs (Six Mile, Eight Mile, Loran Tower) sit inside the band, so look there first. Depth alone doesn’t guarantee fish.
Who fishes for kings out of Stuart
Charter crews and tournament anglers both work these reefs.
Charters
These local charters list king mackerel, and their target lists also cover other coastal and offshore gamefish:
- Stuart Big Game Fishing: 61-foot custom sportfisher Unbelievable
- Captain VJ Bell
- Catch Of The Day Charters: Ocean Yachts 37-foot Billfish
The KDW Tournament
The Stuart Sailfish Club KDW Tournament is usually held in May. It is the local kingfish event.
FAQ: King mackerel fishing out of Stuart
How deep do kings hold off Stuart?
Mostly 50 to 90 ft, with better numbers on reefs in that band. The typical depth is about 50 ft.
Which reefs do boats run to?
Sandpile, Six Mile and Loran Tower. The 80 ft line also includes Eight Mile.
Where is the Loran Tower?
Off the Loran tower in Hobe Sound, at 80 ft.
Is there a kingfish tournament in Stuart?
Yes. The Stuart Sailfish Club KDW Tournament is usually held in May.
Where do I check tides for St. Lucie Inlet?
At NOAA tide station 8722207, the St. Lucie tide source. Pair it with the official marine forecast for wind, wave height and period.
Do charters out of Stuart target kings?
Yes. Stuart Big Game Fishing, Captain VJ Bell and Catch Of The Day Charters list king mackerel.
