Yellowfin push off the Palm Beaches in spring. The West Palm Beach Fishing Club’s tuna page describes a spring run of large tunas, yellowfin especially, and the club’s photo captions place yellowfin on kites off Singer Island. That is the core of yellowfin tuna fishing out of Palm Beach: a spring window, a short run, and ground you may already fish for other species.
Inlet and port basics are in our Palm Beach port guide. This page covers when the fish are here, the named ground from the inlet out with depths, how locals fish them, and who fishes them.
When yellowfin are off Palm Beach
The season here is spring, per the West Palm Beach Fishing Club.
Spring yellowfin turn up on ground that local boats already fish for sailfish, kingfish, blackfin tuna and wahoo, so the work is mostly reading familiar ledges with a different fish in mind. Biology, range and general tactics are in our yellowfin tuna fishing guide.
- Season: spring
- Where: off the Palm Beaches, with club photos mentioning Singer Island
- Shared with: sailfish, kingfish, blackfin tuna, wahoo
Where boats run and what they fish
Boats run from Palm Beach Inlet to the ground off the Palm Beaches and Singer Island. The closest reference point is the sailfish ledge, about 20 minutes from the inlet. The Hill sits further out. The grounds below are listed from the inlet outward.
| Name | Depth (ft) | Position |
|---|---|---|
| M/V Ana Cecilia | 80 to 85 | One mile offshore of Singer Island |
| Danny McCauley Memorial Reef (tug) | 80 | One mile offshore of Singer Island, part of the Wreck Trek |
| Bridge Reef and the Playground | 100 to 200 | |
| 120 ft ledge | 120 | Offshore of the inlet |
| Sailfish ledge | 120 to 200 | About 20 minutes from Palm Beach Inlet |
| 100 to 300 ft edges | 100 to 300 | Offshore edge |
| The Hill | 200 to 300 | Further out than the sailfish ledge |
| Sailfish Alley | Gulf Stream corridor from Fort Pierce to North Miami Beach |
Load these depths against Chart Contours to see where each band sits. Chart layers are not for navigation.
Singer Island wrecks
The M/V Ana Cecilia sits in 80 to 85 ft, one mile offshore of Singer Island. The Danny McCauley Memorial Reef, a tug, sits in 80 ft at the same distance and is part of the Wreck Trek. Both are nearshore structure and useful landmarks on the way out.
Bridge Reef and the Playground
These two named grounds sit in 100 to 200 ft near Palm Beach. Plot them as reference points for the middle depths.
120 ft ledge
The 120 ft ledge sits offshore of the inlet. Mallard’s calls it the kingfish edge, so expect to share it with the kingfish crowd.
Sailfish ledge
The sailfish ledge has no formal name; locals call it by its fish. It runs 120 to 200 ft, about 20 minutes from Palm Beach Inlet. It is the reference point for the run and the closest ground on this list that reaches past 120 ft.
100 to 300 ft edges
The offshore edge, known as wahoo water, spans 100 to 300 ft. That range covers the depths of the ledges above and reaches out to the depth of The Hill.
The Hill
The Hill, 200 to 300 ft, sits outside the sailfish ledge and is known as a blackfin tuna spot.
Sailfish Alley
Sailfish Alley is the Gulf Stream corridor from Fort Pierce to North Miami Beach, and it holds all the ground above. The wider coast is covered in our Atlantic Southeast yellowfin guide (see also the Atlantic Southeast region guide).
How yellowfin are fished here
The West Palm Beach Fishing Club’s yellowfin photo captions name two methods: kite fishing and live bait on 20 lb tackle.
Kite fishing
The club’s captions pair kite fishing with yellowfin photos and mention Singer Island. Kites are also a sailfish method on this coast, so the same spread covers shared ground.
Live bait on 20 lb tackle
The captions name live bait on 20 lb tackle. That is light line for a tuna, and it is how the club’s fish are documented.
Who fishes for them
Three groups work these fish:
- Club members: West Palm Beach Fishing Club members document the spring run through the club’s tuna page and photos.
- Owner-operators: these anglers run their own boats out of Palm Beach Inlet.
- Sailfish and kingfish crews: they work the same ledges with the same spreads and pick up yellowfin where the water is shared.
FAQ: yellowfin tuna fishing out of Palm Beach
When are yellowfin off Palm Beach?
Spring, per the West Palm Beach Fishing Club. The fish are off the Palm Beaches, with club photos mentioning Singer Island.
How far is the sailfish ledge from Palm Beach Inlet?
About 20 minutes, in 120 to 200 ft.
What is The Hill?
A 200 to 300 ft ground further out than the sailfish ledge, known as a blackfin tuna spot. Blackfin and other species are covered in our other tuna guides.
How do locals fish for yellowfin here?
Kite fishing and live bait on 20 lb tackle, as named in the club’s photo captions.
Where are the rules for keeping yellowfin?
On the state regulations page and the federal Atlantic tuna page, both linked in the Regulations section above.
