How to fish it
Set up up-current of the hump at first light and chum with live pilchards for blackfin; drop jigs or live baits to the structure for amberjack. Count on a hard current and a long run: watch the weather window.
See today's tides and currents on the conditions page, or open this spot on the map.
What you can catch here
Blackfin tuna
No minimum size; 2 per person or 10 per boat per day, whichever is greater; open year-round. No federal HMS permit is needed for blackfin in state or federal waters.- Bait
- Live pilchards or threadfin herring free-lined in a live-bait chum slick; chunks of bonito or sardine in a chunk line
- Tackle
- 7 ft rod with a 6000–8000 spinning reel or a 20–30 lb conventional, 30–50 lb braid
- Rig
- 8–10 ft of 25–40 lb fluorocarbon (blackfin are leader-shy); small 2/0–4/0 circle or live-bait hook
Greater amberjack
28" fork length minimum; 1 per person per day; closed in April; the same in federal waters. Reef fish gear rules apply.- Bait
- Live blue runners, goggle-eyes, pinfish or grunts dropped down to the wreck
- Tackle
- Heavy 50–80 lb conventional or jigging outfit, 65–80 lb braid
- Rig
- 6 ft of 80–100 lb fluorocarbon; 7/0–9/0 non-stainless circle hook with live bait; 8–16 oz sinker
Wahoo
No minimum size; 2 per person per day; open year-round. The federal limit is the same (landed with head and fins intact).- Bait
- Rigged ballyhoo behind a planer or under a skirt; live blue runners slow-trolled along the edge
- Tackle
- 50–80 lb class conventional for high-speed trolling; 30 lb class for ballyhoo
- Rig
- 2–3 ft of #9–#12 single-strand wire or cable (their teeth cut mono); 7/0–9/0 hooks; an in-line weight or planer to get the bait down
Mahi-mahi (dolphin)
20" fork length minimum; 5 per person or 30 per private boat per day, whichever is less (charters: 5 per paying customer, none for captain and crew); open year-round.- Bait
- Rigged ballyhoo for trolling; live pilchards or chunks of ballyhoo and squid to hold a school at the boat
- Tackle
- 20–30 lb conventional for trolling; 7 ft medium spinning rod, 4000–5000 reel and 20 lb line to pitch baits
- Rig
- 6–8 ft of 40–60 lb mono or fluorocarbon (80 lb for big bulls); 6/0–7/0 hook on trolled ballyhoo, 3/0–5/0 on pitch baits
Sailfish
63" lower-jaw fork length minimum; 1 billfish per person per day; open year-round. Almost always released: a fish you mean to release stays in the water in federal waters, and any landed billfish must be reported to NOAA within 24 hours.- Bait
- Live goggle-eyes, pilchards, threadfin herring or ballyhoo, fished from a kite or slow-trolled
- Tackle
- 7 ft rod with a 12–20 lb class conventional or 4000–6000 spinning reel, 20 lb mono
- Rig
- 15–20 ft of 40–50 lb fluorocarbon; 4/0–7/0 non-offset circle hook sized to the bait, bridled through the nose
Grouper (black & red)
Black and gag 24", red 20" total length minimum; 3 grouper per person per day with only 1 gag or black among them; black and red closed Jan 1 – Apr 30. Gag is closed from Aug 2, 2026 by FWC executive order (normally open May 1 – Aug 1). Reef fish gear rules and the State Reef Fish Angler designation apply.- Bait
- Live pinfish, grunts, blue runners or pilchards; whole or cut ballyhoo, mackerel or bonito
- Tackle
- Short, stout 50–80 lb conventional outfit with 65–80 lb braid and the drag locked down
- Rig
- 4–6 ft of 80–100 lb fluorocarbon; 7/0–9/0 non-stainless circle hook; 4–16 oz sliding sinker
Access
- Fished by
- Charter a boat; Bring your own boat
- Skill
- Intermediate
- Position
- About 24.8034, -80.4433 (Published magazine waypoint (Salt Water Sportsman, 24° 48.206' N, 80° 26.598' W); not an official chart position).
- Federal waters: FWC and NOAA Atlantic rules apply.
- Carry a float plan and VHF; this is 15 miles offshore.
Not for navigation. Positions are approximate. Use official charts, watch your depth and respect private property and posted signs.