- Depth
- 550-1300 ft
- Access
- By boat
- Best months
- April to October
- Species
- Golden tilefish, Blackfin tuna, Wahoo, Dolphinfish (mahi)
About 100 nautical miles due west of Egmont Key Light the shelf ends: NOAA's bathymetry drops from about 394 feet at 90 nautical miles to 587 at 100, 817 at 110 and 1,266 at 120. FWC says golden tilefish live on mud and sand slopes from 250 to 1,500 feet, and the Florida Museum says blackfin tuna usually live seaward of the shelf. NOAA says the endangered Rice's whale lives in the Gulf year-round, with most sightings along the shelf break in about 330 to 1,300 feet.
How to fish it
Deep-drop for tilefish and deep-water grouper, and troll along weedlines for tuna, mahi and wahoo.
Watch out for: A run of more than 100 nautical miles each way, likely beyond reliable VHF range from shore, so carry a registered EPIRB or PLB. This is Rice's whale water: NOAA advises 10 knots or less, a sharp lookout and staying at least 100 yards away. Report sightings to NOAA at (877) WHALE-HELP.
Rules here: Gulf deep-water grouper and tilefish rules apply (FWC's grouper and tilefish pages). Amendment 58B, proposed in May 2026, would change the deep-water grouper catch limits; check whether it's final. The rules to check in Tampa Bay offshore waters