Golden Tilefish.
Deep-mud burrower. 600–900 ft, neon yellow, mild fillet.
How they feed in the Keys
Golden tilefish live in burrows on deep mud bottom 500–1000 feet — the deepest reachable target most Keys deep-drop anglers fish. They're slow growers, vibrant blue-and-yellow, and produce one of the best fillets in the ocean. The Atlantic shelf edge from north of the Keys through the Carolinas holds them; in the Keys you're targeting the deep mud east of the Stream.
48–60°F at depth
50–62°F bottom temperatures
Bottom current rather than surface tide drives feed activity.
Moderate bottom current is best — too strong and rigs sweep off the burrows.
Calm seas required for fishing in 800+ feet.
Less direct at depth.
All day at depth.
Less direct.
Less direct.
Tiles eat almost exclusively crustaceans, squid, and small bottom fish. Whole squid on a 12/0 circle is the everything bait.
Tilefish are managed under the Atlantic Snapper-Grouper FMP. ACLs trigger annual closures — verify before harvesting.
12-month outlook
What they eat, what catches them
Whole squid
12/0 circle hook, large squid bodies. The standard.
Cut bonito chunks
Strong-scent backup. Reliable.
Cut barracuda strips
Local Keys deep-drop staple.
- Mackerel chunks· Reliable scent.
- Standard deep drop
3-hook rig + 24–32 oz lead + whole squid + electric reel. Drop to bottom, hold, wait for tap.
How top captains rig it
80–130 lb braid.
Electric reel — Daiwa Tanacom or LP Lectric class.
Heavy roller-tip deep-drop rod.
150–200 lb monofilament.
- Deep drop
Roller-tip rod + electric reel + 80 lb braid + 3-hook tile rig + 24-oz lead + whole squid baits.
Recreational rules
24" total length (Atlantic, current).
1 per harvester per day in Atlantic.
Atlantic: ACL-managed; closes when annual catch limit reached.
Powerheads prohibited.
Note · Federal regulations updated periodically — check FWC and SAFMC before harvest.
What actually moves the bite
Each factor is rated by how much it shifts the bite for this fish in the Keys. Calibrated against the Bite Score weights — see the Bite Score reference for what each factor measures.