Blueline Tilefish.
Mid-depth deep drop. 300–700 ft, smaller than goldens, similar plate.
How they feed in the Keys
Blueline tilefish (also called gray tilefish) hold on hard structure and rocky ledges in 300–700 feet — shallower than golden tilefish and accessible with manual conventional reels by serious deep-drop anglers. Average 4–10 lbs, occasionally 20+. The Atlantic shelf edge through the Keys to the Carolinas is the productive zone.
55–68°F at depth
Active 50–72°F bottom temperatures
Bottom current matters; surface tide less directly.
Moderate bottom flow ideal.
Calm seas required for deep dropping.
Less direct.
All day.
Less direct.
Less direct.
Bluelines at 400–500 ft are often the deepest you can fish without an electric reel. Serious back muscle and a quality 50W conventional get it done.
12-month outlook
What they eat, what catches them
Whole squid
10/0–12/0 circle. Bluelines crush squid.
Cut bonito
Strong scent at depth.
Cut barracuda
Local deep-drop standard.
- Mackerel chunks· Reliable backup.
- Dead pinfish· Whole on a big circle.
- Standard mid-depth drop
3-hook rig + 16–24 oz lead + whole squid + manual or electric reel.
How top captains rig it
65–100 lb braid.
Manual: 50W class. Electric: Daiwa Tanacom or LP Lectric.
Heavy stand-up or roller-tip.
150–200 lb monofilament.
- Manual deep drop 400 ft
Stand-up 50W class + 80 lb braid + 3-hook tile rig + 16-oz lead + whole squid.
Recreational rules
Generally no size limit (Atlantic federal — verify).
Combined 1-fish bag in some Atlantic deepwater grouper/tile aggregates.
Atlantic: ACL-managed; closures common when ACL is reached.
Powerheads prohibited.
Note · Federal Atlantic tilefish regulations have changed several times. Check current SAFMC rules.
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.