At a glance
10–30 lb.
250–1,500 ft.
Daylight. Depth matters far more than the clock.
8 areas
Know it
Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.
- Identification
Blue-green back fading to pink, bright yellow-gold spots, and a fleshy crest on top of the head.
- Typical size
10–30 lb.
- Maximum size
About 4 ft and 65 lb.
- Diet
Crabs, shrimp, squid and small fish living on deep mud and rock bottoms.
- Behavior
Lives on or near the bottom on the edge of the continental shelf; not a fish you sight or cast to.
Find it
Where, when and how deep to look.
- Where to find it
Found from Florida Atlantic Coast, Florida Gulf Coast, Northern Gulf (AL–TX), Mexico Gulf Coast, North Carolina, Virginia & Chesapeake Bay, Delaware & New Jersey and New York, Long Island & Connecticut. Digs burrows in clay and mud on the edge of the continental shelf.
- Habitat
Digs burrows in clay and mud on the edge of the continental shelf.
- Depth
250–1,500 ft.
- Fishing depth
Usually 300–1,000+ ft; electric reels help.
- Best season
All year where seasons are open; calm summer days make deep dropping easier.
- Best time
Daylight. Depth matters far more than the clock.
- Best tides
Light current lets you keep baits on the bottom; strong current needs more weight.
- Best weather / conditions
Only on calm offshore days — these spots are far out.
Bait & gear
What to tie on and what to throw.
- Best bait
Squid and cut fish.
- Best artificial lures
Glow-in-the-dark deep-drop lights on the rig.
- Tackle setup
Heavy conventional or electric reel on a stout deep-drop rod.
- Hook size
6/0–9/0 circle hooks on a multi-hook deep-drop rig.
- Line
65–80 lb braid.
- Leader
80–150 lb mono.
BigJoe's setup for Golden tilefish
The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.
As an Amazon Associate, BigJoe earns from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra and helps keep this guide free.
Catch it
Step by step, from first cast to landing.
Step-by-step: how to catch it
- Go where it lives: Digs burrows in clay and mud on the edge of the continental shelf.
- Rig up: Heavy conventional or electric reel on a stout deep-drop rod. 80–150 lb mono.
- Pick your bait: Squid and cut fish. Lures: Glow-in-the-dark deep-drop lights on the rig.
- Fish it: Deep-drop multi-hook rigs to mud bottom using an electric reel.
- Time it: Daylight. Depth matters far more than the clock. Light current lets you keep baits on the bottom; strong current needs more weight.
- Fishing techniques
Deep-drop multi-hook rigs to mud bottom using an electric reel.
- BigJoe's tip
Sweet, lobster-like meat — worth the long drop.
- Catch and release
Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.
Clean & cook
Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.
- Edibility
Excellent eating — one of the best-tasting fish in its range.
- Cleaning
Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
- Cooking suggestions
Cook fish to 145°F (63°C) — the flesh turns opaque and flakes easily. Fry, grill, bake or blacken.
Stay safe & legal
Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.
- Safety warnings
Heavy weights and long drops — keep hands clear of line under load. Fish from this deep rarely survive release.
- Regulations
Federal recreational limits apply and a federal permit may be needed — check NOAA. A Florida fishing license is required unless you are exempt; Florida rules are set by FWC (myfwc.com). Federal waters fall under NOAA Fisheries. Other states and countries set their own limits — check before you keep fish.
- Conservation
Keep only what you'll eat, release the rest quickly, and follow size and bag limits.
Where it's found
Tap an area to open its fishing map.