M-9 reef and Sarasota Sportsman Reef (M-17) off Venice

Reef (artificial) in Sarasota nearshore waters

Draft - not published. This page is only shown while developing. It stays off the live site until its status is changed to published.

NearshoreUpdated October 11, 2026

Depth
60-65 ft
Access
By boat
Best months
March to June, September to December
Species
Gag grouper, Red grouper, Mangrove (gray) snapper, King mackerel (kingfish), Permit, Cobia

The deeper Venice reefs, in federal waters. M-9 is culverts, rubble and limestone boulders (1991) plus five retired M-60 Army tanks (1995), in 63 to 65 feet, 12.7 nautical miles west of Venice Inlet. Sarasota Sportsman Reef (M-17) is 180 reef balls (1995) in 60 feet, 10.4 nautical miles west-southwest of the inlet. NOAA also charts a dangerous wreck in about 63 feet, 11.6 nautical miles west of the inlet and about 1.4 nautical miles northeast of M-9. Farther south, off Manasota Key and past the south end of the water this guide covers, are M-10, an upside-down barge (1987) in 70 feet, and M-11, reef balls (2001) in 69 to 72 feet.

How to fish it

Same routine as Johnson and Fallen Heroes: anchor up-current at a safe distance, fish heavy bottom rigs for grouper and lighter rigs for snapper, and keep a descending device rigged.

Watch out for: 10 to 15 nautical miles offshore. Check the GMZ853 forecast and buoy 42013 before you commit.
Rules here: Federal waters: check NOAA Fisheries' bulletins and FWC's federal-waters page, and carry a descending device. These reefs are south of FWC's 27°04.727' N line, so the Charlotte Harbor rules apply to snook and redfish. The rules to check in Sarasota nearshore waters

Wind and waves

Now and the next 48 hours at M-9 reef and Sarasota Sportsman Reef (M-17) off Venice

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On the map

M-9 reef and Sarasota Sportsman Reef (M-17) off Venice and the places around it

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Position

  • N27° 04.176' W082° 42.101'27.069595, -82.701680

Not for navigation: check it against a current chart before you rely on it.

Places nearby

The closest named places, as the crow flies

Check the rules before you keep a fish. Size limits, bag limits and seasons change, sometimes at short notice. Our "Can you keep it today?" lists give them as of the day we last checked; these are the official pages.