- Depth
- 16-17 ft
- Access
- By boat
- Best months
- February to May, September to November
- Species
- Sheepshead, Mangrove (gray) snapper, Spanish mackerel, Gag grouper
The shallowest Gulf-side reef FWC lists in the area, 0.7 to 0.9 nautical mile northwest of Longboat Pass off Coquina Beach. It's Skyway Bridge spans from 1993 in 16 feet, plus two December 2011 limestone-boulder deployments in 17 feet with about 7 feet of relief.
How to fish it
Anchor up-current at a safe distance from the material. Fish shrimp, sand fleas or fiddler crabs on the bottom by the rocks for sheepshead from February to April, and look for Spanish mackerel and snapper in spring and fall.
Watch out for: It's close to the Longboat Pass bar, which breaks when the wind opposes the current. Use the marked channel out of the pass, remembering the Coast Pilot's warning that it shifts.
Rules here: State waters. Gulf reef fish gear rules apply: circle hooks with natural bait, a dehooking tool, and a descending device or venting tool. The rules to check in Sarasota nearshore waters