MD-1 Reef

Reef (artificial) in Sarasota offshore waters

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

OffshoreUpdated October 11, 2026

Depth
68-78 ft
Access
By boat
Best months
March to June, September to December
Species
Red grouper, Gag grouper, Mangrove (gray) snapper, Greater amberjack, King mackerel (kingfish), Cobia

Two vessels sunk as reef in 1991 in 78 feet: an upside-down barge (FWC says about 30 percent deteriorated) with concrete rubble, and an 80-foot concrete-filled hopper barge that FWC says has shrimp nets tangled all over it. It's 18.8 nautical miles west-southwest of Big Sarasota Pass, 19.1 from New Pass, 19.9 from Longboat Pass and 22.4 from Venice Inlet, right at the inner edge of the offshore forecast zone and almost on a straight line from Big Pass to D-6. FWC's 1989 bottom map shows about 3.8 square kilometres of hard bottom just west of the barges, and the USF buoy 42013 is about 2 nautical miles west-northwest, so its wind and water temperature describe conditions right here.

How to fish it

Check buoy 42013 before you commit to the run. Fish bottom baits on the barge and rubble for grouper and snapper, and live baits near the surface when kingfish or cobia show. Work the mapped hard bottom west of the barges with the sounder as well. Drop a descending device with released reef fish.

Watch out for: About 19 nautical miles out: build in a fuel and weather margin. The nets on the hopper foul anchors and tackle, and the Coast Pilot advises caution anchoring near fish havens.
Rules here: Federal waters: federal Gulf reef fish rules, FWC's State Reef Fish Angler designation, and non-stainless circle hooks with natural bait plus a dehooking tool. FWC still lists a descending device or venting tool; the federal requirement lapsed in January 2026 while NOAA works on continuing it, so carry one rigged and ready. The rules to check in Sarasota offshore waters

Wind and waves

Now and the next 48 hours at MD-1 Reef

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On the map

MD-1 Reef and the places around it

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Position

  • N27° 09.691' W082° 53.062'27.161512, -82.884363

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.