Bill Cranford Reef (BA0345)
Artificial reef Bay County, Florida, Gulf side. 5 Florida Limestone Modules.
What bites on Bill Cranford Reef
Structure in 23 ft on the Gulf coast usually holds: Sheepshead, Mangrove snapper, Gag grouper, Spanish mackerel, Flounder. What is actually biting changes with the season, water temperature and tide — the day's plan for this reef has the bite window and what to target that day.
Anchoring on Bill Cranford Reef
In 23 ft, pay out about 135 ft of rode at 5:1 in calm water, or 189 ft at 7:1 when it's blowing. Drop the anchor up-drift of the structure by about the same distance and fall back onto it. Before you drop, kill the engine for 60 seconds and watch your GPS track — that's your real drift, and it beats any forecast.
Today's fishing report near Bill Cranford Reef
Panama City Beach fishing report — today: tides, wind, seas, water temperature and the GO / NO-GO call for inshore and offshore, updated through the day. Also nearby: Apalachicola fishing report (33 mi).
Nearby reefs
| Reef | Distance | Heading | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| MB 214 BA0396 | 0.2 mi | N | 22 ft |
| MB 214 BA0343 | 0.2 mi | N | 21 ft |
| Bell Shoal BA0159 | 0.3 mi | SSE | 21 ft |
| MB 213 BA0395 | 0.3 mi | WNW | 23 ft |
| MB 213 BA0342 | 0.3 mi | WNW | 24 ft |
Before you go
Size limits, bag limits and seasons change — check the current Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) rules for the day you fish. Carry a descending device for reef fish you release.