Jeff Purcell Memorial Reef (BA0565)
Artificial reef Bay County, Florida, Gulf side. 3 Prefabricated modules (1 tetrahedron, 15' with internal disk reef, 2 tetrahedrons, 8').
What bites on Jeff Purcell Memorial Reef
Structure in 80 ft on the Gulf coast usually holds: Red snapper, Gag grouper, Red grouper, Mangrove snapper, Triggerfish, Amberjack. 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 Jeff Purcell Memorial Reef
In 80 ft, pay out about 420 ft of rode at 5:1 in calm water, or 588 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 Jeff Purcell Memorial 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 (43 mi).
Nearby reefs
| Reef | Distance | Heading | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| MB-275 Unnamed BA0566 | 0.2 mi | W | 80 ft |
| MB-275 Unnamed BA0526 | 0.2 mi | W | 76 ft |
| Sherman X Tug Boat BA0120 | 0.3 mi | NW | 80 ft |
| MB-175 BA0033 | 0.4 mi | NE | 80 ft |
| MB 199 BA0336 | 0.6 mi | WNW | 77 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.