Kirby Watkins Memorial Reef (BA0524)
Artificial reef Bay County, Florida, Gulf side. 2 Florida Limestone Artifical Reefs, 8'H X 10' triangular base, 5,000 lbs ea.
What bites on Kirby Watkins Memorial Reef
Structure in 84 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 Kirby Watkins Memorial Reef
In 84 ft, pay out about 440 ft of rode at 5:1 in calm water, or 616 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 Kirby Watkins 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 (37 mi).
Nearby reefs
| Reef | Distance | Heading | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| PENN Fishing Reef BA0327 | 0.2 mi | NW | 84 ft |
| PENN Fishing Reef BA0306 | 0.2 mi | NW | 84 ft |
| MB 24 BA0281 | 0.2 mi | SSE | 87 ft |
| 2009-3 BA0233 | 0.4 mi | NNE | 85 ft |
| MB 150 BA0295 | 0.5 mi | SSW | 86 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, and federal rules, since this reef is in federal water. Carry a descending device for reef fish you release.