Mercedes (BO0023)
Artificial reef Broward County, Florida, Atlantic side. 197' Steel Freighter, the "Mercedes".
The state lists this mark as low-accuracy. Use it to get close, then find the structure on your sounder before you anchor.
What bites on Mercedes
Structure in 97 ft on the South Florida reef tract usually holds: Mutton snapper, Yellowtail snapper, Mangrove snapper, Black grouper, Amberjack, Cobia. 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 Mercedes
In 97 ft, pay out about 505 ft of rode at 5:1 in calm water, or 707 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 Mercedes
Fort Lauderdale fishing report — today: tides, wind, seas, water temperature and the GO / NO-GO call for inshore and offshore, updated through the day. Also nearby: Miami fishing report (27 mi).
Nearby reefs
| Reef | Distance | Heading | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Michael Baker Memorial Reef BO0120 | 0.3 mi | WNW | 70 ft |
| John Michael Baker Memorial Reef - Phase IV BO0127 | 0.3 mi | WNW | 70 ft |
| John Michael Baker Memorial Reef (Phase II) BO0122 | 0.3 mi | WNW | 70 ft |
| Dragon Reef BO0124 | 0.3 mi | WNW | 70 ft |
| Jay Scutti BO0033 | 0.3 mi | NW | 67 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.