Palm Island Barge Reef (CH0015)
Artificial reef Charlotte County, Florida, Gulf side. 70' X 23' X 8' Steel Barge & 30 Pieces of Concrete & 1' X 40' Steel Spuds.
What bites on Palm Island Barge Reef
Structure in 56 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 Palm Island Barge Reef
In 56 ft, pay out about 300 ft of rode at 5:1 in calm water, or 420 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 Palm Island Barge Reef
Boca Grande fishing report — today: tides, wind, seas, water temperature and the GO / NO-GO call for inshore and offshore, updated through the day. Also nearby: Sarasota fishing report (36 mi).
Nearby reefs
| Reef | Distance | Heading | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Island Ferry Reef CH0012 | 134 yd | WNW | 55 ft |
| Palm Island Ferry Limestone CH0041 | 150 yd | WSW | 61 ft |
| Phoenix 1 LE0127 | 5.5 mi | SE | 51 ft |
| North Reef LE0121 | 6.0 mi | SE | 50 ft |
| Charlotte's Reef-Rock (N2) LE0092 | 6.0 mi | SE | 50 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.