Penhall Reef (ES0087)
Artificial reef Escambia County, Florida, Gulf side. Blackwater Bridge Rubble, 4 Loads Total This Location.
What bites on Penhall Reef
Structure in 92 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 Penhall Reef
In 92 ft, pay out about 480 ft of rode at 5:1 in calm water, or 672 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 Penhall Reef
Pensacola fishing report — today: tides, wind, seas, water temperature and the GO / NO-GO call for inshore and offshore, updated through the day. Also nearby: Orange Beach fishing report (25 mi).
Nearby reefs
| Reef | Distance | Heading | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mara ES0089 | 0.4 mi | W | 95 ft |
| Celia Reef ES0090 | 0.5 mi | SW | 92 ft |
| George Wilkins Reef ES0096 | 0.7 mi | ESE | 90 ft |
| East Lap 'Chemical Courier' SR0009 | 0.7 mi | NE | 95 ft |
| Santa Rosa Marine Resort II SR0011 | 0.7 mi | SSW | 85 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.