Ballast Point Pier (Bay) (HI0003)
Artificial reef Hillsborough County, Florida, Gulf side. Modules of Concrete Pilings, Slabs And Culverts Around Pier.
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 Ballast Point Pier (Bay)
Structure in 8 ft on the Gulf coast usually holds: Sheepshead, Mangrove snapper, Gag grouper, Spanish mackerel, Flounder. 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 Ballast Point Pier (Bay)
In 8 ft, pay out about 60 ft of rode at 5:1 in calm water, or 84 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 Ballast Point Pier (Bay)
Tampa Bay fishing report — today: tides, wind, seas, water temperature and the GO / NO-GO call for inshore and offshore, updated through the day. Also nearby: Clearwater fishing report (22 mi).
Nearby reefs
| Reef | Distance | Heading | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howard Franklin Site (Bay) HI0008 | 4.8 mi | WNW | 16 ft |
| Picnic Island Pier Reef (Bay) HI0005 | 5.0 mi | WSW | 0 ft |
| Port Tampa Reef (Bay) #6 HI0048 | 5.4 mi | WSW | 21 ft |
| Port Tampa Reef (Bay) HI0053 | 5.4 mi | WSW | 24 ft |
| Port Tampa Reef (Bay) HI0049 | 5.5 mi | WSW | 21 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.