Picnic Island Reef (Bay) (HI0002)
Artificial reef Hillsborough County, Florida, Gulf side. 830 Cubic Yards of Concrete And Misc. Fittings..
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 Picnic Island Reef (Bay)
Structure in 26 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 Picnic Island Reef (Bay)
In 26 ft, pay out about 150 ft of rode at 5:1 in calm water, or 210 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 Picnic Island Reef (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 (19 mi).
Nearby reefs
| Reef | Distance | Heading | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Picnic Island Pier Reef (Bay) HI0005 | 1.7 mi | NNE | 0 ft |
| Port Tampa Reef (Bay) HI0016 | 1.9 mi | N | 24 ft |
| Port Tampa Site (Bay) HI0014 | 1.9 mi | N | 24 ft |
| Chief Reef (Bay) HI0012 | 1.9 mi | N | 24 ft |
| Chamberlain High School (Bay) HI0010 | 1.9 mi | N | 19 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.