South 3 Mile Reef (ME0016)
Artificial reef Manatee County, Florida, Gulf side. 3rd of Five Loads.
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 South 3 Mile Reef
Structure in 30 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 South 3 Mile Reef
In 30 ft, pay out about 170 ft of rode at 5:1 in calm water, or 238 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 South 3 Mile Reef
Sarasota fishing report — today: tides, wind, seas, water temperature and the GO / NO-GO call for inshore and offshore, updated through the day. Also nearby: Tampa Bay fishing report (23 mi).
Nearby reefs
| Reef | Distance | Heading | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| South 3 Mile Reef ME0018 | 4 yd | S | 30 ft |
| South 3 Mile Reef ME0013 | 6 yd | SE | 30 ft |
| South 3 Mile Reef ME0015 | 7 yd | SW | 30 ft |
| 3 Mile South Reef, Site D ME0020 | 51 yd | NE | 30 ft |
| 3 Mile South Reef, Site 'D'-01-13 ME0049 | 53 yd | S | 31 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.