Donaldson Reef (MI0006)
Artificial reef Martin County, Florida, Atlantic side. Barge - Settled Upside Down.
What bites on Donaldson Reef
Structure in 65 ft on the South Florida reef tract usually holds: Mutton snapper, Yellowtail snapper, Mangrove snapper, Black grouper, Amberjack, Cobia. 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 Donaldson Reef
In 65 ft, pay out about 345 ft of rode at 5:1 in calm water, or 483 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 Donaldson Reef
Stuart fishing report — today: tides, wind, seas, water temperature and the GO / NO-GO call for inshore and offshore, updated through the day. Also nearby: Fort Pierce fishing report (20 mi).
Nearby reefs
| Reef | Distance | Heading | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donaldson Reef MI0007 | 0.7 mi | SSW | 62 ft |
| Clifton S. Perry Memorial Reef MI0065 | 0.9 mi | SE | 67 ft |
| Donaldson -Fla. Special-Upside-Down Barge MI0059 | 1.1 mi | S | 60 ft |
| LC6-Landing Craft-Guardian Reef MI0032 | 1.1 mi | S | 60 ft |
| Donaldson -Fla. Special-Traffic Barge MI0058 | 1.2 mi | S | 60 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.