Billy's Barge (DA0075)
Artificial reef Miami-Dade County, Florida, Atlantic side. 100' Steel Barge, the "Billy's Barge".
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 Billy's Barge
Structure in 48 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 Billy's Barge
In 48 ft, pay out about 260 ft of rode at 5:1 in calm water, or 364 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 Billy's Barge
Miami 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 Lauderdale fishing report (22 mi).
Nearby reefs
| Reef | Distance | Heading | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete Pipe DA0074 | 64 yd | NW | 51 ft |
| Shamrock DA0045 | 94 yd | SW | 44 ft |
| Cote Reef DA0088 | 0.1 mi | NW | 45 ft |
| Lands End and the Mary Ann I DA0041 | 0.2 mi | NNW | 46 ft |
| Coquina DA0070 | 0.2 mi | NNW | 44 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.