Key West Tournament Reef (MO0018)
Artificial reef Monroe County, Florida, Atlantic side. 260' Ship L.S.M.R..
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 Key West Tournament Reef
Structure in 180 ft on the South Florida reef tract usually holds: Black grouper, Mutton snapper, Amberjack, Vermilion snapper, Kingfish on the troll. 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 Key West Tournament Reef
In 180 ft, pay out about 920 ft of rode at 5:1 in calm water, or 1288 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 Key West Tournament Reef
Key West fishing report — today: tides, wind, seas, water temperature and the GO / NO-GO call for inshore and offshore, updated through the day. Also nearby: Marathon fishing report (46 mi).
Nearby reefs
| Reef | Distance | Heading | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Key West Tournament Reef MO0020 | 4 yd | N | 184 ft |
| Cayman Salvage Master MO0024 | 0.3 mi | E | 92 ft |
| USS Curb MO0016 | 1.2 mi | S | 185 ft |
| Key West Tournament Reef MO0048 | 1.9 mi | SSE | 205 ft |
| Joe's Tug MO0053 | 2.2 mi | ENE | 65 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.