Thunderbolt (MO0030)
Artificial reef Monroe County, Florida, Atlantic side. 188' Navy Cable Vessel, the "USS Thunderbolt".
What bites on Thunderbolt
Structure in 118 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 Thunderbolt
In 118 ft, pay out about 610 ft of rode at 5:1 in calm water, or 854 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 Thunderbolt
Marathon fishing report — today: tides, wind, seas, water temperature and the GO / NO-GO call for inshore and offshore, updated through the day. Also nearby: Islamorada fishing report (28 mi).
Nearby reefs
| Reef | Distance | Heading | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marathon Reef Site MO0040 | 0.5 mi | SSE | 100 ft |
| Marathon Reef MO0045 | 1.3 mi | SSE | 115 ft |
| Marathon Reef MO0013 | 1.3 mi | SSE | 115 ft |
| Long Key Reef #1 MO0031 | 9.8 mi | ENE | 26 ft |
| Long Key Reef #2 MO0035 | 9.8 mi | ENE | 26 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.