Buddy Morgan Reef (OK0536)
Artificial reef Okaloosa County, Florida, Gulf side. 60' x 22' x 9' Steel barge and motor grader.
What bites on Buddy Morgan Reef
Structure in 115 ft on the Gulf coast usually holds: Red snapper, Red grouper, Vermilion snapper, Amberjack, Scamp. 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 Buddy Morgan Reef
In 115 ft, pay out about 595 ft of rode at 5:1 in calm water, or 833 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 Buddy Morgan Reef
Destin fishing report — today: tides, wind, seas, water temperature and the GO / NO-GO call for inshore and offshore, updated through the day. Also nearby: Panama City Beach fishing report (31 mi).
Nearby reefs
| Reef | Distance | Heading | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnacle Reef #14 OK0119 | 0.2 mi | ENE | 115 ft |
| Barnacle Reef #6 OK0111 | 0.3 mi | N | 109 ft |
| Barnacle Reef #13 OK0118 | 0.3 mi | SE | 118 ft |
| Barnacle Reef #7 OK0112 | 0.3 mi | WNW | 106 ft |
| Barnacle Reef #11 OK0116 | 0.4 mi | S | 114 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.