Liberty Ship - Thomas Hayward (OK0004)
Artificial reef Okaloosa County, Florida, Gulf side. Liberty Ship, the "Thomas Heyward".
What bites on Liberty Ship - Thomas Hayward
Structure in 87 ft on the Gulf coast usually holds: Red snapper, Gag grouper, Red grouper, Mangrove snapper, Triggerfish, Amberjack. 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 Liberty Ship - Thomas Hayward
In 87 ft, pay out about 455 ft of rode at 5:1 in calm water, or 637 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 Liberty Ship - Thomas Hayward
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: Pensacola fishing report (33 mi).
Nearby reefs
| Reef | Distance | Heading | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| AJ's Bimini OK0065 | 1.4 mi | N | 0 ft |
| NRDA 1Print-02 OK0393 | 3.1 mi | N | 72 ft |
| Starborough Wine Reef OK0375 | 3.1 mi | NNW | 68 ft |
| NRDA 1Print-01 OK0392 | 3.2 mi | NNW | 70 ft |
| Starborough Wine Reef 2023 (S2) OK0383 | 3.2 mi | NNW | 68 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.