How to fish it
A sheltered shallow reef for a light-tackle day: chum lightly for yellowtail and mangroves, and drag a shrimp across the sand patches for hogfish in season.
Tide station: Plantation Key, Hawk Channel. See today's tides and currents on the conditions page, or open this spot on the map.
What you can catch here
Yellowtail snapper
12" total length minimum; up to 10 per person within the 10-snapper aggregate; open year-round. Reef fish gear rules apply.- Bait
- Silversides, cut ballyhoo or live pilchards drifted back in a steady chum slick
- Tackle
- 7 ft light spinning rod, 2500–3000 reel, 10–15 lb line
- Rig
- 8–15 ft of 12–20 lb fluorocarbon; #1–1/0 non-stainless circle hook; little or no weight so the bait sinks with the chum
Mangrove (gray) snapper
10" total length minimum and 5 per person within the 10-snapper aggregate in state waters (12" and 10 per person in federal waters); open year-round. Reef fish gear rules apply.- Bait
- Live shrimp, pilchards or small pinfish; cut ballyhoo or squid, with chum to bring them up
- Tackle
- 7 ft medium-light spinning rod, 3000–4000 reel, 15–20 lb braid
- Rig
- 3–4 ft of 20–30 lb fluorocarbon (they are leader-shy); 1/0–2/0 non-stainless circle hook on a knocker or split-shot rig
Hogfish
16" fork length minimum; 1 per person per day; open May 1 – Oct 31 (closed Nov 1 – Apr 30); the same in federal waters. Reef fish gear rules apply.- Bait
- Live shrimp or small crabs, right on the bottom
- Tackle
- 7 ft light-to-medium spinning rod, 3000 reel, 15–20 lb braid
- Rig
- 3 ft of 20–30 lb fluorocarbon; #1–1/0 non-stainless circle hook on a knocker rig with just enough weight to hold bottom
Grouper (black & red)
Black and gag 24", red 20" total length minimum; 3 grouper per person per day with only 1 gag or black among them; black and red closed Jan 1 – Apr 30. Gag is closed from Aug 2, 2026 by FWC executive order (normally open May 1 – Aug 1). Reef fish gear rules and the State Reef Fish Angler designation apply.- Bait
- Live pinfish, grunts, blue runners or pilchards; whole or cut ballyhoo, mackerel or bonito
- Tackle
- Short, stout 50–80 lb conventional outfit with 65–80 lb braid and the drag locked down
- Rig
- 4–6 ft of 80–100 lb fluorocarbon; 7/0–9/0 non-stainless circle hook; 4–16 oz sliding sinker
Mutton snapper
18" total length minimum; 5 per person within the 10-snapper aggregate; open year-round. Reef fish gear rules apply.- Bait
- Live pilchards, ballyhoo or pinfish; a ballyhoo plug (head and tail cut off) or a squid strip on the bottom
- Tackle
- 7 ft medium spinning rod, 4000–5000 reel, 20–30 lb braid
- Rig
- 6–15 ft of 30–40 lb fluorocarbon; 4/0–6/0 non-stainless circle hook; 1–4 oz sliding sinker
Access
- Fished by
- Charter a boat; Bring your own boat
- Skill
- Beginner
- Position
- About 24.9847, -80.4161 (FKNMS mooring buoy "Pickles Reef 1" (2014 buoy list, 24° 59.085' N, 80° 24.965' W)).
- Use the mooring buoys; no anchoring on coral.
- Reef fish gear rules apply.
Not for navigation. Positions are approximate. Use official charts, watch your depth and respect private property and posted signs.