Thanks in part to a grant from the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conversation Commission and the donation of secondary concrete materials, St. Lucie County made three successful artificial reef deployments this summer. More than 1,500 tons of concrete poles and culverts were placed in roughly 62 feet of water by McCulley Marine Services several miles offshore just north of the Fort Pierce Inlet near several other artificial reefs.
The official GPS coordinates for this new reef are: 27*31.884, 80*10.710.
Post-deployment dives of the new reef site have revealed schooling baitfish and several species in the Snapper-Grouper Complex. Artificial reefs in this permitted site have supported numerous grouper and snapper species, snook, cobia and amberjack, plus loggerhead turtles and abundant schools of baitfish. The new reef is made up concrete materials such culverts and bridge slabs donated from many different local and statewide businesses and contractors.
Since its reinstatement in 2005, St. Lucie County’s Artificial Reef Program has spared more than 20,000 tons of clean concrete and steel from the landfill, while at the same time creating nearly 50 underwater habitats for marine life, fishermen and divers to enjoy. Reports from divers indicate that the reefs are providing habitat for more than 100 species of fish, including adult snapper and grouper, snook, sharks and other fishes as well as baitfish and juvenile fishes.
For more information about St. Lucie County’s artificial reef program visit: http://www.stlucieco.gov/mosquito/reefs.htm or contact St. Lucie County Coastal Resources Supervisor Jim Oppenborn at 772-462-1713 or oppenbornj@stlucieco.org.
St. Lucie County is conveniently located on Florida’s east coast between West Palm Beach and Orlando. Fishermen will find plenty of action from the shallow waters of the Indian River to the deepwater catches in the Atlantic Ocean, which can be easily navigated through the Fort Pierce Inlet. Divers and spearfishermen can enjoy wreck and reef diving in depths ranging from 15 to 150 feet. In addition to the variety of species found in St. Lucie County (cobia, red drum, sailfish, dolphin, grouper, snapper, spiny lobster), the area features plenty of free and affordable boat ramps, fishing piers, marinas and charter fishing outlets, as well as 21 miles of coastline with nearly two dozen public access sites.
St. Lucie County is comprised of Fort Pierce, Port St. Lucie and Hutchinson Island. For more information about St. Lucie County’s boater friendly and other accommodations visit www.visitstluciefla.com or call 1-800-344-8443.