Fishermen will have one more offshore area to fish later this summer thanks to a new artificial reef site off the coast of Apalachicola.
The Franklin County Commission this week awarded a contract to Alabama-based Walter Marine to construct and deploy 35 offshore artificial reef modules within a site named the Buddy Ward Memorial Artificial Reef in memory of longtime seafood industry advocate and businessman Olan “Buddy” Ward.
The individual modules within the Ward site will be constructed of concrete and limestone in the shape of pyramids designed with window holes to accommodate fish hiding spots.
The individual pyramid modules will be designed with turtle excluders to protect sea turtles.
The new reef is expected to attract a wide variety of fish such as grouper and snapper along with migratory fish like King mackerel and cobia.
The Ward reef should be particularly popular with local anglers because it will be relatively close and easy to access; the Ward reef will be accessible to even inshore boats on calm days.
Being 100% within state waters also means State licensed captains can take their charters there for the
offshore experience without needing a Federal permit.
The project is expected to be complete by summer.
The Ward memorial site is located within State waters and in sight of St George Island, approximately eight nautical miles offshore in about 40 feet of water.
The Ward reef joins more than 60 artificial reefs already located offshore from the Franklin County shoreline.
Of the 64 reefs offshore of Franklin County, only two are located within the 9-mile state boundaries.
Once deployed, the Ward reef GPS coordinates will be online at the Apalachicola Artificial Reef Association website www.apalachicolareef.org.
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