1,500 TONS OF MATERIALS DEPLOYED TO PROMOTE FISH HABITATS, RECREATION

The St. Lucie County Artificial Reef Program is dedicated to creating additional recreational destinations for boaters on the Treasure Coast. Over the last 18 years, the program has made 68 artificial reef deployments resulting in 57 new recreational destinations.

Reef design is important and follows the recommendations of the Program’s advisory committee. Many of the reefs the County has deployed have consisted of one or two barges of concrete materials. At 500 tons of materials per barge, reefs can be either 500, 1,000 or 1,500 tons. The County also made 166-ton reefs (3 reefs per barge) as ancillary reefs to the CCA -Curtis Bostick Reef. This summer, 1,500 tons of materials were deployed in separate 500-ton piles separated by 25 feet of sand bottom between each pile. This was done to test the effect of having a sand/hard bottom habitat on fish assemblages. Observations of schooling lemon sharks (Negaprion brevirotris) and mutton snapper (Lutjanus analis) on sand bottom adjacent to two of the County’s artificial reefs led to this design.

Subject to confirmation by postdeployment dives, the new reefs were deployed on April 22, May 2, and May 10 at 27o31.3652’N, 80o11.1431’W, 27o31.2525’N, 80o11.1295’W, and at 27o31.2393’N, 80o11.1427’W, respectively. The reefs consist of a variety of structures such as drainage structures from American Concrete Industries and building footers from the H.D. King power plant. Fish assemblages on these reefs, deployed at 55-foot depths, are likely to include blue runners (Caranx crysos), snook

(Centropmus undecimalis), kingfish (Scomberomorus cavalla), various snapper species, and Goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara). Yellowtail snapper (Onchorhycus chrysurus), black seabass (Centropristis striata), and tomtates (Haemulon aurolineatum) have also been recorded around these reefs.

The County deploys shallow reef as well as deeper reefs to maximize the boats that can use the reefs. This year’s reefs were deployed within recreational dive limits (z=50-60 feet) to provide opportunities for smaller boats and divers with open water certifications. Boats deployed in the last 2 years were all deployed deeper than 150 feet to ensure their stability. These vessels reefs include the Blake Charron Foundation Reef (85-foot Tug Singleton), Aftersome Reef (420foot hopper barge), Captain Patrick Price Reef (97-foot M/V Last One), and the Daymaker Charters Reef (65-foot Spirit of Palm Beach). In addition, the A.A. Hendry Reef (127foot M/V Time) will be deployed by the Marine Cleanup Initiative (MCII) after the writing of this article.

The St. Lucie County Artificial Reef Program has begun partnering with the MCAC Artificial Reef Fund and MCII, two 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations, to deploy vessels on the Fort Pierce Sportfishing Club Artificial Reef Site, roughly equidistant from the St. Lucie Inlet and the Fort Pierce Inlet. MCAC found the Last One, Spirit of Palm Beach, and Time, while MCII has had events to raise the visibility of these deployments.

Like most of St. Lucie County’s artificial reefs, funding for the three reefs came primarily from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Artificial Reef Division. Additional funding has also been pledged by the Blake Charron Foundation. This foundation paid for the 2021 deployment of the Tug Singleton, now known as the Blake Charron Foundation Reef. Because this reef was deployed in waters too deep for recreational diving, the Blake Charron Foundation wanted to create a reef in shallower waters and has pledged funds to deploy a fourth 500-ton reef. If completed, this reef would be deployed at 27o31.226’N, 80o11.156’W. This would create a long row of reefs that could be used for both drift fishing and drift diving. rod and reel combo.

To learn more about the St. Lucie County Artificial Reef Program efforts to create additional recreational destinations or to learn about the program’s other projects to create fish habitat, contact Jim Oppenborn at oppenbornj@stlucieco.org or (772) 462-1713.

The junior angler this year was Kaiya Jones, who caught a healthy 20.70 pound kingfish on the Slab Grabber with the guidance of her dad Dustin Jones and Capt. Richard Strickland. Kaiya was awarded a kayak.

This year’s Blue Water Open saw a lot of big kingfish, grouper, and wahoo. Between the main board and the bonus board, 8 kingfish took home winnings, ranging in size from 35.10 pounds to 20.70 pounds, and 12 grouper placed, ranging from 42.46 pounds to 26.37 pounds.

The Blue Water Open Chairperson, Michelle Morris stated, “A big thank you to sponsors, fishermen and volunteers for making this tournament such a success. We are so fortunate to have a generous community. With their help we will be able to continue funding child abuse prevention and many other local community programs.”

All the funds raised by this event are distributed to local charities, with a focus on the prevention of child abuse, Americanism, youth activities and community service. The Sebastian Exchange Club meets every Wednesday, except the first Wednesday of each month, at noon at Capt. Hiram’s Resort. Anyone interested in getting involved in the community is welcome to attend.

For more information and photos, visit www.bluewateropen.com.