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BoatFederal Gulf Waters off FloridaRed Snapper · Open

USAF Big Dawg Reef

30.15°N · 86.57°W

Species

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Best score for the day · 3 PM
74/100
FAIR

Now 57 · 10 AM CDT

BEST WINDOW
1 PM-7 PM
Tide ebbing
FWC · Federal Gulf Waters off Florida · Red Snapper openRegulations ↗2 per day · min 16" · Reef fish gear requirements apply

14-Day Forecast

Data from: ECMWF + GFS + BlueCaster
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24-Hour Conditions

All times CDT

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Conditions
Time
10 AM
Now
Score
57
Fair
Tide
0.9 ft ▼
Ebbing
Current
—
Ebb
Wind
18 kn
E · steady
Sea state
Choppy
2.5 ft @ 5 s SE
Air temp
73°
Warm
Weather
Overcast
88% cloud
Hour 10 AM. Score 57 Fair. Tide 0.9ft Falling ▼. Current -1.5kn Ebb. Wind 18kn E G22. Sea 2.5 ft @ 5 s SE Choppy. Air 73.0°.

Why this score

Current
Slack
Prime

Current regulations

In effect now

What you can keep at this spot today

Red Snapper
Retention open
Daily limit
2 per day
Possession
Not published
Size
Minimum 16"
Gear
Reef fish gear requirements apply
Annual quota
Not published
Other
2026 Fri., Sat., Sun. 16 in TL. Within 10 snapper aggregate; charter captain and crew zero.
Season
Oct 30 to Nov 1
Other species here
Gag Grouper ClosedKing Mackerel Rules not loaded yet · Check FWC ↗Red Grouper Retention openGray Snapper Retention openGreater Amberjack Closed
Always check with FWC ↗

Source: FWC · Federal Gulf Waters off Florida · synced today

Seasonality

52-week view · today highlighted

When Red Snapper is best at this spot

ClosedRed Snapper is closed here right now
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Peak seasonShoulder seasonOff seasonClosed

SPOT PROFILE

DEPTH
—
STRUCTURE
Artificial Reef

About USAF Big Dawg Reef

USAF Big Dawg Reef is an artificial reef in federal Gulf waters off Destin, Florida, where placed structure concentrates reef fish and pelagic predators. Greater Amberjack peak in April and May, Red Snapper run strongest from April through July, and Gray Snapper hold on the reef from May through August, with Red Grouper also present among the bottom species. Bottom fishing over the structure with live pinfish, cigar minnows, or squid takes Red Snapper and Gray Snapper, while live hardtail and live vermilion snapper sent down to the reef draw amberjack. King Mackerel patrol the water column from April through October and respond to slow trolling with live cigar minnows, live menhaden, or live blue runners around the reef's edges. In the cooler months Gag Grouper take over, peaking from October through December on live pinfish, live grunts, and butterfly jigs worked tight to the structure.

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USAF Big Dawg Reef is one of the spots we track around Destin. More spots in Destin · All of Florida.

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