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BoatFederal Gulf Waters off FloridaRed Snapper · Open

Valparaiso Reef

30.15°N · 86.68°W

Species

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Best score for the day · 3 PM
71/100
FAIR

Now 57 · 10 AM CDT

BEST WINDOW
12 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
0.8 ft ▼
Ebbing
Current
—
Ebb
Wind
18 kn
E · steady
Sea state
Choppy
2 ft @ 5 s SE
Air temp
73°
Warm
Weather
Overcast
73% cloud
Hour 10 AM. Score 57 Fair. Tide 0.8ft Falling ▼. Current -1.5kn Ebb. Wind 18kn E G22. Sea 2 ft @ 5 s SE Choppy. Air 73.4°.

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 Valparaiso Reef

Valparaiso Reef is an artificial reef in federal Gulf waters off Destin, Florida, where the structure concentrates bottom fish and draws pelagic predators. Red Snapper peak from April through July and respond to bottom fishing with cigar minnows, squid, and live pinfish. Greater Amberjack hold tight to the reef in April and May, when live hardtail and live cigar minnows dropped to the structure produce strikes. Gray Snapper peak from May through August, and King Mackerel roam above the reef from April through October, where slow trolling live cigar minnows or live menhaden covers the water column. In the fall, Gag Grouper peak from October through December and take live pinfish and live grunts fished on the bottom, while Red Grouper share the same structure.

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

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