The Playground Reef

About The Playground Reef

The Playground Reef is an artificial reef in the federal Atlantic waters off Jupiter, Florida, where placed structure holds both bottom dwellers and passing pelagics. King mackerel peak here in March–April and again in October–November, and anglers target them by slow trolling live goggle eyes, blue runners, threadfin herring, or pilchards along the edges of the reef. Wahoo run strongest in April and from September through December and respond to high-speed trolling with bullet-head trolling lures, skirted lures, and diving plugs. Mutton snapper peak from April through June and come up through bottom fishing with live pilchards, cut ballyhoo, squid, or cut bait dropped tight to the structure, while greater amberjack and black grouper also hold on the reef. Dorado move through from March to June and take rigged ballyhoo, skirted ballyhoo, trolling lures, and feathers trolled over and around the site.