ReelCaster
Back to map
BoatFederal Gulf Waters off FloridaRed Snapper · Open

MC Kay Reef

30.07°N · 87.07°W

Species

tap to switch species
Best score for the day · 11 AM
62/100
FAIR

Now 59 · 12 PM CDT

BEST WINDOW
7 AM-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
Sun
Nov 1
Sun
Nov 1
Mon
Nov 2
Tue
Nov 3
Wed
Nov 4
Thu
Nov 5
Fri
Nov 6
Sat
Nov 7
Sun
Nov 8
Mon
Nov 9
Tue
Nov 10
Wed
Nov 11
Thu
Nov 12

24-Hour Conditions

All times CDT

Tap or drag to read any hour

Conditions
Time
12 PM
Now
Score
59
Fair
Tide
0.2 ft ▼
Ebbing
Current
—
Ebb
Wind
18 kn
ESE · steady
Sea state
Choppy
2 ft @ 5 s SE
Air temp
74°
Warm
Weather
Overcast
100% cloud
Hour 12 PM. Score 59 Fair. Tide 0.2ft Falling ▼. Current -1.3kn Ebb. Wind 18kn ESE G21. Sea 2 ft @ 5 s SE Choppy. Air 74.5°.

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 fall season, Fri-Sun only. 2 per person within snapper aggregate; charter captain and crew zero. Private vessels only in federal waters.
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 MC Kay Reef

MC Kay Reef is an artificial reef in federal Gulf waters south of Pensacola, Florida, where placed structure holds both bottom dwellers and pelagic predators. Red Snapper peak from April through August and respond to bottom fishing with cut bait, squid, live pinfish, or cigar minnows dropped tight to the structure, while Gray Snapper overlap from May through August on live shrimp and cut bait. Greater Amberjack crowd the reef in April and May and take live hardtails and live cigar minnows, and vertical jigging with butterfly jigs and speed jigs works when they stack high in the water column. King Mackerel patrol the area from April through October, and slow trolling live cigar minnows or live menhaden along the reef edges draws strikes from fish suspended above the structure. In the fall, Gag Grouper peak from October through December and hold close to the reef for bottom fishing with live pinfish or frozen sardines, and Red Grouper round out the bottom species found here.

CUSTOM ALERT
Notify me when MC Kay Reef scores 75+
Email free · SMS available with Reelcaster Pro
Got questions?

MC Kay Reef is one of the spots we track around Pensacola. More spots in Pensacola · All of Florida.

Looking for the full interactive map? Open Explore.