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Atlantic tarponCatch & releaseBar · Florida
Walter L Hudson, Junior Artificial Reef
28.32°N · 80.55°W · Bar · Volusia-Brevard County Line to Sebastian Inlet 0-20 nm
Species here · tap to switch
- Best of all65
- Atlantic tarpon65
- Gray snapper65
- King mackerel63
- Atlantic croaker62
- Common snook61
- Red snapper59
- Summer flounder59
- Red drum58
- Gray triggerfish57
- Black drum56
- Black sea bass56
- Crevalle jack56
- Red grouper55
- Spot55
- Southern flounder54
- Spanish mackerel53
- Greater amberjack50
- Florida pompano49
- Sheepshead49
- Weakfish48
- Cobia46
- Spotted seatrout46
- Little tunny45
- Mahi-mahi45
- Wahoo43
- Bluefish35
- Sailfish35
- Yellowfin tuna35
- Gag grouper20
Best score today · 9 AM · Gray snapper
- Now
- 651 AM EDT
- Best window
- 7-11 AMEbb tide
- Tide now
- Flooding1.4 ft ▲
Data from: NOAA CO-OPS + NDBC + ECMWF + Open-Meteo Marine · Waterlands engine
Notify me when Walter L Hudson, Junior Artificial Reef scores 75+
Checked every morning against the 14-day forecast. Free by push and email.
14-day forecast
Best days to fish
24-hour conditions · rolling from now
Conditions · 1 AM · now
Tide & current
NOAA CO-OPS + Open-Meteo Marine
46Tide: FloodingCurrent: WeakWind & pressure
ECMWF
93Wind: 2 kt SSWPressure: SteadyWater temp & sky
NDBC + Open-Meteo Marine
81Water temp: 83°F, primeLight: NightSolunar: Between periodsSeas: 0.7 ftSeason & habitat · Gray snapper
Species seasonality
88Season: PeakHabitat: Usable structureDepth: In rangeRegulations: Retention open
Current regulations
What you can keep here today
Atlantic state waters (Nassau through Miami-Dade counties)
Tarpon
Catch & release- Daily limit
- No retention
- Possession
- Not published
- Size
- Not published
- Season
- No closed season on file
- Annual quota
- Not published
- Other
- Tarpon over 40 inches must stay in the water. Special gear rules apply year-round in Boca Grande Pass. Hook and line only. No snagging, snatch hooking, spearing, or multiple hooks with natural bait. Applies in state and federal waters of the Gulf and Atlantic.
From FWC Recreational Regulations: Tarpon, read Sep 13
Other species here
- Atlantic croaker Retention open (50 per day)
- Black drum Retention open (5 per day)
- Bluefish Retention open (3 per day)
- Bonefish Catch & release (No retention)
- Cobia Retention open (1 per day)
- Crevalle jack Retention open
- Florida pompano Retention open (6 per day)
- Gag grouper Closed (No retention)
- Gray snapper Retention open (5 per day (10 snapper combined))
- Gray triggerfish Retention open (10 per day)
- Greater amberjack Retention open (1 per day)
- King mackerel Retention open (2 per day)
- Mahi-mahi Retention open (5 per day)
- Permit Retention open (2 per day)
- Red drum Catch & release (No retention)
- Red grouper Retention open (3 per day (3 Atlantic grouper and tilefish combined))
- Red snapper Check regulations
- Sailfish Retention open (1 per day (1 billfish combined))
- Sheepshead Retention open (8 per day)
- Snook Retention open (1 per day)
- Southern flounder Retention open (5 per day)
- Spanish mackerel Retention open (15 per day)
- Spot Retention open (50 per day)
- Spotted seatrout Retention open (2 per day)
- Summer flounder Retention open (5 per day)
- Wahoo Retention open (2 per day)
Source: FWC · synced yesterday
Seasonality · 52-week view · this week ringed
When Atlantic tarpon is best here
Peak season for Atlantic tarpon · 1 more week at peak
- Peak
- Shoulder
- Off
- Not here
- This week
Spot profile
Walter L Hudson, Junior Artificial Reef
- Depth
- 40-45 ftFlat bottom
- Structure
- Reef · Outer · ExposedReef · flat bottom
- Season
- Peak seasonAtlantic tarpon
NOAA NCEI DEM, sampled Sep 13 on a 3.4 m grid. Depths are feet below NAVD 88, not chart datum (MLLW), so they can differ from a chart by a few feet. Not for navigation.
About this spot
Fishing Walter L Hudson, Junior Artificial Reef
Walter L Hudson, Junior Artificial Reef is a bar in Volusia-Brevard County Line to Sebastian Inlet 0-20 nm, Florida. Depth is 40-45 ft, with a flat bottom. Its profile reads reef, outer water and exposed.
Waterlands scores 29 species here; the best right now are Atlantic tarpon, gray snapper and king mackerel. It is peak season now for Atlantic tarpon, gray snapper, king mackerel and Atlantic croaker, and shoulder season for red snapper, gray triggerfish, black drum and black sea bass. Atlantic tarpon peak from July through September. Gray snapper peak from June through September. King mackerel peak in May and from September through October.
Tackle & technique
- Atlantic tarpon
- Tarpon roll along beaches, in passes and channels, and under bridges from late spring through fall, and in South Florida some fish stay through winter in warm canals and backcountry rivers. Live crabs, mullet or pinfish drifted through a pass on the outgoing tide, or a fly or soft plastic cast ahead of a rolling string of fish, are the main approaches. Use a long heavy leader, bow to the jumps, and keep big fish in the water for release.
- Gray snapper
- Mangrove snapper hold tight to mangrove roots, bridge pilings, jetties and reef ledges, from a few feet deep inshore to 150 feet offshore. Chum to pull them out of cover, then freeline or lightly weight a live shrimp or pilchard on fluorocarbon leader, since they shy away from heavy line in clear water. The bite improves at dusk and after dark.
- King mackerel
- Kings roam from beaches and pier ends out to reefs, wrecks and ledges in 40 to 200 feet, usually feeding in the upper half of the water column. Slow-troll live menhaden, blue runners or cigar minnows on a light wire stinger rig, or pull spoons and ribbonfish past bait schools. Look for clean green water above 68 F with bait and birds on it.
Nearby spots
Other spots within an easy run
- Sprig Point71
Cape · 4.7 mi
Top: Atlantic tarponPeak season- Atlantic tarpon 71
- Red drum 69
- Common snook 68
2 kt SSWH 5:40 AM · 3.9 ftL 12:03 PM · 0.9 ft
- Shortys Pocket69
Bay · 4.1 mi
Top: Atlantic croakerPeak season- Atlantic croaker 69
- Common snook 68
- Spot 67
2 kt SSWH 5:40 AM · 3.9 ftL 12:03 PM · 0.9 ft
- Shortys Banks68
Bar · 4.6 mi
Top: Common snookPeak season- Common snook 68
- Atlantic tarpon 66
- Atlantic croaker 64
2 kt SSWH 5:40 AM · 3.9 ftL 12:03 PM · 0.9 ft
- Shell Point68
Cape · 5.0 mi
Top: Common snookPeak season- Common snook 68
- Atlantic tarpon 65
- Atlantic croaker 63
2 kt SSWH 5:44 AM · 3.4 ftL 11:48 AM · 0.9 ft
Scores and forecasts are for planning only and can be wrong. Conditions on the water change fast; check the marine forecast before you go. Regulations change during the season, so confirm limits and closures with FWC before you keep a fish.