Homemade artificial reef

Briguy · #1 03-05-2008, 05:33 PM

Would shopping carts or washing machines make good grouper reef structure?
Thanks!

wavelength · #2 03-05-2008, 06:12 PM

Brian, I've used washers and dryers and would love to get my hands on old shopping carts but I haven't found any and don't want to steal them. As I travel everything I see may have some reef material value. Toilets, sinks, bathtubs, grills, cinder blocks you get the idea. As for taking stuff out I go before daylight so people and the man don't see you.

As for the "man" and once being the "man" he has to see you putting it in the water for it to be litter. If asked what your doing with that stuff in your boat answer "I'm going to the ramp here's my life jackets and registration sir".

The larger stuff I cut holes and the lids off.

NoBones · #3 03-05-2008, 06:47 PM

Having a lot of experience with artifical reefs
(10 years Volusia County Port Authority)
As well as doing my own habitats.
55 gallon drums do OK but they only last
at best 4 years. Likewise with washers, dryers etc.
Check with your local sign company, alot of times
they have big old signs and usually give them to you.
As Matt said the "Man" has gotten real strict
on this sort of thing..
No matter what you deposit just keep adding each time you go. Within 24 hrs life is already there..

Good Luck, Ken

PS: We can go into details at Long Point.

Finster · #4 03-05-2008, 11:33 PM

Yeah, I hear you FL boys do real good with tires too.

Washers and dryers???

This is what we use....

NoBones · #5 03-06-2008, 12:24 AM

Yeah, OK Finny!!
Looks like you did a fine job with the SS Minnow

If you want to see what the big dog's do...
Check these out..

From Culvert pipes, A6 Intruders, 650ft Mindanao and the 160 ft Rio Yuna, tugs, barges you name it..

Satisfied

BTW: How is the cement shoe Jimmy Hoffa reef doing these days????

See ya, Ken

Link to Reef Sites Daytona Beach, FL.

Bushwacker · #6 03-06-2008, 12:29 AM

Don't forget the Rolls Royce on the Palm Beach Reef!

Finster · #7 03-06-2008, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Looks like you did a fine job with the SS Minnow
If you want to see what the big dog's do...
Check these out..
From Culvert pipes, A6 Intruders, 650ft Mindanao and the 160 ft Rio Yuna, tugs, barges you name it..

Thats cool Ken. But we've already got most of that minus the Intruders. Though Intruders would be cool.

But.... You guys don't have a Spruance Class Destroyer.

AND WE DO! [img]/forum/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

JohnB · #8 03-06-2008, 08:37 AM

One of the local clubs bought/salvaged and old barge and started the permitting process to turn it into a reef. They hit a snag, the coast guard deemed the vessel unseaworthy, and wouldn't issue a permit. Mind you, the plan was to sink it, but they wouldn't issue a permit, because it wasn't seaworthy enough to sink

.

NoBones · #9 03-06-2008, 09:13 AM

That is a concern as the Coastie's do not want it
to sink in the wrong place and become a hazard
to navigation. There are ways to secure the barge
to be able to pass inspection.

See ya, Ken

wavelength · #10 03-06-2008, 09:21 AM

I wish we had the depth here to sink a ship! Where I live, check out the 11408 chart, is very shallow and if you find a ledge or a washer it will hold grouper in the summer. Our average in depth is 1 foot deeper for every mile you go offshore. The bottom is very flat and mostly sand between the Barge Canal and Cedar Key so once you get a pile going it attracts. If I want to fish 35 feet of water I have to travel 28 to 29 miles out with the price of gas and my 225 Johnson closer is better.