Question about southwest pass reefs

[WorldWideSportsman87]

I've always been afraid to fish around the reefs that are visible from the pass. Not Caldwell but the ones the birds are always sitting on. Has anyone ever tried to anchor on one of those reefs and just fish from the reef while standing on it? Just a question I had

[capt coonassty]

I've fished the interior reefs quite a bit years back and would all ways pick up a few reds. Are you talking about the ones along the navigation channel?

[WorldWideSportsman87]

Yeah the ones on the edge of the main channel that you can see and the birds sit on. I'm trying to figure out how to learn those reefs without finding them with the bottom of my boat. I know the gps chip isn't 100 percent accurate

[Goooh]

Originally Posted by WorldWideSportsman87

Yeah the ones on the edge of the main channel that you can see and the birds sit on. I'm trying to figure out how to learn those reefs without finding them with the bottom of my boat. I know the gps chip isn't 100 percent accurate

When you see those fools running through there wide open, jump on it and lay you a snail trail down.

[SeaHunt19]

I have fished the ones on the left when going out. From the channel, if you proceed straight to the reef, I have not had a problem. Do not attempt to go between the reefs. You will find the bottom rather quickly.

[MarshRat89]

Wishiniwasfishing has some detailed maps of that area he might share.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk mmm

[wishin i was fishin]

Busy today at work, Ill put you together a map sometime this afternoon.

[bml5233]

Originally Posted by WorldWideSportsman87

Yeah the ones on the edge of the main channel that you can see and the birds sit on. I'm trying to figure out how to learn those reefs without finding them with the bottom of my boat. I know the gps chip isn't 100 percent accurate

The main key to fishing inside the pass is staying on the interior of the big reefs you are seeing. There are plenty clusters of reef that are underwater to the west of where those birds sit off the main ship channel. It can get shallow in there at times depending on tide levels. I have a chip from matt landry and have been running through those reefs for 8 years now and it is dead accurate, never hit anything. No map will show you those exact location of these clusters except that chip. The reds love those little protected clusters!!

[alphaman]

My GPS shows the reefspretty good. I never had a problem running in there so far.
This is a picture from factory setting no chip uploadfromtaptalk1410536970568.jpg

[bml5233]

Originally Posted by alphaman

My GPS shows the reefspretty good. I never had a problem running in there so far.
This is a picture from factory setting no chip Attachment 74812

Instead of the reef looking like a big blob his chip actually breaks it down and shows you the pockets and gaps that you can idle through. He does not make it for a Lowrance. Garmin only. I will take pic when I go home for lunch to demonstrate. send me a pic of what the diamond reef looks like on that Lowrance.

[alphaman]

It dosent show the reef it self. Just shaded area for caution. But its labeled diamond reef

[bml5233]

Originally Posted by alphaman

It dosent show the reef it self. Just shaded area for caution. But its labeled diamond reef

Just trying to show you how detail the reefs really are. And yes you can idle in between every cluster. The first pic is the same pic you have of the pass and the second pic is of the north side of the diamond. When you zoom in on the map to navigate threw them every cut and pocket becomes more defined.

[alphaman]

Nice

[kenmore_mo1]

diamond reef.jpg

[Goooh]

Originally Posted by bml5233

Just trying to show you how detail the reefs really are. And yes you can idle in between every cluster. The first pic is the same pic you have of the pass and the second pic is of the north side of the diamond. When you zoom in on the map to navigate threw them every cut and pocket becomes more defined.

Oh my.

I know it's saved your hull and lower unit, but has it also helped you fishing? It's gotta help knowing exactly where each point and pocket is on a reef - the way I find them is by making a ton f noise with an anchor or power pole!

[kenmore_mo1]

diamond reef.jpg

[bml5233]

Originally Posted by Goooh

Oh my.

I know it's saved your hull and lower unit, but has it also helped you fishing? It's gotta help knowing exactly where each point and pocket is on a reef - the way I find them is by making a ton f noise with an anchor or power pole!

It helps tremendously fishing.

[wishin i was fishin]

Here is some info on the Pass, but let me start by saying this can be a dangerous place if you dont know your way. the back side of the reefs can be productive but you can get caught if you are not careful.

the fist map is from www.flashearth.com. you can really see the reefs and shallow areas. the channel in and out is safe to run but you have to be careful. it goes from 20ft to 1ft really fast. in the curve there is a deep hole then shallows up. when i get out of the hole I come off plane and idle to the reef i want to fish. I always use the island in the picture as a guide.

Second is from the Navionics web app. you can see the channels a bit better but you loose the detail of the reefs.

I use the standard mapping chip which is an Ariel photo it gives me enough detal without spending big bucks on a name brand chip.

good luck, and let me know if you have any questions.

[Montauk17]

Thanks for the link to flash earth Scott,great detail.

[bml5233]

Great map there!!