Looking for Ledges off Bradenton FL

[SRQ]

I have recently moved back to the Sarasota/Bradenton area and am having a hard time locating the rock ledges I keep hearing about from other divers off Bradenton.
I know GPS #'s are usually a closely guarded secret, (I am not asking for anyones 'honey hole') but would anyone please help with a few GPS cooridinates to get me started looking in the general vincinity. I keep hearing how good bug hunting is in the 40 to 90 ft range and am dieing to check it out.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I might also be willing to trade a dive trip out for some #'s : ) (hint hint)
Thanks in advance !
WB

 

[Johnoly]

If your talking about the Venice ledges, it's really going to take a bottom finder more than a GPS. They are really spread out and the ledges are tiny rocks and all over the place. Viz is usually crud and it get's hit hard by the H&L's. I don't think I've ever seen lobster out there, but I've only dove the area a couple of times. I think it's only 30-40 feet deep. It's not very far off shore and you should be looking in the area of 2702301 - 8228058. Again, don't bother with a GPS, you'll need a great bottom finder and look for fish on it more than any structure.

Personally I'd think you would have more luck at something like Barracuda hole which has a 6 foot ledge and plenty of fish or at some of the tanks and boxcars or the BayRonto.

 

[SRQ]

Thanks Johnoly,
I have a very good HD depth finder and Furuno GPS - I have dove the ledges in Venice a bunch and have had the same experience. No bugs. I have seen a few small ones in 55 ft near the cuda hole off Sarasota - but no big ones like I am used to off Sebation and Stuart.
The ledges I heard of and am looking for are off of Anna Marie island or Bradenton Beach somewhere - I think the area maybe around 270 to 330 degrees out Longboat pass somewheres.
Thats why I asking for help from a local diver.

Dive safe

WB

 

[Chad Carney]

SRQ,

Waterproof Charts from ISS, put out pretty good charts to get you started. And they have dumped off a good bit of the bogus #s over the years. 155F will cover the area you are talking about, and from those areas you'll find lots more. Available at some dive shops and most marine stores.

You'll find decent spearfishing on mid-depth ledges, but only the occasional spiny and shovel nose bugs. They are usually big, 5 lbs to 10lbs are common. Lately with the Goliath population boom, I've seen fewer than usual.

Chad

 

[SRQ]

I finally found and purchased the one and only 155F map south of Tampa Bay !
This map is much more detailed than the maps I have.
Thanks Chad !

After studying the map for a couple of hours I have several questions that I hope someone can help me with.

Can anyone tell me what depth I need to be looking in for conistant bugs?

Also is that gas pipeline running out of Tampa Bay exposed at all?

#53 through #64 says hardbroken bottom in 40 to 50 ft of water- this is an area I have looked at before on my other maps - is this worth looking at for bugs or just for spearfishing?

Has anyone dove that freshwater spring? I would imagine it holds tons of AJ's

Thanks in advance for any comments or directions !
WB

 

[Chad Carney]

Can anyone tell me what depth I need to be looking in for conistant bugs?

Also is that gas pipeline running out of Tampa Bay exposed at all?

#53 through #64 says hardbroken bottom in 40 to 50 ft of water- this is an area I have looked at before on my other maps - is this worth looking at for bugs or just for spearfishing?

Has anyone dove that freshwater spring? I would imagine it holds tons of AJ's

WB

SRQ,

You will find the most ledges between 45' and 65'. These are roughly following the ten fathom line you see on the chart. It's an ancient coastline.

You're going to get mighty disappointed if your only looking for lobster. We mostly go spearfishing, and often the fish will lead you to the best hole on the ledge. When lucky sometimes there is a bug there.

My 155F chart is very old, before the pipeline. The pipeline is exposed in shallow, covered near the "Whistler Buoy", and exposed deep again. It's best where they covered it with excessive rocks. (Probably Friday at "beer-thirty!") The pipe itself doesn't attract much. There are also many mitigation sites that are pretty good.

The charts legend coordinate list has also been changed. The Jack Hole, in approx. 105', was on it but called something else. There are still some bogus coordinates, so you'll have to do some weeding.

Keep your bottom finder on all the time and learn to read it well.

Happy hunting!

Chad