Many anglers are finding that fishing artificial reefs are a great way to increase the probability of a good catch - and a better day on the water. Volusia County, Florida (home to NASCAR, Daytona Beach, and the famed Mosquito Lagoon) is a location preferred by anglers that has been pursuing an aggressive artificial reef program for many years, supported by the Ponce de Leon port authority. Another of the anglers favorites is at Site 3, the former USS Mindanao, is the oldest artificial reef ship. She rests in 85 feet of water, 11 miles northeast of the Ponce inlet. Her flat main deck is 60 feet below the surface and lies in a general N-S direction. Schools of bait fish, tomtate grunts, mangrove snapper, and a few anchors are often seen in her open holds by anglers.
Small clumps of ivory bush coral and encrusting sponges and tunicates grow on the steel hull. Site 5 is the closest site to Ponce Inlet. Clean material from the old Port Orange bridge and the New Smyrna Beach bridges has been deposited on the site starting in 1990. Grouper, sea bass, flounder, mangrove snapper and variety of colorful soft corals are on the site for anglers to enojoy. Because the site is only about 6 miles from the inlet, visibility can be 10 feet near low tide. However in the summer, before and after cold water upwelling or later, in the fall after the hurricanes have passsed, visibility can get much better. There are many other sites for anglers to visit and enjoy. A variety of objects and materials have been used to create many artificial reef sites. Starting from airplanes and ships to old bridge members, concrete culvert piles, etc., they have been placed as new habitats.
