When vermilion snapper are around Carrabelle
March is vermilion snapper season out of Carrabelle on the Fishanywhere Carrabelle calendar, where they share an entry with mangrove and other snapper. A March trip is a snapper trip rather than a single-species run. For the wider picture on mangrove and other snapper, see our reef fish guides. The wider picture is in the vermilion snapper fishing in the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico fishing guide.
| Calendar item | Listing |
|---|---|
| Month | March |
| Source | Fishanywhere calendar for Carrabelle |
| Grouping | Vermilion with mangrove and other snapper |
Fishing vermilion snapper out of Carrabelle starts with choosing a structure, a depth, a distance and a bearing from the Carrabelle Red 10 buoy. This planning sheet is written for owner-operators and covers 8 named public sites, from 39 ft at 5.5 nm to 105 ft at 28.9 nm, all measured from Red 10. It helps you decide where to run the beeliner; it does not promise fish.
Where boats run: grounds and structure off Carrabelle
Every distance and bearing here is measured from the Carrabelle Red 10 buoy. AARA site IDs identify each artificial reef. The table runs from the shortest run to the longest where distances are listed.
| Site | AARA ID | Depth ft | nm from Red 10 | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CCA Dr. Bart Carey Reef (Carrabelle 10 Mile Reef System) | not listed | 50 | not listed | not listed |
| Carrabelle 3 Mile | FR0018 | 39 | 5.5 | 107.2 degrees |
| Robby’s Reef | FR0039 | 52 | 11.6 | 127.7 degrees |
| Carrabelle Reef Culverts | FR0012 | 70 | 14.5 | 169.5 degrees |
| O-Tower Barge / Carrabelle Reef Barge | FR0013 | 74 | 15.0 | 169.0 degrees |
| Carrabelle/Rotary | FR0011 | not listed | 15.6 | 176.7 degrees |
| K Tower | FR0007 | 60 | 17.2 | 113.8 degrees |
| S Tower | FR0005 | 105 | 28.9 | 173.3 degrees |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
Chart layers are not for navigation, so check every position against the official chart before you run.
Inside 12 nm
- Carrabelle 3 Mile, AARA FR0018: 39 ft, 5.5 nm at 107.2 degrees. This is one of several Carrabelle 3 Mile sites, so confirm the ID you are running to.
- Robby’s Reef, AARA FR0039: 52 ft, 11.6 nm at 127.7 degrees. It was added in 2016.
- CCA Dr. Bart Carey Reef (Carrabelle 10 Mile Reef System): 50 ft.
These are the shortest runs on the list.
14 to 18 nm
- Carrabelle Reef Culverts, AARA FR0012: 70 ft, 14.5 nm at 169.5 degrees.
- O-Tower Barge / Carrabelle Reef Barge, AARA FR0013: 74 ft, 15.0 nm at 169.0 degrees.
- Carrabelle/Rotary, AARA FR0011: 15.6 nm at 176.7 degrees. Depth is not listed.
- K Tower, AARA FR0007: 60 ft, 17.2 nm at 113.8 degrees.
The Culverts and the Barge differ by 0.5 nm in distance and 0.5 degrees in bearing, so they share nearly the same heading. K Tower sits well east of that line, at 113.8 degrees against roughly 169.
The long run to S Tower
S Tower, AARA FR0005: 105 ft, 28.9 nm at 173.3 degrees. It is the deepest and farthest site on the list, on a bearing close to the Culverts, Barge and Rotary headings. Read the official NWS marine forecast for wind, wave height and period against a 28.9 nm run. No NOAA buoy is named for these sites.
How vermilion are fished from Carrabelle
The listed structure includes artificial reef sites, culverts, a barge and towers. Listed depths run from 39 to 105 ft, so the choice comes down to depth against distance.
The sites also stack along routes:
- The Culverts, Barge, Rotary and S Tower all lie between 169.0 and 176.7 degrees. One southerly heading passes 14.5, 15.0 and 15.6 nm before the 28.9 nm stop.
- 3 Mile, Robby’s Reef and K Tower lie on more easterly bearings: 107.2, 127.7 and 113.8 degrees.
For rigs, baits and biology, use the vermilion snapper guide.
Who fishes vermilion out of Carrabelle
Private boats run their own numbers to the public AARA artificial reef sites. The March snapper grouping also draws mixed-snapper trips.
FAQ: vermilion snapper out of Carrabelle
When is the season for vermilion snapper out of Carrabelle?
March on the Fishanywhere calendar, grouped with mangrove and other snapper. That is the starting point for planning vermilion snapper fishing out of Carrabelle.
What is the closest listed site to Carrabelle?
Carrabelle 3 Mile, FR0018: 39 ft, 5.5 nm at 107.2 degrees. It is one of several 3 Mile sites, so confirm the ID.
What is the deepest site on the list?
S Tower, FR0005: 105 ft, 28.9 nm at 173.3 degrees.
What is Red 10?
The Carrabelle Red 10 buoy is the reference point for every distance and bearing on this page.
Which sites pair in one trip?
The Culverts at 14.5 nm and 169.5 degrees and the Barge at 15.0 nm and 169.0 degrees sit on nearly the same heading. Rotary at 15.6 nm and 176.7 degrees, and S Tower farther out, lie along a similar southerly line.
Is there a nearby buoy for conditions?
No NOAA buoy is named for these sites. Read the official NWS marine forecast for wind, wave height and period against the length of your run.
