Vermilion snapper fishing out of Venice centers on artificial reef structure, from 25 ft just off Venice Inlet to 60 ft farther out. Boats leave from the Venice side of the Gulf coast, and the fish go by the local name beeliner. This page names the reefs, gives run distances and bearings where they exist, and points to the station to read before you leave the dock. For Gulf bottom fishing in general, the vermilion snapper guide covers how the species uses depth and structure. The wider picture is in the vermilion snapper fishing in the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico region guide.
The reefs and structure that hold vermilion snapper off Venice
The named sites run from nearshore to offshore. The Venice Reef sites sit close to the inlet, and the M-series sits farther out in the Gulf.
| Site | Structure | Depth | Distance/bearing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reef 14 (Venice Reef Site I4) | Venice Bridge and Pier material | 25 ft | 0.8 nm at 230° from Venice Inlet |
| Venice Reef Sites 1 and 2 | Old bridge materials, concrete rubble | – | – |
| Venice Reef V-1 to V-5 | Limestone boulders | – | – |
| M-9 | Tanks | 60 ft | 15.5 nm at 205° from New Pass Gulf marker |
| M-10 | Upside-down barge, sailboat hulls | – | – |
| M-11 | Reef balls | – | – |
| M-13 | Concrete culverts, sites 1 to 5 | – | – |
| M-15a and M-15b | Culverts, rubble | – | – |
Tackle and rigging for Gulf reef fish are covered in the reef fish guides.
Reef 14
Also called Venice Reef Site I4, this is Venice Bridge and Pier material in 25 ft of water, 0.8 nm at 230° from Venice Inlet. It is the closest named structure to the inlet.
Venice Reef Sites 1 and 2 and V-1 to V-5
Sites 1 and 2 are old bridge materials and concrete rubble. V-1 to V-5 are limestone boulders spread across five sites.
M-9
M-9 is a set of tanks in 60 ft of water, 15.5 nm at 205° from the New Pass Gulf marker. The bearing is plotted from the New Pass marker rather than from Venice Inlet.
M-10, M-11, M-13, M-15a and M-15b
- M-10: an upside-down barge and sailboat hulls.
- M-11: reef balls.
- M-13: concrete culverts at sites 1 to 5.
- M-15a and M-15b: culverts and rubble.
How far boats run from Venice
Two named sites carry full numbers, and they mark the near and far ends of the run.
- Near: Reef 14 sits 0.8 nm at 230° from Venice Inlet, in 25 ft.
- Far: M-9 sits 15.5 nm at 205° from the New Pass Gulf marker, in 60 ft.
The two bearings start from different points: Reef 14 from Venice Inlet, M-9 from the New Pass Gulf marker. Do not add or subtract the figures to get a distance from the inlet.
Chart contours help you read depth around a reef once you are on it. Reef positions here and in the app’s chart layers are not for navigation. Plot them against official charts and the U.S. Coast Pilot chapter for Venice Inlet.
Reading conditions before you leave
Start with NOAA C-MAN station VENF1, Venice, FL, at 27.072 N, 82.453 W. It reports wind, pressure, and air and water temperature. Read the numbers and decide against your own boat and your own limits.
VENF1 is a coastal station rather than an offshore buoy, so its readings describe the coast and not the water at a reef 15.5 nm out. Treat it as a baseline and check the official marine forecast as well. Water temperature at VENF1 is worth watching alongside the depth and structure notes in the species guide.
Who fishes vermilion snapper from Venice
Private boats run to the reefs above. The Miss Venice Deep Sea Fishing lists vermilion snapper among its trips, and its site text names Captain Joe. Trip details and pricing are on the operator’s trips page.
FAQ about vermilion snapper fishing out of Venice
How far offshore are vermilion snapper reefs from Venice?
Named structure runs from Reef 14 at 0.8 nm (230° from Venice Inlet, 25 ft) to M-9 at 15.5 nm (205° from the New Pass Gulf marker, 60 ft). The two bearings use different reference points, so they can’t be compared directly.
What is the closest reef to Venice Inlet?
Reef 14 (Venice Reef Site I4) is the closest named structure: Venice Bridge and Pier material in 25 ft of water, 0.8 nm at 230° from the inlet. Venice Reef Sites 1 and 2 and V-1 to V-5 are also close to the port.
Which station shows conditions off Venice?
NOAA C-MAN station VENF1, at 27.072 N, 82.453 W. It reports wind, pressure, and air and water temperature as numbers. Because it is a coastal station and not an offshore buoy, it describes the coast rather than the water at the outer reefs.
Can I book a trip for vermilion snapper in Venice?
Yes. The Miss Venice Deep Sea Fishing lists vermilion snapper among its trips. Contact the operator directly for trip details.
Where are the size and bag limits?
They are in the Regulations section above, which points to the state and federal pages. State rules come from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and federal rules may apply depending on where you fish. Check both before fishing.
