Where boats run from Apalachicola
Red snapper fishing out of Apalachicola means running to federal waters off St. George Island and Cape St. George. The long run is the 40 break, 45 to 55 miles out in about 250 ft of water. From the Apalachicola port page area, boats head south and east of the island. This page covers distance, depth, named structure with codes, timing, and the buoy to check. The wider picture is in the Gulf of Mexico region guide.
Federal waters off St. George Island
Boats run to federal waters offshore of St. George Island and Apalachicola. FishingBooker places snapper on offshore wrecks around Cape St. George and on reefs off St. George Island. Everything past the state line is federal water, which is why the Regulations section at the end of this page matters.
The 40 break
Apalachicola Fishing Company runs a 40-break trip 45 to 55 miles out, fishing about 250 ft of water. The named reef sites in the next section sit much closer in, at 60 to 85 ft, so the two are different trips with different fuel and time demands.
- Run: 45 to 55 miles
- Depth: about 250 ft
When red snapper are around
FishingBooker says the snapper bite is most productive from late spring to early fall. That describes when the fish bite, not when you can keep them. Season dates are not given here; the Regulations section points to where they are published. The wider species picture is in the red snapper guide for the Gulf.
Grounds and structure near Apalachicola
The Franklin County sites below sit in the AARA Franklin reef area. Those with listed depths run from 60 to 85 ft, well inside the 250 ft of water at the 40 break. Load the codes into your plotter and work outward from the shallow structure.
| Name | Code | Depth (ft) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buddy Ward Memorial Reef | A4N; also A6S | Artificial reef | |
| S Tower | FR0005 | Listed in the AARA Franklin reef area | |
| K Tower | FR0007 | 60 | Tower |
| Yamaha Reef Addition | FR0030 | 85 | Reef |
| City of Apalachicola East | FR0015 | 78 | Reef |
You can check these codes against the Chart Contours layer in the Breakpoint app. Chart layers are not for navigation.
AARA Franklin reef area
Three of the sites are reefs. Buddy Ward Memorial Reef carries the codes A4N and A6S. Yamaha Reef Addition (FR0030) sits in 85 ft, and City of Apalachicola East (FR0015) in 78 ft.
Towers
K Tower (FR0007) sits in 60 ft. S Tower (FR0005) is listed in the AARA Franklin reef area.
How snapper are fished here
The local method is bottom fishing on reef and wreck structure. Bigfish SGI is tagged for deep sea bottom fishing. For rigs and general bottom technique, see the reef fish guides.
Local charters
Two charters list red snapper out of this port:
- Adventures Aboard The C-ScouT: Captain Brad Segree and Larry Segree run a 28-foot Mako with twin 200hp Mercury. See Adventures Aboard The C-ScouT.
- Catch The Most Charters: Captain Corey Maxwell meets guests in Apalachicola. See Catch The Most Charters.
Reading APCF1
NOAA station APCF1 (station 8728690) sits at 29.724 N, 84.980 W, at Apalachicola. Its readings describe conditions at Apalachicola, not 45 to 55 miles offshore, so the official marine forecast is the reference for the run. Read wind, wave height, and period as numbers and decide from those.
FAQ: red snapper out of Apalachicola
How far do boats run for red snapper fishing out of Apalachicola?
45 to 55 miles for Apalachicola Fishing Company’s 40-break trip, into federal waters off St. George Island and Cape St. George.
What depth do boats fish for snapper offshore of Apalachicola?
About 250 ft on the 40 break. The named AARA sites with listed depths sit in 60 to 85 ft.
When is the snapper bite best?
Late spring to early fall, per FishingBooker. Check the rules for season dates.
Which reefs near Apalachicola have codes?
Buddy Ward Memorial Reef (A4N; also A6S), S Tower (FR0005), K Tower (FR0007), Yamaha Reef Addition (FR0030), and City of Apalachicola East (FR0015).
Which buoy should I check before a run?
NOAA APCF1 (8728690) at 29.724 N, 84.980 W. It reads Apalachicola, and the marine forecast covers the run. Check both before red snapper fishing out of Apalachicola.
