Vermilion snapper off Miami
Deep structure sits close to shore off Miami. The O.L. Bodenhamer Wreck lies in 370 ft about 2 miles off the coast, and The Edge is about 3 miles out, just off Miami Beach. Vermilion snapper fishing here means short runs to named deep structure, which suits anglers running their own boat. For the wider coast, see the vermilion snapper fishing in the Atlantic Southeast and the Atlantic Southeast offshore fishing guide.
The Miami port page covers the harbor and the water it opens to. This page lists six named grounds, from 22 ft near the harbor to 370 ft offshore, so you can pick where to look.
Where boats run and how far
The runs are short:
- O.L. Bodenhamer Wreck: about 2 miles off the coast.
- The Edge: about 3 miles from the coastline, just off Miami Beach.
- Bache Shoal Reef: a quick boat ride from Miami Harbor.
- Star Trek Reef: boats run there for vermilion snapper.
A center console can reach any of these for a bottom-fishing trip without a long offshore leg. Plan around the ground you pick and the depth you want to fish.
Before you leave the dock, read the NWS Miami coastal waters forecast and go by the wind and wave numbers in it.
Grounds and structure
The grounds below run from 22 ft to 370 ft. Depth is in feet, and distance is given where it is known.
| Ground | Depth (ft) | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Bug Light Shoal | 22 | |
| Fowey Rocks | 160 | |
| O.L. Bodenhamer Wreck | 370 | About 2 miles off the coast |
| Bache Shoal Reef | Quick boat ride from Miami Harbor | |
| The Edge | About 3 miles off Miami Beach | |
| Star Trek Reef |
Bug Light Shoal
Bug Light Shoal is an artificial reef in 22 ft, a familiar shallow reference point near the harbor. The other grounds here are much deeper. The reef fish guides cover the shallow side.
Fowey Rocks
Fowey Rocks is a lighthouse and rocks in 160 ft, also known as sailfish grounds. It is a mixed ground, sitting between the 22 ft and 370 ft ends of this list.
O.L. Bodenhamer Wreck
The O.L. Bodenhamer Wreck, also called Liberty Ship Reef, lies in 370 ft about 2 miles off the coast. It is the deepest named ground on this page and still a short run.
Bache Shoal Reef
Bache Shoal Reef is a quick boat ride from Miami Harbor, and a near-harbor reference point.
The Edge
The Edge is about 3 miles from the coastline, just off Miami Beach.
Star Trek Reef
Boats run to Star Trek Reef for vermilion snapper.
Save these grounds as waypoints and read them against Chart Contours. Chart layers are not for navigation.
How it is fished and who fishes it
This is bottom fishing on wrecks, artificial reefs and rock structure at the depths listed above. Biology, timing and general tackle are in the vermilion snapper species guide.
The short runs suit owner-operators who run their own boat. Depth varies most across these grounds, so match the ground to the depth you plan to fish.
FAQ: vermilion snapper fishing out of Miami
How far do you run for vermilion snapper from Miami?
The runs are short. The O.L. Bodenhamer Wreck is about 2 miles off the coast. The Edge is about 3 miles off Miami Beach. Bache Shoal Reef is a quick boat ride from Miami Harbor.
Which grounds do boats run to?
Boats run to Star Trek Reef for vermilion snapper. The Edge and the O.L. Bodenhamer Wreck are the other deep options. Fowey Rocks is a mixed ground in 160 ft, also known for sailfish. Bug Light Shoal and Bache Shoal Reef sit nearer the harbor.
How deep are the grounds off Miami?
Bug Light Shoal is in 22 ft, Fowey Rocks in 160 ft and the O.L. Bodenhamer Wreck in 370 ft. The other grounds are listed by location, not depth, so match each one to the depth you plan to fish.
Where do I find the rules?
FWC sets the rules for Florida state waters. The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and NOAA Fisheries set them in Atlantic federal waters. Miami fishes Atlantic water. See the Regulations section above and check the official pages before you fish.
