Artificial Reef Sites, Compliments of Coastal Fisherman Magazine, Bob Mason, and Sue Foster, Oyster Bay Tackle

The state of Maryland and the Town of Ocean City have been working together for several years to create artificial reef sites that have quickly become productive fishing areas. Objects such as a WWII era sub, military tanks and telephone cable have been sunk at various locations to provide habitat for fish and other marine life. The job of building these artificial reefs has now passed to the Ocean City Reef Foundation. The late Bob Mason of the Foundation passed on several locations of these underwater obstructions.

The Bass Grounds East Reef, where nautical miles of submarine telephone cable was placed in September 1997, is located at Lat. 38 16.832'N and Long. 74 53.472"W. Other materials at the Bass Grounds Reef include the 82 foot CG cutter "MSA Diver" at Lat. 38 18.3120'N and Long. 74 53.7264W.  

The 82' cutter "O.C. Fish Center" at Lat. 38 18.3167'N and Long. 74 53.7274'W,

The 44 foot "O.C. MSSA" and the 44 foot "Harrison Group" at Lat. 38 17.9833'N and Long. 74 53.4794'W.

There is also an unidentified target that is 45 feet by 20 feet by 8 feet at Lat. 38 17.9739'N and Long.74 53.8008'W.

The 878.1 acre artificial reef, 9.05 nautical miles from Ocean City, has boundaries of 38 18.49', 38 16.59', 74 53.40' and 74 53.55'.

The "Purnell Reef" is a 413.2 acre artificial reef site with boundaries at 38 21.50', 38 20.50', 75 03.80' and 75 03.20'.

Charles Nicoles of the O.C. Fishing Center, Capt. Monty Hawkins of the "Morning Star " and Joe Hall from Hall's Restaurant, are very active in the Ocean City Reef Foundation.

They find reef materials, sell t-shirts, encourage businesses to donate, have dinners, and encourage anglers to become involved in the Ocean City Reef Foundation.
The O.C. Reef Foundation is adding more structure to reef sites all the time. Private contributions are welcomed. If you would like to have the coordinates of more of these reef sites, send $25 to:

Ocean City Reef Foundation
P.O. Box 1072
Ocean City, MD 21842

Go to their online site to learn more about artifical reefs and you can join by filling out the online form and receive the coordinates as well. If you have any questions or inquiries about the Reef Foundation you can e-mail them at: ocreef@msn.com