Concrete pipes and boxes were the latest fish-magnets to find a new home at the St. Johns County High School Reef off St. Augustine Inlet. The 40-acre site sits about 13 miles northeast of the inlet in 60 feet of water (Lat. 30°03.593'N – Long. 81°06.338'W).

“One hundred and forty-nine reef balls were built by our high school students and placed there between 2001 to 2003,” said Carl Blow, Commissioner for the St. Augustine Port, Waterway & Beach District. “Last Thursday (June 5) we placed approximately 600 tons of 42-inch-diameter concrete stormwater pipe and a number of concrete stormwater boxes [at the reef].”

Dell Marine provided the barge for deployment, and materials were donated by the St. Augustine–St. Johns County Airport Authority. Project Manager Wil Smith with the St. Johns County Recreation & Parks Department headed up the drop with help from Commissioner Blow.

Anglers who scout outside Matanzas Inlet should expect a new reef by July 1, says Blow. The new reef will be about 10 miles east of the Matanzas Inlet in 63 feet of water. The used concrete stormwater pipe and boxes for this reef were donated by Clay and Flagler counties. This is a joint effort by Flagler County, the FWC and St. Augustine Port Waterway & Beach District.