Dear Capt. Paul:
I am trying to learn the Vermilion Bay area. I keep reading about The Trash Pile and Dry Reef.Is it possible to get the GPS coordinates to these areas?
Thanks in advance,
CBD
Capt. Paul’s response:
The area called Dry Reef is the northern part of a larger reef system named Terrapin Reef that extends across Vermilion Bay from the Big Charles Bayou area of Marsh Island on the southwest to Cypremort Point on the northeast.
NOAA chart No. 11349-Vermillion Bay and Approaches shows an area that begins about 1.4 miles southwest (a bearing of 217º) from Cypremort Point and extends to the southwest for another 3.5 miles. The water to the west of this line averages 7 to 9 feet. The water over the reef averages 3 to 6 feet.
The northeastern-most part of this reef is at or about N29º 41.698 x W91º 53.705.
The southwestern-most part of the Dry Reef area is at or about N29º 39.988 x W91º 56.406, and is just southwest of a platform that is on the reef.
This position is also about 1.25 miles due east of Aid to Navigation (ATON) Red No. 8, which is one on the lights marking the Acadiana Navigational Channel (Southwest Pass to Weeks Bay channel).
There is also a series of wellheads that are connected via runways on which is located a tall radio tower to the east-northeast of this position. This complex is also on the reef.
There are several other reefs in the area; some of them are artificial.
For instance, you may want to check Sally Shoal, which is located about 3.6 miles due south of Cypremort Point in the western part of West Cote Blanche Bay at or about N29 39.368 x W91 52.280.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has several inshore artificial reefs that may also interest you.
• Vermilion area — Cypremort Point, N29º43’20 x W91º52’22
• Cote Blanche area — Nickel Reef, N29º25’10 x W91º42’ 27
• Cote Blanche area — Rabbit Island No. 1, N29º25’37 x W91º42’27
• Cote Blanche area — Rabbit Island No. 2, N29º30’ 34” x W91º 33’ 52
• Vermilion area — Redfish Point, N29º40’37 x W92º 07’ 05
In addition, there are numerous reefs and shoals between Southwest and Lighthouse points in the Southwest Pass area. Check out the Vermillion Bay and Approaches chart for these reefs.
Please note that the LDWF sites are in DDD,MM,SS and were determined using NAD 27 datum.
My information on the Trash Pile indicates that it is between Vermilion Bay and Weeks Bay just east of the peninsula where Pelican and Little Mud points are located. It is located just southeast of Mud Point at the northwest part of Weeks Bay.
The position is at or about N29º 47.913 x W91º 50.910. This is a general position as the area encompasses over a 1-square-mile area along the shoreline.
Unless otherwise specified, all positions are stated as H,DDD,MM.mmm, and were determined using WGS 84 datum. All headings, bearings and courses are stated in magnetic degrees, and distances are shown in statute miles.
