There’s no better time than now to beat the sunlight to the swamps and score on a limit of woodies.
Dear Capt. Paul:
Please give me directions from Cypremort Point to Nickel Reef.
Paul Wiltz
Capt. Paul’s Response:
Nickel Reef is a local name given to a small reef in the outer reef area of the southern part of East Cote Blanche Bay, about 11.7 miles SSW (230º) from Point Chevreuil.
It is located at or about N29º 25.078 x W91º 42.308. It is a small, slender reef that is in a north/south direction. It is about 6 miles SSE of South Point of Marsh Island.
Getting to the reef from Cypremort Point will take an experienced seaman or someone familiar with the area, as you will either have to go around the western part of Marsh Island via Southwest Pass, Lighthouse Point and into the Gulf, a trip of about 38 miles, or you will have to navigate the many shoals between Cypremort Point and Marsh Island on this more easterly course, a trip of about 25 miles.
By far, it is easier to access the reef by boat from Point Chevreuil.
The Louisiana Wildlife & Fisheries has an Inshore Artificial Reef site, called Reef Nickel. It is located at or about N29º 25.178 x W91º 42.457, which is slightly northwest of the existing Nickel Reef.
You may want to also check out www.wlf.state.la.us/apps/netgear/index.asp?cn=lawlf&pid=1012 for inshore artificial reefs. There are several other artificial reefs located in the area.
In addition, there is another reef located northwest of the Nickel Reef site. The center of this banana-shaped reef that is in a northwest to southeast direction is located at or about N29º 27.078 x W91º 43.380.
Use caution navigating to the location, as a straight-line course from Point Chevreuil or Cypremort Point will place you over or near several other reefs and shoals in the area. Several of these reefs are just below the surface.
I strongly suggest that you secure the latest NOAA charts No. 11351-Point au Fer to Marsh Island and No. 11349-Vermillion Bay and Approaches.
All bearings are listed in magnetic degrees, and all positions are listed as DD,MM.mmm, and were determined using WGS 84 datum.
Dear Capt. Paul:
Can you give me the location of Shell Ursa?
Scott Leehy
Capt. Paul’s Response:
Ursa is at or about N28º 09.242 x W89º 06.213. It is located in block 810 of the Mississippi Canyon area, and is about 7.4 miles east of the Mars platform. It is about 53 nautical miles from South Pass.
Mars is at or about N28º 10.196 x W89º 13.476.
All positions are stated as DDD,MM.mmm, and were determined using WGS 84 datum.
Dear Capt. Paul:
I am looking for some waypoints near Cypremort Point, specifically for Dry Reef and Trash Pile. If you could help me out, that would be great. If you know of any other hot fishing spots around Cypremort Point, that would be great.
Thanks, Greg Congdon
Capt. Paul’s Response:
The area called the Trash Pile 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 in the northwest part of Weeks Bay. The general position for the Pile is at or about N29º 47.913 x W91º 50.910.
The area called Dry Reef is the northern part of a larger reef system named Terrapin Reef that extends across Vermilion Bay from Big Charles Bayou area of Marsh Island to Cypremort Point.
NOAA chart No. 11349-Vermilion 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 deep. 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 of the lights marking the 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. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has several inshore artificial reefs that may interest you:
• Lake Pelto area — N29º 03’ 32” x W90º 43’ 25”
• Vermilion area — N29º 43’20” x W91º 52’22”
• Cote Blanche area — N29º 25’10 x W91º 42’ 27”
• Cote Blanche area — 29º 25’37” x W91º 42’27”
• Cote Blanche area — 29º 30’ 34” x W91º 33’ 52”
• Vermilion area — N29º 40’37” x W92º 07’ 05
Use caution when navigating the area around these reefs, as in some instances the water barely covers the reef. In addition, there are numerous reefs and shoals in the area.
Please note that the LDWF coordinates are in DDD,MM,SS, and were determined using NAD 27 datum. All other positions are stated as DDD,MM.mmm, and were determined by using WGS 84 datum.
