At BCARA, our mission is simple: put more reefs on the Gulf floor. More reefs mean more fish, a stronger fishing and diving industry, and more opportunities to share our love of the outdoors with every visitor who comes to enjoy our waters.
We actively work with local organizations and volunteers to build and deploy reefs in Bay County. Check out some of our past deployments with the Eastern Shipbuilding Group and students.
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Eastern Reefs
The Eastern Shipbuilding Group created a school competition between students in welding technical programs across Bay and Gulf Counties. This program allows students to design and build their own artificial reef with donated material from Eastern. All reefs must meet Army Corps of Engineer criteria before they are deployed. This teaches the students valuable problem-solving…
We are always Fundraising and looking for Volunteers to help us deploy more reefs. Here are our current reef projects that are in the works.
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PCB Fishing Rodeo
BCARA is participating in the PCB Fishing Rodeo at Capt. Anderson’s Marina, Oct. 4th through Oct. 12th. Come by our booth, grab a bite to eat and enjoy live music as fish are brought to the scales! BCARA will be serving fresh authentic seafood plates! $20 a plate Every donation goes toward building more reefs!…
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Capt. Max
6/05/2025: This tugboat was donated to the association and will be sunk in state waters as a dive reef. If funded the St. Joe Foundation will help prepare this tugboat for reefing. IF the St. Joe Foundation does not fund the project VOLUNTEERS will be needed to help prepare the Capt. Max for reefing! 8/27/2025:…
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Concrete Blocks
A local entity has donated several hundred block weights to use as artificial reefs. BCARA is seeking heavy equipment business owners that can help move these reefs to a barge and or staging facility. All reefs are donated; we will be responsible for pick up and deployment. If your business has wants to help by…