FISHING spots for Redland anglers have been extended after more than 224 concrete reef balls were tipped into waters off Peel and Coochiemudlo islands today.
A Stradbroke Ferries barge spent all day loading, transporting and then dropping the balls in to waters about 3Nm west of Peel Island and at the East Coochie Reef.
There are 11 reef ball clusters to the north-west of Peel Island and seven clusters off Coochiemudlo’s eastern shores.
A large crane hoisted the 600kg balls off the barge deck before they were lowered 14.5m into the water to settle on the seabed.
Today’s operation was to top-up Peel Island's existing reef with 128 extra concrete balls and add 96 to Coochie reef's existing 78 balls.
There are four other artificial reefs in the Moreton Bay Marine Park.
The North Moreton Artificial Reef, built in 2011, is about 3Nm off the northern tip of Moreton Island and was made of 25 fish boxes at a depth of 14m and is deep enough for spearfishermen.
Others are at Wild Banks, about 12Nm east of Bribie Island; the Harry Atkinson Artificial Reef, about 12Nm west of Amity Point and the South Stradbroke Artificial Reef, made of 20 concrete cubes covering 208ha at 23m to attract reef and larger pelagic fish.
For the rest of this story and the reef coordinates, read Friday's Redland Times
