Building an artificial reef is no simple or easy task anywhere, especially off the coast of Northeast Florida. It takes a community effort involving the city, state, fishing clubs research divers and local businesses all coming together for one common goal of placing an artificial reef in their area. Such is the case of the soon to be artificial reef offshore Jacksonville. After nearly two years of red tape and permitting, the Jacksonville Reef Research Team and the local Coast Guard, along with support from private citizens and businesses made this new reef a reality.
The reef will be formed by a decommissioned Coast Guard buoy tender Spike. This was a 76’ steel hulled vessel that has been out of service since 1986, well kind of out of service. The Spike took on a new role after its departure from the Coast Guard as living quarters for the Safe Harbor Home for boys over the past few years. The Spike was commissioned in 1966 and was built in Dorchester, New Jersey, by the Dorchester Shipping Corporation. She has a long history here in Jacksonville as her original and only assignment was with the Coast Guard Group, Mayport. Having the Spike as reef material was only the beginning in many steps needed to complete this project.
Volunteers from many different groups all rolled up their sleeves to begin the lengthy clean up process required by the Federal government before the intentional sinking of any vessel used for this purpose. The main club associated with this under taking was the Jacksonville Sport Fishing Association who have seen this project through the good, the bad and the ugly and are now waiting patiently for the Spike to take its final cruise some 25 nautical miles east of the St. Johns River entrance offshore Jacksonville. There she will become home to all sorts of marine life providing shelter and attracting food and will soon become a hot spot for local divers and fishermen. The original date for her sinking was set for July 9, 2009 however reports have been made that this date may be pushed forward due to logistics.
