Mexico Beach Artificial Reef Association Inc.

Blacktip shark at the Willie Krause Memorial Reef.

Red Grouper and pink sponges on a reef ball site

Blue Angelfish and pink sponges on a reef ball

Warty Dorid, one of the rarest nudibranchs in the world, but sometimes common in our area.

John Thompson Memorial Reef
12 Florida Limestone Artificial Reefs, 2 Grouper Reefs, and 4 Lindberg Grouper Cubes deployed 4-6 Apr 2012 with funding from family and friends. Verified by MBARA divers Bob and Carol Cox on 8 Apr 2012.

John and Darlene Cox Memorial Reef
1 Florida Limestone Artificial Reef with engraved plaque. Deployed on 4 Apr 2012. Funded by family donations. Verified by MBARA divers Bob and Carol Cox on 8 Apr 2012.

MB-139 Unnamed
1 Ecosystem, 5 Florida Limestone Artificial Reefs, and 1 Grouper Reef deployed 6 Apr 2012 under FWC grant 11224 and MBARA funding.

MB-138 Unnamed
1 Ecosystem, 5 Florida Limestone Artificial Reefs, and 1 Grouper Reef deployed 6 Apr 2012 under FWC grant 11224 and MBARA funding.

MB-137 Unnamed
2 Ecosystems, 1 Florida Limestone Artificial Reef, and 1 Grouper Reef deployed 6 Apr 2012 under FWC grant 11224 and MBARA funding.

MB-136 Unnamed
1 Ecosystem, 1 Florida Limestone Artificial Reef, and 1 Grouper Reef deployed 6 Apr 2012 under FWC grant 11224 and MBARA funding.

New Reefs Built 4-7 April 2012

The MBARA is pleased to announce that 18 new reefs have been built off the coast of Mexico Beach using 73 prefabricated structures. The project cost was approximately $106,000. $60,000 was funded by a grant from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. $21,000 was funded by the MBARA. And, the remainder was funded by memorial reef donations. Among the 18 reefs were two memorial reefs at Bell Shoals named the John Thompson Memorial Reef and the John and Darlene Cox Memorial Reef. Reef site loactions and descriptions will be loaded on the website later this week. With continued and increasing support, the MBARA will continue to build more reefs improving our fisheries and marine habitat for everyone to enjoy. Please help and donate today!

John Thompson Memorial Reef is a GO!

Update! 18 of the 21 prebabricated structures has been placed at the reef site. 3 Ecosystems had to be postponed due to high winds and sea conditions. Fundraising for the John Thompson Memorial Reef has been an amazing success! Thanks to the gracious donations of friends and family, the original goal has been exceeded. Many people have expressed that they still wish to contribute and be involved with the memorial. Therefore, we will gratefully continue to accept donations to expand the size of this remarkable reef for a wonderful man. More detail about this memorial project can be viewed at John's Memorial Reef. Bonita has asked that donations be made to John's memorial in lieu of flowers. If you would like to help, please visit www.mbara.org/donate.cfm to make your donation. Donors using PayPal, please reference your payment to the John Thompson Memorial in the "Add special instructions to seller" link during PayPal payment processing. Donors can also write checks payable to MBARA and mail them to MBARA P.O. Box 13006 Mexico Beach, FL 32410. Please reference John Thompson's memorial on the check.

15th Annual MBARA Kingfish Tournament Results

2011 st Place Kingfish

1st Place Kingfish with $3,000 Prize. Boat: Gag Reflex Capt: Russell Stewart Angler: Larry Lemieux Weight: 44.95 lbs.

2011 MBARA Kingfish Tournament Weigh Sheets

Panhandle Kingfish Slam Winner

2011 Panhandle Slamm Winners

Prize $5,000 Boat: Floridaze Capt: Mitch Coleman. Total Kingfish weight was 91.87 lbs from the Bluewater Outriggers Charity Classic, Mexico Beach Marina Off Shore Classic, and MBARA Kingfish tournaments.

2011 Panhandle Kingfish Slam Results

MBARA Membership Pays Rewards!

The MBARA held its annual membership drawing at the 2011 MBARA Kingfish Tournament Capt's Party. The following members won real nice Shimano rod & reel combos as a benefit to being members of the MBARA: Michael Maier in Virginia and Phil Lindale in South Carolina. Congratulations Mike and Phil!

About us: The Mexico Beach Artificial Reef Association (MBARA) was formed in January of 1997 and has since deployed over 150 artificial reefs. The primary function of the organization is the conservation and environmental improvement of our natural and artificial marine reef systems in the Gulf of Mexico near Mexico Beach, Florida, but that is not all that has been done by the organization. Since its inception, the MBARA has also worked very hard to conduct and promote scientific research and evaluation of reef designs, biomass development, and fish productions. The third function of the MBARA is educating the public about the importance of reef systems to the marine ecosystem, and the impact they have on the coastal communities where they are built. All parties benefit when the information on reefs is disseminated to the public. School children, the organization's members, and the general public need to know all about reefs and reef building in order to help promote conservation and environmental improvement of the marine reef systems.

We need membership support! Please join today! Your membership dues and tax deductible donations will be used to build new artificial reefs.

We need volunteers! Are you an experienced diver? Do you have computer and writing skills? We also need writers to process grant applications. If you don't have time to volunteer, you can still help by joining MBARA and making tax deductible contributions for reef building. For more details, contact Bob Cox at rcox@mchsi.com