Mexico Beach Artificial Reef Association

98 Real Estate Group Ling Ding Reef This reef is dededicated to the 98 Real Esate Group that hosted the 2011 Ling Ding Tournament in Mexico Beach. Proceeds from the tournament were donated to the MBARA to help build more reefs. This reef consists of 1 Ecosystem, 1 Grouper Reef, and 3 Florida Limestone Artificial Reef Modules deployed 5 May 2011 under FWC Grant Project 10161 Tennessee Chuck McKibbon Reef 1 Ecosystem, 3 Grouper Reefs, and 1 Florida Limestone Artficial Reef Modules deployed 5 May 2011 under FWC Grant 10161. Verified by MBARA divers Bob & Carol Cox on 11 May 2011. Chuck retired from the Tennessee Department of Conservation in 1999 and moved to Mexico Beach. He loves to fish and enjoys every day of his life. He considers Mexico Beach paradise on Earth. Raymond Miles Reef The Raymond Miles Memorial Reef is named after Raymond Miles from Bainbridge, Georgia, who was one of the first people to support the MBARA back in l997. He was a wonderful man who gave continuously to others in his local community. He was a successful businessman, a loving father and husband, and he loved to fish around Mexico Beach with his lovely wife, Sam. King mackerel was his favorite fish to catch. He died in October of 2010 at the age of 85. This reef will honor him memory and his many accomplishments during his lifetime. The reef is comprised 1 Ecosystem and 4 Florida Limestone Artificial Reefs Modules deployed 5 May 2011 under FWC Grant 10161 MB-127 Unnammed 1 Ecosystem and 5 Florida Limestone Artficial Reef Modules deployed 5 May 2011 under FWC Grant 10161. MB-126 Unnammed 3 Ecosystem and 5 Florida Limestone Artificial Reef Module deployed 5 May 2011 under FWC Grant 10161. Verified by MBARA Divers Bob & Carol Cox on 22 Aug 2011. MB-125 Unnamed Ferro-cement sailboat with 3,000 lbs of concrete rubble added for ballast. Deployed 19 Mar 2011. Length 47' X Beam 14' X Height 10'. Verfified by MBARA divers Bob and Carol Cox on 19 Mar 2011

John Thompson Memorial Reef is a GO! 

Update!  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 reached.  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.  This reef will be placed approximately 1/4 mile North of the lumbership which was John's favorite place to fish.  The memorial is scheduled to be completed in the Spring of 2012.  A celebration of John Thompson's life will coincide the deployment of this reef later this Spring.   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

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

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