Jane’s Island and Tangier Sound MARI Reef Site

Jane's Island, located on a 64 acre area at a depth of 12' - 18'. Bottom type is sand and sand with cultch. Reef material includes tire units deployed in 1968 and reef balls that were placed in 2021, 2022.

Tangier Sound, a 98 acre triangular site near the Maryland–Virginia border. Depth: 30–36 ft. Bottom: mainly hard sand. Reef material: quarry rock, bridge slabs, Jersey barriers, and concrete pipe. Notes: This site has a high diversity of fish species, with the added structure providing current breaks and ambush cover that support strong, year-round use.

On June 9th and 13th, 2023, CCA Maryland and its partners enhanced fish habitat in Tangier Sound by deploying more than 220 reef balls, 550 reef pyramids, and 30 pieces of concrete pipe at the Janes Island artificial reef site near Crisfield, MD. Located just west-southwest of Crisfield and south of the Janes Island Lighthouse, the project expands a 60-acre reef area and adds to previous deployments that continue to attract diverse marine life. Part of CCA’s Living Reef Action Campaign, this effort brings together state agencies, local businesses, and volunteers to restore vital Chesapeake Bay habitat while connecting communities to the underwater resources that sustain them.

Tangier Sound has come a long way since the Building Conservation Trust’s (BCT) second reef project launched back in 2017, and today it’s clear just how impactful that work has been. What started with 400 tons of donated concrete pipes and manhole sections has transformed into a thriving underwater habitat that supports oysters, sponges, baitfish, and a wide variety of gamefish like striped bass, croaker, and even the occasional sheepshead. Anglers and charter captains now count the Tangier reef site as one of the Bay’s go-to fishing destinations, while conservationists celebrate its role in improving water quality and bolstering biodiversity. Nearly a decade later, this reef is living proof that investing in habitat restoration benefits both the ecosystem and the communities who depend on it.

Want to fish Tangier Sound?

Our Tangier Sound Reef and Janes Island Reef are already thriving with oyster reef balls and concrete structures that attract oysters, baitfish, and the gamefish anglers come looking for — making them a perfect first stop on your fishing trip. Once you’ve worked these reefs and enjoyed the action they provide, you can keep the adventure going by exploring some of Tangier Sound’s other classic hotspots highlighted by FishTalk, like the flounder-filled Janes Island Horn, the marsh edges around Smith and Tangier Islands, or the deep waters of the Chain Hole. Think of our reefs as the kickoff to your day on the Sound, with plenty more great fishing just a short run away.