Maryland Department of Natural Resources

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Clint Water's Reef at Cook's Point

According to Clint Waters of the Dorchester chapter of the Maryland Saltwater Sportfishing Association (MSSA)​, striped bass (rockfish), Atlantic croaker (hardhead), white perch, and spot have increased in numbers locally, since deployment of reef balls and oysters at the Cook Point Location. Recently, this location was re-named in honor of Clint Waters to Clint Water's Reef at Cook's Point​.

History & Information

The Cook Pt. Reef site is a 2-acre area within the 17-Acre Cook Point Oyster Sanctuary. This site is adjacent to the Cook Point Airplane Wreck, which is a historically important area for sport fishing in the Choptank River Mouth Region. The area has been designated for placement of reef balls, and water depth is in the range of 20 - 26 feet. The reef ball site is 2 acres around one of the four shell piles in the sanctuary. The four shellfish piles are visible in the MGS side-scan image (the upper left is obscured by the coordinates). The reef ball side scan image is included here, along with underwater still shots and video of the site.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation placed reef balls set with oysters and overplanted with spat-on-shell in 2008 & 2009, and expects to do so again in 2010. All of the oysters on the site were funded by a grant from Restore America’s Estuaries/ NOAA. Reef ball deployments were conducted in partnership with the Dorchester County Chapter of the Maryland Saltwater Sportfishing Association (MSSA). After 2010, the allowed area will need to be enlarged, hopefully taking in another of the hills.

According to Clint Waters of the Dorchester County Chapter of the Maryland Saltwater Sportfishing Association (MSSA), striped bass (rockfish), Atlantic croaker (hardhead), white perch, and spot have increased in numbers locally, since deployment of reef balls and oysters.

Corner points from sidescan sonar image done by Maryland Geological Survey/Maryland Artificial Reef Initiative, July 2008:

A = 76 16’58.222” / 38 39’17.709”
B = 76 16’54.495” / 38 39’17.742”
C = 76 16’54.451” / 38 39’14.829”
D = 76 16’58.167” / 38 39’14.796”

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Reef balls with extensive colonization of benthic organisms, at Cook Reef site. Photo by Michael Eversmier, 10/30/09

Cook Point Reef Photo

Marine Invertebrate growth on reef balls at Cook Reef site. Photo by Michael Eversmier, 10/30/09

Cook Point Reef Photo

Black sea bass near oyster-encrusted reef balls at Cook Reef site. Photo by Michael Eversmier, 10/30/09

Cook Point Reef Photo

Reef balls with extensive colonization of benthic organisms, at Cook Reef site. Photo by Michael Eversmier, 10/30/09

Cook Point Reef Side Scan

Side scan image of reef ball area, showing the four corner points of the 2-Acre box. Side-scan imagery by MGS, 2008.