FLOATERS (Semi-submersibles)

Floaters (Semi-submersibles) are floating oil platforms that operate in depths ranging from a few hundred feet up to 10,000+ feet in water depth! Oil companies have developed this remarkable deep-water technology allowing them to drill for oil without having to build stationary platforms in such deep water (which would be technologically and financially prohibitive). These floating rigs are very transient and do not normally stay on one location for more than a few months (usually a few weeks) at a time. Due to their enormous size, they are naturally fish attracting devices for pelagics such as tuna, marlin, dorado, and other gamefish, and which is why we track them here on this site. Their location information is in itself dynamic data which we update every week - but to see this dynamic data overlaid on the other dynamic data shown on this site (such as Sea Surface Temperatures as shown below) gives you a much better understanding of the overall picture regarding the conditions out there. This is important, as it will definitely affect your decision-making process in your pursuit of that tournament-winning fish.

When you go into your region (this applies mainly to the NW and NC Gulf), you will see any floaters that are in your region. Make note of which floaters are of interest to you, then scroll down on the left Nav Bar and click on "Floaters". This will take you to the Floater Index Page, (shown below) which gives you the pertinent info about all of the floaters located in the Gulf. Perhaps the most important data here is the last listed - "future plans" as this will give you an idea of how long it will be on that spot as well as tell you where it's going next. Due to the deepwater nature of these rigs, it is sometimes a very long journey to reach them, and it is important to have assurance that it will indded be there when you go out there. We cannot guarantee that it will be there, but we do give you an idea of whether it will be there or not.