Major Issues
Yes Sir Barbender, major fishing issues with the spill. Fortunately it has miraculously stayed a little bit to the west of my normal fishing area by about 20 miles. Every few days the size and location of the closed area expands or contracts. Normally it ranges from around 33 to 36 percent of the total Gulf of Mexico. Last trip out about ten days ago was good in the fact that I did not come in with an oil ring around the boat although I did not venture out my usual 60 miles that day due to weather conditions. The oil has driven a lot of fish into a lot shallower water than normal to the northeast of the closed area. It has been a fishing free for all with law enforcement reportedly looking the other way and most everyone catching and keeping all they can. The mindset is that all the fish are going to die anyway. Friend of mine caught a huge Warsaw Grouper in only sixty feet of water. This bad boy normally hangs out in 250 to 300 feet deep areas. Another buddy caught a blue fin tuna about 7 miles offshore south of Cape San Blas which is almost unheard of. Ran into the BP Boat Brigade on a boom laying practice run also on the last trip out. Quite amusing as it looked kind of like they were getting ready for some sort of invasion. I am always very serious about safety but 75 guys walking around on dry land all wearing inflatable life vest kind of cracked me up. The hodge podge of hired out to BP Vessels of Opportunity boats included a late eighties model Offshore 24. I tried to speak with the crew with limited success. I did manage to get a little response when I asked if they were going to lay boom. The shot out first mate replied "Nah we gone haul duh bird people and duh turtle people" Strangely the boat was named "EARL"! Just a matter of the right conditions happening which will move the spill into the west coast of Florida! :cry:
