11-15-2010, 09:10 PM
The BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico from the Deepwater Horizon oil well was said to be the worst ecological disaster in the history of this country. From Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle, tar balls and oil slicks appeared. Shore birds were covered in oil, and many wondered if the sea turtles, shrimp, fish and oysters would survive. The jury's still out on the total economic damage that this oil spill caused.
However, unlike the old saying, "it's an ill wind that blows no one any good," several good things have resulted from the oil spill. Never has there been more testing of the fish and seafood in the Gulf of Mexico to ensure that it's safe for consumption than has been conducted during and after the oil-spill crisis and continuing even today. All reports from the researchers and scientists have given all Gulf of Mexico seafood in the open zone a clean bill of health.
Also due to the oil spill, fishing, shrimping and oystering were suspended throughout most of the summer. The results of that suspension seem to indicate that more and bigger fish are out in the Gulf of Mexico available for fishermen to catch than anyone can remember in recent times. Anglers at Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, Alabama, have reported catching red snapper weighing 8-15 pounds and plenty of red snapper over 20 pounds. The triggerfish and other species of reef fish being brought in have also been much larger and more abundant than previously. Early reports from the shrimping industry tend to indicate that there are more and bigger shrimp now alongAlabama's Gulf Coast than shrimpers and biologists have seen in many seasons. Too, many of the young-of-the-year sea turtles have survived and thrived, although no one knows what the long-term effects of this oil spill may be.
However, because of the special red snapper season, scheduled to end at 12:01 am on November 22, many-more fishermen have been at Alabama's the Gulf catching fish than previously in the fall. The reports from these captains and anglers show that fishermen can expect a bonanza of reef fish and blue-water fish for the catching this spring and summer of 2011. You have one more weekend to fish for red snapper and be able to keep them on the Upper Gulf Coast. But after the red snapper season ends, Orange Beach, Ala., area still will have plenty of great fishing for vermilion snapper, grouper, scamp, amberjacks, triggerfish, white snapper, king mackerel, wahoo and tuna. If you're tired of fighting the cold weather, and the snows start moving-in up North, plan a trip to Alabama's Gulf Coast for some warm-weather saltwater fishing, whether inshore, offshore or on the Gulf State Park Pier, the longest pier in the Gulf of Mexico, in Gulf Shores, Ala.
To learn more about fishing the Gulf State Park Pier, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, call 251-948-7275. For more information about fishing guides and charter boats, lodging accommodations, restaurants and entertainment on Alabama's Gulf Coast, call 800-745-SAND (7263), or check-out www.orangebeach.com. You also can get a fishing report three times each week by visiting the "What's Biting?" column at www.orangebeach.com/fishing/biting/. To learn the restaurants that will cook your catch, go to http://www.gulfshores.com/dining-nightlife/restaurants/ and click on "Will Cook Your Catch."
However, unlike the old saying, "it's an ill wind that blows no one any good," several good things have resulted from the oil spill. Never has there been more testing of the fish and seafood in the Gulf of Mexico to ensure that it's safe for consumption than has been conducted during and after the oil-spill crisis and continuing even today. All reports from the researchers and scientists have given all Gulf of Mexico seafood in the open zone a clean bill of health.
Also due to the oil spill, fishing, shrimping and oystering were suspended throughout most of the summer. The results of that suspension seem to indicate that more and bigger fish are out in the Gulf of Mexico available for fishermen to catch than anyone can remember in recent times. Anglers at Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, Alabama, have reported catching red snapper weighing 8-15 pounds and plenty of red snapper over 20 pounds. The triggerfish and other species of reef fish being brought in have also been much larger and more abundant than previously. Early reports from the shrimping industry tend to indicate that there are more and bigger shrimp now alongAlabama's Gulf Coast than shrimpers and biologists have seen in many seasons. Too, many of the young-of-the-year sea turtles have survived and thrived, although no one knows what the long-term effects of this oil spill may be.
However, because of the special red snapper season, scheduled to end at 12:01 am on November 22, many-more fishermen have been at Alabama's the Gulf catching fish than previously in the fall. The reports from these captains and anglers show that fishermen can expect a bonanza of reef fish and blue-water fish for the catching this spring and summer of 2011. You have one more weekend to fish for red snapper and be able to keep them on the Upper Gulf Coast. But after the red snapper season ends, Orange Beach, Ala., area still will have plenty of great fishing for vermilion snapper, grouper, scamp, amberjacks, triggerfish, white snapper, king mackerel, wahoo and tuna. If you're tired of fighting the cold weather, and the snows start moving-in up North, plan a trip to Alabama's Gulf Coast for some warm-weather saltwater fishing, whether inshore, offshore or on the Gulf State Park Pier, the longest pier in the Gulf of Mexico, in Gulf Shores, Ala.
To learn more about fishing the Gulf State Park Pier, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, call 251-948-7275. For more information about fishing guides and charter boats, lodging accommodations, restaurants and entertainment on Alabama's Gulf Coast, call 800-745-SAND (7263), or check-out www.orangebeach.com. You also can get a fishing report three times each week by visiting the "What's Biting?" column at www.orangebeach.com/fishing/biting/. To learn the restaurants that will cook your catch, go to http://www.gulfshores.com/dining-nightlife/restaurants/ and click on "Will Cook Your Catch."