Have you seen what they been catchin Up Ft Walton Area

[Hawg Hunter]

Looks Like the Oil has done what we were expecting

[flounderpounder225]

Yes, I have seen personally what we're catching... and they were delicious tonight..not a blemish on anything we caught yesterday, and we caught a lot, including at least 18 Red Snapper that we tossed back out of season.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7079

Not to disregard the findings, or rather the pictures of some fish that have been caught, but the media is the worst.  Last year everything was doom and gloom for the next 100 years here on the gulf, then when things cleared up, not so much anymore, they move on to the next carcass to feed on.  A guy here on our Bayou by my house called the EPA and Coast guard because he had oil washing up by his house.  It turned out to be nothing more than black organics that have been washing up along the beach edge forever, and he has lived there forever.  Last month a reported huge oil mat of orangeish material was out at 16 miles, for as far as you could see... everyone was freakin out.  I ran the boat through it, and it was pretty weird looking, I stopped and poured some Dawn detergent in it, and nothing happened, so I was pretty sure it was not oil.  Turns out, that it was a naturally occurring algie formation.  So I would like to hear from NOAA or EPA or something about what the testing revealed on these fish with the weird blotching, just my opinion.
Marc

[pete]

I guess after all the media hype,peaple tend to jump to conclusions

[John Jones]

I guess after all the media hype,peaple tend to jump to conclusions

or just need attention.

[Glock Diver]

I'm no marine biologist, but I would expect two oil contaminated fish to be very similar looking.  Whatever substance is on those snapper, they're in different places on the fish, which is unusual.  Call me crazy, but I think there's a good chance it's not oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill.

[gran398]

Guys, I'm no expert either. But appears to be some type of contusion, heavy bruise. And certainly not emanating from any type of internal infection....well away from the guts, and not the same per side. I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night. And possibly tomorrow night.

[DOCREED]

magic marker...........my kids had that all over them one time...same color too.  It was on the walls too if i remember correctly.

[gran398]

[Saltyseagal]

Well what was the fishing like in Pensacola this weekend?? Seems that would shed some light on the pics... :fish:

[Capt. Bob]

Other red snappers have strange pigmentation issues, Patterson said. "We have some images of red snappers sent to us by commercial fishermen that have black bands across the sides of the fish that is discolored skin."

These symptoms are not unusual in themselves, Patterson said, but the fact that they're appearing at what looks to be increased rates at the same time concerns him.

"Some of these things that we're seeing are classic symptoms of hydrocarbon exposure that have been documented in lab studies."

For example, the odd pigmentation could be caused by the fish's kidney or bile duct being affected or clogged by oil components.

"So it does seem to be pointing in one direction, but we don't have anything definitive yet to tell the full story."

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news ... ce-nation/

No positive proof but......

[John Jones]

Well what was the fishing like in Pensacola this weekend?? Seems that would shed some light on the pics... :fish:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7079

[RickK]

Other red snappers have strange pigmentation issues, Patterson said. "We have some images of red snappers sent to us by commercial fishermen that have black bands across the sides of the fish that is discolored skin."

...No positive proof but......

Could be caused by a net?

[bball4364]

Was thnking about going scalloping in Steinhatchee this summer, but I am real hesitant.  

Honestly I do not think anyone can guarantee there "IS" or "ISN'T"  an affect on the marine environment.

I think I will wait, just not enough good information especially with scallops being filter feeders.

Anyone going scalloping?

[Capt. Bob]

A lot of work for a little meat but.....

I'll be down in St. Joseph Bay.
Hell the silt is so full of dioxin from the old paper mill, a little oil won't kill ya any quicker. :o

[John Jones]

Hell the silt is so full of dioxin from the old paper mill, a little oil won't kill ya any quicker. :o

  Exactly.

None of it is quick acting so us old folks have it made.  We will already be dead before the toxins can kick in.  ;)

Over here they control shrimp season by the average size and maybe it's because of the oil but they are running so large this year they opened the season early.