Rough seas for fishermen this weekend

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. (WALA) - The rough seas are putting a damper on some local fishing tournaments this weekend.

At least three tournaments were postponed because of the choppy waters, and many chartered trips have been called off too.

And that's making this short snapper season even shorter.

Even though they're on vacation, the Davidson family had quite the productive morning.

But it wasn't all smooth sailing.

The father, Ryan Davidson said, "The fish was bitin' good, it was a little bit rough goin’ on way out there. We had a little bit of sickness."

TJ Davidson didn't fare so well. He said, “Until I vomited, yes I was good."

But, little Oliver Davidson managed just fine. Oliver said, "I'm tough!"

The water was pretty rough on Friday, and FOX10 meteorologists said it's only going to get rougher as the weekend goes on.

Charter boat captain Nicholas Leiterman said, "This weekend is supposedly booked up, if we can get the weather to cooperate."

Already some charter boat captains have canceled trips. Sure, it may be a couple of days, but this year's Red Snapper season ends on July 10.

Thad Stewart from Zeke’s Landing said, "You can't get days back."

And a few days off can mean thousands of dollars.

Stewart stared at a list of cancelled trips and said, “These two charters combined, that we're about to cancel, around ($7,000 lost)."

But these are charter boat captains. They know the waters, and some are going to watch the weather to the very last minute before pulling the plug on their trips.

"Mother nature, behave yourself!” said Leiterman.

Thankfully, the Davidson family got their fill before the weather could ruin their plans. Red Snapper season has a looming expiration date, and rough weather can spoil a fisherman’s bottom line.

POSTPONED FISHING TOURNAMENTS

• ·        The Mobile Mystics Saltwater Tournament- June 30 .
• ·        Allen 'Rookie' Kruse Memorial Snapper Tournament- June 30
• ·        Gulf Coast Outboard Classic- July 6 and 7.  
• ·        Kyser Miree Memorial Fishing Tournament- July 1
• ·        Mystic Stripers Open Fishing Rodeo- July 1