Fishermen eager as more waters reopen

GULF SHORES, Alabama (WALA) - FISHING RE-OPENS

Eight thousand square miles of federal fishing waters have been re-opened off Mississippi , Alabama, and Florida. That means, for the first time in months, charter fishermen can get back to their livelihoods. But with the summer ending is there enough time to reel in some business?

Captain Shane Mcleod has been readying his boat Untouchable to catch marlin. He’s glad to be back on the water, but he says there just isn’t enough business, and the re-opening has come too late to make much difference.

"Summer’s over," Mcleod said. "School starts back. Labor Day is usually the last big weekend, but 90 percent of the boats here are charter boats and they’re all sitting at the dock."

FISHING IS GREAT

Bob Skillen, from North Carolina , is one of the few tourists going out. He came in from a fishing trip on the Boll Weevel. He says he changed vacation plans when the waters were re-opened.

“People need to come down here,” Skillen said. “It’s great. It’s beautiful and let me tell you there’s a ton of fish out there.”

FISH TEST NEGATIVE

The federal waters were re-opened by NOAA after nearly 200 samples of shrimp and fish tested negative for oil and dispersants. For the guys that run the boats, that’s good news, but they’re still skeptical.

“That does give some hope, but don’t always get the truth,” Mcleod said.

“What I’m concerned with is four or five years down the road. What’s going to happen to the life-cycle and the reproductive aspect of the fisheries,” Cool Breeze Captain, Rob Gams said.

SHORT SNAPPER SEASON

Coming up in October there will be an abbreviated red snapper season. Every weekend, from Friday through Sunday, until November 21. That may just offer some hope as the charter captains go into winter.