We’ve all been overloaded with news coverage about the recent oil spill down in the gulf. There was not a day that went by that the oil rig explosion and the resulting damage was not reported at the top of every news show and on the cover of every newspaper in the country. Now that the well has been capped the media has moved onto the next tragedy and left much of the area and livelihoods, damaged by the oil and all of the negative coverage, to fend for themselves.
Earlier in the year I wrote about a trip I took to Venice, Louisiana to fish. I was actually fishing the day before and after the rig blew. At that time my thoughts were mostly with the people that lost their lives and their families, not really about how much oil would be flowing or how long it would take to stop the flow. After several days and oil flowing, my thoughts obviously turned toward the environment and the businesses of all of the great guys that I fished with and stayed with while I was there.
Last week my good friend Mark Davis, of Big Water Adventures, called to let me know the fishing in Venice is now as good as it was when we were there in April. He had been talking with Captain David Iverson and David had let him know the fishing was really good. Mark took the opportunity to take his fishing show on the road and film another show in Venice. This was done for a couple of reasons. Number one Mark has never met a redfish he did not want to catch. He also wanted to help get the word out for all of the people that like to travel and fish and help all of the great guides that make a living from anglers traveling to the area. Many of you that reading this newsletter now travel to different destinations every year to fish and I assume many of you may have cancelled plans to head down to Venice due to the oil spill. The good news is that the fishing is as good as ever and if you have not been down there to fish, you are missing an opportunity to experience some of the best inshore fishing you will experience anywhere.