Flatfish On The Bama Coast

The flounder: one of more popular and tasty fish found on our Gulf Coast. Here's where to find and how to catch them from Gulf Shores to Orange Beach.

By Phillip Gentry

The jig hit the water just inside the rip created by the current washing across the rocks along the seawall that my fishing partner, Jeff Chambliss, and I were targeting. I left the bail on the spinning reel open as the jig rolled along with the current on its way back toward Jeff's boat, which he held parallel to the wall with his trolling motor. I flipped the bail closed and started taking up slack, beginning to feel the bait as it bumped across the sandy bottom next to the rocks.

The bite was signaled by a distinct thump -- nothing more. No line-stripping run like a summertime redfish, no slash-and-grab like a speckled trout: just that thump. And then everything seemed normal.

Except that my line had stopped moving.

Quickly glancing up at Chambliss, a veteran inshore guide from Orange Beach, I remembered his earlier instructions about waiting for the fish to start chewing -- and after at least 10 seconds, I felt it. Maybe "chewing" isn't the right word, but that's sure what it felt like.

The fish had grabbed my jig as if it were an injured mullet being flung along by the current. Once it had a firm grasp on its prey, it settled back to the bottom while its dinner expired. The joke was on it, however: Its dinner wasn't dead -- merely playing the part.

As the unseen fish began devouring his meal, I tightened up the slack on my medium-weight All Star spinning rod and then arched back to cross my quarry's eyeballs with a long, backward sweep of the rod. The creature at the other end of my line exploded into action as the point of jig's hook drove home.

Lying flat on the bottom, the flounder has the laws of physics in its favor. Its broad, flat body can create enough drag to sometimes give the fish enough force to wrap the line around the closest obstacle and break it. Steady pressure on the head, however, angles a flounder's body like a Frisbee thrown into the wind -- and up it comes. After a brief struggle, the flounder's path altered to a course that eventually led it to a frying pan.

Continued on Alabama Game & Fish

Luxury yacht stolen from The Wharf's docks

55-foot vessel, the Full Moon, valued at $800,000
Thursday, July 31, 2008
By GUY BUSBY
Staff Reporter

Orange Beach police are looking for an $800,000 motor yacht that was last seen moored near the Intracoastal Waterway on Tuesday night, but was missing from its slip Wednesday morning.

The 55-foot vessel, named the Full Moon, was taken from its berth at a boat dealership, Gulf Coast Hatteras, at The Wharf sometime after 5 p.m. Tuesday, Lt. Steve Brown of the Orange Beach Police Department said Wednesday. The theft was discovered Wednesday morning, he said.

"We know for certain it was there between 5 and 7 yesterday and this morning it was gone," Brown said. "We believe it was moved in the middle of the night, but can't confirm that, yet."

Mobile Press-Register

Orange Beach Welcomes First of Two Racing Events for August

Orange Beach, AL—As a prelude to the upcoming Thunder on the Gulf Powerboat Races, Orange Beach will host the 11th Annual Sea-Doo Surf and Turf Championships on August 2-3. Perdido Beach Resort will become racing central as nearly 200 of the top watercross athletes coverage on the Alabama Gulf Coast for an exciting weekend of racing action.

Sanctioned by the American Power Boat Association, the Surf and Turf Championships feature events in the ski, sport and runabout divisions. Different from other competitions, this contest is set up to attract both experienced circuit racers and novice athletes.

Weekend events kick off Saturday morning as the first competitors hit the liquid race course at 11:00 a.m. Competition continues throughout the day until 6:00 p.m. Sunday holds the promise of more exciting racing battles from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Fans are welcome to watch the entire competition for free from the beach just in front of the Perdido Beach Resort.

Racing fans will also want to attend the autograph session slated for Saturday at 1:oo p.m. and then the Racers Party at 8:oo p.m. later that night at Night Reef, which is located on the bottom floor of the resort. There will also be a charity auction of action sports memorabilia on Sunday afternoon just prior to the 6:00 p.m. awards ceremony. Proceeds will benefit injured rider Trace Mills of Texas, who will be in attendance. Admission to all events is also free.

Adding to the excitement, I-Ball productions will be on hand to gather footage for two MAV Network shows that will air in September while Wizzard Media will produce a live podcast of the weekend.

“We are so excited to welcome the first of our two racing events for the month of August,” said Beth Gendler, director of sales for the Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau. “In addition to being a widely respected racing league, the Surf and Turf Championships is packed with racing action. Between hosting this event and then Thunder on the Gulf two weeks later (August 14-17), the Alabama Gulf Coast is definitely establishing itself as a premier athletic destination complimented by family friendly accommodations, attractions and restaurants.”

Even more excited is event organizer Mike Young, the owner of Surf and Turf Promotions. He added that “I have a lot of pride in the race sites that I choose, and Orange Beach is a family-friendly, vacation destination with some of America's most beautiful beaches and clean water. Their southern hospitality is second to none. I am staying an extra week!”

The Sports Commission is a partnership between Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau, Alabama Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce and the cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. For information, please visit www.alabamabeachsports.com or www.apbaracing.com.

New rules affecting shark fishing

By David Rainer | Clanton Advertiser

Published Monday, July 28, 2008

Have any idea how far away a bull shark can pick up a blood trail?

Believe it or not, it’s one mile. That’s right, 5,280 feet.

And that is one of the reasons there has been a change in the way anglers in Alabama can fish for sharks.

After tweaking the language in the regulation to ensure safe fishing practices would not be hindered, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Marine Resources Division recently enacted a regulation to prohibit chumming or bloodbaiting for sharks in certain areas.

The regulation reads:

“It shall be unlawful within three hundred feet of the shoreline, or on a public pier, or on a private pier where an unsafe condition is created, on or in waters of Alabama under the jurisdiction of the Marine Resources Division as provided by Rule 220-2-.42, to fish for or target sharks or any species by those methods commonly known as ‘chumming’ or ‘bloodbaiting.’

Clinton Advertiser

National Kids Night Out in Orange Beach

Submitted by Glenda Beech

Hot summer days filled with splashing, biking and camps is coming to a close as the summer break wraps up in preparation of the new school year. To add some excitement in closing out the summer, the Orange Beach Police Department will host the 3rd Annual “National Kids Night Out” program for the community.

National Kids Night Out will be held on Monday, August 4, 2008 at the Orange Beach Waterfront Park from 6 to 8 p.m. This National program brings fun activities for the children and families with an emphasis on safety. Officers of the police department will give parents the opportunity to fingerprint, collect DNA samples (mouth swabs), photo ID’s of their children, which will be kept on file at the OBPD, and renewed annually.

Volunteers are needed for the event so feel free to contact Kris Roberts or Karen Keith for information at 251-981-9777 or visit the OBPD website at www.obpd.org.

Participants should wear swimsuits or appropriate apparel for water activities, and be prepared to get wet. This is a family oriented event that is open to children up to age 13, and the OBPD requests that the parent or guardian accompany children at all times.

Along with water slides, moon walks and plenty of “get wet” activities, refreshments including hot dogs, chips and drinks will be provided. Don’t miss the opportunity to dunk “Chief Billy” and “Assistant Chief Duck” in the famous dunking booth.

A special thanks to this years Title Sponsor, Columbia Southern University, for their support in making the event possible for the community. CSU is a learning partner with the City of Orange Beach offering online educational opportunities for obtaining higher education degrees including special focuses on public safety.

The event if free and is located on the north side of Canal Road just under one mile East of Highway 161 in Orange Beach at Waterfront Park. Come out and celebrate National Kids Night Out in your hometown.

For additional information contact
Kris Roberts at 981-9777

Beach school boards will disband for now

Hollinger, Craft say resolution paves way for reconciliation
Friday, July 25, 2008
By JOSH BEAN
Staff Reporter

LOXLEY — The appointed school boards in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach will be dissolved, according to a resolution approved Thursday by the Baldwin County Board of Education, and the countywide system affirms the cities' ability to restart the city panels at some point in the future.

The two municipal school boards could be disbanded by the end of August, said Gulf Shores Councilman Robert Craft, who has been intimately involved in negotiations with the county school system over the last 15 months.

"I think this is the end of the Island School System," Craft said Thursday night.

Mobile Press-Register

Orange Beach garbage rates rise

Hike to fund recycling pickup, cover fuel costs
Thursday, July 17, 2008
By RYAN DEZEMBER, Staff Reporter

ORANGE BEACH — To cover rising fuel costs and fund a new curbside recycling program, the City Council voted Tuesday to raise the monthly residential garbage bill to $15 from $12.

Next month's billings will likely reflect the change, city officials said.

Tuesday's vote was 4-0 with one abstention.

Councilman Ed Carroll said he abstained because he was torn between supporting recycling and raising bills for residents.

Councilwoman Joni Blalock was absent from the meeting.

For most households the $15 will cover twice-weekly garbage pickup. Condos will continue to see seven-day-a-week collections during the summer and six days a week throughout the rest of the year.

Mobile Press-Register

Curbside recycling coming to city

Council will likely OK $3 monthly rate hike to pay for recycling, fuel costs
Friday, July 11, 2008
By RYAN DEZEMBER
Staff Reporter

ORANGE BEACH — Monthly garbage rates will likely go up $3 to accommodate a new curbside recycling program and rising fuel costs, city officials said this week .

On Monday afternoon, the city's Solid Waste Authority approved a contract with Orange Beach's garbage hauler, Allied Waste Industries, that includes concessions for higher labor and fuel costs as well as the addition of recycling service, Mayor Pete Blalock said.

Because the Solid Waste Authority is made up of the City Council and a few other municipal officials, the subsequent rate hike needed to fund the new contract is likely to pass when the council meets at 5 pm on Tuesday.

Mobile Press-Register

Red Snapper Season Extended in State Waters

July 7, 2008- Governor Bob Riley has extended red snapper season within Alabama’s jurisdictional waters through October 31, 2008.

After discussion with Conservation Commissioner Barnett Lawley, Riley cited the inconsistency of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to force compliance with the federal regulations regarding red snapper in Florida and Texas. Texas has a year-round season for its states waters with a four-fish bag limit with a minimum length of 15 inches, while Florida has an April 15 through Oct. 31, 2008 season with a two-fish bag limit with a minimum length of 16 inches.

Current federal regulations governing red snapper fishing set a season of June 1 through Aug. 5, 2008 with a bag limit of two per person with a minimum length of 16 inches. Captain and crew may not possess any red snapper.

“Alabama understands and supports the federal government’s policies on managing marine resources,” said Governor Riley. “However, we cannot stand by and allow Alabama's fishermen to be penalized without NOAA addressing the lack of support by other states."

Commissioner Lawley said that federal regulations have little effect on states like Florida and Texas with nine nautical miles of state waters off shore. Alabama, with its three nautical miles, is significantly affected.

“Those states can continue to harvest red snapper while our charter captains struggle with the burden of 56 fewer days of fishing,” Lawley said. “This economic burden is multiplied in communities like Orange Beach and Dauphin Island where offshore fishing is a driving force in their economies.”

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama’s natural resources through five divisions: Marine Police, Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. To learn more about ADCNR, visit www.outdooralabama.com.

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