I just got back from wading in the Gulf of Mexico with my fishing

[rzemanfl]

rod. I caught a 14" Flounder, a 16" Florida Pompano and some lesser fish: whiting, ladyfish, blue runner, needlefish as well as a small sting ray. I had a nice conversation with a warden who was surprised I had a license, my fish were legal and my beer was non-alcoholic. The first time in close to 14 years I have encountered a fish and game person. He made a big production out of measuring my fish, telling me it looked good to others on the beach to see law enforcement in action. I apoligized for getting his hands all smelly and offered him a handy wipe. I saw three dolphin and a manatee swam past me maybe eight to ten feet away. All in all a pleasant three or four hours if I could have gotten the looming BP devastation out of my mind.

I cannot get my head around the idea that this could all be gone....

There is no punishment severe enough for those careless, greedy bastards.

At least dinner will be a epicurean delight.

[onehandle]

1. Wow. Sounds like you had a really nice day.

Let us hope BP's day was not so nice.

[skeptical cynic]

3. Let's all work to make sure BP's future is not so nice.

Texas City Explosion (15 contractors dead)-cutting corners to save a buck
North Slope Crude Spill - cutting corners to save a buck
Deepwater Horizon Fire and "Spill" (11 contractors dead)-cutting corners to save a buck

What better case is there that corporations are not persons?

If an actual person had done what BP has done, they'd be facing death by lethal injection. If they were from the Middle East, they'd be locked away in Guantanamo being waterboarded.

[Scuba]

6. Where are the indictments?

[skeptical cynic]

13. Haven't you been paying attention?

Nobody uses indictments anymore. You just get extraordinarily rendered someplace where due process is nowhere to be found. While that's going on, a couple of political clowns are having obtuse and abstract arguments about whether you should or should not have been Mirandized, and whether you will or not be tried by military tribunal if you are ever heard from again.

Seriously, I guarantee there are indictments coming.

[rzemanfl]

9. It beat working. I predict that this fiasco will not cause one

suicide, nervous breakdown or political conversion among the BP, Haliburton or Transocean execs.

I told a friend of mine today over the phone they should gather the families of these people together and start killing one every hour until they get the leak plugged. I was only half kidding.

[onethatcares]

2. wow, you need to have n.a. beer to wade?

wtf is up with that?

nice catch though. I've always caught more fish wading than in a boat.

[rzemanfl]

7. State Park. I had to email the Head Ranger a couple years ago

with the text of the statute defining an alcoholic beverage in order to even be able to bring N.A. I haven't had a real beer in almost 25 years.

[jxnmsdemguy65]

4. Great to hear...

glad you had a successful, relaxing trip. Nothing like getting outdoors to clear one's head...

[Moondog]

5. Nice Pompano.

Yum. Bon apetit.

[rzemanfl]

8. I picked the following quote up off the net::

"These fish average about 2 lbs, taste great and offer the highest price per pound of any marine fish in the continental United States." Mine was more like three pounds.

Frozen filets are $89.95 for a 5 lb. box ($17.99 a pound) plus shipping.

[Knight Hawk]

10. Tape Measure

Always take a tape measure with you and use it .If the fish are under size or out of season they can take you straight to jail in Florida.

[rzemanfl]

12. Metal tape measures don't last very long around salt water. I

have a 32" ruler on my fishing cart (it came that way) and a folding yardstick called a "law stick" that has a synopsis of sizes, limits, etc. on the other side (although I don't trust them, too many changes from year to year). The DEP guy used one just like mine to measure my fish.

Years ago on Lake Winnebago in Wisconsin we forgot to put anything in the boat to measure our walleyes with. We pieced together some 6" wire leaders to make a half assed measuring device, two and a half leaders was a 15" legal fish. Good thing we did, because the wardens were measuring fish at the boat ramp and Winnebago is known for "cigar" walleyes.

[Mariana]

14. I use a plastic tape measure that's normally used for sewing.

Cheap, takes up hardly any space in the tackle box, easily wipes clean and it'll last forever if you take care not to stretch it. My dad has an old fabric sewing tape measure that he's had longer than I've been alive. He just tosses it in the laundry when it gets nasty.

I've always made sure to take time to do some fishing in the Gulf when I visit my folks. Damn but I'm going to miss it if it's really gone.

[rzemanfl]

15. That would sure beat hooking leaders together. eom

[marions ghost]

11. keep us posted...

:scared: