Coastal Master Plan hope for Vermilion Bay?

[Reefman]

Originally Posted by Duck Butter

Forgot to check back on this thread so missed this. This question is for you and everyone who has said 'like it used to be'. How was the point during the 'good ole days', how did it 'used to be'?

Surely no one is claiming this was a year round speckled trout fishery right? Please catch me up someone

The dynamics of the Bay has changed considerably. Back in the 50s you could fish Weeks most of the year. The Intercostal was not opened to the Bay in Weeks. The Wax didn't exist, 4 mile was a 1/3 of its size. Fresh water did not enter the Bay as it does now. The wells in mid bay held trout all year. Tarpon were caught yearly right in the pass in late summer. We've lost a huge amount of banks in VB causing salt water to kill trees and the brackish marshes that border the Bay. Removing all those shell reefs (shell dredging) on the east side of Marsh Island did the most damage. Rabbit Island was always out the water. There were few passages out to the Gulf from the east side; only the Amerada crew boat channel below Burns was safe to hit Eugene Island rigs. In spring we would get fresh water in the northern areas of the bay by natural flow from the marshes but not enough to effect the fishing.