Fishing and Shutdown

[redbelly7]

Just curious, since the govt is shutdown, can we put in at Econfina for free? Also, should we worry about getting caught w/ over the limit or undersized fish? Are the rangers still working? Not that I would do any such of this, but just a thought.....

[EddieJoe]

Just curious, since the govt is shutdown, can we put in at Econfina for free? Also, should we worry about getting caught w/ over the limit or undersized fish? Are the rangers still working? Not that I would do any such of this, but just a thought.....

Econfina is a state park, not federal. Law enforcement is still on the job, and most LE in federal waters is done by state marine LEOs, under agreement, anyway.

EJ

[red_yakker]

But keep in mind that NOAA is a federal agency. I don't know to what capacity they are operating, but they really dropped the ball on the offshore forecast yesterday. They were calling for 2-3's. I woke up at 3:45 A.M., drove all the way to St. George Island, got on my buddy's 35' Contender and barely made it out of the pass. We turned around after taking the 2nd wave over the bow.
I can't believe I wasted a whole day of vacation and didn't even get a line wet............................

[EddieJoe]

But keep in mind that NOAA is a federal agency. I don't know to what capacity they are operating, but they really dropped the ball on the offshore forecast yesterday. They were calling for 2-3's. I woke up at 3:45 A.M., drove all the way to St. George Island, got on my buddy's 35' Contender and barely made it out of the pass. We turned around after taking the 2nd wave over the bow.
I can't believe I wasted a whole day of vacation and didn't even get a line wet............................

NOAA has been making bad marine forecasts for as long as I can recall. One of my personal rules is that any wind out of the east 10k or more is an offshore no-go, especially if you head out east pass and head towards O, no matter what NOAA says.
EJ