One of the best articles I've read in a while

J-man

Let's Go Brandon!!!
Staff member
I made many a trip to Apalachicola during my teen and young adult years. We'd fill coolers full of "speckled trout" and "reds" then bring them back with sacks full of fresh oysters and crab. This article perfectly captures the uniqueness of the area in a long past by-gone time. Sadly, there isn't much left in the area, not even the old paper company at St Joe. If you've never been through there I highly recommend a weekend trip. It won't disappoint (unless you're looking for a resort area).

 
I am familiar with the forgotten coast. To be exact I am somewhat familiar with the forgotten coast and very familiar with the Big Bend area to the east of there. If you head east from Apalachicola you go through Carrabelle, Panacea then St. Marks. I have friends in Woodville, Port St. Joe, Mexico Beach, Waukulla, Wewahitchka, Panacea and St. Marks. I have fished in and around St.Marks for years. The issue with this ecosystem is complicated. Weather events, red tides and water restrictions have all played a part. The biggest culprit is over fishing/harvesting of resources. The area was harvested at unsustainable levels for years. In the sixties, seventies and eighties there were little or no restrictions on trout, redfish, flounder, scallops, oysters,snapper,grouper or practically anything you could harvest from the sea. Man being naturally greedy animal could not help himself but to take as much as he could harvest whether he needed it or not. Keeping ridiculous amounts of seafood. Hundreds even thousands of trout/reds/snapper/grouper/flounder were kept without regard to size or seasons. Then came the commercials boats who were possibly greedier than the private boats and only in it for the money. The size and numbers of fish and shellfish declined. The hatchery of the Florida flats was damn near fished out. FWC put restrictions/limits on practically all species. Fishermen/locals/guides howled. They had somewhat of a point because the commercial guys were less restricted than the private fishermen. I was fishing these areas during those times and you could tell the fishery was stressed. FWC and USDA tightened down on all fishing. Trout limits went to 10 fish 14" minimum, reds 2 fish 18"minimum. People screamed that was the going to be the end of everything related to fishing in the Big Bend. The population started to stabilize but not grow. Stricter restrictions were put on 5-trout 15"-19" (one per boat over 19"), 1-red 18"-27" slot. Lots of people don't think it is worth it to charter with such low limits. Personally I saw a difference in quality (size) beginning about two seasons after the first regulations were enforced. I was down there this past November on my boat with my fishing buddy and after I found the right pockets of keepers we caught our limit both days of some of the best trout I have seen in years (including a 26"sow I released). Point is man is a greedy creature. He only cares about himself with little regard to the natural world around him. He has polluted the water with runoff into Tampa Bay that blooms red tide earlier, longer and wider spreads than ever before. Threatening one of the most productive fish hatcheries in world. The great grass flats of the Big Bend. We are paying for the sins of our fathers from the last century. This applies to shellfish too. It is coming home to roost. I am against government regulations and over reach but when people won't regulate themselves it is sometimes necessary. This is from my 30+ years of observation not some left wing tree hugger.
 
I frequented those same areas, what great memories with my parents and grandparents. Saint Joe was one of our favorites. You’re spot on regarding the greed and lack of self-control wing a major cause of the decline.
 
I made many a trip to Apalachicola during my teen and young adult years. We'd fill coolers full of "speckled trout" and "reds" then bring them back with sacks full of fresh oysters and crab. This article perfectly captures the uniqueness of the area in a long past by-gone time. Sadly, there isn't much left in the area, not even the old paper company at St Joe. If you've never been through there I highly recommend a weekend trip. It won't disappoint (unless you're looking for a resort area).

Would that be mountain oysters?
 
I enjoyed the article.... We've been to Apalachicola, Mexico Beach., St George Island, Port St Joe and it's truly like stepping back in time. The people there are truly laid back and pleasant. One of my favorite stops is The Hole in the Wall Seafood Market and Raw Bar in Apalachicola... the food is delicious and the town has a lot of history.
 
I apologize for my soapbox last night but that is an area of Florida I truly love and I get a little passionate about it. Back to the original post that was a very good article I enjoyed it. The photography was very good too. I will be going back to St.Marks late next month or early April if the good lord allows. They are rebuilding Mexico Beach and doing their best to ruin it with condos like the beaches to the west of it. I will take the laid back, old Florida vibe of those places over the tourist traps any day.
 
I apologize for my soapbox last night but that is an area of Florida I truly love and I get a little passionate about it. Back to the original post that was a very good article I enjoyed it. The photography was very good too. I will be going back to St.Marks late next month or early April if the good lord allows. They are rebuilding Mexico Beach and doing their best to ruin it with condos like the beaches to the west of it. I will take the laid back, old Florida vibe of those places over the tourist traps any day.
No reason to apologize, you spoke the truth. I prefer it to remain laid back as well but I'm afraid those days are long gone. I hope they don't screw it up.
 
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