| *UPDATE* Light oil and tar balls have been showing up in the Panhandle, but Steinhatchee and surrounding areas are still safe. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As of now, we are still booking charters despite the oil spill that is off the Louisiana and Mississippi coast. Currently most of the oil is centered around the Deepwater Horizon and is spreading slowly. Some of it has made it into the Gulf Stream (Loop Current) which over time could send the oil south towards the Keys and away from the Big Bend area, including Steinhatchee. Personally I feel we will not see any effects of the oil in our area due to the location of the Gulf Stream, but this is only my opinion. In the event this oil does make a landfall in Steinhatchee or is approaching close to, therefore making fishing or navigation unsafe, all trips will be cancelled with a full refund. Please do not cancel trips or motel/condo reservations in the anticipation of a landfall. The oil is still at least 120-150 miles or more away from our area. Steinhatchee and other coastal communities rely on tourism especially during the summer months and due to all of the media coverage of the oil spill people are canceling their vacations, charters, etc. when the beaches from here to Mississippi are still clean. Please contact the Chamber of Commerce of the city you are planning to visit, the motel/condo you are booked at, or the guide you are booked with to find out the current conditions for updates which will impact your specific reservation. If you have any questions about your charter or anything else please contact me anytime. Thank you for reading and we look forward to fishing with you all soon. Please keep the Gulf Coast in your prayers. Regards, Capt Ben Bailey 770-355-6043 |