Southern Breeze 2007 Fall Issue

(This page) The beginning and end of the Gulf State Park Hotel. The original construction is shown bottom left, the destruction from Ivan below, and the demolition of the remaining structures left. (Next page) Inshore and offshore fisherman applaud the state’s reef rebuilding efforts. IMAGES THIS PAGE: TOP COURTESY OUTDOOR ALABAMA, BOTTOM COURTESY ALABAMA GULF STATE PARK. NEXT PAGE: TOP BY FRANKLIN VIOLA, BOTTOM COURTESY OF INTIMIDATOR CHARTERS I 52 “I can’t imagine putting all that beautiful material in a landfill,” says Jim Duffy, assistant chief of fisheries and artificial reef coordinator for the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Marine Resources Division. “We use environmentally friendly materials to create or improve fishing opportunities for even modestly outfitted anglers, while aggressively involving all the various user groups in the siting process to reduce user conflict.” That means habitat is developed without harming shrimpers and other interests. Jay Gunn, a biologist aide for the state, says the hotel concrete is particularly good reef material. Its hard surface and neutral PH allow the food chain, from algae to barnacles, oysters to large fish, to grow quickly. Once each reef is erected, GPS coordinates posted on the department’s website notify both professionals and weekend anglers of its position. Jay says that in the past two years 500 concrete pyramids from assorted sources have been built. An additional 400 were added early this year, with more to come. Terry Boyd, chief engineer for Alabama’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, says the hotel and pier material should total 100 loads. The effort is fueled in part by the Orange Beach Red Snapper tournament, held each April. Last year’s fees resulted in $100,000 toward reef renewal, matched with $300,000 in federal funds. That investment is music to the ears of professional guides such as Gary Davis and Johnny Greene. Johnny, owner of Intimidator Sport Fishing of Orange Beach, lost thousands of dollars and 40 percent of his private reef investments to Ivan. Since reefs typically take two years to prosper, some of those reefs he had never fished, s o u t h e r n b re e z e . c o m losing access to red snapper, trigger fish, vermillion snapper, white snapper, and grouper, along with the occasional king mackerel, wahoo, and other species. Although Johnny continues to provide private reefs for his offshore customers, he also fishes the state’s structures, and is grateful for their help. “It’s the neatest thing that destruction is being turned back into habitat,” he says. Gary, of Tidewater Fishing Service, specializes in inshore trips. He helps clients catch speckled trout, sheep head, white trout, and other species on inshore reefs. The state-built reefs are a boon to his business, he says, providing areas large enough to allow 15 boats to fish on busy days. Every corner of the bay is enriched by these projects, he says, boosting the economy in multiple ways. So although the hotel, convention center, and Gulf State Park pier are no longer available for above-water family reunions, the fish are happily checking in. And although there may not be any crooning crustaceans in our happy ending, these undersea denizens are destined star material. Terry says Outdoor Alabama, a Department of Conservation television program, is filming the reefs’ progress, following specific concrete pieces from demolition to deep water. It is yet to be announced whether anglers will be humming the back-up tune for this show, or whether they’ll just provide the percussion of lines zinging with reel-induced whines in another big catch. Jeanie McLean is a Birmingham-based freelance writer. Her husband and two daughters are avid saltwater fishermen. http://southernbreeze.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Southern Breeze 2007 Fall Issue

Editor's Letter Contributor Gumbo Words & Notes Accessories Coastal Calendar Storefronts: French Flair in Fairhope Sweet Dreams: Smooth Sailing Art of Living: The Colors of Hope Fixtures: Shake It Up! Live Here: Filled to the Brim Our Backyard: Just Add Water Make Yourself at Home: Open Invitation Pierless Pleasures Always Biloxi Spirited Away Reef Madness Louisiana Love Cheers: Fall Freeze Dish: Java Servers Reader Services Chef's Table: The Kid Inside Let's Eat: Cornbread, Catheads, and Calas Last Bite

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