re: Grand Isle

Sand Dollar Marina is NOT blocked off to anyone! We launched there yesterday, bought bait, ice and fuel there yesterday. There are people fishing off the docks, the bar is open, etc. It is far from business as usual, but it is open. There is a severe lack of recreational boats at the marina, and all the sportfishers are gone, but there is an abundance of Coast Guard, Sheriff, Police, and Wildlife Agent boats in and out of Sand Dollar all day long. I have never seen so much fuzz on the Island. On the other hand, Nautical Pointe (the newer marina right next to Sand Dollar) is blocked off by the National Guard, for the BP operation. You can't get on that property without a badge issued by the Response Group, which is set up in the Tarpon Rodeo Pavillion.

Also, I have never seen LDWF agents not even remotely concerned over checking people's catch before this weekend. We came in from offshore followed by the largest LDWF offshore boat that I have ever seen and they parked in the slip directly next to us, and I thought we were about to get a full vessel search. But, they just said how y'all doin, fueled up and left out like we weren't even there unloading fish. I was shocked. I think they are just happy to see recreational fisherman down on the coast spending money.