Tag Archives: Florida
‘Just Go Fishing’: Florida’s commercial fishermen getting back on the water
After being sidelined for more than a month following back-to-back hurricanes, the commercial fisherman in the historic Village of Cortez is back out hunting for grouper, blue crabs, bait fish, and everything in between. It was only a few days ago that Karen Bell, President of A.P. Bell Fish, said her team was able to go back out to sea and do what they love: fish. And the timing for some very bored fisherman couldn’t have been better. “All the grouper boats are out. They’ve only been out the last three or four days,” Bell said. The storms knocked Bell’s operations out for weeks. “A lot of damage. You know, I’ve got between my family and me, maybe 20 houses here, every one of them flooded, even mine, which sits high,” Bell said. “A.P. Bell’s roof is missing. It was like a double strike. At Star Fish, we lost all of our refrigeration equipment, the kitchens, the stoves, the ranges, and all the refrigeration stuff, so it took a little bit of time to get fixed.” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:12
Lifelong Commercial Fisherman Jonas R. Porter of Woodville, Florida, has passed away
Jonas R. Porter, 86, of Woodville, passed away November 3, 2024. Jonas was born in Sopchoppy and remained a life-long resident of this area. He was a Commercial Fisherman all of his life and was a true fishing storyteller; you never knew if it was the truth or not and he always got a good laugh. Jonas has always been a voice for all fishermen; he stood for what he believed in. He also was a Handyman and enjoyed building things, also enjoyed music, singing and playing the guitar. Jonas loved his family and friends and spoiled his grandkids; he loved people. He would want you to know that he supported Trump. more, >>CCLICK TO READ<< 05:56
Historic Cortez Fishing Village continues work despite hurricane damage
The Cortez Fishing Village has weathered a lot, but Hurricanes Helene and Milton put them to the test. “I’ve seen other storms that hurt us in different ways, but this one hurt literally thousands and thousands of people,” said Kent Nixon, a stone crab fisherman who has been part of the Cortez Fishing Village for decades. Docks were damaged during Hurricane Helene and are now being replaced. Milton also damaged the roof of the A.P. Bell Fish Company’s fish house. Clean-up continues all around the fishing village as crews and boats work on the water. Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:05
Gov. DeSantis Announces $1 Million To Rebuild Fishing, Aquaculture Infrastructure Damaged By Hurricanes
Governor Ron DeSantis announced today the allocation of $1,000,000 from the Florida Disaster Fund to the Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida. The funding will be used to repair fishing and aquaculture infrastructure in the Big Bend region that was severely damaged by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. “The Big Bend’s fishing industry took a direct hit from hurricanes Debby and Helene, and so did the hardworking Floridians who make their living on the water,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Today’s investments will help to rebuild critical waterside infrastructure and help get Floridians in the fishing and aquaculture industries back to full operations.” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:09
Cortez fishing village works to recover after hurricanes Helene and Milton
There is devastation on every corner in Cortez Village, a quaint fishing village off the coast of Manatee County. Hurricanes Helene and Milton hit this community hard, and now they are working to pick up the pieces and preserve their historic village. Captain Kathy Fannon showed us the damage to her home. She said it is hard to see the reality that lies ahead. “We lost everything. Everyone on this block had four feet of water through their house, so we lost all the contents. We have absolutely nothing left inside,” Captain Kathy said. Captain Kathy’s family works in the fishing industry, and her daughter, Katie Tupin, lives across the street. Tupin said, “My dad runs a shrimping boat. He’s a commercial fisherman. I’ve been doing charters for 14 years and my mom for 25. Both lost everything during the storm. Video, more, >> CLICK TO READ<< 14:09
Hurricane Milton carves a path of destruction across Florida; millions without power or water
Millions of Floridians from coast to coast are assessing the overnight destruction left by Hurricane Milton, which made landfall at Siesta Key off Sarasota as a Category 3 storm at around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, punched across the state and exited the east coast near Cape Canaveral before dawn Thursday. At least 2.6 million homes and businesses were without power, St. Petersburg residents without water, and major damage was done in the Tampa area, where flash flood warnings were still in effect Thursday. St. Petersburg residents also could no longer get water from their household taps because a water main break led the city to shut down service. St. Petersburg recorded over 16 inches of rain. Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:50
‘Life-threatening’ storm to remain major hurricane before Florida landfall, NHC says
Hurricane Milton remained a Category 5 storm in the Gulf of Mexico through Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning. As of 5 a.m., Hurricane Milton was 300 miles from Tampa, Florida, with sustained winds of 160 mph. It is moving east-northeast at 14 mph. The minimum central pressure is 907 mb. “Milton is expected to remain an extremely dangerous major hurricane when it reaches the west-central coast of Florida”, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. In the 5 a.m. update, the National Hurricane Center said Hurricane Milton had sustained winds of 160 mph, making it a strong Category 5 storm on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:12
Milton remains an ‘extremely dangerous’ hurricane after weakening to Cat 4, forecasters warn
Hurricane Milton weakened slightly to a powerful Category 4 storm Tuesday morning while spiraling through the southern Gulf of Mexico and closer to Florida, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. Milton rapidly intensified from a tropical storm to a Category 5 hurricane on Monday, peaking with rare, sustained winds of 180 mph and becoming the strongest storm to ever form this late in the Atlantic season. Now, the hurricane is moving east-northeast at 12 mph with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph, NHC said in its latest update. However, forecasters warned that Milton’s change in strength doesn’t make it any less dangerous, adding that the storm will likely grow in size as it approaches Florida’s west coast and makes landfall Wednesday. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:46
Hurricane Milton strengthens into Category 4 as Florida prepares for evacuations, storm surge
Milton rapidly strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane Monday on a path toward Florida population centers including Tampa and Orlando, threatening a dangerous storm surge in Tampa Bay and setting the stage for potential mass evacuations less than two weeks after a catastrophic Hurricane Helene swamped the coastline. The storm is expected to stay at about its current strength for the next couple of days, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said. Helene was also a Category 4 at landfall in northern Florida. Milton had maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240 kph) over the southern Gulf of Mexico, the hurricane center said. Its center could make landfall Wednesday in the Tampa Bay area, and it could remain a hurricane as it moves across central Florida toward the Atlantic Ocean. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:27
Tropical Storm Milton Path, Tracker As Potential Hurricane Nears Florida
The latest forecast from the National Hurricane Center, released at 4 a.m. Central Time on Sunday, said that Milton will quickly intensify as it moves eastward and northeastward, making landfall in Florida as a Tropical Cyclone on Wednesday. As of Sunday morning, the center of the tropical storm has maximum wind speeds of 50 mph and is moving east at 5 mph. By Monday, winds are forecast to increase to between 74 and 110 miles per hour, and by Tuesday, have winds in excess of 110 miles per hour. The forecast path will cross Florida east to west, centering on Tampa Bay, with the edge of the storm crossing southeastern Alabama, southern Georgia, southeastern South Carolina, and Alabama, southern Georgia, southeastern South Carolina more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:32
Rebuild or What? Florida Towns Hit Three Times by Hurricanes Face Tough Choice
It was just a month ago that Brooke Hiers left the state-issued emergency trailer where her family had lived since Hurricane Idalia slammed into her Gulf Coast fishing village of Horseshoe Beach in August 2023. For the third time in 13 months, this windswept stretch of Florida’s Big Bend took a direct hit from a hurricane — a one-two-three punch to a 50-mile (80-kilometer) sliver of the state’s more than 8,400 miles (13,500 kilometers) of coastline, first by Idalia, then Category 1 Hurricane Debby in August 2024 and now Helene. Hiers, who sits on Horseshoe Beach’s town council, said words like “unbelievable” are beginning to lose their meaning. “I’ve tried to use them all. Catastrophic. Devastating. Heartbreaking … none of that explains what happened here,” Hiers said. more, >>CLICK TI READ<< 07:03
Hurricane Helene death toll climbs to 134 as search for missing in North Carolina continues
The death toll from Hurricane Helene continues to climb as rescue efforts persist across the Southeast. Hard-hit regions, including parts of western North Carolina, are receiving aid from various states as emergency crews work to reach isolated communities devastated by catastrophic flooding. The death toll attributed to Helene’s impacts has been steadily climbing, with at least 134 people now confirmed dead in six states – Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee. President Joe Biden announced he will travel to the region on Wednesday and is expected to visit Asheville, North Carolina, to get a firsthand look at the devastation. Biden is also expected to visit Florida and Georgia. Photos, Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 12:47
Southeast US devastated by remnants of Hurricane Helene
The remnants of Hurricane Helene have caused devastation across the Southeastern United States, leaving dozens dead, many stranded, and millions without power. Helene, the strongest hurricane recorded to hit Florida’s Big Bend region, has since weakened to a post-tropical cyclone but is still bringing catastrophic flooding, powerful winds, and unthinkable damage up the east coast from Florida to Virginia. As of Sunday, at least 60 people were reported dead. Landslides and flooding as a result of the tropical storm have left entire towns, families, even hospitals cut off and stranded needing rescue. Many across five states were left unprepared for the life-changing destruction as Helene intensified quickly during the week. Hurricane researchers estimated that unusually warm ocean temperatures combined with swift changes in wind heights may be the reason for the intense development. Video, Links, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:04
Dozens dead and millions without power after Helene’s deadly march across southeastern US
Hurricane Helene caused dozens of deaths and billions of dollars of destruction across a wide swath of the southeastern U.S. as it raced through, and more than 3 million customers went into the weekend without any power and for some a continued threat of floods. Helene blew ashore in Florida’s Big Bend region as a Category 4 hurricane late Thursday packing winds of 140 mph (225 kph) and then quickly moved through Georgia, the Carolinas and Tennessee, uprooting trees, splintering homes and sending creeks and rivers over their banks and straining dams. The storm, now a post-tropical cyclone, was expected to hover over the Tennessee Valley on Saturday and Sunday, the National Hurricane Center said. Several flood and flash flood warnings remained in effect in parts of the southern and central Appalachians, while high wind warnings also covered parts of Tennessee and Ohio. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:54
‘Still floating’: Florida fishermen and boaters ride out Hurricane Helene
Winds whipped over 100 mph. Waters threatened hundreds of miles of Florida coast. And Philip Tooke managed to punch out a terse but frantic message from his phone as he sat riding out Hurricane Helene – not in his house, but on his boat. “Lost power,” he wrote from St. Mark’s, 30 miles south of Tallahassee and 20 miles away from where Hurricane Helene hit the mouth of the Aucilla River. But, he adds: “Still floating.” Tooke, the 63-year-old owner of a local seafood market, and his brother are spending the hurricane aboard their fishing boats. The pair are among the Floridians who took to the water for their survival. They did so despite evacuation orders made ahead of the Category 4 hurricane and grisly warnings that foretold death for those who stayed. Video, Photo gallery, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:05
‘Potentially catastrophic’: Helene forecast to hit Big Bend with 115 mph winds
Helene, which organized into a tropical storm on Tuesday, is forecast to rapidly intensify into a powerful and massive before barreling into the Big Bend likely overnight Thursday, bringing “potentially catastrophic” wind and storm surge. An alert jolted with 115 mph winds residents’ phones at 5 p.m. as forecasters issued hurricane warnings for Dixie, Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Lafayette, Liberty, Leon, Madison, Taylor and Wakulla counties. A storm surge warning for what could be as much as 15-feet of inundation was also in effect for the Apalachee Bay coast. The National Hurricane Center’s tightening cone of uncertainty continued to show landfall anywhere from Panama City to Cedar Key. The center line, which forecasters caution people not to focus on, remained over Tallahassee in the 5 p.m. forecast. Helene was forecast to strengthen into a hurricane by Wednesday morning and a major hurricane, with winds of 110 mph or more, by Thursday morning. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 19:27
Coast Guard halts voyage for illegal fishing off Key West
A Coast Guard Station Key West law enforcement boat crew boarded a commercial fishing vessel, Thursday, approximately 12 miles off the Marquesas Keys, for a routine commercial fishing vessel safety inspection and discovered the crew was fishing with an expired permit. Working with our National Marine Fisheries Service regional partners, the Coast Guard terminated the vessel’s voyage due to their possession of 45,000 pounds of pink shrimp on board without a valid commercial fishing permit. The vessel is returning to its homeport in Alabama where NMFS officers will meet with captain for further questioning. The name of the vessel is being withheld due to the open investigation. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:53
F/V Capt. Jack II – Matanzas Pass Bridge shrimp boat makes it under on 3rd attempt
FDOT released a statement on Tuesday noting that the shrimp boat had made contact with the bridge sometime that morning; however, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office marine unit, there was no visible damage to the bridge. According to FDOT, the Matanzas Pass Bridge remains open to vehicle traffic. On Monday, the boat, named F/V Captain Jack Two, crashed into the bridge at around 10 a.m. before being dislodged at 1 p.m. The family-owned business just bought the new shrimp boat named Captain Jack Two from Texas and was trying to bring it home, where they have big plans for her. Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:05
About that shrimp boat that struck the Matanzas Pass Bridge twice
Chris Gala had a plan for the new shrimp boat her crew picked up from Texas last week. While bringing it to dock through Matanzas Pass on Fort Myers Beach, the boat and its long outriggers was to be assisted by another vessel to get under the Matanzas Pass Bridge. The crew, which had been sidelined for four days off the Texas coast as Hurricane Francine swept in, may have “jumped the gun” as they approached shore, Gala said. A couple hours before high tide was to sweep in at noon, the boat attempted to pass under the Matanzas Pass Bridge, but its large steel outriggers got stuck against the bridge. Gala said the crew was experienced but may have gotten overly “excited” as they drew close to home. “We knew the outriggers were extra big,” Gala said. “We had a plan to push it through with a boat during low tide.” Gala said the high tide was exacerbated by a full moon which made the tide extra high. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 18:41
Matanzas Pass Bridge hit again by the same shrimp boat
The Florida Department of Transportation has reported that the Matanzas Pass Bridge was hit again by the same passing shrimp boat that struck it a day before. FDOT released a statement on Tuesday noting that the shrimp boat had made contact with the bridge sometime that morning; however, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office marine unit, there was no visible damage to the bridge. more, >>CLICK TO READ<<, >Video here< 10:37
Why Did That Boat Crash Into The Matanzas Pass Bridge?
High tide, a swirling current, and a captain who misread the height of the bridge could have been the causes but until the United States Coast Guard completes its investigation it’s all speculation at this point. What we do know is that a commercial fishing vessel called F/V Capt. Jack II out of Port Arthur, TX got caught under the Matanzas Pass Bridge late Monday morning. Not long after the crash, the Florida Department of Transportation with an assist from the Lee County Sheriff’s Department closed the bridge in both directions while an FDOT engineer traveled from Tampa to Fort Myers Beach to inspect the bridge. Four hours later the bridge was determined to be safe and was reopened. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:17
FWC charges three for multiple fishing net violations
Three veteran Franklin County fishermen, two of whom have been cited in the past for violating Florida’s so-called net ban, have once again run afoul of the law. On Aug. 25, in a boat under 20-feet long, captain William D. Sorenson, 82, of Eastpoint, and passengers Johnny D. Johnson, 59, of Carrabelle, and Donnie G. Nichols, 59, of Eastpoint, were arrested by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers for multiple violations pertaining to the possession, use and size of monofilament and gill nets, and the possession of commercial quantities of fish. The three were harvesting fish with four separate nets over Florida’s legal size of 500 square feet. photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:56
Family-owned fishing company challenges unconstitutional Fishery Management Council
James and Dominick Russo are fishermen who earn their living off the Florida coast. But their livelihood is in jeopardy. James and Dominick have worked in the commercial fishing industry most of their lives. James, the older brother, has more than 30 years of experience under his belt. During the pandemic, the brothers moved to Sarasota, Florida, and opened FFC Seafood to make the most of the business-friendly climate the state offered. While the brothers catch many different types of fish, theirFFC Seafood most profitable haul is gag grouper, a fish popular with high-end restaurants for its sweet flavor. However, just when their new fishing enterprise was thriving, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council passed Amendment 56, slashing the number of gag grouper that commercial fisherman can legally catch by over 80 percent. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:06
Coast Guard medevacs man from boat 45 miles west of Anna Maria Island
Coast Guard crews medevaced a 51-year-old man from a fishing boat 45 miles west of Anna Maria Island on Friday. An Air Station Clearwater aircrew and a Station St. Petersburg boat crew coordinated the medevac. The man was transported via the aircrew to Tampa General Hospital for further medical care. At 12:23 p.m. Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders received a call from the owner of the commercial fishing boat, Team Galati, reporting a crew member had suffered chest pains and was in need of medical attention. “The teamwork of the captain of the distressed vessel, along with our partners at Air Station Clearwater were paramount in ensuring the patient was able to access a higher level of care,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Nick Jennings, a crew member from Station St. Petersburg’s 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boat crew. 06:45
Horseshoe Beach residents react to Hurricane Debby’s aftermath
One Dixie County town is standing strong after Hurricane Debby appeared in North Central Florida. Horseshoe Beach residents are cleaning up and rebuilding their community after Debby and showing great resilience one year later after the devastation of Hurricane Idalia. Long-time resident Ronald Neeley sat through yet another storm. “It was anywhere between 80 to 90 miles an hour wind hurricane and I stayed here,” said Neeley. “I stayed during this one, it wasn’t too bad, but the other one was nasty.” Hurricane Idalia hit Horseshoe Beach hard last year, leaving homes and buildings damaged beyond repair. Video, more, CLICK TO READ<< 12:46
Hurricane Debby makes landfall in Florida as Cat 1 storm.
Hurricane Debby made landfall near Steinhatchee, Florida in the Florida Big Bend area as a Category 1 hurricane around 7 a.m. Monday. Sustained winds were 80 mph, making Debby a Category 1 hurricane at the time of landfall. Landfall came less than 12 hours after Debby strengthened from a tropical storm into a hurricane Although winds had already dropped to 75 mph by 8 a.m., forecasters warned life-threatening storm surge and “potentially catastrophic rainfall” are expected before Debby finishes with Florida and as it heads toward Georgia and the Carolinas. Debby is expected to bring 6 to 12 inches of rain to Florida, with some areas seeing up to 18 inches, according to the National Hurricane Center. Video, photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:37
UPDATE: Tropical Storm Debby to Bring Major Flooding to Southeast After Florida Landfall
Tropical Storm Debby could bring historically heavy rainfall, gusty winds and a few tornadoes, from north Florida to coastal South Carolina after making landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region Monday. Flash flooding is the number one concern with Debby. NOAA has issued their highest level of flood outlook for both Monday and Tuesday, shown in pink on the maps below. These areas will likely experience damaging flooding and could experience life-threatening flooding. Debby will also bring gusty winds, coastal flooding and a few tornadoes across the Florida Peninsula Sunday and then along the Southeast coast early in the coming week, where it could slow down or even stall, prolonging impacts. Here’s where watches and warnings are in effect: A hurricane warning is in effect for the Florida Big Bend region from the Suwannee River to Indian Pass. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 19:56
Tropical Storm Debby timeline: When could it become hurricane, make landfall?
Tropical Storm Debby officially formed Saturday afternoon, making it the fourth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, according to the National Hurricane Center. Forecasters believe Tropical Storm Debby could be ‘at or near hurricane’ strength as it approaches the Florida coast before landfall, according to the 5 p.m. advisory. A timeline has been established for when the eye of what is now known as Tropical Storm Debby could impact Florida over the weekend and into early next week. On Saturday, the NHC issued a hurricane watch and warning for portions of Florida’s Gulf Coast. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:32
This Florida fisherman worries about the industry’s future
Commercial fishing is vital to Florida’s culture and identity. Today, Florida fishermen like me land $209 million worth of fish and shellfish in dock-side value alone. The economic impact of the commercial fishing industry ripples up the supply chain generating $8.7 billion. Hundreds of millions of tourists travel to Florida to enjoy fresh seafood in the Sunshine State. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) “Status of the Stocks” report that was recently released would have you believe that everything is rosy. But let me tell you what’s really happening – what you don’t see in that federal report – from the perspective and experience of someone who makes a living on the water in the Gulf of Mexico. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:29
Florida Fisherman Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion
A Florida man pleaded guilty yesterday to evading taxes on income he earned from commercial fishing in Massachusetts. According to court documents and statements made in court, Christopher Garraty, of New Port Richey, and formerly of Newport and East Greenwich, Rhode Island, worked as a commercial fisherman and deckhand for fishing companies operating out of New Bedford, Massachusetts. Despite earning substantial income working as a fisherman, Garraty did not file until 2012 any federal income tax returns for tax years 2002 through 2011. When he filed the delinquent returns, he reported that he owed a total of approximately $234,497 in taxes for those nine years. But even after reporting that he owed taxes, Garraty did not make any payments to the IRS. In addition, Garraty did not file returns for 2015 through 2018 despite earning approximately $600,000 in fishing income across those years and owing approximately $179,382 in taxes. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 16:07
