Two new ideas are going into action right now, including something called an "air bubble curtain" and a barge blockade at Destin Pass.  The state is placing barges there to act as huge booms in the water. The idea is to keep the oil away from the shoreline and help funnel the oil toward skimmer boats so they can collect it. Other ideas involve the use of an air bubble curtain as an underwater barrier.  Okaloosa County wants to create a wall of bubbles at Destin Pass to help shield the coast from oil.

I am not sure if these aforementioned techniques are from the BP suggestion website that was created shortly after the spill to collect any and all ideas that may help them, but hundreds and hundreds of ideas have poured in from people across the globe, some suggesting the use of explosives and others want to try magnets. Suggestions are pouring in from auto mechanics to physicists to marine engineers and mining workers. I have a suggestion; don't drill so deep that you can't reach the well in a crisis!

See suggestions below:

• Magnetic plug: Powerful fixed magnets to hold magnetic particles in the pipe
• Screw top: Fit a threaded sleeve around the pipe, then screw on a closed valve.
• Big shot: An explosively inserted copper plug, shot from a crude cannon
• Freeze out: Wrap the pipe with a heat exchanger, then pump in cryogenic fluid to form an ice plug
• Snap shut: Use explosives to pinch pipe closed
• Burn, baby, burn: Inject oxygen before oil exits and create a giant acetylene-like torch
• Inflatable collar: Insert another pipe into the fractured pipe with an inflatable collar, then inflate to create a seal
• Bubble curtain: Use perforated hoses to create a bubble curtain around the oil slick and contain it for pumping to the surface
   

Florida resident’s worst fears have come true, large pools of black sludge are invading the coastal Beach's once-white sands. Officials closed the beach to visitors for the first time because of the Gulf oil spill on Thursday because of oil contamination. Oil from the Deepwater Horizon disaster continues to wash ashore along the Alabama and Florida coasts.

Health advisories warning people not to swim or fish have been posted for a total of nearly 40 miles of Florida Panhandle beaches, stretching from the Florida/Alabama border through Pensacola Beach and through a stretch of beaches further east in Walton and Okaloosa counties, including the popular tourist spot of Destin.

I haven’t seen anything on Network television about this, I haven’t seen any telethons, I still have not seen any PSA’s about helping the Gulf States in their time of need.  I would like to see All of the Gulf states band together and assure that modern equipment is obtained for the area, and require that all the platforms in the Gulf maintain booms around them until their well heads are brought up to modern, international standards. I’ll bet that pricey remote controlled shut-off valve is looking like a bargain to BP now…I am disgusted!

Read about how we never learn

As summer heats up, Florida parks and pristine beaches are open for enjoyment.  Get out and do some snorkeling, it's fun, easy, and can be inexpensive for a family of four! If you want to give it a try, here are a few things that you should know... and some of my favorite places to go!

Selecting a Mask and Snorkel

When selecting a mask, fit and comfort are important. You don't want a mask that leaks constantly because it doesn't fit your face. So you need to go somewhere where you can try on the masks. This would most likely be a scuba shop. Google Divers Equipment and Supplies and you will come up with lots of places to shop in Florida. You can also look for the dive flag, usually prominently displayed on the front of scuba shops around your town. I bought my mask from a dive shop in New Jersey 15 years ago and it is still going strong. Try to avoid the cheap Walmart stuff; you get what you pay for.

To try on the mask, move the strap out of the way, brush your hair out of the way, and just push the mask firmly onto your face. If it will remain there unsupported, then it is making a good seal. Once you have determined which masks will fit properly, other considerations are comfort, field of vision—some masks permit more view to the sides than others, and of course the cost. Get a snorkel also and maybe a spare strap to hold it to your mask.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Place 6 (6-inch round) gratin dishes on a sheet pan.

To make the topping, place the butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (you can also use a hand mixer). With the mixer on low speed, add the garlic, shallot, prosciutto, parsley, lemon juice, Pernod, salt, and pepper and mix until combined. With the mixer still on low, add the olive oil slowly as though making mayonnaise, until combined. Fold the panko in with a rubber spatula and set aside.

Preheat the broiler, if it's separate from your oven.

Place 1 tablespoon of the wine in the bottom of each gratin dish. With a small sharp knife, remove the white muscle and membrane from the side of each scallop and discard. Pat the scallops dry with paper towels and distribute them among the 3 dishes. Spoon the garlic butter evenly over the top of the scallops. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the topping is golden and sizzling and the scallops are barely done. If you want the top crustier, place the dishes under the broiler for 2 minutes, until browned. Finish with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and a sprinkling of chopped parsley and serve immediately with crusty French bread.

Lightly season the fillets on both sides with 2 teaspoons Essence (recipe follows).

In a shallow bowl, combine the instant flour and remaining tablespoon of Essence. One at a time, dredge the fish in the flour to coat both sides, shaking to remove any excess.

Over medium-high heat, warm enough clarified butter to come 1/2-inch up the sides of a large, deep saute pan or skillet to 350 degrees F. Add the fish in batches and cook for 2 minutes on the first side. Carefully turn with a spatula and cook until golden and cooked through, 2 1/2 to 3 minutes.

Remove and drain on paper towels. Add additional clarified butter, as needed, for the remaining fish. Arrange 2 fillets on each of 4 dinner plates and serve with the Dilled Tartar Sauce (recipe follows).

On a couple trips recently Ray Ribaric and I braved the  windy weather finding action mostly around structure.  We fished docks and pilings in and around Sarasota Bay as well as Longboat Key.  Moving from dock to dock we eventually got on some fish. Sheepshead, black drum, flounder and trout made it to the live well. One big red was caught and released after a photo that measured at 27.5 inches. Using light tackle and live shrimp for bait made for some great light tackle action.

Tony Davis of Anna Maria Island with a nice sheaphead he caught.On this trip we caught lots of snapper and catch and release grouper.We were offshore of anna Maria Island in about 40 ft using live shrimp and sardines.

Debbie Boudreau from Boston with a nice Gag Grouper she caught and released while we were fishing for Snapper. We caught more catch and release Grouper without even trying too, using light tackle plus all the Snapper you can eat. Debbie and party was on vacation on Anna Maria Island and fishing with Capt Larry McGuire SHOW ME THE FISH CHARTERS operating out of the Cortez Fishing Center Bradenton Fl. Cell 941-720-6475.

Over 150 anglers hit the water this past weekend to raise money for a great cause – to send children burn survivors to summer camp.  And, some AWESOME fish were caught!  The winning offshore team, Braggin’ Rights with Captain Steve Bertran, Mike Watts, Tommy Butler, and Josh Taylor reeled a 218 pound Warsaw Grouper among others!  It took a crane just to lift the grouper out of the boat! The team donated the giant fish to The American Legion in Bradenton.  And, Junior Angler, Jared Mong reeled in a 34 inch Snook to win the biggest inshore junior fish.

The offshore fishing tournament ran from Friday night, June 18th through Sunday morning, June 20^th at 3pm.  The inshore fishing tournament ran from 7am on Saturday morning, June 19^th through 1pm on Sunday afternoon, June 20th.  The Weigh-In & Awards Party and Fishing Expo were on Sunday, June 20^th from 11am-6pm at the Bradenton Yacht Club.  Besides fishing, there were vendors, live music and family entertainment provided by local band, New Justice. 

I know, I know, you all haven't heard from me in a while. I have a good excuse. During January and February of this year the weather was so bad and continually cold and windy, (can you say global warming?) that I didn't work in January and didn't work much until the end of February and now these past few months I'm working every day. It's very tiring but I have to work every day just to catch up. The paycheck stopped coming in the first two months of the year but for some reason I can't figure out the bills kept coming in. Funny how that works.
 
It's summer time again and I know I wished for the winds to stop back in March and April but WOW, we've sure had some hot days with no wind lately. It's been great at the Mayport jetties. Calm winds means flat seas and the fishing's been great out there. Black drum, big redfish, the cobia run this spring was great on the beach and now the kingfish have been showing up good too. The bad thing has been the sharks. Big sharks have taken a few fish from us when we're trying to get them to the boat. What's strange is that we haven't lost a black drum to the sharks yet but quite a few big redfish have been eaten in half by 9 to 10 foot sharks. I don't know why they'll take a 30" to 36" redfish almost whole but not a black drum. I'm guessing that since the black drum have a taller fish body than the reds, they just won't fit into the mouth of a shark as well or maybe it's that the redfish thrash and run more than the drum and that brings more attention to the sharks.