The Fay Fear Factor

To fish or not to fish?
That’s the question that has been coming into the fishing reservation booths along the Destin harbor the last couple of days with Tropical Storm Fay on the way.
Actually some of the reservationists said they started getting calls on Monday as to whether fishing trips were being canceled.
On Thursday, trips were still on and a few went out.
Capt. Jimmy Miles on the Kelly Girl took his group about five-miles off the beach and they brought in a good catch. They had red snapper, black snapper, king mackerel, triggerfish, cobia and white snapper.
The Finest Kind, Scamp, Checkmate and No Doubt also made it out for fishing — and why not? From where I was standing on the docks, I was looking at blue skies and calm waters.
On Friday morning, HarborWalk Marina had at least five boats out fishing — Perfect Shot, Huntress, Glory, Scamp and Just-B-Cause.
Capt. Mike Graef on the Huntress had three king mackerel on board before 9 a.m. Friday. On a cell phone call from the boat, Graef said he was fishing close in about two miles off the beach and the chop was about 2 foot.
Although they were fishing Friday, Capt. Graef said he is definitely canceling his fishing trips for Saturday and Sunday — however, Monday is kind of a wait-and-see situation.
Fishing Fleet Marina also had about a half dozen boats out fishing Friday morning — Miss Hazel, Strike Zone, Top Gun, Un Reel and Daybreak were on the water.
Jamie Reece in the reservation booth at Fishing Fleet said Friday morning that all trips for Saturday and Sunday have been canceled.
Are the boat captains in the harbor taking any extra precautions with their boats to weather Fay?
Capt. Graef said they were going to double-up on dock lines and stay put for the most part.
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The storm also has wreaked havoc with the Grand Lagoon Fishing Tournament in Panama City Beach. Tournament officials released the following statement Thursday:
“The uncertainties of the moment and the potential danger that rough seas pose to our participants have give us every reason to act cautiously in evaluating tournament activities scheduled for this weekend. We want to host a spectacular tournament and to celebrate the occasion with a great festival. We did not, however, invite Tropical Storm Fay to our table and having her as an uninvited guest is not something we can safely deal with.
“Given the circumstances we face, the Grand Lagoon National organizing committee has decided to continue festival activities for as long as weather permits and to reschedule fishing in all eight divisions. Fishing will now occur over the Labor Day weekend on Aug. 30 and 31.
“Unfortunately, the real stars of the Grand Lagoon National will have to wait on the passage of Fay before they make their appearance. But they will attend, every last one of them from big one with bills and swords, to small ones with bright colored scales. It will just take them a week longer to get here.”