Paradise or the plague

As the Mother Lode backed in at the docks Thursday afternoon, the sun was shining with not a cloud in the sky.
And as the anglers proceeded to get off the boat, deckhand Josh Goodson looked at me and said, “It’s just another day in paradise.”
And you know what? He’s right.
Most people do think of Destin as a paradise with the beautiful sugar white sand, emerald green waters and friendly people —  at least until a hurricane shows up on the scene.
Once the Weather Channel says a hurricane is expected to get in the Gulf of Mexico — it’s like Destin has the plague and every body is scared to come near it.
But have no fear, it doesn’t look like Hurricane Gustav will be a threat to our area, at least not until after the holiday weekend.
As a matter of fact, folks were fishing on Thursday and others had trips booked through Sunday.
Those on the Mother Lode with Capt. Jason Hallmark brought in a great catch from a six-hour trip. They had red snapper, amberjack, barracuda and a mahi mahi. The folks were from Atlanta and New Orleans.
The people from New Orleans said they were traveling back Friday and packing up in case they have to evacuate. If so, they are coming back here one of the guys said, noting they have a place rented at Santa Rosa Beach until Tuesday.
Capt. Neil Finkel on the Vixen had a short trip Thursday. They landed a tiger shark and a sandbar shark.
Capt. Tres Peerson on the Backatcha and his group reeled in a limit of king mackerel, one at about 40 pounds, and a few Spanish mackerel.
Local anglers from Freeport, Sandestin and Santa Rosa Beach brought in a good catch on the Sea Winder with Capt. Stan Phillips. They filled the racks with red snapper, red grouper, a couple of triggerfish and a mackerel.
Capt. Jimmy Miles on the Kelly Girl had a fish on every nail of the boards. They had a lot of triggerfish, a few red snapper and a Spanish mackerel.
Capt. George Eller on the Checkmate and his group brought in a good mix of red snapper, lane snapper, mingo, triggerfish and white snapper. Capt. Eller is booked at least through Saturday.
It appears that all will be well here in Destin at least through the weekend. So give our little piece of paradise a try.
See you at the docks.