Venice Louisiana Deep Sea Fishing "Summer 2011"

April 2011 marks the one year anniversary of the BP “Deepwater Horizon” Oil Spill. Many avid fishing enthusiasts are wondering what the effects have been in the area they frequent several times a year for charter fishing. Venice, Louisiana is located so close to the deep water canyons of the Gulf of Mexico making the sport fishing opportunities world class. Venice is home to several major IGFA sport fishing tournaments each year. In the world of on-camera fishing personalities; anyone, who is someone, films a television show in Venice which airs to millions of viewers. Captain Mike Gray, Cajun Odysea Charters, located in Venice says “the fishing is better than ever.” Captain Mike reports that limits of yellowfin tuna are being caught, the mahi-mahi are already showing up and “YES” huge blue marlin are being caught. Populations of reef fish including red snapper, amberjack and grouper are abundant. June marks the opening of some reef specie seasons and Gray says “the snapper and grouper are so thick limits can be caught in just minutes.” One of the reasons for the increased catch in Venice can be explained by Dr. Russell Chianelli who is a professor at UT and says “There are organisms that eat oil called Hydrocarbon Degraders”… “These organisms consume oil creating CO2 and H2O and more of themselves. Approximately, 50% of the petroleum goes to making biomass and then goes up the food chain.” Gray, who runs a charter business in Venice, Louisiana, www.CajunOdysea.com supports Dr. Chianelli’s theory stating, “We have seen an increase in bait fish, which in turn has brought more game fish.” Until I heard this theory, I had no explanation for the incredible fishing. I thought since the Gulf of Mexico had some closed areas last year during the “Deepwater Horizon” accident that the lack of fishing pressure had increased the number of fish. However, as the fishing continued to get better and better I questioned my original theory. As we took customers into the Gulf to target Yellow Fin Tuna I was seeing more and more bait. I have recently witnessed things in the Gulf I have never seen including bait pods the size of football fields and millions of bait fish that are only seen occasionally in our area. Additionally, Dr. Russell Chianelli says “After every major oil spill there is an explosion in the number of fish and other marine creatures as they consume the Hydrocarbon Degraders. Everywhere in the ocean oil seeps occur. In fact, many of the deposits in the Gulf of Mexico were discovered by observing Oil Seeps.” Venice, Louisiana is located 70 miles south of New Orleans which makes adding a charter fishing trip a definite possibility if you are traveling to “The Big Easy” this summer. Captain Mike Gray says “Catches of Yellowfin Tuna can be caught offshore along with Red Snapper, Amberjack and Grouper.” Trips depart daily from Venice Marina returning late in the afternoon. Your catch is filleted, bagged and loaded in your cooler for transport. Heck, you can be back in the Crescent city for dinner if you choose.