Why I am taking some time off from hunting

[CanSlaw]

In my area it is now getting more dangerous to be in the water than driving to the beach. In addition we have POLLUTED water being released from Lake Okeechobee flowing right into Ft Myers Beach that is flat out nasty and stinks. Nobody in the water, not much being lost. I like staying healthy, the gold can wait. http://www.news-press.com/article/20131009/NEWS01/310090027/0/CRIME/Saltwater-bacteria-infects-7-Lee-County-two-later-died?odyssey=nav|head

I guess my Doctor was right when he told me to stay out of water last week that there we health advisories out.

 

[Dark Chameleon]

I saw the water qualities when I was there last month, not good, all the brown from the grass the water release.

I still hunted the beach but was not going into the water, and to detecting in it would be pointless cos all the grass and color you couldn't see your coil and a scoop would fill with that junk grass...didn't find much but still nice beach hunting..specially when the rain chases off the beach goers....

Never found so many bottle tops through...they a mucky bunch down there

 

[ebone581]

Time to move inland?? I don't do much water hunting. Told myself I was going to do more this summer. Our lake here has been lousy with blue green algae blooms. No on has been in the water to drop anything, and that that is in there, I would have a hard time retrieving, since I'd be trying blind. I have nowhere near enough time in water to hunt that way. Unfortunately, things wont be getting any better, more people, more pollution, more fertilizers into water etc etc....

 

[CTCurt]

That's some scary stuff right there Chuck. Are you ok if you just hunt the wet sand though? How have you been my friend? Work has been too busy to hunt lately for me. I'm gonna go see Craig soon though.....

 

[itsaring!]

Most our sewage plants dump into the St.Johns which lead straight to the ocean. Not to mention bad or bypassed septic systems. Only way our water will ever get cleaner is to move. One swimming hole people use is right by the military bases sewage outflow. Always freaks me out seeing swimmers right by the pipe. And military doesn't follow the same guidelines everybody else does. Years ago when we started seeing fish with ulcers all over their body, I quit swimming in the river. A brown trout here isn't a fish if you know what I mean

 

[CanSlaw]

I am about ready to hang it up for our local waters. I have hunted them for 20 years and the changes I have seen in past 5 years are sickening. Not only are they hunted to death now, but the water quality and re-nourishment projects have RUINED what use to be good hunting. I will continue to hunt "once in awhile" but I think I will save my water hunting for better productive areas. I have respiratory problems (COPD from too many years of smoking) and our water quality is so BAD, I can't breath when I come off the beaches in this area. I won't even go into Red Tide season. It's time I let the newbies knock themselves out with the 4 hunting shifts per day, and sit back and remember how good it use to be.

 

[CanSlaw]

That's some scary stuff right there Chuck. Are you ok if you just hunt the wet sand though? How have you been my friend? Work has been too busy to hunt lately for me. I'm gonna go see Craig soon though.....

Hey Curt,
From the polluted water being released even the air stinks and wet sand hunting is not even enjoyable. It reminds me of hunting at the sewage treatment plant. Naples beach is now getting 700 dump truck loads of sand everyday for their re-nourishment project, so there goes those beaches. The sand is coming from a gravel pit inland so not even anything to hunt.

We did order the new motor home, so I do have something to keep me busy getting mine sold before the new one is delivered in Jan. In the meantime I will wait and see if the water clears up and people start going back in the water again.

 

[Surf Master]

Not Good

At all Canslaw, I would use waders for sure, look's like my Florida vacation's are over, with all that cash you should pack your bag's ,get in the Rv and move to Alaska, Gold country , we will look for your post's on the prospecting section it's time to put your place up for sale http://www.alaskahomesellers.com/li...c&utm_campaign=RealEstate&utm_term=RealEstate

 

[Sandbox]

This issue has always been a problem here based on the cases the state has had over the years, seems to me media is spinning it differently. I never even heard much about it till recently.

"In 2013 to date, the Florida Department of Health (DOH) has recorded 27 cases of Vibrio Vulnificus infection in humans, including the nine fatalities. That toll matches precisely the toll wreaked on the state in the whole of last year. In 2011, there were 35 cases and 10 deaths."

"The Sunshine State has consistently accounted for more than half of the infections in the entire Gulf Coast region, which average around 50 a year in total. A naturally occurring bacteria related to cholera, it is transmitted in one of two ways; either through ingestion of raw shellfish—generally oysters—or via open wounds in water."

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articl...-with-the-flesh-eating-vibrio-vunlificus.html

Given the number of people that enter the Gulf and Atlantic, it seems the cases are indeed rare and I am sure many have open wounds. I just think precaution is needed but with all the shells on the beaches here you have to wonder if it's even safe to walk on them in barefeet, wouldn't take much to get a cut/infection.

 

[OBN]

Sorry to hear issues with the water CS, The Chesapeake Bay has had issues for years and just about the only hunting is for the old stuff since so few swim in her now. About 4 years ago I was on your beach hunting n digging, yours has the same sewer smell as when digging in the Bay. We will never see it but I do believe all is a ticking time bomb....

 

[Stunmi]

Sorry to hear those reports Canslaw, when I started detecting a little over a year ago you answered many of my questions in a straight up easy to follow style. I am fine tuning my water and wet sand techniques and hope to have a good year for a sophomore. I also can't thank you enough for the Gold Beneath Waves book recommendation. Take care in whatever your future plans are.

 

[CanSlaw]

Sorry to hear those reports Canslaw, when I started detecting a little over a year ago you answered many of my questions in a straight up easy to follow style. I am fine tuning my water and wet sand techniques and hope to have a good year for a sophomore. I also can't thank you enough for the Gold Beneath Waves book recommendation. Take care in whatever your future plans are.

Thank you for the kind words. I'll still be around and still hunting....it just won't be in my local, smelly, stinking, over hunted waters My last hunt for 3 hours in stinking waters, stepping into dig hole after dig hole, netted 6 cents...I finally said that is enough for me. There are MUCH better areas ti hunt than the DISEASED waters of Lee County.

 

[imalookin2]

Man I hate to hear about the issues in your area. I can imagine how much it all sucks. Hope for you things improve so you can get back to enjoying the local beach.

 

[CanSlaw]

Man I hate to hear about the issues in your area. I can imagine how much it all sucks. Hope for you things improve so you can get back to enjoying the local beach.

Thankfully FL has lots of beaches, so it's not hard to find other areas to hunt. Just have to drive a long way and not go as often. At least the other beaches don't have more hunters than swimmers.