August 8, 2010

Looks like things may be wrapping up for the Charter Boat community working in BP’s VOO program. We can’t wait to get back to fishing. More and more state waters are opening every day. Almost all of the state waters inshore are open, and we are offering guided inshore fishing charters on our 22’ center console boat. We will be conducting 4 hour trips for up to 4 people. Prices start at $300 for two people and additional $50 per person, up to 4 people total. As with the Good Times, the only thing you will need to bring is food, drink and a cooler to put your catch in once we get back to the dock.

We are still waiting on the federal government to open up the waters beyond 3 miles before we start running off shore trips again. Hopefully this will be soon. There is also talk of a fall red snapper season, and as soon as we know the dates we will get them published.

June 28, 2010

Hello to all. We have been hard at work as participants in the BP Vessels of Opportunity (VOO) program, cleaning and skimming oil along our beaches offshore as well as inshore on the back bays. There have been many long days, and even though we might not see it sometimes, we are making a difference. With the continued efforts of the local commercial fishing industry personnel (Charter Boats, shrimpers, crabbers, oyster harvesters and so many others), local volunteers, BP, BP contractors, sub-contractors and U.S. Coast Guard, hopefully the impact along our beaches and back bays will be kept to a minimum. State and federal waters off the Alabama coast are closed to fishing as are the bayous and bays in the Orange Beach, AL (OBA) area and we don’t know when they will be reopened. Public boat ramps/launches in OBA have also been closed but there are still some public boat ramps open as you move away from the coastal areas as well as toward Pensacola.

As mentioned before, if you are having difficulties with canceling your hotel/condo and you need something from me stating that your trip has been cancelled, please contact me. Even though fishing in our area is not possible at this time, there are still many things to do in the Orange Beach and Gulf Shores area, as well as Pensacola, FL. The fishing/seafood industry is not the only entity that has been affected by this in our community, and we ask that you still come to the beach if at all possible (just stay out of the water) and support our local restaurants, stores and other vendors who have been affected by this and are struggling to stay in business and keep their doors open.

We in the OBA fishing community are deeply saddened by the lost of one our own this past week, with the passing of Captain Allen “Rookie” Kruse. He will be surely missed. His family will be in our thoughts and prayers. “FAIRWINDS AND FOLLOWING SEAS ROOKIE”

June 2, 2010

Hello again all my valued customers and friends. As we all know by watching the news media, fishing in our area of the Gulf of Mexico has been closed, and at this time, I have to cancel any scheduled trips we have. If you wish to keep your trip on the books in case there is a drastic change, please let me know, and I will keep your trip on the books. We are sorry for this inconvenience. It is (of course) beyond our control. There is no cancellation policy at this time due to the situation. If you wish to keep your trip on the books, you will not be charged in any way, shape, or form. Due to current regulations, we cannot fish, catch-and-release, or harvest any fish in federal waters.

On June 1^st, I took my 22ft. center console out into the gulf about nine miles, and I saw the dreaded tar balls floating in the water. Damn, did it ever hit home, and after four weeks of uncertainty, our worst fears are upon us. We usually take into consideration and expect hurricanes and whatever else Mother Nature may throw at us, but this was totally unexpected.

If your hotel/condo-booking agent requires a confirmation from me to you stating that I have cancelled the trip, please let me know and I will email or fax you a charter cancellation confirmation.

I want to thank each and every one of you for thinking about us and booking your fishing trips with us. We sincerely look forward to your support in the future once this is cleared up. If you have any questions at all about what you see or hear through your local media, please contact me, and I will be happy to give you my perspective on what we are seeing down here.

Thanks,

Captain Dan

850-207-6675

goodtimescharterfishing@gmail.com

May 26, 2010

Fishing is great. The beaches and waters of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are still clear. We are no longer under contract with BP, so the Good Times will be running trips again. Thanks to everyone who booked trips with us. We look forward to seeing you soon.

May 14, 2010

Hello everyone, this is Captain Dan again.  The waters in the Orange Beach area are still oil free and no closures on fishing have been put on us out to about 45 miles.  The beaches are sugar white and the waters are clean.  Fishing is great and summer is fast approaching.

To my valued customers and friends that have already booked trips with the Good Times, we still have you on the schedule unless you have made prior arrangements to cancel your trip.  To new customers and friends that we look forward to meeting in the future, we are still booking trips.

Due to my contractual obligations with BP, there may be some circumstances or occasions where I will not be able to run your trip on board the Good Times.  I have contacted several trusted multi-passenger boat captains who have agreed to run any trips that are scheduled for the Good Times, or that you may want to schedule on board the Good Times.  Your price will remain the same as if you were going out on board the Good Times.  If at all possible and I am not obligated elsewhere I have asked these captains if I can ride along on some of these trips (Finally, I'll get to fish on a trip).  I look forward to meeting, seeing and talking to the best customers in the world.

Please contact me two to three days prior to your trip, and I will let you know if I am able to run the trip or if we need to put you on another boat.  Please understand our situation and also understand that we are sorry for any inconvenience that this may cause you.  We look forward to serving you now and in the future.

Thanks,

Captain Dan

May 2, 2010

With the current events that have occurred in the Gulf of Mexico with the BP oil platform, we all have many concerns. We will do our best to give you, our customers, the best assessment of how we think this event will affect fishing with the Good Times.

First and foremost, we will not run any trips that will endanger anyone who walks onboard the Good Times in any way. Your safety is of our utmost concern.

We are trying to gather as much information as we can to give you good real time updates and keep you posted.

As of now, fishing has been closed down thirty miles off the beach according to NOAA. This does not affect any of my trips up to twelve hours.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns as to a trip that you have already booked or you are thinking about booking, please call me at 850-207-6675, and I will give you my opinion as to how it will affect us.

We will try to give you an update every two to three days on our perspective about the situation. If there are major updates we will post sooner.