SPACEFISH REPORT
8.7.2018 – 8.13.2018
A CENTRAL FLORIDA FISHING REPORT EVERY TUESDAY
Whether you use the eye test or the scientific method, the conclusion is the same…
IN THIS WEEK’S REPORT…
“Is the Lagoon Getting WORSE or BETTER?“
Most locals can determine accurately that the IRL system is in poor health right now by using the good old-fashioned “eyeball” test. But, in case the brownish color, the lack of seagrass, and stench of death aren’t persuasive enough of indicators, there’s also the all-too-recent history of sewage spills, fish kills, and of course, the creeping blue-green algae to help put everything in perspective.
For those who are still not convinced that we’re already in a “all hands on deck” situation and rapidly approaching a FUBAR scenario, the Marine Resources Council (MRC) has got you covered. At noon today (Tuesday) they will be issuing a “report card” style grade for each of their ten defined regions that make up the Lagoon, seeking to answer the question, “Is the lagoon getting better or worse?” Spoiler alert: this semester’s grades are probably not making it onto the fridge.
No Lagoon Left Behind
When all else fails, implement a grade-based system where achievement in very complex issues can be boiled down and measured in a simple “A” through “F” graded scale. It could work, just take education, for instance. If you look at the 2017-18 “grades” of Florida’s 70 school districts issued by the Florida Department of Education, you will see an ocean of A’s and B’s with just a couple of sporadic C’s in the mix. The State must be totally crushing it in the classroom, and surely, Florida is some type of academic juggernaut, right? Unfortunately, we know better. In education (pre-K – 12), US News & World Report ranks Florida 40th out of 50 states. Hey, we might not be perfect, but at least we’re not Mississippi! Here’s to hoping this type of system works better for our environmental crisis.
C’s Earn… Disease?
This isn’t meant to criticize the good work of the MRC. It’s really just the timing and presentation that is curious. It would have been game-changing to have data like this 20 years ago, and it might be just that twenty years in the future. Better late than never, but releasing a first graded “report card” when life in the lagoon is clearly hanging by a thread is a bold call. On the one hand, any mark above FAILURE may undermine the sense of urgency needed for immediate action and relief; and on the other, if they dole out big, fat “F’s” across the board, it potentially undermines their own efforts, e.g., “How many PHDs and million dollar grants does it take to state the obvious?” Either way, it’s going to be a tough crowd…
The results will be announced at 12pm by the MRC and will be made publicly available on their website, savetheIRL.org. No matter what the district grades show, it’s important that we all do whatever possible to raise awareness for lagoon conservation, take an active role in the solution, and support the organizations that are leading the charge (such as the MRC). And if the grades are especially poor, just remember, at least we’re not Mississippi.
SPACE B.O.I. FORECAST
OFFSHORE
INSHORE
SURF/JETTY
WEATHER OVERVIEW: We are officially in the dog days of summer with high temps reaching the low 90’s. You can expect the wind to be a little stronger in the beginning of the week but it should taper down nicely as we move into the weekend. This will hopefully help make for good conditions to open red snapper season on Friday. As usual, keep an eye out for afternoon thunderstorms, make sure you are using plenty of sunblock, and stay hydrated — it’s hot out there!
Click here to check out the forecast from the National Weather Service.
Contributor Reports
In every week’s Spacefish fishing report, we turn to both fishing pros and average joe’s for input on what’s happening in and around Brevard County’s many fisheries. Check out what people are saying about the bite in the Space Coast this week:
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GIVEAWAY CONTESTS
Every week, we randomly draw a name from our email subscriber list to award a $20 Strike-Zone Fishing Gift Card. The only catch is, if you are announced as a winner, you must email us to claim your prize. Congrats to this week’s winner, Alan Parnell of Melbourne. If you’re not already a Spacefish subscriber, click here to sign up.
CAUGHT ON CAMERA
Check out what’s been caught on camera while fishing in around the Space Coast this week.
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THANKS FOR READING!
Thanks for reading another weekly edition of the Spacefish Report. Since Spacefish began in January of 2018, we’ve now published 31 fishing reports — one for every week of the year. We are constantly working on improving the quality of content, improving features, and enhancing the user experience, and we hope it shows. Also, don’t forget to listen to Spacefish ON THE RADIO every Friday at 4pm as we talk fishing with Mark Moses on SPORTS RADIO 1560 THE FAN.
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