Oil Spill Starting To Affect Local Company

Since 1997 the Stardust Sport Fishing Company has been the ride for people who want to spend a day fishing in the ocean. But after nearly 20 years they are taking a hit.
As soon as the oil spill occurred, folks started to cancel their reservations.
“People are really timid to come out right now. They are really concern whether the fish we are catching is healthy and it is. We are fishing many other spots,” said Jamie Daimond, owner of Stardust Sport Fishing.

Santa Rosa Island is where Stardust boats usually take their customers, but if weather doesn’t permit, their second option used to be Refugio and El Captain. Those locations are productive fishing spots.

“Since we can’t go there we are going further up the line to a place called St. Augustine. It’s closer to Point Conception. The quality of the fish is great and it’s above the spill so we don’t have any of that down wash,” said Diamond.

Diamond said they haven’t noticed anything out of the ordinary out at sea since the oil spill occurred.
“No fish has had tar on them, the boat hasn’t come back usually dirty, and everyone is just having a really good time,” Diamond said.