Buck Everingham who operates the Everingham Bros Bait Co. bait barge in San Diego Bay needs our help. The Navy is rebuilding its fuel facility and will need Everingham to temporarily move his bait receivers to another area in the Bay.
Everingham understands the need for the Navy to improve its fuel carrier zone so it can bring in larger ships, and is fine with the move. However, finding a place in the Bay that has enough current and depth for the bait boxes and is out of the way of traffic is posing some issues.
“We don’t want to move, but we understand that we’re on Navy property where we’re at and they’ve been good people to deal with over the 62 years we’ve been there,” Everingham says.
The Navy has offered up four different possible locations, but only one will really work as far as depth, current and being out of harm’s way. That location is Alternative 4A, Anchorage 216. The only problem with this location is it slightly displaces the starting line for the Cortez Racing Association’s sailboat course.
The San Diego sailing community has mounted an email campaign and asked every yacht club in San Diego that sails to oppose the move. The sailors are sending letters and emails to the Navy and the Port asking to either remove the bait barges entirely, or place them in an area deep in the Bay, near tourist locations and in waters that will kill the bait.
“We need fishermen to respond and ask the San Diego Port Tenant’s Association to support moving the bait barge to Anchorage 216, and the reasons why,” Everingham says. “Our bait boxes need to be placed in an area with certain water conditions that are conducive to keeping the bait alive. We need enough water depth in a location that is out of the way of traffic and out of the tourist areas so there is no eye sore. We’d also like to be close to the sport fishing landings so those that are trying to make a living on a short budget can save fuel and time.”
The move is scheduled to take place in October 2014 when the Navy begins construction. Everingham says the construction will take place for four months over the first year, three months over the second year and two months in the third year, depending on how much progress they make. Keep in mind that over the past five years, October has been right in the middle of the peak tuna bite and one of Everingham’s busiest months.
For more discussion on the bait barge move, check out the BD Forums by clicking HERE.
