Doc is on hiatus at Dauphin Island and files this report:

• It is important for people - especially locals – to know that things around Dauphin Island are fairly normal right now
• The public beach, Sand Island, and surrounding waters have been clear and enjoyable
• Kayaking (i.e. around Dauphin Island Bay and Federal Cut) is excellent
• The fishing around the rigs in south Mobile Bay is good – lots of fat specks, etc.  (Definitely no decrease in the number of skippies either though.) Very few recreational boats - you can be the only one on a rig for hours and not have 10 other boats jump on you.  We were told we were the only recreational boat off the public launch one day. Lots of flourescent yellow SeaTow boats though.
• No sign of that oil smell that has even plagued Midtown Mobile.
• Don’t forget the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Bird Sanctuary, etc.  Same could be said of the off-the-beach amenities in Fort Morgan, Gulf Shores, and Orange Beach.
• Point is Mod Mobilians – we don’t know what will happen in the long term, but please make an effort to visit and patronize our beaches while we can – check it out for yourself and spread the word.