ORANGE BEACH, Ala.—Grounded by oil, the charter boat owner along Alabama's Gulf Coast known as Capt. Bligh walks past an old first mate.
"Arrrrrrgh," Bligh growls like a pirate. He has beard like Santa Claus and a belt with saltwater fish embroidered in the webbing. Hardly anyone calls him by his real name, Brent Shaver. A lot of people don't even know it.
Earlier this month, Shaver began a scary season — one without fishing. He had to shut down his inshore guide business after oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill made it through a pass into Perdido Bay, about 100 miles north of the rig site. Rust-colored tar balls now stain its sandy shores.
A brown oil stain hung on the side of Shaver's 24-foot fishing boat after his last trip more than a week ago, a slivery sheen floated atop water in the bait well. Fishing line was discolored and felt slimy.
Read the complete story at The Boston Globe.