ENGLEWOOD, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis is asking the federal government to step in and help the state's fishing industry after it took a major hit from Hurricane Ian.


What You Need To Know

  •  Florida's fishing industry took a serious hit when Hurricane Ian crashed into the state

  •  Gov. Ron DeSantis has asked the federal government to declare a federal fisheries disaster

  • DeSantis' office said the declaration would allow the state to access additional funds to help those affected by the storm

He’s asking the Secretary of Commerce to declare a federal fisheries disaster to try to alleviate the issues fishing captains are dealing with.

According to information from DeSantis' office, the declaration would "provide access to federal funding, subject to appropriation, to allow offshore, nearshore, and inshore fisheries to rebuild."

For captains like Doug Goodman, trips to the marina are normal, but since Ian, he said he hasn’t been there in a few weeks.

“This is the first time this boat’s been in the water since the evening before the hurricane,” Goodman said.

He runs a fishing charter company out of Englewood, usually doing one to two charters a day.

Since the hurricane, he hasn’t been able to get his boat out of the barn.

“As you can see, the water is pretty nasty," Goodman said.

But the folks with the Harbor at Lemon Bay Marina decided to help get his boat back on the water so he can assess his fishing areas and see when he might be able to get back to business.

“Right now, we don’t know what’s out there,” said Goodman.

He says he had several charters booked all the way up into December.

Because of Ian, Goodman said he’s either had to cancel them, or has had the customer call to cancel.

“I haven’t worked since two days before the storm,” he said.

And with no money coming in, bills are fast approaching — bills for his home, his insurance and his boat.

“It’s to the point of whether we survive or whether we close,” he said.

That’s the last thing he wants to do, so he’s hoping that the governor’s plea for assistance from the federal government — to help fishing charters like his and those in far worse shape — will be answered before it’s too late.

“I really think this is going to affect us for quite some time,” Goodman said, pointing to the damage seen while cruising around Lemon Bay.

Seeing and smelling the murky water around his boat and seeing what’s left of the bay, Goodman said he may have to go back to his home state of Virginia just to keep his boat afloat.

“I might end up having to relocate there pretty much just to keep paying my bills and keep my boat,” he said.

Until that decision is made, he said he’ll keep roaming these waters praying for his piece of paradise to come back stronger than ever.

Goodman said he’s losing $3,000-$4,000 a month because he can’t take out any charters right now.

While the marina where he docks is planning to reopen later this week, Goodman said he currently has no charters booked and hopes there will be assistance soon so he can pay his upcoming bills.