The water was perfectly calm that day on the Gulf.
Only an occasional light breeze stirred the surface, barely enough to ripple the water. There was no wave action to speak of, and the visibility was unusually clear.
As we eased up to a weedline formed along a current rip, I was taken aback by its sheer size. The sargassum—what most people simply call seaweed—stretched nearly 25 yards wide and ran for miles. It was alive in every sense of the word.
Curiosity got the best of me, and I dipped a net into the floating mat. Among the strands was a small crab that looked exactly like the seaweed it lived in, perfectly camouflaged. It was a sargassum crab, one of nature’s true masters of disguise.
We were hoping to find dorado, or mahi mahi, that day and slowly cruised the weedline, watching for flashes of green and gold beneath the surface. As our forward momentum slowed to a crawl, I noticed movement under the weeds.
At first, I assumed it was a bull shark. But something didn’t quite look right.
The shark came into clearer view—about eight feet long—and as I studied it, the proportions and movement suggested it might not be a bull at all. It could have been a silky or possibly a dusky shark. Whatever it was, it moved with confidence and grace beneath the sargassum. I was safely in the boat, so there was no fear—only awe.
That moment, many years ago, was the first time conditions aligned in a way that allowed me to fully absorb the Gulf’s beauty.
Since then, I’ve seen it through the lens of a scuba mask, explored its barrier islands, watched massive schools of redfish feed on the surface, and witnessed countless unforgettable scenes within its boundaries. But on that calm day, the true Gulf revealed itself to me in a way it never had before.
We are constantly shown the Pacific, Atlantic, Caribbean, and even the Arctic and Indian oceans through documentaries and media coverage. Yet the Gulf remains largely overlooked.
Outside of the tragedy of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and its aftermath, when is the last time you saw a national program focused on the Gulf? If you can recall one, that’s more than I’ve seen—and I actively seek out this kind of programming.
The Gulf is where the redfish and flounder we pursue move offshore to spawn in fall and winter. It is home to red snapper, dorado, king mackerel, amberjack, grouper, and countless other species that fuel offshore fishing dreams.
It holds the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, the northernmost coral reef system in the world. It supports Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, pilot whales, sperm whales, and dozens of other marine mammals.
It is a place of life—abundant, complex, and resilient.
Those of us who live along its coast owe it appreciation and respect for the recreation, food, and inspiration it provides. If you enjoy shrimp, crabs, or oysters, you owe a debt to the Gulf and its tributaries.
That means supporting clean water initiatives and innovative approaches that ensure a sustainable future for our marine resources. Clean water and abundant wildlife are not partisan issues. They are human issues—ones that transcend politics and demand cooperation.
As policies are debated that determine how the Gulf will be used and what will be conserved, we should keep this remarkable body of water at the forefront of our minds. From red snapper management to illegal dumping of hazardous waste, decisions being made today will shape the Gulf’s future.
It is time to stop treating the Gulf as a forgotten sea. Awareness is the first step toward stewardship.
Everyone should have the opportunity to explore the Gulf, fish its waters, and enjoy its bounty. But with that privilege comes responsibility. We must not only take—we must give back.
Much has been taken from the Gulf over the years. Now is the time to find creative, meaningful ways to ensure its waters remain vibrant—not just for those of us who know it now, but for future generations who will one day set sail across its calm, mysterious surface.
The founding of the Gulf Great White Shark Society is my little way of helping the cause.
Chester Moore
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