'Newspg12.indd' by The Newscaster

gram. Seventeen nautical miles south-southeast of Pensacola Pass and 86 feet beneath the

ocean surface lies a small artificial reef that, until recently, didn t mean much to anyone be-

yond the fish who lived there, the anglers who occasionally visited and those that deployed

it nearly 15 years ago. But now the reef, previously known only as EE-3, has new meaning

to some well-deserving lionfish hunters and a new name: Sgt. James Taylor Waldron Reef.

A lionfish-hunting team was awarded the right to rename an artificial reef off the

coast of northwest Florida after successfully removing more than 500 lionfish while partici-

pating in the Lionfish Panhandle Pilot Program.

The reef was named in honor of team member Taylor "Curt" Waldron s older

brother and fellow comrade in arms. Sgt. Waldron was serving in Vietnam with the U.S.

Army s 173rd Airborne Brigade when he was killed in action, Sept. 13, 1970, at age 20.

"After the Vietnam War was over, very few cared but me and my parents," said

Curt Waldron. "I wanted to do something more. The world has forgotten him; but they will

look at that artificial reef name."

A total of 10 persons or teams who participate in the Panhandle Pilot Program

may qualify to rename an artificial reef. The program, which started in May 2016 and runs

5093 S. Orwell Pt., Homosassa, Florida 34446

through May 19, 2017, also rewards divers with a tag that allows them to take an additional

Phone: (352) 489-4588 Fax: (727) 362-4788

cobia or red grouper for every 100 lionfish removed off the coast of Escambia throughil, Tom Russell, Publisher: thenewscaster1@gmail.comIEmail, Debbie Russell, Editor: d

Websites: thenewscaster.com · newscasterarchives.com · history.newscasterarchives.c

Waldron attributes success to his teammates Bill Parsons, Chip Burger, Huston

Parsons and TJ Huff. He also acknowledged Steve Hemmert of MBT Diving, and boat cap-

tains Doug Hammock of H20 Below, Doug Pacitti of Six Shooter Charters and Andy Ross

of Niuhi Dive Charters for their support.



If you are new to lionfish hunting and think you can t possibly get 500 lionfish on

your own, note this, Waldron and fellow team leader Bill Parsons only started diving again



, Crystal River, Homafter sa, Invyears s, Hernando, Hotook Citrus Springs, Bevely Hillsbeforerthe ity

in late 2016, osas many erneson hiatus. They lder, their first lionfish just days & Flo al C

  

Pt., Homosassa,began. 446 · PHONE: (352) 489-4588 FAX: (352) 727-362-4788

competition FL 34

· thehealthcaster.cothe · newscasterarchives.com · history.newscasterarchives.com

During m annual Lionfish Removal and Awareness Day weekend, the team took

Turk King of Crystal River caught this 14.85 and won Captains Cove 

 lb tripletail     Outfitters

castera @gmai133 fish(outm) the morebienewscaster@gmail.com (Debbie) off Pensacola

1 total of l.com To of · deb than 8,000 lionfish total that were removed

alone during that time period. Between July 7 and July 15. They completed another 22 Tripletail Contest. Turk caught this on a live shrimp.It caughtfloatingweeds northof

  was  in      

      

Yankeetown. Nice Fish Turk !

dives and removed 402 more lionfish.

Captains 

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