National Security a concern for Sabine Pass anglers

Jerald Horst

Ocean-going ships are common in Sabine Pass, all but a few LNG carriers headed for the Texas terminals.

Anglers new to fishing in the Sabine Pass area should be aware that the movement of liquid natural gas can throw a serious crimp in fishing plans.

When one of these huge ships enters the Sabine Pass channel, Jefferson County Sherriff’s deputies and the U.S, Coast Guard halt all vessel movement, even the smallest sport-fishing boat, in the pass until the tanker is docked.

"Yeah, they don’t want none of us Americans sinking their LNG ships," Norris twanged with an edge in his voice. "They ought to make them sonamaguns come in at midnight when ain’t nobody fishing."

Two LNG plants are sited on the pass, one on each side, with the Louisiana plant being the lower one.

When Norris is fishing the pass, the jetties or the beaches, he keeps a constant eye out for the approach of a tanker. If he spies one, he either makes sure that he is fishing where he wants to be or gets out of the channel to fish somewhere else.

Once authorities shut down navigation, an angler may be stuck as long as two hours in one spot.