Early in the morning, the water is still. The sound of boat motors run through a canal. This is when long-time Hancock County crabber Robert Metz hits the water.

Three years ago Friday, Katrina washed away the coast's seafood industry.

"I had about 250 crab traps tied to the house, and when the house left, the crab traps left with it," said Metz.

But Metz says after the storm there were plenty of crabs.

"We had more crabs than I have ever seen and I've been here since 1979," he said. "The problem was we didn't have any boats left or crab traps to work."

The crabs were washed inland with the storm surge, and according to Metz, who lives right on the state line, it took months for them to find their way back to the Gulf.

"We had just a few traps to work with and most of those we salvaged from the trees," Metz said. "But you could do a lot with a few traps whereas before you had to have a lot more traps."

So Metz and many others in this fishing community have been slowly building back. His neighbor across the water is working on his boat. While Katrina didn't shut down the coast's oldest industry, another crisis might.

"High fuel costs are destroying the seafood industry," said Metz.

Metz is using a smaller boat now to keep costs down, but he doesn't know how other families will continue. After spending his adult life in this business he's thinking about getting out.

"I'm getting old," said Metz. "I'm thinking about retiring."

Metz pulled up all of his traps and secured his boat. The threat of Gustav is forcing him to evacuate again. But as soon as it passes, he will return home. If there is damage, Metz said he'll gather the pieces, again.