Thread: No Fishing on Boat Ramp on causeway?

Was driving down the causeway this morning and noticed big signs all over the main boat ramp that said no fishing or crabbing. I wonder what happened? There used to be tons of people fishing from it every time I drove by.

Same thing at Cotton Bayou boat launch, Boggy Point, and the boat launch that is a short drive down Fort Morgan road..Cant fish from them according to the law just provided for launching boats...You cant even fish there if there isnt anyone launching a boat....I was ran off from Cotton Bayou launch before and I was the only person there just trying to catch a few croaker for bait...The guy told me that "boat dollars" paid for this launch...I told him that my boat was at home but that didnt matter...I think he was trying to say that only folks with alot of money have the right to fish there...Not sure but it ticked me off.

Sounds like it's about time to promote building some inland piers with some of this money that's flyin around :

If the dum :moon: people would pick up after their self instead of leaving crab strings tied all over the piers .them signs wouldn't be there

Well ain't that crap, hopefully once tourist season dies down a little, things will lighten up a bit. Never had a problem netting some bait at the ones around here but glad to get the heads up since not having done it in a while.

I wish there was a gulfside pier down Fort Morgan road....I bet the fishing woukld be killer all year round.

X2 on that, how about the end of Mobile St., :banana:Mike

I think Mobile street is Wildlife refuge...Feds wont sponsor us shore bound fishers.

[quote author=Bubba link=topic=1681.msg15931#msg15931 date=1343395773]
Was driving down the causeway this morning and noticed big signs all over the main boat ramp that said no fishing or crabbing. I wonder what happened? There used to be tons of people fishing from it every time I drove by.
[/quote]

Its always been that way, and the signs have always been there or its been stenciled on the docks. But people simply have ignored it.

Simply put, the docks at the boat ramps are for boats. These are not public fishing piers, they are boat ramps courtesy docks.
I know this pisses some people off but try putting in or taking out your boat on a busy day when the dock is lined with crab catchers and you will understand why its this way.

[quote author=CarlF link=topic=1681.msg16213#msg16213 date=1343669314]
[quote author=Bubba link=topic=1681.msg15931#msg15931 date=1343395773]
Was driving down the causeway this morning and noticed big signs all over the main boat ramp that said no fishing or crabbing. I wonder what happened? There used to be tons of people fishing from it every time I drove by.
[/quote]

Its always been that way, and the signs have always been there or its been stenciled on the docks. But people simply have ignored it.

Simply put, the docks at the boat ramps are for boats. These are not public fishing piers, they are boat ramps courtesy docks.
I know this pisses some people off but try putting in or taking out your boat on a busy day when the dock is lined with crab catchers and you will understand why its this way.
[/quote]
I would imagine that parking is another and probably a bigger reason for these signs. I have fished boat ramp docks my whole life and never have I gotten in the way of boats. Since I always yielded right of way and offered my assistance to the boaters when I could and it was needed, no boater has ever had a problem with me fishing the docks. Heck when I was a kid I would haul in some decent coin from unsolicited tips at times.

The problem I have with the situation at hand is that these are public boat ramps. Who has the right to deny one access to a public facility because they didn't bring along the right equipment with them? If I have a desire to fish any of these ramps, I would. If anyone tried to stop me from doing so, they would have to arrest me for trespassing to get me to leave. I think that the no fishing rule wouldn't hold up in court.