Is lack of public access taking a big bite out of sport fishing?

[Cardinal Joe]

Trouble finding places to dock and launch boats ?????????

It’s sad, but true. They said “public access” is their number one concern, says ASA. “Thirty percent of close to one thousand anglers surveyed said dockage and public access to boat ramps is more critical than water quality, too much recreational fishing pressure, lack of fish, or angling expenditures . Where waterfront real-estate is at an absolute premium, and public marinas and boat ramps are rapidly evolving into private facilities ( Condo Cities ) ??????????

Cardinal Joe

[Questsportfishing]

Marinas that require your first born for dockage.. (that is if they have kidneys, arms, lungs that are in good enough shape to sell for top dollar), there are waterfront condo's everywhere and some are dirt cheap due to Florida's tax and insurance costs, Code enforcment has been kicking peoples boats out of thier yards, rack n stacks that are up to $400-$1200 ..location location! I have to hand it to the Keys though they back thier charter fleets and 103.1 FM has daily fishing reports and they have great weather.. it's all how ya promote it sometimes

[Robja]

Around here public access is ridiculous. Every weekend the ramps are slammed and unless you get there at the crack of dawn you won't have a place to park your trailer. The State owns a marina in Southport and leases it to a group of wealthy individuals. They have been sucessful in running off most of the commercial business(they require a percentage of each charter). They said they would not raise rates after they put in the new docks but everybodies boat grew by several ft.(they started including the outboard motors and pulpits in overall length). For the dry stack folks they only have dockage room for about 12 boats and they don't want them left in the water overnite. We asked them if they were going to get to the marina at 5:30 to put boats in which of course they weren't. It is a shame that more access can't be provided but when the property values get so high those who like to fish lose out to the developers who want that waterfront property.