Another surf spot closed.
 

FYI ,One of my favorites has been closed off. The gate at Frenchman's has been locked. Believe me there is no way around it, please respect their property. I 'd say they don't want fisherman there anymore!

The reef
 

I tried to get in a few nites ago and indeed it was well secured.
The only way in would be a major breach into private property. It is a fine spot, but I just don't need the excitement of an arrest...and they mean it !

I hate to hear sh!t like that, will this have a domino effect for you guys in RI? I have seen it down here at the west end of the canal where we had spots where we could walk into places through private property and then they got sold and the new owners just put up the No tresspasing signs or fences and bingo, a place that fishermen had access to for 60 years is gone in a heartbeat.

:( i'll betcha some loud disrespectfull fishermen were the cause of this...

ps- time for us to use small boats to get access to some of these closed spots- just stay below the high tide water mark.

:fury: :wall: :deadhorse: :bsod: :cens: :doh:

I get a lot of people thinking we're too hard on spot talk, but if it causes the loss of ONE spot it is not worth it. Not saying that people talking about Frenchman's was the cause or not but for reasons like the potential loss of a spot, it is never worth the risk.

swim across the river

John, I have to shoulder some of the blame for the closure of this spot but I think that people going in during daylight hours probably caused the lock. I have been fishing for alot of years and have found fishing areas, even private ones , well after dark usually does not cause problems. Moreover, surf fisherman who think that the same spot will produce at 3 pm on an august afternoon are the ones who bring "heat" on good, semi private spots. By the way, I had permission to traverse that private property for years per the land owner and considered it sacred and never, never went there during the day. But I know guys that did. Furthermore, there has been alot of guy's fishing there as of late because it is good and really consistent. I think it's just one of those places that can handle the volume ala the rock side of the mouth of the Narrow River.

Same thing also happened not too far from there. A spot I frequented got blocked off after guys were pulling in just after dark and got noticed. I used to fish the place from midnight to 4 am and never had a problem. Too bad.

BB, it is too bad because guys like me , you and the rest of the people on this site are innocent in what we do and don't cause problems. We just fish and most don't even know we are there.

well said steve.

For the record, I have no problem talking about spots as you know, but when I speak about private places like Frenchman's , I always, always tell people that it is PRIVATE and they are risking problems if they fish there. Apparently, that didn't deter alot of guy's from going to Frenchman's.

A big issue with frenchmans is the long walk... I know a lot of guys who are to lazy to carry thier fish out and will drive down the private road to pick up thier fish.. THAT is why the gate has been locked..

I want gas at $5 a gallon to keep the riff raff out of my town :hihi:

thats to bad. I never did get a chance to fish that spot mostly only because I never wanted to ask anyone how to get in.I knew it was a sensitive spot.I don't understand how some people are so ignorant about this sort of thing it amazes me.One night probably 5 or 6 year ago I went to a spot in soco and the parking lot was block off and the road leading the the light house was also gated shut I remember thinking I can't believe this.But in reality I can't believe that place is still open.

Steve - understand that I don't have a problem with talking spots, just that it should be done on a one-on-one or smaller group level where you can pass along the important knowledge like keeping it safe.

I know I'm guilty of sometimes thinking all people are as stealthy and respectful of private neighborhoods as I am. I know most of the more serious surffishers will be quiet as possible, but some people - and its easy to underestimate how many - could give a ratt's arse and litter, talk, make noise, cut through people's yards, etc...

I'm also ALARMED at the amount of littering scup fishers showing up in harder to fish & more dangerous spots towing 5-10 year old kids in tow :wall:

OK, I'm going to start swearing here as I work myself up

I think it was to keep the treasure hunters away from Parker23s booty.

John, well put. I'm going to be a little more careful about the private places from now on. And believe it or not, the main reason why I am so candid about surf fishing spots is because I want to be helpful to the younger guys. You know, just giving a little "back".

guys need to start using their heads and fillet their fish on the rocks leaving the frame for the crabs and carrying the meat out in a bag.Thats what we do when we take fish out of our spots,If I had to carry a fish out of the spots I fish I would never take a fish.

I took a 40 year sabbatical from fishing... and got back into it about 6-7 years ago. In that short period of time I have seen spots get more crowded, dirtier and have seen an increase in "NO" signs and fences in areas that I really like fishing. I have found myself becoming more and more reluctant to tell folks about spots unless I know them. Not that I know any "secret" places, but I only share info with guys who are similarly concerned about losing access and similarly aware of being respectful of property. I think that folks have to prove their ability to be aware of a lot more than where the fish are before I'll trust them with info that they might use and abuse. That's just me, but it's where I'm at. I generally don't ask spot questions... however, by not asking and being respectful and showing that I am very concerned about trash and access and not screwing things up for others (other fishing folks and beach owners and users), I am amazed at how often very good and very secretive fisherman have volunteered info, because they know I'm not going to abuse the spot or publicize the info.

The other night I walked about a half mile to get to a spot that was only 100 yards away because, in the summer season, too many private beach front owners are around and having my truck parked where it says "No" and walking where it says "Private" just makes them mad. Most recognize my truck and would probably not say anything to me, but parking and walking where they have posted "No" signs attracts others and encourages flaunting of the rules right in their faces. I just am smart enough to know that once the gate is locked, it's locked for everyone, good or bad. To me it's just street smart to keep a low profile, not piss folks off and check guys out before I share info.

But this is an old and frequent discussion. Problem is it seems to come up when a spot gets burned or gets closed. Too late to close the door then folks. Horse is gone.

Another point of access gone....and they want to charge us for the privilege of fishing the ocean?!?!? How are we supposed to get to it if they keep closing all the access by private ownership?? I think that new kayak is gonna come in quite handy!

Flaptail, theres a MA law about "right of easement" or something, so technically they can't limit you access if you have been doing it for X number of years without a problem

At 1 am, I used to park at a public lot, ride my bike with waders on, rod, bag and eels about 1.5 miles, hide my bike in the woods and then walk the coast down to fish that area. I was out at sunrise and rarely saw anyone.

You're my hero Jim!

What you refer to is that quirky little law thats allows a landowner to let people onto his property for every day of the year but one. As long as the landowner closes the path and allows no access for that one day a year, the landowner retains all legal right to close down access legally anytime he/she wants too. That one-day closure keeps the path and property private. But then again this being Massachusetts, monied landowners can probably get anything done in court, whether the access is closed once a year or never closed. What Flaptail mentioned though is very different. New owners of a property means new rules.

You must've been a Navy seal in a prior lifetime. Very stealthy

And when you do this on private property and the rack washes up on the landowner's property and they don't like it, then what?

There's this thing in National Forests called "leave no trace"
More people need to acknowledge it.

they are doing construction on site.

You should make sure it doesnt have to do with that, before you go on about the sky falling. :uhuh:

I know of other guys that have some similar means of accessing those areas. It adds to the fun of it all.

TT, Maybe,good point. The constrution is well before the lock though.

How 'bout USE YOUR HEAD. We don't do it in areas where the racks will wash up.