Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating - View Single Post - 'Save Our Shoreline'

Crafty Angler · 05-28-2004, 06:40 AM

Thanks to all who responded either by posting or thru PMs

we're all time-starved, I know, I have 2 full-time small businesses and one part-time - and starting anything as the season has just begun ain't easy. Hell, we all want to fish after last winter, but I don't think it will take all that much to get it rolling - everybody I talk to - and not just fishermen - has their shorts more than a little twisted over it. All the pieces are pretty much in place already, we just have to connect the dots.

You're absolutely right, Joe - rather than fight a series of skirmishes, we (Rhode Island surf-casters and bait fishermen and others with shore access concerns) need to nuke 'em. I would think the Black Point case would serve perhaps as a precedent but I've gotta read the decision - I think former Atty. General Jim O'Neill was the lawyer on that one - another old Narragansett lobster guy me and my wife know. But this IS a CRMC issue, not on a town or city level and is directly addressed in the State Constitution.

But you are right in that the CT people are bringing the CT mindset with them in regards to shore access - I told my wife a couple of weeks ago that I was noticing a lot more CT plates on cars around town and yesterday they outnumbered MA plates, which we always saw more of than RI tags here in Newport.

Hmmmm...maybe it tells me that the MA people are getting priced out and the CT people are moving in to fill the void and scoop properties that don't seem so very expensive to them vis-a-vis current waterfront/waterview parcels in the Nutmeg state. Whatever the reason, they're showing up in greater numbers - I know that they're causing access problems in South County now according to the locals I talk with on the mainland. And they're starting to cause problems here as well. This is not a diatribe against people from CT in general (yeah, I mean you Ben and Krispy too - I don't want you two to toss me overboard during the First S-B Leg) - but that seems to be their M.O., IMHO. Like I said, wait'll they get rolling on the Ocean View in Watch Hill - it won't be pretty. You guys who like to fish the Light better be ready.

Thanks, too for the offer, John re the site - perhaps you could set up a 'Coast Watch' Forum or something for things of this nature...that alone would be a great way to keep us all informed or have members submit observations or questions.

I wasn't yet aware RISAA was on the case - great news, they have a lot of clout - I'm not yet a member but will be soon. There are also other organizations with similar concerns that are on board - it seems like everybody is rowing the boat in the same direction which is encouraging.

But don't let it slip by on us - go to the Middletown Town Council meeting if you can at all on June 7th at 7:00 PM -

I'm going to post an email forwarded to me by Dennis Zambrotta, President of the NCSWFC from the RI Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation - it explains the details of the case a bit.

Thanks again, guys - this affects us all - we are all in this together (unless you would only like to fish RI State Parks as Ben said).

05-28-2004, 06:40 AM	#7
Crafty Angler Geezer Gone Wild iTrader: (2) Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 3,397 Blog Entries: 2	Thanks to all who responded either by posting or thru PMs we're all time-starved, I know, I have 2 full-time small businesses and one part-time - and starting anything as the season has just begun ain't easy. Hell, we all want to fish after last winter, but I don't think it will take all that much to get it rolling - everybody I talk to - and not just fishermen - has their shorts more than a little twisted over it. All the pieces are pretty much in place already, we just have to connect the dots. You're absolutely right, Joe - rather than fight a series of skirmishes, we (Rhode Island surf-casters and bait fishermen and others with shore access concerns) need to nuke 'em. I would think the Black Point case would serve perhaps as a precedent but I've gotta read the decision - I think former Atty. General Jim O'Neill was the lawyer on that one - another old Narragansett lobster guy me and my wife know. But this IS a CRMC issue, not on a town or city level and is directly addressed in the State Constitution. But you are right in that the CT people are bringing the CT mindset with them in regards to shore access - I told my wife a couple of weeks ago that I was noticing a lot more CT plates on cars around town and yesterday they outnumbered MA plates, which we always saw more of than RI tags here in Newport. Hmmmm...maybe it tells me that the MA people are getting priced out and the CT people are moving in to fill the void and scoop properties that don't seem so very expensive to them vis-a-vis current waterfront/waterview parcels in the Nutmeg state. Whatever the reason, they're showing up in greater numbers - I know that they're causing access problems in South County now according to the locals I talk with on the mainland. And they're starting to cause problems here as well. This is not a diatribe against people from CT in general (yeah, I mean you Ben and Krispy too - I don't want you two to toss me overboard during the First S-B Leg) - but that seems to be their M.O., IMHO. Like I said, wait'll they get rolling on the Ocean View in Watch Hill - it won't be pretty. You guys who like to fish the Light better be ready. Thanks, too for the offer, John re the site - perhaps you could set up a 'Coast Watch' Forum or something for things of this nature...that alone would be a great way to keep us all informed or have members submit observations or questions. I wasn't yet aware RISAA was on the case - great news, they have a lot of clout - I'm not yet a member but will be soon. There are also other organizations with similar concerns that are on board - it seems like everybody is rowing the boat in the same direction which is encouraging. But don't let it slip by on us - go to the Middletown Town Council meeting if you can at all on June 7th at 7:00 PM - I'm going to post an email forwarded to me by Dennis Zambrotta, President of the NCSWFC from the RI Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation - it explains the details of the case a bit. Thanks again, guys - this affects us all - we are all in this together (unless you would only like to fish RI State Parks as Ben said).