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It’s one week before the 4th of July, and close to the end of the one of the best fishing months - I’m not surprised that parking is getting tight for residents and non-residents alike. But we surfcasters need to be careful when participating in any parking restriction effort. What happens if access is restricted and the place is still trashed up? Uh oh....
If I lived in Newport County, I would be concerned. Not so much about the out-of-towners – most go away after Labor Day – but about the nature of the objective. Restricting access to just one group, or a collection of groups, could be the start of a decent down a slippery slope that leads to no access for all.
Some out of town permit buyers are around just for vacation. I know an inn owner who gets several well off fly fishers each season who come to fish the cliff walk while their wives shop. If I owned a B&B or tackle business, or was involved in the tourist industry - I might like the fact that a tourist can fish from shore – they can’t do it in a lot of other places. Maybe it makes more sense to advocate for finding more spots and using the permit money to keep the place clean?
Joe
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