Newport Access Denied

[chipwood]

Scratch off another spot in Newport. For the second year in a row another access point has been taken away from the fishing citizens of Aquidneck Island. I was walking to the spot when a caretaker told me there was no more fishing allowed due to accumulation of garbage. All he said was that they kept picking up diapers all the time. As I look back over the years I tried to think back of the garbage I saw accumulate at this spot. Besides the buoys, high fliers and snarled lobster pots, I've seen diapers, boxes of wine, gallon jugs of wine, plastic bags,toilet paper rolls, takeout food containers and of course discarded scup rigs. Now most people I know from Aquidneck Island that fish regularly don't usually carry jugs of wine or babies while fishing ,especially to this spot. Most of the people from the Island who fish this spot usually plug or throw eels. The guys who do chunk usually don't go there unless they know fish are there because it can be a hassle lugging bait there. Now with all this talk of spot burning and magazines putting spots out there for the masses to explore I won't name this spot you'll have to figure it out for yourself but I would just like to thank a few people. First and foremost I would like to thank the fishermen. ( I can honestly say that from reading the threads that most fisherman on this site are very respectful with regards to trash and issues of the like). Thanks fisherman for bringing boxes of wine, babies,takeout food and anything else that helps out with catching scup out to this spot. Lastly I'd like to thank The Fisherman Magazine especially Charlie Soares. I don't know Charlie I've only read his articles and from what I've read he's originally from Fall River and now resides somewhere along one of the rivers in SE Mass. Over the past few years Charlie has highlited this spot in his fishing reports with reports of dinnerplate sized scup, 20# bass , chopper blues and big tog. Well Charlie maybe you used to fish Newport in the old days but I have'nt run into you ever out on the rocks. At least McKenna and those other guys that burn spots fish from shore too, but I imagine most of the time when Charlie fishes Newport it's from a boat. Anyways, thanks Charlie for putting a spot that is accessed through PRIVATE PROPERTY in the Fisherman so every Tom , #^&#^&#^&#^& and Harry can come and leave boxes of wine.

[leptar]

what spot now......

[afterhours]

it's like they follow a freekin' script the outcome is

quite predictable...

[Young Salt]

im sure they'll find another spot to ruin next year.

[leptar]

Isn't there a child endagerment law? I know of an incident at a spot in middletown where at slack low an entire family walked and climbed to the furthest point... yes there were small children and infants there too... they set up camp and fished for tog and seabass.... well the tide came in and so did the wind.. they didn't bother to move... with waves starting to crash over the point it started to become hectic.... It's a spot you want to wear korkers and a pfd if you fall in... lucky for the youngsters F&G was doing their rounds and told them to get the kids out of there...

Stupid people do stupid things... but how do you label this type of persons? It's not limited to one ethnic group either as i know of a few "spanish and asian" groups that come down to fish and leave the spot clean as they know it's only a matter of time....

Me thinks me knows the spot... I was bounced out early in the tog season by the police who told me that there was no parking....

[Pete_G]

Originally Posted by leptar

Me thinks me knows the spot... I was bounced out early in the tog season by the police who told me that there was no parking....

Different spot, but that one always seems to be in jeopardy too...

[Duke41]

Don't buy the pollution excuse. A grew up in Newport and I can tell you this no one wants a fisherman in their yard. I doubt it would matter if all spots were kept clean. Having people tramp across your yard at all hours is less then thrilling for the home owner. Plus the wear and tear is tough on the property and costs to repair. The only way this works if a few guys have the owners permission to fish a spot. Then everyone keeps a secret. I use to live near a great spot. From May-November at times you could hear doors slamming, people talking and laughing, occasional flashlights across the lawn and in windows in the middle the night of course. When the average rich guy who live on the water sees a surfcaster scrambling across the rocks with his bucket and other crap. The home owner is not wondering did he meet that chap at the yacht club dinner. He is hoping the guy does not A. %$%$%$%$ on his landscaping, B. Piss all over his car, C. Break into the shed and steal tools, break into the garage. D. Look into the windows with his binoculars and watch his wife change.

All this has really happened to friends of mine. I would not put the blame wholly on the Asians or other minorities, I would blame people in general, the landowner, the surfcaster and especially human nature. Do what I did get a boat, then the rich can kiss you ass.

[Soaker]

Chipwood, I live on Aquidneck and volunteer on RISAA's public access committee. We have been successful in teaming with CRMC and designating public rights-of-ways throughout RI. Why do we want tobring attention to these spots? Because of what has happened to you and countless other people, not just fishermen. We are seeing a dramatic loss in rights of way along the "Ocean" State. Mostly due to rich people who don't want us (that's ALL of us, not just scup fishermen) in their backyards. I understand the frustation with "your spot" becoming more and known but don't go blaming McKenna and Soares. Blame the fact that people are losing their rights to the shore; causing guys to go to the fewer open locations and compounding the problem. I AGREE with you about the garbage. It's totally unacceptable but again, don't just blame the scup guys. We need to work together to keep these locations accessible. There are options. Send me a private message if you want to talk about what can be done. And anyone else out there who'd like to volunteer to help keep our access to the shore open, please consider joining RISAA's Public Access Committtee. You can either complain as we all lose"our" spots or help make a difference for our future generations. Kevin

[Pete_G]

You need to be careful about classifying the land owners in this spot. They're almost all fisherman, they can take one look at you and know exactly what you're all about.

They own the property, and they have for years willingly let fisherman, especially surfcasters, pass.

There is no parking near this spot (used to be) so parking lot noise is not an issue.

There is a road (although private) most walk up, so there is no actual walking through anyone's yard.

The change was made due to increased traffic and more importantly trash. I know the people out there, I've fished with some of them, and again, they almost all fish from both shore and boat. They're not just ignorant rich land owners.

[Swimmer]

I don't believe anyone but the property owner can tell you your tresspassing. Caretakers can inform you that you are but cannot order you from the property. Tell the caretaker when a police officer says I have to leave I will and not before.

The person that can order you from a property is the person who, when tesifying in court, thier word would be accepted as the lawful person that can order you from a property. In Massachusetts someone who says he is the caretaker would not be that person.

[chipwood]

First of all I've never seen a CRMC sign aywhere near this spot because it's someones property you must traverse to access the spot. So CRMC has nothing to do with it. These people have allowed fisherman to access for years.Sorry Soaker but it's not "my spot". It's a well known spot to locals but a certain population only discovered it in the last few years. And Soaker I never blamed McKenna. He can do whatever he wants over on the other side. All I know is that Narry attracts alot more fisherman these days. I blamed Charlie Soares. He's the one putting a spot that must be accessed through PRIVATE PROPERTY in a well known magazine. I'm sorry you don't advertise a spot in a magazine that you must trudge through PRIVATE PROPERTY. And the funny thing is Charlie Soares does'nt even go there. At least McKenna still fishes the spots he writes about. Soaker, maybe you just moved to the Island because it sure the hell sounds like you don't know where I'm talking about, because the spot has or should I say was overrun by scup fisherman who don't clean up after themselves. Okay maybe they stay after dark sometimes and catch bass and blues too. Whatever.

[ChiefLinesider]

Nothing I hate more than the people that ruin it for others.

They'll bring an entire meal to a spot. And leave everything they brought. It is the same type of people that do it over and over. I can spot them from a mile away. Dirty, thoughtless, ignorant #**)&$*#'s. Anytime I see someone leave their junk behind in my fishing territory they get an earful, minimum. "spot vigilante"

[Pete_G]

Originally Posted by chipwood

He's the one putting a spot that must be accessed through PRIVATE PROPERTY in a well known magazine. I'm sorry you don't advertise a spot in a magazine that you must trudge through PRIVATE PROPERTY.

That's the bottom line in this case.

Those who write or are in the public eye need to think before speaking or writing. Simple as that. There's many other spots across the state like this one that are accessable, but not technically Rights of Way. If they are named then the burner deserves any wrath that may come his way and then some.

In a case like Steve McKenna, since those are true public access spots (as far as I can remember) it's a different game. I've driven past one of his named spots MANY times in the past month at all hours and it was often completely vacant anyways.

[fishpoopoo]

Originally Posted by Duke41

I would not put the blame wholly on the Asians or other minorities...

I would.

Damned gooks are ruining it for everyone.

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by Bassturbed

I would.

Damned gooks are ruining it for everyone.

Just the ones that wear Aquaskinz

[fishpoopoo]

[MikeTLive]

I remember from years back that if you allow the public to use a path across your yard as a shortcut that after some amount of time it becomes a public right of way.

same for public rights of way, if they are not used for a period of time - like 1 year I think - they stop being such.

any real lawyers here who know the details?

[Swimmer]

In Massachsuetts its something like 20 years that if a path has been a path then its a path in perpetuity. But if the landowner/pathowner blocks access for one 24 hours period a year, landowner/pathowner retains all rights to that path. Meaning if he/she gets sick of letting people use it for what ever reason, he/she can legally do so. If its the same in R.I. you might have legal standing.

[riarcher]

In R.I. the "officials" don't want to be bothered,,, at all.
Plenty of "public acesses" have been closed by bordering property owners. Rights - of - ways that were granfathered in years and years ago are closing at an alarming rates. One gets away with it and others do likewise. The state and towns just don't want any part of it and allow them to get away with it.
I see both side of this coin. Yahoos making all sorts of noise in my yard when I'm trying to sleep would set me off too. Folks trashing my scenic view, Not sticking to paths, parking on lawns or blocking driveways, all these things would piss off the pope.
Sure, it's only a small percentage of slobs doing this,,, but how do you stop them guys and allow others? Nobody want to be confronted with beligerant jerks,, and most of the "trashers' do fall into this catagory,,, so they stop everyone. Just easier that way nothing really personal intended.
Now,, how do we turn that around? I'm open to workable solutions,, but can't honestly think of any.
Once an area is lost,,, it's lost for good.
I know, I live across from a popular "secret pond" and go through it all the time,,, and it's getting worst with time. People just refuse to accept resonsibility anymore for their action. I guess they assume I like filling in tire ruts in my yard?

[Salty]

CRMC is starting a new program, adopt a ROW, your club can adopt an ROW and keep it clean etc, all you have to do is give them a call.

[RIROCKHOUND]

Originally Posted by Salty

CRMC is starting a new program, adopt a ROW, your club can adopt an ROW and keep it clean etc, all you have to do is give them a call.

Not a new program, NCSWFC and RISAA maintain spots...

[chuckg]

Good policy for surf folks is to pick up the trash others leave. most of us don't bring anything besides, perhaps, a water bottle and take it out, as well. When I fish the canal I make it a point to pick up after the slobs who litter with their coffee cups, cut up mono, plastic bags, etc... It doesn't take much effort, I just grumble a bit about the folks who do not repsect what dwindling access points we have and hope that they wake up.

[bttfish]

Chuck! Ur the man.. Cheer
I totally agree, we all can play a part in this too...
There are more of good decent fishing folks out there than there are these idiots.. Thank God for that.. Moma still raise us right.
I usually bring a bucket with me fishing and do pickup craps around me when I am done, since I usually do not have keeper fish to put in them..

[Swimmer]

I've picked up trash and received bull from a landowner who watched me pick it up two seconds after I was finished.

Fishing clubs should get together and go to the town offices and look at assessor's maps and find all the ROW's and then go and walk on them, whether they gave been blocked or not. Carry the map copies with you as verification. Let the homeowner prove otherwise.

[vanstaal]

I would just ike to say something about this if I may, we had a bunch of people frome RISSA @ one of our meetings and the most important things they said was if you know of a right of way it needs to be shaired with the right people such as the officals @ RISSA and they do I mean they do look into it it doesn't happen overnigh as much as we liked it to
there is a lot invloved into it . as a Rhode Islander it is in our constitution
for a right of way to shore line
Section 17. Fishery rights -- Shore privileges -- Preservation of natural resources. -- The people shall continue to enjoy and freely exercise all the rights of fishery, and the privileges of the shore, to which they have been heretofore entitled under the charter and usages of this state, including but not limited to fishing from the shore, the gathering of seaweed, leaving the shore to swim in the sea and passage along the shore; and they shall be secure in their rights to the use and enjoyment of the natural resources of the state with due regard for the preservation of their values; and it shall be the duty of the general assembly to provide for the conservation of the air, land, water, plant, animal, mineral and other natural resources of the state, and to adopt all means necessary and proper by law to protect the natural environment of the people of the state by providing adequate resource planning for the control and regulation of the use of the natural resources of the state and for the preservation, regeneration and restoration of the natural environment of the state.

[chipwood]

Have'nt been around, but swimmer hit the nail on the head. Every year the owners of this propperty have kept people out of the spot for one day out of the year. I've gone out there and had the police prevent me from accessing the spot. So that's how they prevent the place from becoming a ROW.