Another surf spot closed.

[steve]

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!

[saltwaterhabits]

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 !

[Flaptail]

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.

[afterhours]

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

[afterhours]

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.

[go4broke44]

Originally Posted by Flaptail

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.

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

[Swimmer]

Originally Posted by go4broke44

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

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.

[Karl F]

Originally Posted by go4broke44

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

One thing I have learned here in MA, is that the above is not so... especially if you have a land courted Registered Deed... no rights of easement can be applied even well after 20 years of use... fortunatley, this worked out to my benifit, in my case....
and as Swimmer stated, if the property owner closes the path once a year, he's covered.
Property Owners do have rights, and can pull the strings... but it is unfortunate, that some spoil it enuf to force the owner into closing it down for all.

[Mike P]

Originally Posted by go4broke44

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

Not in this case. There was never a general right of access--select individuals had permission from the old owners of those houses to cross their yards and fish there. Some would allow you to park your vehicle in their yard, too. You can't gain a prescriptive easement by using the property with the express permission of the landowner. Your use of the property has to be open and under some claim of right, so crossing the guy's yard at 3 AM while he's asleep isn't the same as an open and notorious use adverse to the landowner's right of ownership.

There are unmarked public rights of way in those areas though, that most people don't know exist, as the signs were removed by landowners years ago

[JohnR]

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.

[steve]

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.

[Back Beach]

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.

[steve]

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.

[afterhours]

Originally Posted by steve

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.

[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.

[shadow]

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.

[jim sylvester]

swim across the river

[RIJIMMY]

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

[RIJIMMY]

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.

[jkjnp]

Originally Posted by RIJIMMY

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!

[Swimmer]

Originally Posted by RIJIMMY

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

[RIJIMMY]

Originally Posted by Swimmer

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

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

[steve]

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

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by steve

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".

Steve - I agree whole heartedly. And I've seen you giving back time and time again (sheet, I am personally a recipient of some of that giving - and I was once young ). My big fear is that some people, and enough people for it to be an important consideration, take the fishing knowledge in but do not take to heart the responsibility that you pass along as well. Call it McDonalds Syndrome or whatever. When someone does it face to face, they can pass that along and make it understood better.

Off my soap box, wasn't trying to make it a spot talk thread

[ThrowingTimber]

Originally Posted by steve

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

Just saying steve, the foreman on the jobsite may be concerned with tools etc, growing legs and walking off at night. I'm just saying you've got to make 100% sure what the closure is due to. Gossip is after all a female trait

Vic

[Nebe]

What sucks is that the people who actually had permission to fish there and did it quietly and respectfully will now have to pay the price for the A-holes who had neither respect, nor permission.

Thank you one and all.. who ever you are

[Pete F.]

This is a problem that will not go away.
Every spot that is lost puts more pressure on the ones that are left.
Combined with the increase in the # of people fishing it ain't good.

[Saltheart]

Never mind , just a waste of keystrokes at this point.

[TianaBeachDude]

Guys, I live on a beach that is frequented by fisherman who fish the open beach. I have had nothing but joy watching our community fish right in front of my house. However, latley for the sake of keeping my neighbors fisherman friendly, during my morning walks, I have had to clean up a bag of debris left behind from the night before. I guess if I wasnt a fisherman, I would be pissed.

Please respect private property on your way to the "medium high water mark" where you are allowed.

Bad manners make us all look bad.

TBD

[JohnR]

Thread closed - discussing a spot after all