all Cape Cod National Seashore is closed

[piemma]

Originally Posted by gone fishin

"Perhaps if you guys who are still buying the permits stopped for a year or 2 maybe the CCNS would feel the pinch from the lack of revenue. Perhaps the local economy in P-Town and Truo would also feel the lost dollars. Then maybe something sane could be enacted."

In response ----

The only problem with boycottting the CCNS is that our sticker money goes to paying their salaries and maintaining the seashore. If we don't buy a sticker the opinion on their side will be that there isn't enough demand to allow access to the beaches by vehicle. That is exactly the excuse the Audobon and the CCNS is looking for.

Support the MBBA in their effort to bring pressure legally to keep our access to the beaches.

Great point and one I considered. So it ends up being a Catch 22. Support the permit process and throw your money away or boycott the process and they think no one is interested and then they close down the whole damn thing.
I wonder if this is what JFK had in mind in 63 when he set aside the CCNS for the good of the common man?
I'll tell you one thing, if the fishing was like what we knew in the late 80s thru the late 90s there would be a war going on. I remember one night in 94 when there was a couple a thousand pounds of bass taken at the Second Rip in the hours between 1 and 4 am by about 20 guys. I was there and I can tell you that there wasn't a fish under 18 or 20 pounds kept. I stood right next to the late George Calzone on one side and the late Lanny Grazinni (who died 2 weeks ago) and these guys were amazed at the quality and quantity of fish we kept catching all night. It was insane!
No there were no Seals then!!!

[gone fishin]

Fred I have to agree with much of what you said. There are not many of the "old" crowd who remember when the seashore was stolen from the mobil fishermen. I too remember when there was no seals or mung or bird people keeping us off the beaches. I am still fighting because there is still a chance that my children and their children may eventually enjoy what we had, and not be bullied off the beaches.

I am sincerely hoping that the MBBA and the MSBA and the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association and United Mobile Sportsmen and the Regional Fishing Alliance and New Jersey Beach Buggy Association and the Montauk Surfcasters, and the Plum Island Surfcasters and I hope the hell I have left off a few other organizations that are contributing to the legal fight to regain what is our right to the beaches. We cannot win the battle, but damn it we can win the war. Slip seems to be the only one on S-B that has got it right. We cannot win by fracturing our alliances, but must do something. If anyone wants an update on the MBBA fight please attend a meeting or two. Check out the website for any information and feel free to join the battle.

[BigFish]

Don.....I agree with alot of what you say! Here are a few reasons why, for the first time in 7 years, I have not gotten a sticker for driving on the Race!

1. Last year I got a sticker, paid $150.00 and due to the beach being closed almost the entire summer......I drove on only 1 time.....cost me $150.00!

2. The fishing the past 3-4 years has been in serious decline due, in my opinion, to the proliferation of those 600 pound rats!!! Not worth the ride all the way down there any longer.....prior to 2 years ago I drove down there AT LEAST once a week to fish.......it is very bad down there now!

3. Gas prices this year being what they are and the before mentioned fact that the fishing is not what it once was.....again, its not worth it!

4. Plovers....nuff said!

5. Mung! Nuff said!

For me to spend $150.00 on a sticker I can't use to simply prove some point that is going to breeze past anyone who needs to listen is just plain silly!

To sum up.....costs too much for the amount of time we can use it, seals, plovers, mung, lack of what would be any descent fishing from shore!!!

Can you give me a better reason to buy a sticker than "just because"?

You know I love the Cape.....just got back from 2 weeks in Wellfleet, someplace I truely love, and I will continue to vacation there because I love it there......but I have wiped any delusions from my mind that the fishing is ever going to be the slammer it once was! I fished down there quite a bit the last 2 weeks.....tally between myself, Angie and my boys was 3 dink bass and 6 rat blues! Saw nothing of size caught and heard alot of folks with the same complaints I have mentioned above!

[Flaptail]

You know, I hope for the best, I mean I attended the public meetings in P-Town in December and March or was that February, but my optimism must be replaced by realism and that is as long as the Plover exsists and even though it's recovery rate is greatest on Cape Cod, it stinks to our south on Long Island and other southern and mid Atlantic beaches. That being the case, the MBBA, MSBA, LIBBA SB.COM and God himself will not change the way things are. It was apparent at the meetings, the CCNS peoples hands are tied and no matter how cordial and apologetic and no matter how many plugs for access are sold in a noble effort and how good the legal fund is or the lawyers it buys, what you see and have is what you are going to get. Squawk all you want, your in a losing battle. I knew this would come to pass the moment the last meeting ended. Take off the rose colored glasses boys and girls. You will not win this one, no way no chance. It's fantasy pure and simple to think you could. The sad reality is that you never could in the first place.

Buy a freaking boat. is doomed, it's only a matter of time.

Fire away!!!!!

[Slipknot]

I'm not gonna fire away Steve, but I am not giving up hope, it's all we got. That last meeting was a freakin joke. Accomplished NOTHING!
It's not just fishermen that use the beach, families go there during the day to enjoy it and some bring relatives that may be older and it's difficult for them to get around, so driving on allows them the luxury of enjoying the beach still, same goes for the handicapped. The seashore is for all of us, not for a select few to keep us out of there. Yep, we are paying for the success of the recovering plovers with lost access, it's a shame but we shouldn't give up. I am with gonefishing also, I'd like the backbeach to be a place in the future that our kids can enjoy.

I may have to sell my camper in Wellfleet, but that won't stop me from buying a sticker, I'll deal with the issues. I still have 2 feet and a skiff also

and Larry, it's gonna open, it may not all the way to Hatches, but we will be able to drive on soon then later, like Mike said the beach is thin at the entrance at high tide but we should be able to get close from the north entrance once those birds fly away.


Thanks Mike for that info on the bird checks, is that going by the federal regs about just picking a date? 5 straight days huh, well it should have been open by now, they are just screwing with us now, I am gonna write to them since they are impossible to get on the phone. I wonder if there is documentation on these supposed plovers 5 days passed a while ago.
when I walked out Sat. the same tracks seemed to be in the sand as the week before, you know alot more than I do Mike.


I wonder what happens to the plovers that nest on a certain golf course in Hyannis hmmmmmmmmmm bet they don't have to stay away from them with their golfcarts


AMERICA the land that I love

[pal156]

supposedly opening small section on north tomorrow and 1/2 mile by weekend