Well, we lose another fishing spot.
Fort Morgan Pier to shut down soon | FOX10 News - Mobile
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Well, we lose another fishing spot.
Fort Morgan Pier to shut down soon | FOX10 News - Mobile
Bummer, here is Chuck Sykes email he is the director of fisheries for Alabama. He is a good guy send him your thoughts on saving the pier!
dcnr.wffdirector@dcnr.alabama.gov
this sucks. been millions of flounder mullet and sheephead killed off that pier! awesome sunset too!
Seems as though AL is intent in having visiting fishermen and women take their business elsewhere . Fishing space is limited as it is along the coast and public access just keep shrinking .
I can't view the video. Can someone briefly tell me why they're are doing this? I was looking forward to fishing there this fall.......
Well there is a kick to the cowboys. I really liked going over there. Was super close to the house. Hopefully someone takes it over
That is terrible news. I've fished there many times.
1.9 million being spent at the fort for "preservation" and $1300 to barricade the pier. Real genius at work here. Hint to the powers that be. The only reason a lot of people vacation on the Alabama Gulf coast is to fish. Most of the access at Perdido is barricaded off and now this. Someone do the math.
If you read the article it is obvious that the drowning earlier in the year is the deciding factor. To make the pier "foolproof" would cost a lot of money, rails etc as on the GSP. Any design engineer/architect would be opening themselves up to huge lawsuits if they signed off on improvements without safety features, and then there are the Americans with Disabilities provisions to deal with.
Those are the hidden cost in every construction project today. Did you ever notice how wide the new bridges and overpasses are today, plus the anti-suicide guardrails that try to save the lives of people who want to end it all.
No offense to the families of the man that drowned but there is a famous quote that applies here: "The consequence of building a fool-proof world will be to fill the world with fools."
And I will add that it will be a very expensive world. Hey, but no problemo, all the goobermint has to do is print more money.
Hate to hear it....
I have had some great fall flounder fishing there. I think the state of ALABAMA fails to realize how important fishing access is in drawing tourist dollars to the Alabama coast area. Just take a look at the Perdido Pass area that was so popular with tourists but has now been closed for several years. This also was the most handicapped accessible area on the Alabama coast before it was fenced off. SHAME ON THE STATE OF ALABAMA FOR IT'S SHORTSIGHTED APPROACH. I personally have tried to contact people in Montgomery who might be able to get Perdido Pass reopened but my efforts appear to have been wasted.
Well stated ofm!
It seems my inquiries have likewise been ignored.
Perdido Pass should still be a premier fishing location spot with unfettered access.
The closing of 'the free pier' at Ft Morgan is just another example of the erosion to shorebound public fishing access in Alabama.
Most of the hundreds of folks I met over the past three summers weren't coming here to go zip-lining or jet skiing or para-sailing!
I love the Alabama coast but the reason I come is for the fishing. I'm sure the dollars spent and the ripple effect from the tourist fishermen is immense.
David, you and Old Fisherman can contact Chuck at the state. He is the New director of fisheries and is a motivated guy. I met him a few months back and I know the best time to get a state employee to help is when they are new to the job!Quote:
Originally Posted by Pier#r
Good idea Gann, but he is in charge of the FRESHwater fisheries section.
https://www.outdooralabama.com/news/release.cfm?ID=1108
Chris Blankenship is 'the man' when it comes to SALTwater (Marine Resources).
Alabama State Parks
He has seemed 'distracted' of late by all the fuss over red snapper,
perhaps if enough of us were to bend his ear on this issue... ;-)
At Thursday morning’s Baldwin County Commission meeting, State Historic Sites Director Dr. Stephen McNair presented the plan to use about $1.7 million in county money and about $200,000 in BP money to restore and refurbish Fort Morgan ahead of the 150th anniversary celebration.But about $1,300 of that will be put toward barricading the Fort Morgan Pier and shutting it down.
Yep this sucks, but remember that fishing piers are not part of the Alabama Historical Commissions legislated mission. The State legislature has cut their budget down to bare bones, they don't have money to keep some of their properties staffed & the lights on, let alone pay for things they aren't responsible for.
Maybe ADCNR-MRD can come up with the money to fix it up and keep it open, but they are exactly rolling in the $$$ either. Money from the DWH spill is not just falling from sky like most people think....
Close the Fort Morgan Pier? You've got to be kidding.
We got to put a stop to this disgusting plan. How many million hours has this pier provided the Alabama public with recreational enjoyment? How can anyone just decide to close a a public pier that is bought and paid for with public money.
I sent a message to Chuck.
Can somebody post Chris Blankenship's contact info?
It Happens in Alabama has been in talks with the DCNR and Stephen McNair at the Alabama Historic Commission over the last couple of days, gathering information about the plans and condition of the pier. It Happens in Alabama has decided to spear head the Save the Fort Morgan Pier Project. The Commission and Radio Talk Show Host Big Daddy Lawler of Gettin' Outdoors with Big Daddy Lawler are on board. More details will be relayed as they become available. You can read updates and see get more information on this Facebook feed.
Very very good, It Happens In Alabama.
Thank you for your efforts.
I emailed Chuck Sykes Friday. This is the contact info for Chris Blankenship that thet sent me chris.blankenship@dcnr.alabama.gov. Advised that all saltwater inquiries should be sent to him as Pier#r stated.
Here's a good link about it all:
https://www.facebook.com/ihia2012/ph...765203/?type=1
Hate to hear they want to close the pier. My brother, son and myself have enjoyed some nice, laid back afternoons on that pier catching flounder and crabs. Maybe with more people like It Happens In Alabama, we can get this stopped.