No Fishing on Boat Ramp on causeway?

Was driving down the causeway this morning and noticed big signs all over the main boat ramp that said no fishing or crabbing. I wonder what happened? There used to be tons of people fishing from it every time I drove by.

Same thing at Cotton Bayou boat launch, Boggy Point, and the boat launch that is a short drive down Fort Morgan road..Cant fish from them according to the law just provided for launching boats...You cant even fish there if there isnt anyone launching a boat....I was ran off from Cotton Bayou launch before and I was the only person there just trying to catch a few croaker for bait...The guy told me that "boat dollars" paid for this launch...I told him that my boat was at home but that didnt matter...I think he was trying to say that only folks with alot of money have the right to fish there...Not sure but it ticked me off.

Sounds like it's about time to promote building some inland piers with some of this money that's flyin around ::)

If the dum :moon: people would pick up after their self instead of leaving crab strings tied all over the piers .them signs wouldn't be there

Well ain't that crap, hopefully once tourist season dies down a little, things will lighten up a bit. Never had a problem netting some bait at the ones around here but glad to get the heads up since not having done it in a while.

I wish there was a gulfside pier down Fort Morgan road....I bet the fishing woukld be killer all year round.

X2 on that, how about the end of Mobile St., :banana:Mike

I think Mobile street is Wildlife refuge...Feds wont sponsor us shore bound fishers.

[quote author=Bubba link=topic=1681.msg15931#msg15931 date=1343395773]
Was driving down the causeway this morning and noticed big signs all over the main boat ramp that said no fishing or crabbing. I wonder what happened? There used to be tons of people fishing from it every time I drove by.
[/quote]

Its always been that way, and the signs have always been there or its been stenciled on the docks. But people simply have ignored it.

Simply put, the docks at the boat ramps are for boats. These are not public fishing piers, they are boat ramps courtesy docks.
I know this pisses some people off but try putting in or taking out your boat on a busy day when the dock is lined with crab catchers and you will understand why its this way.

[quote author=CarlF link=topic=1681.msg16213#msg16213 date=1343669314]
[quote author=Bubba link=topic=1681.msg15931#msg15931 date=1343395773]
Was driving down the causeway this morning and noticed big signs all over the main boat ramp that said no fishing or crabbing. I wonder what happened? There used to be tons of people fishing from it every time I drove by.
[/quote]

Its always been that way, and the signs have always been there or its been stenciled on the docks. But people simply have ignored it.

Simply put, the docks at the boat ramps are for boats. These are not public fishing piers, they are boat ramps courtesy docks.
I know this pisses some people off but try putting in or taking out your boat on a busy day when the dock is lined with crab catchers and you will understand why its this way.
[/quote]
I would imagine that parking is another and probably a bigger reason for these signs. I have fished boat ramp docks my whole life and never have I gotten in the way of boats. Since I always yielded right of way and offered my assistance to the boaters when I could and it was needed, no boater has ever had a problem with me fishing the docks. Heck when I was a kid I would haul in some decent coin from unsolicited tips at times.

The problem I have with the situation at hand is that these are public boat ramps. Who has the right to deny one access to a public facility because they didn't bring along the right equipment with them? If I have a desire to fish any of these ramps, I would. If anyone tried to stop me from doing so, they would have to arrest me for trespassing to get me to leave. I think that the no fishing rule wouldn't hold up in court.

Probably since they are BOAT ramps, which is intended for the purpose of launching and trailoring a boat back in is more than likely the main reason, same reason a boat can only get a certain distance from the Gulf Shores pier. JUst rules that do not get followed by boaters at times and fishermen at times, same ol' tug of war that has been going on for years.

^^^ Great point!

My only fuss would be what would it hurt to let a guy catch a few baitfish with a net especially if there is no one else there?

[quote author=Fishindave42 link=topic=1681.msg16234#msg16234 date=1343682783]
Probably since they are BOAT ramps, which is intended for the purpose of launching and trailoring a boat back in is more than likely the main reason, same reason a boat can only get a certain distance from the Gulf Shores pier. JUst rules that do not get followed by boaters at times and fishermen at times, same ol' tug of war that has been going on for years.
[/quote]
I see your point, but it is an apples and oranges comparison. We are paying for the use of the pier and the 300 feet rule for boaters is a rule made more with safety in mind rather than, "That's theirs, so stay away since we gave you your own for free".

I'm sure it is for safety reasons at the boat launch as well, what I usually see is unsupervised children fishing at the boat launches while their parents who are launching or trailoring their boats, with no clue as to what their children are doing, usually without a lifejacket (which I do not understand) I'm sure it has to be safety issue at the launches as well.

A little clarification:
At the old Liz's Haven site that we (ADCNR) just fixed up, the only place you can't fish is on the courtesy dock. People can still fish from the bank to the west of the ramp, just like they did before it was fixed up.
We're trying to get better signage up, including "No Littering" signs. But it is still a wrok in progress.

Sadly common sense is not common. I've seen people fishing at other ramps (not that one) cuss the boat people for using the ramp and interfering with their lines. :slap: :wall: Idiots.