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Beach fishermen vs. boaters

14K views 72 replies 30 participants last post by  BigJeff823  
#1 ·
FYI:
I just saw a post on Tidalfish.com about more trouble between beach fishermen and boaters at Lesner. Apparently the guy has called the police at least once after having his boat hit by a sinker and having obscenities shouted at him and his family. People over there on that board are suggesting that "no fishing" signs be posted.
 
#2 ·
Ya know, there is a lot of fishable water out there. One could also say that those boats anchored or drifting around the inlet are a hazard to navigation in that small area of the inlet.

If I were in charge, I would post No boating" signs within 100 yards of the channel entrance to Lynnhaven for boaters and also "No casting into the entrance channel" signs for shore fishermen in the area. Then stand by to fill the city cauffer with the fines.

It's pretty obvious "We all can't get along" so it is best to just get alone.

:cool:
 
#3 ·
Not only do I fish from a boat, but also from piers, and the beach - which makes incidents like this particularly disturbing....

It is not only on tidalfish that negative reports are being posted & made re beach fishermen yelling obscenities & throwing sinkers at boats. This is an extremely p$ss-poor example of sportmanship by these folks.

Incidents like this are being reported first hand to the city park staff and directly to the city via the city's hotline. This word is getting through to city hall and is getting around.

Because of the behavior of a few idiots throwing leads and yelling vulgarities I would not be surprised to see this area restricted and made a no fishing zone.

The channel where these incidents are taking place cannot be moved and something is going to give. The city spent major bucks on this project (city boat ramps at Crab Creek) to allow a few rowdy beach fishermen to interfere with it.

Example: Look at the boat ramp area at Owl's Creek next to the Marine Sciences Museum. That area is all off limits to beach fishermen.

I hate to see this area restricted because its such a good fishing hole - caught alot of nice stripers there .....

Lou
 
#4 ·
Well Heaver, the first thing you have to do is educate the onshore fishermen.

The area in, under and around the Lesner Bridge are "navigable waters." What this means is that no one is allowed to hamper or hinder or in anyway interfere with marine traffic navigating in or around the channel. That is the LAW.

Sorry guys, you may think you "own" that turf, but in reality your best bet is to pull those lines in, smile and wave to the boaters as they go by! It is a losing battle, at a tremendous cost. ;)

:cool:
 
#5 ·
I often fish the inside at Lesner and can reach the channel from the beach. The problem I have seen is not the boats navigating through the channel, rather its the boats fishing in the channel. I have seen the Va Beach police boat chase boats out of the channel for stopping and fishing, something they are no longer actively doing. If the Beach partol boat was there more it would be less of an issue.

BTW - I agree with taking the lines out of the water and waiting until they pass. No one should be intentionally throwing lead at or cursing boats in the river. It would nea terrible loss if we lose that fishing hole.
 
#6 ·
we won't win this battle of the channel. if you see people throwing lead at boats let them know. just think if that was your boat. i know somebody would get bodily harm if they were tossing lead at my boat on purpose. hell you never know these days with all the crap going on. if they are fishing the channel and are not supposed call them into the patrol. that way we are covered. just my .02
 
#7 ·
This will be a simple problem to solve. The knuckleheads tossing lead at boaters (a.k.a. navigation hazards) fishing in (a.k.a. blocking) the channel, will shut down the entire inlet if you keep it up.

The Virginia Pilots Association and the Maryland Pilots operate 4 pilot boats out of Lynnhaven Inlet. Two are in use at any given time. The boats are 50 feet long with orange hulls and gray houses with the word “PILOT” on each side.

Pilotage is compulsory for all foreign vessels and for U.S. vessels under register in the foreign trade.

In other words, most ships entering and leaving Chesapeake Bay require a pilot.

Maryland and Virginia pilots move billions and billions of dollars in commerce (revenue) for Virginia and Maryland. If they see recreational boaters and fisherman acting a fool and get the urge, a few phone calls from them will put Lynnhaven inlet off-limits.
 
#8 ·
I fish the shore and from boats so I am not bias either way. But last week when I had a 2 ounce bucktail miss my head by inches and hook onto my steering wheel, I became concerned. This is while i was transiting the channel. Someone is going to get seriously hurt. Whoever thinks that they are proving something by doing this could find themselves with attempted man slaughter charges, or even worse murder. A 4 ounce object to the temple will kill someone easliy. It is not worth it. Be careful and use some sense.
Daniel
 
#9 ·
Not everyone at Tidalfish is saying there should be no fishing signs on shore. If your in a boat going through the channel inside Lynnhaven theres not a whole lot of places you can go besides staying in that channel because of the depth. Surf and Turf is right with inside Lesner being navigable waters specifically for the use of boaters. Its a great spot to fish and I fish there reguarly. I would hate to see something happen there and us shore guys lose out in the long run. But what do I know.
 
#10 ·
this is the post i have on tidalfish, same issue:
theres jack@$$es in every crowd, be it on the beach or the boat....how many times u had a boat cut to close to u? only thing u can do is try not to be that guy, be u on land or sea.

perhaps the channel should be widened?? :confused:
 
#11 ·
When fishing at Lesner if a boat comes along entering or leaving the inlet let them pass threw. Then resume fishing when they have exited the area. But when your waded out and boat pulls up 20 feet from you and anchors his boat that's what annoys me. If we all just give an take a little there should be no problems. If these conflicts continue the shore fisherman will be not allowed to fish down there. So i hope everyone can get along and fish the inlet together. :cool:
 
#12 ·
With budget cuts and each city/state looking for ways to get extra bucks, looks like they have found a gold mine from fees taken in from the boat access ramp. Shoreline fishermen/women aren't steady contributors except for the occassional purchase that might be made at the welcome center, or whatever the main building there is called.
I am not in the least bit surprised at this issue getting added attention. It's off season sort of speaking and this is the time when a lot of decisions most likely would be made. Nothing more disappointing than preparing for the first trip out during the more productive months, mainly spring into late summer, and then have your jaw drop when coming upon a "no fishing allowed" sign.
We can vent all we want. Chances are those who would benefit from the points we make more than likely are not readers to this board. Or are they? All we can do is TCB where us and ours are concerned.
I got a bad feeling about this one. Just be careful all. Hopefully the shore seekers don't become the seeked. If you get my drift.
 
#13 ·
How's this for a compromise: avoid fishing bait in the channel, particularly in the nav channel that leads up to the boat ramp, and no boater anchoring right up against the bridge?

If a boat is underway, they have the right of way. You stop casting and pull your lines in. It's not just the law, it's common courtesy. But anchoring up right on top of a bunch of guys on the shore isn't too wise either.

I don't really fish the ramp side of Lynnhaven anymore anyway. All the sand pumping ruined it. But I have a bad feeling eventually it'll be closed to shore fishing and that'll be the end of this discussion. :(
 
#14 ·
Be careful guys/gals out there...sounds like you are on your way to losing a nice fishing spot. :(

We have a pier on the Cheasapeake Bay (Matapeake Pier) that borders an inletway that boaters use to enter the bay from the launch site. Many a time, fisherpersons will cast and try to prevent the boat from leaving/entering the area to the boat ramp. This results in cutoffs for the fisherpersons. Some people get mad and try to sling lead at the boaters, some fisherpersons let out all their line in an attempt to get the boats props all fouled up, it goes on and on.

I think fisherpersons need to realize that they can take away our rights in a heartbeat if they think that we are endangering people onboard the boats. Like some have said on this post - manslaughter or murder is not worth being a wise guy/gal. Of course it would make the papers, and fisherpersons would be critized for such a brutal attack on a defenseless boat.

Bite the bullet...be courteous. It won't kill you...or find another area to fish.
 
#15 ·
I believe that these situations should be dealt with on a case by case basis. Common sense and courtesy should be the rule, but unfortunately everyone dosen't have these qualities. Police/marine patrols should be notified to weed out and prosecute the few individuals who are causing problems, but as long as there are no signs the boaters are legally allowed to fish anywhere they want(even if they are rude enough to anchor near beach fishermen). But rudeness dosen't justify throwing sinkers at boats. It should not be about beach fishers against boaters, but about everyone with common sense against the few idiots who are causing problems.

The problem is that if police and marine patrol have continuing problems, they get tired of dealing with them on a case by case basis and then new restrictions will be instated. And guess who needlessly loses the right to fish there?
 
#16 ·
i have witnessed this happen many times. There are a bunch of oriental people who go down there. If a boat even gets the slightest bit in there way they yell hit the boat hit the boat! Usually a huge argument will take place. And ppl start slinging 2 ouncers at them. That is a big problem there. Another one is the fact the people thing they have the right of way with waders. I get there maybe 2 hrs b4 some ppl and they just walk right in front of me. I am probably the youngest there usually and the people still show absolutely no respect for me. There are some extremely nice people. But most just cut me off and take my spot. I refuse to fish that side anymore due to what usually happens. It is bad down there with this new boat dock. My mom wont like my brother go down there(7 yr old and has the striper fever bad) because of them.
 
#20 ·
Digger, keep in mind that the boaters launching those boats have paid a heck of a lot more than any shore fisher including his Saltwater Fishing License. As far as the ramp is concerned, it was supposed to be free. Talking to one of the persons working there one day, he said the reason for the charge is because the people over at D&M or whoever owns the ramps on Henry's side complained because they were losing business. So the City put a $3 charge on the ramp. The guy told me that when the lot gets full and people have to go over to the D&M ramp, the D&M people double their charge.

My real pont here is don't ever think that you, the shore fisher, are the only one paying. My boat costs me about $50-75 a year befor it hits the water and it never sees saltwater and is less than 18 ft. True not all of this goes into the fund, but the majority does and then there are the city taxes which help to build and maintain the ramps.

Best advice is for all to treat each other as you want to be treated and hope that it rubs off on the minority of a..holes who think they are the only ones on the beach or water!

(off soap box)

:cool:
 
#21 ·
u can thank bubba for the 5 dollar charge to launch boats. hes been raking it in for years and threatened to sue, given whos gonna pay ten at bubbas when u can launch for free across the bridge. accordingly, they installed the 5 dollar price tag, and lawsuit was dropped.
 
#23 ·
Surf and Turf: The fund from the SWL is from the licenses or at least I thought so I could be wrong and have been before(I have looked and have not found where other money comes in). Va Beach did pay for part of the ramp( I have that data around here) And Yes I will still say the Shore fishermen still lost or will lose a great place to fish. Mostly for two reasons easier access+ more people from shore and a lot more boats passing through the inlets. This will bring a lot less seasoned people and more people and human nature just does not fair well under those circumstances. I agree with you also that Boaters have spent more money than shorebased anglers do, yes the registration for the boat(unsure,But I can Find out) and trailer(DMV), PPT to the local community as well as the maintenance of the boat. To launch there it was $5.00 for a holder of a SWL(which was not checked) or $10.00 with out. Still this does not give them more rights. I have suggested in these posts that the boats get their due, the navigational channel and it is wrong to attack them.
Now another point from two different sources sources that agree with each other, one from Saltwater Sportsman Magazine and the other from a Boater safety Course I took in the 1970's: when fishing near the shore and there are shore based fishermen give them the place and go else where since you have more places to fish from: paraphrased or melded together
Now I have spoken to several people who knew what was going on, about the choice of locations for the ramp and they said it was the only choice and also they looked for other options.
Now the next question will I fish Lynnhaven again the answer is yes when I can get down there at an off hour 1-2AM with an out bound tide or after the season closes in January. I have alot of other places to fish and it is along way from home.
Rockhead by the way inlets by their nature are one of the best structures to fish.
 
#24 ·
If the anglers who fish that area don't start policing themselves and the others in the area the fishing hole might be lost to all. The Tidalfish complainers are not talking about lures being hurled at them while fishing the bridge. They are talking about missiles while traveling in the channel on the way to and from the ramp. Since one can not access the inlet any other way than the marked channel which is close to shore they cannot avoid the area or I'm sure that many would. Gel coat repairs are expensive and doctors can cost even more.

If shore anglers wish to have the respect and courtesy of the boaters then the respect will have to be given both ways.
 
#25 ·
CTROUT I agree with you about the right of way. I think if we could enforce the no bottom fishing rule suggested by sandflea things could work out. But I have very little hope for that. The easier access that has been provided by the parking lot has brought in more bottom fishermen to the area, a least by my observation. I have gone down there and left because of the type of fishing going on. And as I mentioned human nature is not good when things get crowded.