Originally Posted by
surfwalker
Usually in March or April ropes are put into place from the dunes down to the waters edge. Signs are put in place for no entry beyond this point. Then another rope, maybe a ¼ mile to a half mile, is put in at the other end of the beach, same signs. They never used to bother us until May 15th till Aug 15th , then it was enforced.
If nests are found to be in this area, the area is shut down, no entry by anyone, no excuses. In the ‘80’s I don’t recall too many shut downs, almost extinct, but the ‘90’s had an increase in shutdowns. In the beginning it wasn’t really enforced that much as long as you were walking and casting, the rangers were good about it. But lately they have been really brutal if you are caught in these areas, even at 3-4am if a ranger is patrolling the beach, I know first hand.
Some regulars have gotten written warnings. I was told quite a few years ago, after my first written warning of the year, that if I received a second that my park privileges would be revoked for the remainder of the year. I never challenged that and still don’t know if it is true.
Now, I know I’m not supposed to be in certain areas, but I walk right through the summer months, and certain areas that have been productive through the years, consistently, are very hard to resist.
With the advent of more and more people getting into this addiction, the restrictions will be enforced even more.
I understand that the MPA’s have been around and the laws were on the books, but I fear that they will enforce them to the max and do whatever they please as far as beach closures.
As I stated in other posts, I would never hurt these birds or do any harm to their nesting areas, all I wanna do is walk the wetline.