Brookhaven bans fishing at Shoreham Beach!

**DarkSkies** · 09-16-2008, 10:31 PM

FINAL RESOLUTION:

The meeting ended with a plea for representatives of the fishermen to again come and meet with the town council?

Not sure about this, I thought the original intent of this meeting was to get things resolved tonight?

This type of process is way too slow for me, that's why I'll never run for political office.

Maybe RPSurf could chime in and let me know if he felt there was progress made. The best part was that although people were irritated, the fishermen didn't let it turn into a shouting match. We just want to fish, and don't want the hassles.

But make no mistake about it - about 90 people showed up tonight, people are angry about this. If access is not granted, the town can expect more support from all the web sites and organizations concerned about access. I drove 85 miles to get there. I would do it again. I am willing to be ticketed for tresspassing if the other people there tonight are willing as well.

As someone originally suggested, they do have to address the concerns of the homeowners, but there are ways to do that with greater enforcement and bigger penalties for violations.

They should not address it on the backs of fishermen, or they could end up with a bigger loss than they bargained for in court. I think they know that, hope this can all be worked out without a court fight.

**DarkSkies** · 09-16-2008, 10:50 PM

Shoreham Beach Clean Up:

Date: Sat Oct 4,2008

Time: 3-5pm

Location: Shoreham beach

Brookhaven provides gloves and garbage bags

The above clean up was proposed by Eileen R Weilbacher, a local resident.

Joe, in this case, hope it's ok to promote her website, she did organize the cleanup and all?

www.BHealthyNow.com Certified Holistic Health Counselor

It would be nice if some fishermen could join in. Even though we didn't make the mess, it's the right thing to do to keep the residents on your side.

I have access to some restricted areas in MoCo NJ chiefly because I approached some local residents, chatted with them a bit, and asked if I could fish there. Or I would be in a permitted area, and ended up walking across their back frontage on the high tide line, and picked up trash as I went along. Because of that, I have acces to areas today that others may trouble getting to.

It's the same here. Normally, in NJ the fishing clubs organize the spring and fall beach cleanups anyway.

I am sure all you LI guys do more than your share, I'm not questioning that. Just suggesting that it would be in the spirit of good neighbors for some guys to pitch in that day if you can make it. I'm fishing a tournament that day, so I won't be there.

But I hope to be at the next meeting, we can't let this issue fade, or access will be lost like dominoes toppling. That's why I drove 85 miles.

Hope y'all liked my report. A little long winded,

but I didn't want to leave anything out for the guys who couldn't make it.

Pics to come later.

**dogfish** · 09-17-2008, 03:43 PM

Originally Posted by DarkSkies

But make no mistake about it - about 90 people showed up tonight, people are angry about this. If access is not granted, the town can expect more support from all the web sites and organizations concerned about access. I drove 85 miles to get there. I would do it again. I am willing to be ticketed for tresspassing if the other people there tonight are willing as well.

As someone originally suggested, they do have to address the concerns of the homeowners, but there are ways to do that with greater enforcement and bigger penalties for violations.

They should not address it on the backs of fishermen, or they could end up with a bigger loss than they bargained for in court. I think they know that, hope this can all be worked out without a court fight.

wtg, Dark, good report, felt like I was there.

Originally Posted by DarkSkies

Hope y'all liked my report. A little long winded,

but I didn't want to leave anything out for the guys who couldn't make it.

Pics to come later.

I'm wondering if ya get paid by the word?

**rpsurf5** · 09-17-2008, 05:46 PM

Darkskies , thanks for taking the time out and driving such a long distance to go to this meeting , it is greatly appreciated ! Also, thanks for the recap of the meeting. All the letters, emails, phone calls, TV appearance, the fishing organizations supporting this effort really matter. The town obviously is feeling the legal, moral and political pressure. Without the protests from everyone who has contributed to this, left unchallenged they would never restore fishing there. Thanks to everyone who went to the meeting and who has helped support this cause.

I did speak to Stan Hentschel who owns Rocky Point Fishing Stop. Stan has lived , fished and run his business in that area for 30 plus years. He better then anyone knows the area and the situation there with beach access, he has been fighing these issues for years. Stan was very encouraged by this meeting and thinks it went very well. The Brookhaven Business Coalition along with representation of the fishermen and beach associations have a meeting with the town in the beginning of October to resolve the issues. Parks and recreation department, public safety, Jane Bonner, town attorney, etc. willl be present.

I cant stress enough how important it is for us to be organized and stand up for our rights. All of the phone calls, emails , letters, the support of the various fishing organizations has really paid off here.

I did not expect this issue to be resolved quickly , with competing interests , politics, etc, one meeting was not going to solve this. But it seems like we have made great progress. I am hopeful that this will be resolved and fishing restored to Shoreham Beach.