Lake Huron Coast guard closes portion

[stinger63]

of the mouth of lake huron to fishing


Well I would have put this on here sooner had I been able to but I just got wind of it this afternoon.
http://www.thetimesherald.com/news/stories/20040313/localnews/72221.html

[slowpoke]

If the Coast Gard does this why not all the Marina's or any one that has fishing line in there prop. I don't think it's right. Maybe I'm wrong.

[just ducky]

Fishing line or no fishing line, I can tell you from personal experience that the Coast Guard has been trying for many, many years to keep fisherman off their property at the Fort Gratiot light. I lived in Port Huron in the late '70's and early '80's. My Dad and a couple brothers still live there. We used to fish at the station in the spring for salmon, steelhead, etc. There is a public park called Lighthouse Park just north of there, and you can get on the beach and walk south to the station. The reason we all wanted to fish down by the station is that it is situated right where Lake Huron dumps into the St. Clair River, and right at the station is where the current starts to take off. The fish used to congregate right there, and you could wear waders and cast for them. The water levels were high back then, so if you got in the surf, you could legally walk the bottomland of the lake (public property) and fish up there. The USCG even tried to put a fence out into the lake to stop people from passing, but they were made to take it down. Once the lawyers got involved, and they had to back down, they just started requiring anyone fishing up in there to stop at the office and get a permit. That seemed to be the end of the arguments. But I haven't fished it, nor do I know anyone who has, since the early '80's.

[Magnet]

That's a bunch of crap!!
If we let this happen, it will be just the first of many similar situations to follow. If they don't like the neighborhood, then maybe they should move, instead of putting up fences on public property.:(

[stinger63]

I started a post on the Times herald forum,heres the link below.


http://forums.thetimesherald.com/cgi-bin/WebX?13@192.gDUNawNQaqy.0@.ee7baab

[fishing addict]

I,might be wrong,but it seems like Grand Haven Coast Guard Station has similer rules already.

[jeremy L]

Similar thing happened up here.

Used to be able to fish off the Gas dock at port austin year round, then someone ran into the dock while trying to get gas for there boat and blamed it on someone's fishing line disabling there prop. Now no fishing off there during the major boat season, usually mem. weekend til larbor. weekend.

[just ducky]

I don't want to start down a slippery slope here, but the federal government, which the USCG is part of, has some formal and informal "immunity" from compliance with normal laws and regulations. The case I stated in Port Huron years ago got real messy, and took months to get anything to change. The Guard finally realized they weren't going to win that one, so they came up with a concession of sorts. Always difficult dealing with any federal agency.

[mrymar]

http://www.piersystem.com/external/index.cfm?cid=443&fuseaction=EXTERNAL.docview&pressID=33606

I found this buried today. It took a good 1 hour search.

Funny how they only give 10 days for comments. And then hide it under all sorts of other material.

I guess there are only 4 comments against it as of now.

I am calling Lieutenant Commander Jim McLaughlin and telling him that this is BS.

There was another article about it today in the times herald, it is here.
http://www.thetimesherald.com/news/stories/20040322/localnews/126051.html

[stinger63]

I think the coast guards excuse of fishing line getting tangled in the props of their boats is a lame excuse to ban fisherman from the area.A weed guard could be installed to solve the problem if it was true.
I personaly think its all the lights from the boats on which people are fishing from are keeping them from sleeping so thats why they doing this.:rolleyes:
Just another form of government control in my opinion:mad:

[mrymar]

I just spoke with Jim.

We can still comment. But tomorrow, March 24, is about the latest they will take comments.

Here is how to comment. Write Jim McLaughlin and email. His address is: jmclaughlin@d9.uscg.mil

In your comment, be sure to write your snail mail home address in it.

On comment, do not just say you are in favor or against this. They want feedback on what can be done. I will write up an examlpe one up in a bit and post it on the board.

Please write Jim, this is important. Email Jim your comments. They have been accepting comments for the last 20 days and have only got 4 replies.

[Homer]

You sure that's the right e-mail address? I just sent one to him, and it bounced back as undeliverable. Here's what I tried to send:

Dear Mr. McLaughlin:

I am writing to express my concern regarding the proposed navigation restrictions at Port Huron Coast Guard Station. The affected area has had a very long history of use by many recreational fishermen due to its unique location, and many family traditions have been formed there. My grandfather fished with my father there; my father took me there; I have taken my children there; and I would hope some day that my children could take their children there. Due to the unique aquatic habitat formed by the lake meeting the river, these uses can not be easily transferred elsewhere.

I fully recognize the need for the Coast Guard to be able to perform their duties in a safe and effective manner. My primary concern is that an expedient solution (i.e. navigation restrictions) has been proposed in place of one that would still allow the site to maintain its historical use. The two stated needs for the navigation restrictions are: 1) Fouling of Coast Guard propellers with fishing line, and 2) Concerns of tresspassing on Coast Guard property. Regarding the first issue, has the use of some type of propeller guard been been fully evaluated? Regarding trespassing, can't your concerns be addressed by applying the same enforcement you plan for the larger area over the area you are specifically concerned about?

If it can be demonstrated that there are no viable alternatives to restricting navigation over this historically rich area, I can accept that. What I do not want to see is further erosion of our freedom because nobody thought to look for a better solution.

Thank you.

[mrymar]

Great Post Homer.

Here is mine:
Jim,

I would like to comment on the RNA that is trying to be passed for the Port Huron Coast Guard Station.

I do not buy the Coast Guards Claim that the RNA is need because of fishing line in the water in that area. In the 1980's, I kept by vessel docked in a canal in Algonac, MI all summer long. Just traveling the river with my boat every weekend, I would get fishing line on my props 1-2 times a year. It is part of traveling the river with a boat. I am sure that the Coast Guard vessels were out more than I, and I can see them getting into fishing lines anywhere along the river. And the odds of them getting it more because they use those boats more.

That fishing line that they picked up 4 times last year could have been picked up anytime while that vessel was in use. How many times did this happen in years prior? You cant base this on one year.

Generally, it takes the fishing line a sufficient ammount of time on theshaft to do any damage. So I would recommend they check the boat out weekly before the damage is done.

In the press realease on March 5th, it states that "On several occasions, vessels have been discovered inside Station Port Huron’s boat basin or anchored so close to the Station’s property that crewmembers trespassed upon Federal property upon disembarking the vessel. This routine invasion of the boat basin and Government property is a threat to the security and safety of the station and its crew." Please keep in mind that Government Property is the peoples property. I would like to see a dock just for this, its sole use would be fore people in boats that want to visit the Coast Guard Station. For whatever reason, maybe to get a weather report before embarking into the lake. I agree that this dock should not be used for people to pick up their friends or to dock and go to the store. It sole use would be to go to the Coast Guard Station for so sort of business with them. If a dock is in place for this, you wont have boat docking where ever they choose.

In the Times Herald newspaper on March 22, it states that "An area about 200 feet north of and 80 feet south of the Coast Guard station, and 150 yards out into the lake, will be off limits to fishing, anchoring and mooring. Boaters still can traverse the area, which is north of the Blue Water Bridge." I don't agree with this. 150 yards is unreasonable. How are out is the channel bank from shore in this area that is being spoken about? I would also like to say that you can pick up fishing line anywhere along the river or lake.

I understand that something needs to be done to keep the Coast Guard boats running at all times so that they can save lives. I don't agree with the sizes that are being mentioned for the RNA.

Thanks

Michael Rymar

[mrymar]

Man, I made a mistake. I have Jim's email incorrect. I edited the above post.

The correct email is: jmclaughlin@d9.uscg.mil

Sorry

[gilly]

Well thanks for the encouragement to shoot an email to Jim. At first, I thought why bother they will do whatever they want. But who knows maybe we can prevent this taking away of our right to fish. Here is what I sent and hope others will send in their last minute emails! Come on guys, let them know what you think!

Hello Jim...I think the lack of responses/comments should not be unexpected. What can the little guy do or say to keep our government from doing whatever they want? Our fathers and grandfathers have fished that exact area without incident for many years. That shoreline is one of the most productive walleye zones in the entire St. Clair River/Lake Huron basin. I would think the Coast Guard would want us on the water day after day and night after night helping to keep an eye on our country. Fishermen are some of the most patriotic citizens you will find. I (as many do) have the River Watch phone number programmed into my cell phone and wouldn't hesitate to call in anything I see or feel as suspicious. Imagine if you had agents all over the water system day and night. Instead of taking away our right to fish certain water by the station, embrace our presence as an invaluable aid to the protection of our country.
I have ran my boats through this area all my life and others more populated by boats without one incident of fishing line wrapping around my propeller. I think a more reasonable solution would be to consider prop guards which may possess line cutting properties as well. A much smaller zone would seem to be more reasonable. Let's face it, a 150 foot zone north and East of the station's entrance will be significant given the width of the river and the need to stay away from the shipping channel as freighters and larger boats exit and enter Lake Huron. As you know the shoreline tends to hold most of our fishing opportunity with respect to our great walleye fishery. Please reconsider this stance and the possibility of a compromise.

Brent Gilmore
1592 Grandview Court
St. Clair, MI 48079
Lifetime Fishermen

[paul driggers]

i sent chris sabastian a e-mail and told him how i felt about the subject ,he replied and the called me he also said he was going to do a fallow up story on it.I live in chesterfeild twp and drive all the way up there in the spring and fall to fishh from shore and also in the summer with the boat.I think that this problem needs to be looked at but this is not the salution

[stinger63]

The salution would be to install weed guards infront of the props if entanglement of fishing line is realy the reason why they want to close this area off to fishing.I highly doubt thats its true myself.The only ligitiment problem I see that fisherman might be causing if there is a need for boats to exit the area of the harbor for rescue they might be in the way and could posibly hamper the exit.One thing that puzzles me,If they are going to install cables with bouys there how would they be able to traverse this area if they have a real emergency?:confused: