05-18-2003, 11:31 PM
[cool]Regulations do not mean much if they are not enforced. There are two sets of buoys blocking off the greater "Butcher Jones" cove area. The outer line of buoys is clearly marked "WAKELESS SPEED". Yet large power boats and personal watercraft routinely come roaring back in tho the fishing areas wide open...even running circles around fishing boats and float tubers...just because there are no rangers in the area.
The second line of buoys says "NO BOATS"...meaning no motorized watercraft. It is inside these buoys that we do much of our fishing. However, boaters have moved the buoys farther and farther back toward the beach until the areas we used to fish inside the buoys are now outside the line and that's why we get overrun with power boats. The rangers admit to knowing the buoys have been moved, but do nothing about it. It is a joke. One of the buoys has been moved almost clear to the beach, and bass boats come into water so shallow they churn up mud with their props.
Unfortunately, we must share the few remaining fishable waters with hordes of others who want to enjoy them in their own ways. Several of my formerly favorite fishing lakes are dry, because of the drought. And, what's worse, one of them will never be filled again because the brushy bottom of the dry lake has become a home for an endangered species of bird...maybe a dozen or so.
The few remaining lakes, in which water levels are maintained for irrigation and recreation, have to sustain all of the fishermen and adverserial idiots. Mere regulation is never going to replace the brainless antics of the weekend warriors that take on a couple of sixpacks of "ballast" and then open up the engines to see how fast they can go...and who they can impress by swamping them with bow wakes.
There. Said my piece. It is a real measure of accomplishment to sneak out on the water and steal a basket of fish from under the noses of those who live to make the lives of fishermen miserable.
I am long overdue for a trip to the deserted beaches of the Sea of Cortez. In the two years since we have taken my aging parents into our home, TB and I have never been able to spend even an overnighter away from our home. That's one of the reasons we go to Saguaro so often. It's only 35 minutes away, and good for a quick half day shot, before heading home and hoping there are no emergencies awaiting us.
Now that my dad is in a care center, we have hopes of planning a week or ten days in September to get over to Southern Cal. I have family over there. That will take up at least a couple of hours. Then, we gonna go fishing. Gotta get the priorities straight. Meet you on the water.
Tube Dude
[signature]
The second line of buoys says "NO BOATS"...meaning no motorized watercraft. It is inside these buoys that we do much of our fishing. However, boaters have moved the buoys farther and farther back toward the beach until the areas we used to fish inside the buoys are now outside the line and that's why we get overrun with power boats. The rangers admit to knowing the buoys have been moved, but do nothing about it. It is a joke. One of the buoys has been moved almost clear to the beach, and bass boats come into water so shallow they churn up mud with their props.
Unfortunately, we must share the few remaining fishable waters with hordes of others who want to enjoy them in their own ways. Several of my formerly favorite fishing lakes are dry, because of the drought. And, what's worse, one of them will never be filled again because the brushy bottom of the dry lake has become a home for an endangered species of bird...maybe a dozen or so.
The few remaining lakes, in which water levels are maintained for irrigation and recreation, have to sustain all of the fishermen and adverserial idiots. Mere regulation is never going to replace the brainless antics of the weekend warriors that take on a couple of sixpacks of "ballast" and then open up the engines to see how fast they can go...and who they can impress by swamping them with bow wakes.
There. Said my piece. It is a real measure of accomplishment to sneak out on the water and steal a basket of fish from under the noses of those who live to make the lives of fishermen miserable.
I am long overdue for a trip to the deserted beaches of the Sea of Cortez. In the two years since we have taken my aging parents into our home, TB and I have never been able to spend even an overnighter away from our home. That's one of the reasons we go to Saguaro so often. It's only 35 minutes away, and good for a quick half day shot, before heading home and hoping there are no emergencies awaiting us.
Now that my dad is in a care center, we have hopes of planning a week or ten days in September to get over to Southern Cal. I have family over there. That will take up at least a couple of hours. Then, we gonna go fishing. Gotta get the priorities straight. Meet you on the water.
Tube Dude
[signature]