Fishtails Posted April 5, 2016 Report Share Posted April 5, 2016 Not sure this will benefit anyone who fishes this area. I think not. Application Received for Charlotte County Boating Safety Zone Ordinance Reply-To: MyFWC@public.govdelivery.com Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission banner graphic Link to map: https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/FLFFWCC/2016/04/05/file_attachments/527895/Gasparilla%2BP***%2BProposed%2BZone%2BMap.pdf PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on March 22, 2016, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (Commission) received a complete application from Charlotte County requesting approval of a draft ordinance to establish a Slow Speed Minimum Wake boating-restricted area within Gasparilla P*** pursuant to Section 327.46(1)©, Florida Statutes (F.S.) and Rule 68D-21.004, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.). The Slow Speed Minimum Wake boating-restricted area would be within Gasparilla Sound between the Boca Grande Causeway and the railroad trestle to the west (see attached map for details). Charlotte County contends that the boating safety zone is needed for controlled and safer boating conditions within the existing narrow and traffic congested channel and the areas around the bridges and railroad trestles. Charlotte County is required to provide competent substantial evidence that the ordinance establishing the boating-restricted area is necessary to protect the safety of the public. The ordinance shall not take effect until it has been approved by the Commission. Charlotte County is required to establish a prima facie showing that the ordinance is necessary to protect public safety. In addition, following a review of all testimony, evidence and exhibits presented at a public hearing, if one is requested, and public comments received, the Commission will determine whether or not substantial competent evidence has been provided to demonstrate that the ordinance is necessary to protect public safety. As required by Rule 68D-21.001(3), F.A.C., Charlotte County will publish as provided by Sections 50.011-.031, F.S., once a week for two consecutive weeks, notice of the public hearing on their ordinance in a newspaper of general circulation in the area affected by the ordinance. Approval, if granted by the Commission, will be conditioned upon the draft ordinance being adopted by Charlotte County without amendment. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: Pursuant to Rules 68D-21.002, and 68D-21.003, F.A.C., comments regarding this request will be accepted no more than 21 calendar days from the date of publication/distribution of this public notice. Public may provide written comments, recommendations, requests, inquiries, or other correspondence to the Boating and Waterways Section at 620 South Meridian Street, Tallah***ee, FL 32399-1600; or by email at waterway.management@myfwc.com. The Commission will conduct a public hearing within Charlotte County if a written request for such a hearing is received within 21 days following this notice. DUE DATE: Friday, April 26, 2016 (5:00 PM EST) A COPY OF THE APPLICATION CAN BE OBTAINED BY EMAIL (IN PDF FORMAT) OR BY US MAIL. Please submit your request directly to waterway.management@myfwc.com or contact Boating and Waterways Section at (850) 488-5600. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reel Loco Posted April 5, 2016 Report Share Posted April 5, 2016 Thanks Steve. That area gets to be a zoo especially coming into and on the weekends. I'm usually going out thru that area in the dark in the early am on plane. Guess that's going to change. RL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linesider 159 Posted April 6, 2016 Report Share Posted April 6, 2016 That place is already a pain with all the slow speed zones, would be a pain to see even more IMO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justdriftin Posted April 6, 2016 Report Share Posted April 6, 2016 I'd trade that one for the run between there and Lemon Bay though. I end up running off plane there most of the time (except early morning) just out of courtesy. The new bridge helps a little just because there is clearance in a wider area and more room to avoid folks fishing around pilings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shallowminded6 Posted April 7, 2016 Report Share Posted April 7, 2016 Is Lemon bay full of no wake zones? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linesider 159 Posted April 7, 2016 Report Share Posted April 7, 2016 Is Lemon bay full of no wake zones? Between lemon bay and placida is an awful slow speed zone that seems to never end. And the whole rest of the area is 25 mph, which is slow and a pain to maintain on a boat like mine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nauti Posted April 7, 2016 Report Share Posted April 7, 2016 I think their map is wrong...the area at the old swing bridge is a slow zone now. I never see any issues/accidents in the new "proposed" area. Looks like a new way for FWC to generate revenue IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shallowminded6 Posted April 7, 2016 Report Share Posted April 7, 2016 gotcha. Will have to check it out. We are going for a week in June and will be staying on Lemon Bay in Englewood Beach area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCFD rtrd. Posted April 8, 2016 Report Share Posted April 8, 2016 Well, I hate to see more no-wake zones but it's inevitable because of the way some boaters operate. I fish that area a lot and see some really stupid stuff. The area around the old swing bridge has been a no-wake for years, but a full 25% of the boaters don't obey that. The people living in that area have money. And, have a lot invested in their homes and condos. If you have money, you have friends in high places. Those friends, not the FWC make the decision about no-wake zones. So again the actions of a few selfish boaters have compromised our boating rights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LittleChief Posted April 8, 2016 Report Share Posted April 8, 2016 That's a lot of ***umptions... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishtails Posted April 9, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2016 The "no wake" zone in Naples Bay was overturned by an attorney by the name of Day, and we have left mostly manatee zones. I don't think Gasperella is a done deal. In Naples, there were a lot of commercial interests that banded together to get it repealed. There were about $600,000 in fines over a 4 year period which could be refunded if the people fined requested it. That's the way I recall it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justdriftin Posted April 9, 2016 Report Share Posted April 9, 2016 I generally abhor any type of government regulation and if I had my druthers I'd prefer not to see this one, it is a little hard to argue against if you are familiar with the area. First of all, its not that big of a deal, just a little over a quarter of a mile through either channel. While I'd love to get rid of some of the asinine idle areas in Charlotte and Lee Counties - Placida to Lemon Bay, Matlacha Bridge, etc., I have a hard time to argue on this one. There are often a ton of boats in that area fishing the bridge or trestle or hanging out on the sandbar. If you blow through that area during most of the day then you're an a-hole regardless of zone. For guides and guys out before light, yes it will probably be a pain - but honestly are they going to enforce then anyway? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FunFlatsFishing Posted April 11, 2016 Report Share Posted April 11, 2016 I spent this weekend there and stayed at the Boca North condos and kept my boat there. The map is definitely wrong as half of the channel that you take to dock at Boca North is no wake as is the area where you go under the Boca Grande bridge. Lots of boats hangout on the sand bar right there especially on holiday weekends. While I too am against no wake zones, there were a few boats that drove as close as possible at speeds creating large wakes which of course pisses everyone that's anchored at the sandbar. There were no less than 5 Pathfinders at my dock and several more throughout Boca Grande. Great to see so many people enjoying such a great boat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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