|
|
Post by David from NC on May 12, 2010 7:26:25 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by havetofish on May 12, 2010 8:11:51 GMT -5
Very nice daystarmm. Good thing I don't live where you do or I might be there just about every day. Enjoy it while you can, because if they don't start doing maintenance on the west span, it won't be long before it will be closed also.
John
|
|
|
|
Post by jlamberg33 on May 12, 2010 8:20:42 GMT -5
Nice article. I agree completely. I also agree with havetofish about taking advantage of it while you can. If they had to shut down the east side of the piers, the west side can't have too much longer of a life either. There is no way they will have the cash to fix it. It will be a sad day when we lose the piers. First we lost the Friendship trail on Gandy, now they want to charge $5-$8 to fish Desoto and soon we will be without the skyway. Enjoy while you can. It is such a wonderful place.
|
|
|
|
Post by riverviewsteve on May 12, 2010 15:07:27 GMT -5
Great letter daystarmm and I couldn't agree more.
I am a retired navy man that enjoys every moment I
can spend out there and like the others who have
responded I'm afraid it can't last. I'm just praying for
a miricle of some kind.
riverviewsteve
|
|
|
|
Post by dlkpalmetto on May 12, 2010 18:45:11 GMT -5
nice article and I also agree with you. I for one WOULDN'T mind if they started a $3.00 per person charge that went into a SEPERATE account specifically for pier restoration. Not only would this account build rather quickly, the state could go to a financial institution and get funding for immediately needed work and by showing how many people use the piers on an annual basis, to show the means for paying it back. As it is now all money goes into the general state fund , never to be spent on our piers. These monies would be set aside for ONLY that purpose. kip
|
|
|
|
Post by eaglesfanguy on May 12, 2010 18:54:25 GMT -5
Excellent write up. Hopefully someone higher up with notice.
|
|
|
|
Post by blacktip on May 12, 2010 20:02:22 GMT -5
I heard a disturbing rumor from the SSP bait shop. I hope they were just pulling my leg. They said the west spans are to be closed in 3 years. Has anyone else heard anything like this?
|
|
|
|
Post by eaglesfanguy on May 12, 2010 20:39:48 GMT -5
Something like that. The reason the west side is younger, but not by much. They raised all the prices to milk the cash cow for all its worth before it all closes. And the boaters will prevail.
|
|
derbirbboy
Whitebait
Go Ugly Early[Mo0:0]
Posts: 17
|
Post by derbirbboy on May 12, 2010 20:59:32 GMT -5
Very nice. I agree I love the ease of parking and setting up camp right away. Except for the days when the bait isn't cooperating I have a line in almost immediately after setting up shop. I've taken friends from out of state and even some from around here out for the skyway experience and everbody loves it. It's a shame it seems inevitable we will lose it. In a tough economic time it's nice to have a relatively inexpensive option to enjoy.
|
|
juck
Eager Angler
[Mo0:0]
Posts: 91
|
Post by juck on May 12, 2010 21:55:06 GMT -5
Great letter. The more exposure for the piers the better. The marketing done by the state for this pier is a joke,, I've lived in Orlando for 11 years and never heard of the skyway fishing piers until last year.
As for potential closure,,,,,I don't normally listen to gossip and rumour,,, but in this case it affects me!
I know nothing about the financial situation of the pier,, like how much extra it needs to take to be a viable state park (whatever that is) but frankly,, if push comes to shove,,,I could live without the bait shops and would pay extra to get on the pier.
It's a 2 hour drive for me to fish at the skyway and I still LOVE it. My kids LOVE it,,, even the wife is getting into it. Mothballing or demolishing the piers would both be very expensive options,, lets hope it never comes to that.
The Western span is 16 years younger apparently,, I agree it is in poor condition and will eventually reach that point of no return.
|
|
|
|
Post by BigDawg71 on May 13, 2010 17:56:35 GMT -5
3-5 years tops...enjoy it while you can...no one wants to put money into the piers so it's only a matter of time...I wrote to several of our state and local representatives and no one really wanted to help.
|
|
|
|
Post by David from NC on May 13, 2010 18:48:56 GMT -5
That's a shame BigDawg. We need to find a politician who is an avid fisherman and see if we can build a fire under them.
|
|
|
|
Post by BigDawg71 on May 13, 2010 20:09:56 GMT -5
and not one of them did receive or will receive my vote in any upcoming election
|
|
