RE:
"I found the article about the Piers being demolished. It says basicly that the state is looking for funds. Looks like the funds could be used to repair the east sides rather than demolishing them. Painter.
www.bradenton.com/235/story/945019.html"
HERE'S THE ARTICLE:
FDOT looks to demolish part of Skyway piers
By NICK WALTER - nwalter@bradenton.com
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If nothing else, it's a tribute to the spirit of the Florida fisherman.
Shortly after the Florida Department of Transportation and Florida Department of Environmental Protection closed the eastern portions of the Skyway Fishing Pier State Park, anglers began a petition to save those spans of the north and south piers.
Unfortunately, some anglers still believe the fishing piers are closed entirely. Remember the western piers are still open, although they will need costly repairs in the future.
FDOT spokeswoman Kris Carson said the state wants to find money to demolish the closed spans. Plans on what will happen to the remains are unclear, she said, but one option is to keep the rubble in the same area. It would then serve as a reef.
To sign the petition, visit
www.pierfishingguide.com.
Anglers on the piers made it clear the state would be removing a landmark, and many were unhappy with the closing. The south pier is the world's longest fishing pier.
Carson said it could be a few weeks before the state determines how much it will cost to demolish the eastern spans. She added it could take years before the demolition would happen.
It seems easy to question the idea that the eastern spans, built in 1954, can no longer be safely maintained. FDOT and FDEP stated the spans had passed their 50-year range of service life, and typical deterioration and corrosion have left the spans beyond repair.
Some anglers or bait shop attendants have speculated there is more behind the closing than just safety issues.
Not true, Carson said.
"(Engineers) have performed extensive studies," Carson said. "There have been small repair jobs that aren't even holding."
Large trucks and RVs are not permitted on the piers.
The western spans were built in 1971 and have not yet reached the end of their service life.
The Skyway piers and their bait shops remain open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They also are ideal for drive-up anglers who want to take advantage of the masses of bait and fish that stack up around the piers' waters. Currently, Spanish and king mackerel are being caught as well as occasional grouper.
There reportedly isn't nearly the mount of fish at night around the eastern spans. Because the lights on those spans are off, bait does not gather as it once did. Thus, there are not even close to as many fish feeding on that bait. On the good side, fish likely have moved farther inshore. Increased reports of Spanish mackerel in the bay could support that idea.
For more information on the Skyway piers, call the south pier bait shop at 729-0117 or the north pier at 727-865-0668.
