[Fej]

I assume that there are some CCA types around here. I am curious to know why the CCA does not get involved with ensuring fishermen have access to texas beaches and work to support the Texas Open Beaches Act more. They do not get involved woth other ogranizations on this front.

The West End of Galveston has lost many of the best access points for waders. Developers are trying to cut vehicle access to Packery Channel all the way to Bob Hall Pier and many other developments threaten access and habitat and it seems the CCA never gets involved is such things. At the current rate, look at access to the beaches around Miami or LA to see what our future will look like.

Is the CCA ony for species maintenance and has no interest in access rights?

Anybody who wade fishes in the surf or the bay needs to pay attention to some of the things going down in Corpus, Glaveston and Padre. All it takes is one exception to TOBA to create a legal precedent that can be, and will be, repeated all along the coast shutting down your access to the beaches and bays.

Perhaps the CCA should get involved or its members should spend their charity dollars elsewhere. Surfrider Foundation, Friends of the TOBA are a few other orgs that are out to defend the TOBA and access rights.

CCA is great, don't get me wrong, but they are sleeping in this one.

Are there other fishing orgs out there that fight for TOBA. If so, I am going to send my money their way instead.

 

[troy merrill]

CCA does not see this issue as covered by their mission statement. The can empathize with you and I but will not act.

Search this forum and you will find endless pages of discussion on this very topic.

 

[Silverspoon]

They are not touching this one. I have wondered this for years. It would seem that preserving the coast and coastal conservation would be like peanut butter and jelly or ham and cheese, but it's just not so. I think they want to help but perhaps they see it as a money pit? I really can't blame them too much. As long as government is involved and there is money to be made from taxes, then no one will be able to stop it, no one. That's why we are losing vehicular beach access, so, houses/condos/hotels can be built thus allowing cities and counties to rake in the cash! It's all about money!

 

[wetluers]

CCA does not see this issue as covered by their mission statement.

Must be a CCA 'Texas' position. CCA chapters in New England are active in the protection of beach access for their coastal fishermen.

 

[troy merrill]

Must be a CCA 'Texas' position. CCA chapters in New England are active in the protection of beach access for their coastal fishermen.

Could be, but that is the 'company line' they have been serving out for the last couple of years. Too bad, because they have a good size hammer.

 

[Chunkn' Charlie]

Could it be that the big CCA donors own the condos?

 

[Drew_Smoke]

Must be a CCA 'Texas' position. CCA chapters in New England are active in the protection of beach access for their coastal fishermen.

Can you post up some links for this? I'd like to see them.

Drew

 

[backlasher]

In his book, published by Texas Fish and Game publishing co., Bink Grimes says about the surf "The entire stretch is accessible by four wheels, except a few miles of private beach in Galveston." page 149
With statements like this it's no wonder we're losing access.

 

[Gary]

.

 

[FishFinder]

bump

 

[Sean Hoffmann]

?

 

[capt. david]

first i am not a cca fan. yes thay have done some things very well (look at the redfish population), but other times they drop the ball, like promoting the biggest kill tourney on the entire coast(star). i think it kinda goes against the word conservation. the price to attend their banquets is pricey if you ask me, but they have to pay the high salaries to those at the top, kinda like united way. lol if the issue steps on too many toes they will back down, just like they did in the beach access issue. might be some truth in the fact that their largest supporters are the one's buying the large homes on the west end.

 

[gater]

Fej

This has been discussed over and over and over! To make it short and simple, it is an access issue not a fishing issue. No one is telling you you can't fish there, they are just limiting or restricting vehicle access. If they were to say you can't fish off of the beachfront from the sand or by boat you can bet CCA would be all over it. CCA is fighting many other battles right now that are costing major bucks and even though I like being able to drive the beach from time to time like the rest of you, there are many things that CCA is fighting that is more important to us and our future coastal fishing.

By the way, I'm not wishing it because I live on the coast, but I think the next Katrina may solve everyones access issues. Gater

 

[FishFinder]

Long story and not too much time on my hands right now!

But,

CCA Texas did get involved in the beach access a few years ago when Kevin Daniels was the Executive Director. CCA actually attended private meetings with the planning department in Galveston to give powerful statements in regards to beach access and the fishermen's right to access the beaches via their vehicles. Believe me, I was there!

Soon after that Kevin was ousted from CCA...Some say it was over the trout regulations that were of a fiery topic and of concern at that time. But, others could speculate that it were over other issues also!

Pat Murray then became the new Executive Director for CCA Texas. Yes, Pat was concerned and understood the why fishermen wanted vehicular access but for the most part his hands were tied! CCA then went on to attend several beach access hearings for the current Galveston Beach Access plan but gave weak statements at best during the hearings! Nothing concrete enough as saying "WE WANT VEHICULAR ACCESS FOR OUR FISHERMEN WHO SUPPORT US"!

Basically, CCA Texas upper brass had Pat's hands tied as to what he could do and as to what he could say! Why, who knows! Was it because they had strong development backgrounds? That seems to be the primary philosophy!

CCA supports the Freedom to Fish Act! The single most important element in regards to fisherman and the essentials of this Act is the ability to access areas to fish! You used to see photos of a bunch of fishermen behind a fence trying to access the beach in CCA cartoons. Not soon after the above, the photo's changed to boats not being able to access areas to fish! Believe me, CCA knew what they were doing!

What you do have now is only because of a group of fishermen and a group called TOBA. Texas Open Beach Advocates. www.texasopenbeaches.org

They were the only ones to stand up and fight tooth and nail in regards to beach access. As well as, many fine men and women who are 2coolers!

There are beaches open in Galveston to vehicles due to TOBA. There are better access signs! There is more off beach parking where vehicles are being restricted! Some battles were won in the Galveston WAR and some were lost! In the ones that were lost, still some recognition of the Open Beaches Act and Beach Dune Rules were and are finally are being met. Yes, there are still a bunch of violations and yes, we will continue to loose access! As CENTEX said who is developing the western end of Galveston Island! "The Gulf Coast is the last of great coast lines in the US to be developed and people will come if we develop it"! Boy, were they right! CENTEX properties are sold out already!

Oh, and let me do add! CCA does do some good! And yes, access is a fishing issue regardless of whether it's to a beach, jetty, bay, and or by foot, boat, train, or airplane!

Just a little history!

 

[chicapesca]

Well said Gater. And thanks for the history FishFinder.

 

[Gary]

Not sure how many of yall know who FishFinder is, but I can vouch that he knows what he is talking about. More than once he had to climb up to the roof and talk me down.

 

[Team Ranger Bob]

CC who?

They do little well anymore for the guy that supports them, except hold their hand out palms up.

Ranger Bob

 

[wetluers]

Can you post up some links for this? I'd like to see them.

Drew

Read it in either the 'Tide' or the 'Currents'. Most likely, the 'Tide'. Beach access is a major issue on the northern coast.

 

[Drew_Smoke]

The cartoon Sean posted was yanked from TIDE I believe...

 

[iridered2003]

first i am not a cca fan. yes thay have done some things very well (look at the redfish population), but other times they drop the ball, like promoting the biggest kill tourney on the entire coast(star). i think it kinda goes against the word conservation. the price to attend their banquets is pricey if you ask me, but they have to pay the high salaries to those at the top, kinda like united way. lol if the issue steps on too many toes they will back down, just like they did in the beach access issue. might be some truth in the fact that their largest supporters are the one's buying the large homes on the west end.

i agree with you all the way! blame it on BILL KINNEY!