By John Hall

Well, the summer season is upon us. Kids will soon be out of school, vacation days will be cashed in, and our beaches, especially 4x4 access beaches, are INCREASINGLY becoming prime destinations for "day trippers". The debate regarding state permits being a "fishing permit" vs. "a day at the beach permit" has been beaten to death on discussion boards all over the net.  Throw the no surfing restrictions into the discussion and all hell breaks loose. Bottom line is something has to give. Let me elaborate if you will.

If you are a New York State 4x4 permit holder you are aware, or should be aware as the rules and regs are clearly printed on the permit, that the permit is specifically designated as a Fishing Permit for New York State Beaches from Robert Moses to Montauk Point. You are required to have the proper equipment at all times. The permit is very specific about what you are NOT permitted to possess or do on the beach. No debating that. The Suffolk County 4X4 permit is much more permissive.

There is no cap on the amount of state permits sold as obviously it is a revenue generator. Possession of equipment is not checked when purchasing permits. Just show up with your registration and some money, and your good to go. The thing is, large sections of the 4x4 beaches you just paid for access to are closed off for a good portion of the season, every season, for various reasons. This severely limits the amount of space available at the few beaches we actually have access to. Some of the reasons for these closures and restrictions are unavoidable, and others are debatable at best.

An argument persists between "fishermen" and "day trippers" as well as surfers on Long Island regarding their right to use the beach. Fishermen feel the literature on the permit designates the beach as "theirs" and that "day trippers" have no business being there. As per the literature on the permit, this is correct. However,

I think the rules and regs on the permit are outdated and need to be addressed and changed. (I can hear the moaning and groaning already!)

The amount of people driving the beaches when the current permit rules and regs were drafted was significantly fewer. All the state cares about is the money because they don’t enforce the equipment rules. The amount of trucks on the beach these days is astronomical, which creates problems and confrontations associated with packing people into smaller and smaller areas. As the situation on our beaches has changed, I feel the permit itself should be changed to keep up with the times.

The fact is that people fishing the beach during daylight hours (especially weekends) in the summer months are not "hardcore fishing". MYSELF INCLUDED. That's cool. I for one do my "hardcore" fishing at night. The large majority of people on the beach during this time, INCLUDING MANY WHO LABEL THEMSELVES AS HARDCORE FISHERMEN, are there with friends and family to enjoy the day. They have a couple of lines in the water and throw a few casts throughout the day while friends and family enjoy themselves with all the beach has to offer. They maybe even swim in the ocean, or possibly catching a few waves if can you imagine that! How dare they! Relaxing fishing and a day at the beach at it's best. Awesome!

Some are not there to fish at all. Fine with me. They like the convenience of not having to drag two or three kids, coolers, toys for the kids, extra clothes and towels, etc. through an enormous, crowded, hot parking lot. They would rather air down (hopefully anyway, and that goes for a lot of fisherman as well), pull up, set up, and sit down. Can you blame them? What gives a person, who is passively fishing while the family and friends frolic, the right to use the beach in this manner, while a guy and his family that does not have any intention to fish is wrong? I for one cannot comprehend this attitude. Before you jump all over this think about your own actions. Many guys out there with buggies and campers are members of and display LIBBA plates and/or MSA plates on their trucks. Many spend large amounts of time on the beach. Over night, entire weekends at the beach in many cases. Sweet. That's how I grew up. There is a large portion of this time in which they are not fishing. In some cases guys may be "fake fishing" with an empty line in the water to keep up appearances. How is this any different from the people many complain about? It isn't. Obviously this is not just directed at campers, but they are a good example to use in trying to convey my thoughts.

With that said, I see an increasing number of LIBBA plates on "day tripping" vehicles as well. That's great. Our beaches can use all of the support they can get and LIBBA puts forth a great effort concerning our shorelines. (It would help drastically if you guys could fundraise or use existing funds to get compressors at Gilgo and the Sore Thumb by the way. It is WAY OVERDUE in my opinion.)

The bumper sticker that I received when joining LIBBA was something along the lines of...

"Protect and Preserve not Prohibit". You guys did catch the part about "....not Prohibit" right?

I love the mantra.

There has to be some sort of Reformation of sorts regarding the state permit.

Open Demo. Take away the time constraints. Spread the people out. That will alleviate a few confrontations. Maybe just on the weekends as a compromise? Something needs to be done. Revamp the access time frame and regulations....may be more liberal during the summer months and less pre/post season?   Stop the ridiculousness of not allowing surfing on these beaches.  At this point it’s a futile effort. I don't know. What I do know is there has to be a compromise somewhere out there. Large amounts of people are obviously willing to pay for permits for access to the beach. Many more non-fisherman then fisherman by my estimates. The state just wants our money. If all the non-fisherman united in an effort to reform the permit regulations there might be a slight change in attitude amongst the detractors as there is certainly strength in numbers.

I think that if the guys that have a problem with "day trippers" a.k.a. "soccer mom/dads" really took an honest look at the situation, they would realize they have just as many problems generated by "fellow" fishermen, if not more, then by the weekend beachgoer.

I know there will be many ignorant responses to this post, many insightful ones as well. Just try and look at the situation with an open mind. "It is a fishing permit," just doesn't cut it any more, and that's from the mouth of an avid fisherman, "surfer" (bodyboarder), and day tripper.

Keep our beaches clean.
LIBBA 1998