I am by no means a lawyer!!! but I am a waterfront land owner. I have no problem with people fishing from the beach in front of our house. I do however have a problem with people parking in my driveway and using my land as a trail to get to the beach. I do own the shellfish rights to the property and will stop anyone from gathering them. except during red tide

The local government I believe, is the one that has blocked the access by not allowing an easement between each parcel of land for access to the shoreline. the private property owners are just exercising there right of owning the land.

I sounds like you have a great deal of respect for the property of others and if you were to come and ask for permission to access the beach on my land I would without hesitation give you access.