Old Chum:

Yes, Bush Pt. has some very thick headed property owners around the public access area that believe fishermen are trespassing on their beach even if there fishing below the Ordinary High Water Mark (OHWM). The county put in signs that say "no trespassing beyond this point, end of pulblic area", so the nearby homeowner's interpret this as meaning nobody is allowed in front of their beachhouse, even if a fisherman is wading in the water well below the OHWM. The county trespass signs are not erected in error. The signs are not descriptive explaining what is trespassing and what is not trespassing....yes it's trespassing if your fishing above the OHWM in front of the residence's but no it's not trespassing if you're fishing below the OHWM in front of their homes. So the county no trespass signs are only partially correct.

Last year I got into it real bad with a lady from a neighboring residence to the south of the access. It was a low tide and I was fishing in front of her place about 8 a.m. for coho at least 20' below the OHWM. She came out of her house and told me "to get off Her! beach!" I said that I have every right to fish on lands below the OHWM. She seemed confused and told me to get off her beach, I said "look I only have one bait left and I'll leave as soon as I lose it". About 10 minutes later I was packing everything out and proceded to drive away when a Island Co. Sheriff flew by me heading towards the access. Didn't take me long to figure out why he was going down there, she called the cops on me. If I was down there when the cop showed up I'm sure I would of gotten a trespass ticket. Who is the cop going to take sides with the homeowner or a fishermen. My bet is on the homeowner. Anyway if I would of gotten a ticket I would of taken the trespass issue straight to the state shorelines hearings board.

So this summer when the pinks hit the beach there are going to be some confrontations with homeowners down there. I admit there are some definate bad apples who litter up the beach that have gotten fishermen off on the wrong foot with homeowners. Sportsfishermen have rights though and the access issue I'm willing to fight for my rights to fish on a beach that god made for every free man and woman to use in the state of Washington. Just because you may be a "have" it doesn't mean that the "have-nots" aren't allowed to enjoy the beach to.



Bobber Down

"Keep your hooks sharp!"