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Ban on fishing triggers dispute

USF St. Petersburg says fishing and swimming haven't been allowed at Poynter Park for years, anyway. Visitors disagree.

By ROBBYN MITCHELL
Published June 11, 2006

ST. PETERSBURG - The right to fish on the serene seawall between two institutions of education is gone for some natives who had been visiting the area for more than 20 years.

The University of South Florida St. Petersburg has posted signs forbidding fishing and swimming at Poynter Park, which is between the Salvador Dali Museum and the university's campus on Third Street S.

Tony and Major Walters, brothers and residents, said they have been fishing in Bayboro Harbor for a little more than three years, but signs have recently gone up to stop the popular pastime.

"We would come out here and just fish, and others would spend time with their families. It was just a family environment," said Tony Walters, 49, a security guard at the St. Petersburg Times. "Those signs just came out of nowhere."

The signs are posted around the water's edge in Poynter Park and are emblazoned with USF's newest logo and the edict, "No Fishing or Swimming."

University officials contend that signs to that effect have been up for eight years.

James A. Grant, director of facilities planning and chief university architect, said that in his five years with the university, no fishing has been the policy.

"It's never been a good place for that because the water level varies so much in that area and the rocks on the seawall have sharp barnacles that could cut and injure anyone who fell in," Grant said.

Major Walters disagrees.

He started fishing in the area three years ago when his brother told him about all the great catches he was making on the seawall.

"We would go over there and catch snook, catfish and mango snappers," said Major, 43. "Tony has caught fish anywhere from 20 to 35 inches."

Major, a painting contractor, added that in the daytime he usually witnessed at least three or four fishermen spread out along the wall and that at night that number doubled.

"Sometimes at night the police would even watch the people fish and see what kind of catch they had," Major said.

As a fisherman - always looking for a good spot - he has walked the seawall from the museum to the gate on the far edge of the university campus.

The only "no fishing" sign he saw in his three years, he said, had the addendum "beyond this point" in reference to the boating company next door.

Holly Kickliter of USF St. Petersburg campus relations said the university has a no fishing or swimming health practice that was enacted in 1998 by the university's departments of facilities planning, physical plant, waterfront office in student affairs and police. Kickliter said that the signs were placed around the water in 1998 because of the area's danger.

Sun-damaged and faded, the signage was replaced three months ago.

Both Major and Tony said they had never seen the signs before and that there were no signs by the water's edge where they would catch a fisherman's eye.

Tony said if the signs existed, they were never enforced until three months ago.

He recalled a recent time when an officer asked him to stop fishing.

"I asked one of the police officers who was moving people and he said that it's because the net fishermen who come in to catch mullet were throwing the shells and rocks up onto the walkway," Tony said.

Since the new signs have been posted and enforced by area police, the Walters brothers have not returned to fish in Poynter Park.

Tony misses the peace.

"It's a nice quiet area away from everything where you can just relax and have a good time," Tony said.

He will have to find someplace else to go fish.

[Last modified June 11, 2006, 08:23:26]