WSJ Report 4/22/10

[`bucket]

2-3lb Blues thick at the Spit today. I was fortunate to get on'em after work for an hour and caught my 10

Plan to hit it tomorrow for some more lite tackle fun. Hope to see ya all out there

`bucket

[benthere]

Have you heard anything on the beach replenishment they are doing down there? I was under the impression they may have some sort of machine down there which mess the fishing if not cut it off due to obstructions or whatever. I know they plan on removing a lot of sand from the catch basin by the bridge but dont know how it will be done.

[Fishman]

Fished there yesterday 5/2 no love

[`bucket]

bt,

With VMRC approval and no bone thrown to the public for improved public access, they will be there in force moving sand from both sides of the terminal groin AKA the Willoughby Spit Jetty here shortly courtesy of the public's tax dollars. Nice to know that 99.99+% of Norfolk non-waterfront residents can foot the bill for the betterment of some 150-200 private beach front home owners eh?!

Bottom line VCAN is not against what Norfolk wants to do. However, our non-profit believes they should make improvements to public access if they want to continue to use public funds.

Feel free to contact Lee Rosenberg at the City of Norfolk (lee.rosenberg@norfolk.gov) regarding the planned project schedule to move the sand. And yes, while they are doing that (for ~ a month) things will be interesting at best if not all togehter shutdown for safety reasons.

open `bucket

[benthere]

Well we still have access to the beach i mean its not like your not allowed to fish anywhere all the way from the lcj to the wsj. I understand that parking is sometimes an issue, that is if you want to park right beside the beach. They opened the end of ocean view ave up to all with the pp signs. You can park on quite a few streets in ov and then you simply have to cross the street to get to the beach. Im not understanding what the "public access" issue is. I understand that there is a small percentage of homeowners there that will benifit from the other 99 percent paying for it but i also feel more "access" would make for more people out there and less area to fish where you want. Which is how i like it out there. I may see one or two other people on that stretch of beach when i fish out there an i fish out there a lot. I have been fishing the wsj for three years now and have never had an issue with getting to the beach. Its actually the one spot i dont ever worry about not being able to park.

What im saying is whats the fuss for? What access are we talking about here that we should get from them using our tax money?

[`bucket]

bt,

Your welcome from our non-profit for having a place to park at Willoughby Spit beach ~ end of 15th View and the West end of OV Ave as that was not exactly the case or the City & local residents plan back 2005-2006 timeframe.

In the 1960's you could park at the end of any street in OV and simply walkover onto the beach. Today the parking at the walkovers and throughout OV is limited at best unless you like being funneled to the OV beaches like the Should you wish we can discuss OV public access, your Virginia public access water rights, and the Coastal Zone Mgt Act anytime (757)410-3180. Or email us vcanaccess@verizon.net and will send you a copy of our recent OV Public Access Mitigation Startegy submitted as part of the improvements that should be made with the proposed sand relocation work. We also have an entire OV public access inventory that was done a few years back so we could capture what public access was still available before anymore of it just disappeared.

`bucket

[benthere]

I understand, thanks for clearing that up. There is a lot over by the lcj that i would like too talk to vcan or someone and get cleared up if we can park there or not. I have seen it full of beach goers during the day with no problems yet at night i have been run off by the police for parking there, being told its a tow lot...no time limit, no tickets, just get towed.

...But then again it befuddles my as to why a beach access would be right there complete with the sign of the beach rules ect.

[Too Bubbas]

Drive by there just about week day (HRBT), looks like they're trying to get that dudes boat back in the water. Crazy place for a boat lift.

[`bucket]

TB,

The City of Norfolk claims that the beach west of the terminal groin (aka the jetty) is private beach yet the "Cities" sand that has filled them (said private dock owner) in (lots of legal arguements & issues here). Regardless the City is using public monies/City tax dollars and public resources (State & Federal) to move the sand back to where it is needed (which our non-profit is not against).

The fact is they need to throw the rest of the non-water front Norfolk residents and the public an access improvement bone ~ be it a little more parking, signage, or an amenity where possible. That is all we are asking on behalf of everyone given that public monies are being spent. That is really how our our non-profit got started and what VCAN is really all about.

Robinhood `bucket

[Fishman]

Just a little sand was removed between the dock and the jetty. A source close to me said that the tides and current would move the sand away from the dock. And this person said they heard it from one of the person working on the sand removal. No sand was removed from under the dock.