I’m proud of Santa Barbara County for keeping beaches and Goleta Pier open for subsistence and recreational fishing. Likewise, the city of Santa Barbara is keeping beaches and Stearns Wharf open for fishing. Anglers need places where they can go catch fresh fish for tonight’s family meal.
Piers are perfect because people don’t need to buy a fishing license to fish from a pier or jetty.
The city of Santa Barbara made a big mistake in my opinion by closing down the launch ramp recently to private boats. I and many others have discussed the matter with the mayor and City Council, and I believe there are City Council members who feel the ramp should be open to private boaters.
It looks to me like the mayor and city administrator made the decision to close it, ordered the Waterfront Department to close it, and that is where things stand.
One reason I heard for closing it was that leaving it open would attract boaters from other parts of the state where their local launch ramps are closed. Another reason I heard was that some trailer boaters were seen not maintaining social distancing outside on the launch ramp and perhaps onboard their boats.
Yet another reason was that hourly employees had been sent home.
There are offsetting reasons why the launch ramp should get special attention and remain open. Access to our well-managed fisheries, from which subsistence protein-rich fish can be taken for family consumption is as important as leaving grocery stores and farmers markets open. Access to food resources should be carefully protected.
So many people are without jobs and income during the pandemic, so subsistence fishing is more important than ever. Some folks who have small boats on trailers have some gas in the tank and fishing tackle in the garage.
By picking up bait at the tackle shop, they can go out inexpensively and bring home fish for dinner, allowing them to save the expensive store-bought food for another day.
How do we open the launch ramp? I have a workable proposal for the mayor, city administrator and City Council:
Open the ramp back up with a reservation system run by the Waterfront Department, thereby limiting the volume and temporal spacing of trailer boats going out. Boats coming in can queue up and wait their turn to put the boat on their trailer after the fishing trip.
If more measures are needed, require that boaters wear masks while launching/retrieving boats.
One Harbor Patrol officer on-site can manage the process to the extent it needs managing. The fishing public will appreciate the effort and families will eat better.
— Capt. David Bacon operates WaveWalker Charters and is president of SOFTIN Inc., a nonprofit organization providing seafaring opportunities for those in need. Visit softininc.blogspot.com to learn more about the organization and how you can help. Click here to read previous columns. The opinions expressed are his own.
