Well, it looks like Congress is not going to reach an agreement that will keep the U.S. Government up and running. And while such a political mess deserves all of the commentary it will get, there’s a pressing issue facing the Saltwater Nation should this shutdown occur–and it looks like it will. Part of the shutdown will include the closure of all national parks, including all national seashores. This means no access to some of the U.S.’s best surf casting and other fishing opportunities. These are the locations that will likely be closed to public access for the duration for the shutdown:

• Assateague Island (Virginia/Maryland)
• Canaveral, including much of Mosquito Lagoon (Florida)
• Cape Cod (Massachusetts)
• Cape Hatteras (North Carolina)
• Cape Lookout (North Carolina)
• Cumberland Island (Georgia)
• Fire Island (New York)
• Gulf Islands (Florida/Mississippi)
• Padre Island (Texas)
• Point Reyes (California)

This time of year, fishing in places like Hatteras and Mosquito Lagoon can be some of the best fishing of the year. Losing access to these sites may put a serious damper on autumn fishing–not to mention the economic hit local fishing businesses will take when anglers can’t get to their favorite spots.

Let’s hope that U.S. leaders will hear the Saltwater Nation‘s rallying cry and reach an agreement that will keep our seashores open (and, yes, all that other stuff that’s going to shut down, too):

FISH ON!

 

 

 

Assateague Island, Canaveral National Seashore, Cape Cod, Cape Hatteras, Cape Lookout, Cumberland Island, Fire Island, fish, Fishing, Gulf Islands, Mosquito Lagoon, National Seashores, Padre Island, Point Reyes, US Federal Government

By Sid

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