Posted on 04/16/2023 6:42:51 AM PDT by lowbridge
A video (seen below) of a confrontation on the water that happened March 18, 2023 near Camden, Alabama between a homeowner and anglers fishing in the Fisher’s of Men bass fishing tournament on Millers Ferry went viral. And on Monday April 10, the homeowner Ronald Morgan, 66, was charged with interfering with hunting or fishing per section 9-11-270 as well as menacing. Morgan pulled a gun on the anglers and told them to “go somewhere else” when he didn’t like them being near his dock on the public waters in a separate boat.
Alabama Section 9-11-270 states the following:
No person shall willfully and knowingly prevent, obstruct, impede, disturb, or interfere with, or attempt to prevent, obstruct, impede, disturb or interfere with any person in legally hunting or fishing pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the law of the State of Alabama.
These confrontations are becoming more of a common occurrence because homeowners incorrectly believe that if they place a dock on a public waterway next to their house they suddenly own the public water that is beneath it and surrounding it. That, however, is not the case.
(Excerpt) Read more at wired2fish.com ...
You can not impede or disrupt someone lawfully fishing or hunting. Also, in some states, your boat dock can be used by anyone in an emergency such as severe inclement weather or even a boat that has become disabled.
TY Blueflag for that info. My parents and in-laws owned GA lake property and both had docks - nothing on the scale of this person’s. I would think the Corps would limit deck size to prevent selfish people from doing what this guy tried to do. He’s inviting trouble imo.
Yeah, no good reason for them to be there.
Then walk out with a bard, hammer and nails and
work on the dock a while. Tournament fishermen certainly have no problem interfering with locals and aren’t shy about claiming a “spot” and resent when they see anyone else fish there.
I used to hunt ducks with a guy that lived on a lake. One morning, his wife got out of bed and threw the curtains open. She was naked, and there were a couple of bass fishermen right off their dock.
Some years ago I went fishing with a family group for crappies in Kentucky. When the water is low, tour guides will use specially designed boats to place stake beds that attract the fish. While on the trip, I heard frequent yells to fishermen to get off my stake bed....
LOL!
Another take away from the trip was my dad asked the boat operator if a nearby boat was fast because it was putting up a huge rooster tail. The response was to the effect of all show and no go...
“I don’t think this guy owns the water under his boat house. As long as the fishermen do not touch his dock, they’re legal.”
You don’t own the water under your house either.
...I’ll be right over to park on the front lawn of your home without touching your house, just to listen to you sniveling about your homeowner rights.
You have a VERY difficult relationship with logic and facts in nearly every comment you post!
...it’s actually astounding!
In Nebraska, you own the land underneath but not the water. As long as they’re not anchored or tied off on your dock or property, people can fish.
I don’t think this guy owns the water under his boat house. As long as the fishermen do not touch his dock, they’re legal.
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I don’t dispute that technically the anglers were right on the law. But common sense says you don’t go nosing around in a gray area. Especially on a large lake. Especially in Alabama…….
Nobody can own water. You can only borrow it.
bort wrote: “I don’t dispute that technically the anglers were right on the law. But common sense says you don’t go nosing around in a gray area. Especially on a large lake. Especially in Alabama…….”
Done a lot of bassfishing on Lake Guntersville. Saw that happen a lot. Understandably, most boat owners don’t want fishermen bounching lead weights off their hulls.
BTW, common sense also tells one not to go pulling firearms on people who are not fishing illegally.
True.
Before we get in hot tub, we DO check the inlet...
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