Restricting Fishing at Huntington Pier

Re “Surfers Want Limits on Fishing From Pier” (Dec. 6): [Another surfer] and I approached the Huntington Beach City Council with the “fishing ordinance” proposal to make ocean sports safer for everyone.

Limiting sport fishing from the Huntington Beach Pier will [keep] another ocean sport enthusiast from serious injury. The 160 signatures collected represent the people who want limited fishing from the Huntington Beach Pier. Even the young surfers were excited when they signed the petition, and why not? They are equally at risk of getting injured by a fish hook.

Young people should get involved with issues that directly affect them. On the other side, [we] were berated by some of our skeptical “brother” surfers, and we were told to “let things be. We’ll just put up with the fishermen.”

They were concerned that the Huntington Beach City Council may decide to restrict surfing instead of fishing. Sometimes certain risks must be taken to enhance the standards that we all have to live by, but I have complete confidence that the City Council will keep Surf City intact and work at limiting fishing instead of restricting ocean sports from the area adjacent to the pier. So, skeptic-brothers, until something is done, grab your board, paddle out next to the pier, surf an insane session and, all of a sudden, wonder to yourself, “Where did that fishhook come from!”

DENNIS SATO

Westminster

I have watched the Newport Pier decline over the years and decent efforts to improve its quality have been to no avail. It continues to be dirty and unwholesome and held captive by the fishermen who are elbow to elbow along the railings during all hours of the day.

In my opinion the time is now to give equal pier time to our families and visiting out-of-town guests by either banning all fishing on weekends and holidays or at least limiting access to early morning and late evening hours.

ROBERT G. SPICER

Costa Mesa