Program restricting Naples Pier fishing to protect pelicans ends Tuesday

Trying to make sure these pelicans near the Naples Pier are safe from fishers. The pilot program that restricts fishing on Sundays for the pier is coming to an end.

Fishermen are hoping Naples City Council will end these restrictions, as they are set to expire Tuesday, but what happens next will be up for discussion.

The Naples Pier is a popular location for the fishing community: It was the number one response for pier use in a survey the city put out. What isn’t popular are the fishing restrictions, and some question the intentions of the restrictions.

“Are they doing it for the birds or are they doing it because they want to pander to the tourists?” said fisherman Zach Hoffman.

The Pier Pelican Pilot Program started in January. This means no fishing on Sunday. If you were a late-night fisher, you can forget the Naples Pier altogether.

“The 11 p.m. rule… some of us, that’s when we get out of work; we come out here and fish at night, and now we can’t do that,” Hoffman said.

The program is in place to protect pelicans. This is after a conservancy group reported pelicans coming to the hospital with hooks.

“If they’re going to have all these rules to protect the pelicans, or so they say, then why is the Conservancy not here?” Hoffman said. “You know, us anglers have had to unhook thousands of these birds.”