Fishing gathering embraces Second Amendment in Fort Pierce

It's not rare to see fishermen casting lines along the South Jetty in Fort Pierce.

But anglers in the same spot openly carrying guns?

It's not a fish tale. Quite a few folks with rods and reels may be openly armed on Memorial Day at the popular area at the end of Seaway Drive.

That’s because Michael Taylor, 38, of Port St. Lucie, is coordinating an “Open Carry Fishing Get-Together” from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 28 at Jetty Park.

It’s the first open carry sporting activity he’s hosted, and it's believed to be the first of its kind in the area.

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Bruce Harrison, attorney in charge of the St. Lucie County State Attorney’s Office, said “never in my life” has he heard of such an event.

Still, Harrison said he was raised in the area and fished in Sebastian, and a lot of people carried guns when fishing.

It's legal to openly carry a firearm while engaged in fishing, camping or lawful hunting, according to state law.

“If you’re going to or coming from those practices or … are at those practices, you’re allowed to open carry,” Assistant State Attorney Jeffrey Hendriks said.

Taylor said he’s posted open carrying fishing videos at local spots, such as Sandsprit Park in Stuart.

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Second Amendment rights

Taylor said he’s been having catch-and-release online fishing tournaments “trying to get people really back into fishing.” Participants take photos of catches with a special "marker," such as a playing card, so it can be determined the fish was caught within the tournament time frame.

In some tournaments, he said, at least 30 people have participated.

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“If I can get 30 people to fish a tournament for free, let’s just throw this little open carry twist into it and see if I can pull 30 people more into it,” Taylor said.

So far, so good, he said.

"It’s going in that range, which is awesome for me," Taylor said. "As long as I have that many people, it’s going to be a good event.”

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Taylor, who openly carries a .40-caliber Glock, said his aim with the gathering is to support Second Amendment rights.

He said two people tried to rob him several months ago at Little Jim Bridge in Fort Pierce and he didn’t have a gun. He swung his fishing pole at the assailants. They ducked, and he took off running.

“Ever since that day, I’ve actually been open carrying while I fish,” Taylor said. “It‘s primarily at night.”

He contacted the Fort Pierce Police Department about the event.

Fort Pierce police Sgt. John Schramm said the open carry rules also permit a long gun, such as a rifle, to be carried openly while fishing.

“I don’t know if you’re going to be out there with a shotgun on the fishing pier and fishing at the same time. I don’t know how you would do that,” Schramm said. “I guess you could sling it over your shoulder.”

Schramm said assuming the anglers have a fishing license, are not intoxicated and are not felons, they should be within the law.

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Police concern

But police aren't taking lightly the possibility of a large gathering of armed fishermen on the jetty and the inquiries they might generate.

“We’re concerned enough that we’re going to post an officer there to be able to field any questions or concerns that the public may have,” Schramm said.

“We’re just trying to do that for information so they can make sure that everybody knows the legalities and what the law states that they can do and … to put them at ease that it’s taking place,” he said.

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Schramm said the anglers can openly carry firearms while going to and returning from fishing.

“If they park down at Archie’s (Seabreeze restaurant and bar) and they walk along the sidewalk (with a gun) and they’re going to the jetty to go fishing, that’s legal,” Schramm said. “How long can that walk be? I don’t know.”

Archie’s Seabreeze is about four-tenths of a mile from Jetty Park.

Not unheard of elsewhere

Kevin Sona, an organizer with Florida Carry, a nonprofit group that advocates for self-protection gun rights, said he’s held similar fishing and camping events.

“We kind of do it just to educate the public … and to show open carry of firearms is no different than carrying a firearm concealed under your shirt,” Sona said.

Sona said he's hosted close to 10 fishing events, including one in Ocala attended by more than 200 people. He said he’s never had any negative encounters.

“I’ve dealt with FWC (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission). I’ve dealt with local police departments,” Sona said. “It’s just 100 percent lawful."

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Hiccups along the way

Taylor said he understood from initial communication with Fort Pierce city officials he didn’t need a permit for a fishing tournament, but in more recent conversations, he said he was told he does. He said he’s calling it a “get-together.”

According to information on a Fort Pierce city website, a special event, which requires a permit, is defined as “any outdoor meeting, activity, parade, gathering or group of two or more persons, animals or vehicles having a common purpose, design or goal upon any public street, park or other public property.”

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Michelle Kubitschek, facility/program specialist with the City of Fort Pierce, said it sounds like a permit is required for Taylor's activities.

“If it is a family picnic, you don’t need to have a permit or anything, but if you’re having an event that is open to the public … you need a special event permit no less than 60 days' advance notice,” she said.

Taylor said he doesn’t have the necessary time.

“From their definitions I understand, but at the end of the day, we’re a bunch of people that like to fish and I’m inviting people that want to fish to a place where I go fish,” he said. “If that’s a crime, then I guess they’re going to let me know when I show up there because I definitely am going to have this … get-together.”

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Reactions mixed

Opinions among anglers about Taylor's gathering seem as varied as the fish that swim past the jetty.

Jayson Arman, 40, has a land-based fishing business and often goes to the South Jetty. He questioned the wisdom of having the gathering.

“If he wants to promote this open carry fishing tournament, why would any individual choose the South Jetty?” he said.

A lot of people are there, Arman said. Also, he said some fishermen can have short tempers about other fishermen in their space. He suggested a less populated spot.

“Owning a gun, having it on your hip and letting it be known, that’s fine. Having a fishing tournament at a very populated area to promote gun laws and carry guns?” he said. “There’s too many things that could go wrong with fishermen with a big crowd, with a busy weekend with promoting a topic that is so controversial.”

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Brian Nelli, 35, is based in Palm Beach County and has a kayak guide-fishing business that fishes from Fort Pierce to Pompano Beach.

Nelli hasn’t fished the South Jetty in years, but has fished piers and jetties, “so I kind of know the dynamics of the people that go and fish it."

He said the gathering is interesting and he's on board with it as long as it gets folks casting lines. If it's something they believe in, have a good following and share an interest in "the amendment to bear arms, why not?”

“Bringing people together to go fishing and promote what they believe in, I don’t see anything wrong with it,” Nelli said.

Kevin McCoy, 31, is a fishing enthusiast who knows Taylor. He said he’s never held a gun and knows little about the Second Amendment, but the gathering got his attention. The South Jetty, he said, is one of his favorite angling locations.

“I’m always about knowledge, so I figured why not attend and see what it’s about,” McCoy said. “I’m looking to see what’s the fuss about and see both sides. … I’m right in the middle.”

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