Firedawg

This is just to give you guys/gals a heads up on what you can expect if you plan on buying a night owl pass. The first time I used my night owl pass my buddy and I hauled all of our gear, kayak, and cooler pretty far to fish the spot we wanted. About 11pm a ranger comes up on a 4 wheeler and tells us the park is closed and we have to leave. I tell him I have a night owl pass, but forgot to put it in my windshield. He says we have to leave anyway and complains that he should be home already. I ask him if I can just walk to the truck and show him the pass, he says no leave. After an hour of dragging everything back to the truck I show him my night owl pass, fishing license and I am totally legal, yet we still have to leave because he is upset he isn't at home already. So, last night I am fishing solo, again I unload, set all of my gear up, and put the night owl pass in the window thinking I am good to go.......wrong. At about 10pm the mosquitos were killing me, so I put my tent cot out to hide from the mosquito's. Well, about 10:40pm I see this little old man walking around looking at my rods, I am laughing to myself thinking it must be some drunk guy from the pier, and I would just watch to see if he tries to take anything. Finally, he just stops and is staring right at me and I say can I help you. I hear a female voice call me by my name and ask me to come out. She says there is no camping on the beach, and I tell her I was hiding from mosquito's, but I would put the tent cot away. She proceeds to check all of my bags and cooler. All she finds is water and bait. She asks me how, when, and where I caught the flounder in my cooler. I tell her 3 times its a stingray. Then she tells me to go to my truck, takes my license and goes to the vehicle. After 10 minutes she comes back asking me if I have any weapons in my truck. By this time I am pissed, but still respectful. She tells me if she comes back and my eyes are closed while in my chair that is camping and I would be kicked out. These are my first 2 experiences with my night owl pass!!! It's bad enough I paid $25 for a park pass and $30 for the night owl, but to be messed with both times is ridiculous. It is not worth it, so if you plan on fishing at Pickens at night, be prepared to get messed with!

Getsome

Glad to see that they are treating the locals so well.

Ultralite

man...that sucks...i have both passes too...i don't think it is illegal to have a weapon in a national park either...i would have gotten the ranger's name and/or badge number and complained...not that it would do any good...

Jhoe

I would have a good time with her the next time. "Yep, i have a bomb in the truck" then just say you have no idea what she is talking about later and let them search your truck.

konz

That's pretty messed up. I wouldn't have left if I was legal. I don't think he can just tell you to leave if you have all the required documentation. I would also call and complain about it. That park needs all the money it can get, so I would demand a refund if something wasn't done about it.

biggamefishr

I'm pretty sure that you're allowed to have weapons in a national park....seems I read someone just a month or two ago about them over turning the previous ban on them...but regardless of if you are or aren't. Its a smart move for them to ask. hell the coast guard asked me a few weeks ago when they stopped me for a safety inspection if I had any weapons

Dylan

Crazy! My brother and I were almost to the entrance to Ft. Pickens by Chickenbone when a Park Ranger stopped me the other day..He said do you know how fast you were going?? I said yes sir about 10mph..He said well the speed limit is 5mph..Preceded to harrass us..Ran my drivers license then asked my little brother if he had one..He said no because hes only 15..He wrote down his name and ran it..Told us we were lucky that he wasnt giving us tickets today..Pretty much an A Hole.

Firedawg

It's getting ridiculous out there now!!!

sonofabeachfl

<P align=left><P align=left>Got this off the Ft. Pickens website. I don't think things like this should go unreported. Just how I feel.<P align=left>Gulf Islands National Seashore- 1801 Gulf Breeze Parkway- Gulf Breeze, FL 32563 - 850-934-2600<P align=left>Management Staff<P align=left>Superintendent--Jerry A. Eubanks<P align=left>Deputy Superintendent--Nina Kelson<P align=left>Administrative Officer--Cathy Losher<P align=left>Chief of Facility Management--R.W. Jenkins<P align=left>Chief of Science and Resource Management--Rick Clark<P align=left>Chief of Interpretation and Education--Gail Bishop<P align=left>ChiefRanger--Clayton Jordan

Turbow

Thanks for posting. I will not be going out there for the all-nighter we planned. No way am I driving that far to get harassed by those arm-chair commandos.