I recently received a phone call from an alert reader named Tom who was questioning why there are signs posted by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) at department-owned boat landings in our area that state the area is limited to launching boats and/or fishing only. This compassionate, concerned resident seemed to feel that people wanting to have a picnic by the river, sunbathe or take a swim have as much right to these landings as boaters and fishermen. Without even consulting the people at the VDGIF I was able to say with confidence that the limited-access signs were necessary because there are a few unscrupulous people that abuse public facilities by practicing un-sportsmanlike behavior, such as leaving trash and loud late night partying, thus spoiling it for others who would use these mini riverside parks responsibly.

After consulting Julia Dixon, VDGIF Public Relations Manager, I learned that my answer was basically true, but there’s more to it than discouraging partying. First of all, the signs give Conservation Police officers unquestionable authority to keep these areas free of the above mentioned visitors who are interfering with fishing and boating activities by taking up parking spaces intended for tow vehicles. But more importantly, these public boat landings are paid for with funds from fishing licenses, boat registration, titling, watercraft sales and use tax and Federal Sport Fish Restoration Motor Boat Access Funds. Actually, there’s a stipulation in the federal funding agreement that says these facilities can only be used for boating and fishing. Picnickers and sunbathers need to keep this in mind and be sure the area you choose for your summertime leisure activities is indeed allocated for your use. If the local police or Conservation officers are patrolling the area you can be asked to leave and may even get a citation for trespassing. Apparently having a baited fishing line in the water and a valid fishing license in your possession will exempt you from trespassing at VDGIF owned landings.

If you really want to be a stickler about who can and can’t use VDGIF boat landings, tubing seems to be a gray area to me. A common fishing practice on the James River is known as a float trip. Fishing parties of two or three persons using a johnboat equipped with an electric trolling motor leave a vehicle downstream at the landing where they intend to end their day of fishing then drive upstream, launch the boat and leave the tow vehicle at the launch ramp. When they arrive at their downstream destination two of the fishermen get in the vehicle they left there and drive upstream along River Road to the launch ramp to retrieve the other vehicle and then both vehicles return to the end of trip landing and take the boat out of the water. This same method of launching and retrieving is used by tubers, which in most cases don’t carry a fishing license nor have paid any type of registration fees or watercraft use and sales tax for their inner tubes. They are taking up parking spaces allocated to boaters and fishermen although they don’t qualify as either. Current boating laws don’t apply to inner tubes. They don’t even qualify as watercraft. Apparently tubers are more akin to swimmers in the eyes of the law. There are two major businesses along the banks of the James that sell tubing trips and they are delivering a large number of tubers via school buses to launch areas posted with the signs that my friend Tom has taken issue with. Granted, their customers are not using up parking spaces. The buses offload their passengers and inner tubes then return to their home base but the question still begs for an answer. Should tubers be allowed to use VDGIF owned boat landings?

At the latest Board of Game and Inland Fisheries meeting a new regulation 4VAC15-20-66 was passed. This amendment “establishes a daily fee of $3 or an annual fee added to the price of an annual basic state resident fishing or hunting license, for admittance, parking, or other use at Department-owned wildlife management areas and public fishing lakes. However, such fee shall not apply to any person holding a valid hunting, trapping or fishing license, or a current certificate of boat registration issued by the Department, persons 16 years of age or younger, or Department-owned boat ramps.” In layman’s terms this law will allow state residents holding a valid hunting or fishing license to use VDGIF owned lands. Others will have to pay a $3 fee. The regulation goes into effect Jan. 1, 2012. Perhaps this is the last fee-free summer for tubing. Take advantage while you can.