MANATEE COUNTY – In response to the unfolding coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, the public boat ramps in Manatee County are now closed to recreational boaters and charter captains.
The Coquina South Boat Ramp in Bradenton Beach and the city-owned Riverside Boat Ramp in Palmetto remain open to commercial fishermen only.
The boat ramp closures took effect Thursday morning, March 26.
According to the Manatee County press release issued Wednesday evening, “Commercial fishing operations with a Florida Saltwater Products License (SPL) for commercial fishing will be allowed to launch at the two boat ramps.”
Wednesday’s press release clarified erroneous information originally contained in the press release the county issued on Tuesday when announcing the boat ramp closures.
“Only commercial fishing operations – those with a U.S. Coast Guard Six-Pack Captain’s License and a commercial fishing license – may use Coquina South boat ramp,” the Tuesday press release said.
A six-pack license allows a charter captain to carry up to six passengers.
In response to a phone call received from an angry local charter fisherman who visited the Coquina South Boat Ramp Thursday morning via bicycle, The Sun immediately reached out to Manatee County Information Outreach Manager Nick Azzara for clarification regarding charter captains.
Azzara confirmed that the Coquina South Boat Ramp in Bradenton Beach and the Riverside Boat Ramp in Palmetto are currently open only to commercial fishermen who hold Florida Saltwater Products License (SPL) for commercial fishing.
Azzara confirmed charter fishermen are currently prohibited from using the public boat ramps in Manatee County.
The South Coquina Boat Ramp is open to commercial fishermen daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The Riverside Boat Ramp is open daily from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Local and county law enforcement and code enforcement officers are stationed at the Coquina South and Riverside boat ramps. Those who wish to use these ramps may be asked to show their SPL license and provide their names and vessel numbers.
Concrete barricades now completely block the parking lot entrances and the boat ramps at the Coquina North Boat Ramp in Bradenton Beach and the Kingfish Boat Ramp in Holmes Beach.
The Riverside Boat ramp contains two ramps located side by side. One side is barricaded by large concrete blocks. After 3 p.m., a potable water truck or some other large city vehicle is pulled into place to block the other ramp for the remainder of the day. The large vehicle is then removed the following morning.
Boaters still have options
The closing of the public boat ramps in Manatee County does not prohibit charter fishing excursions or recreational boating trips that originate from a marina, a private dock or a private boat ramp.
As of Friday morning, the public boat ramps in Sarasota, Pinellas, Hillsborough and Charlotte counties remained open.
FWC to enforce distancing
During his press conference on Friday afternoon, Gov. Ron DeSantis said he was directing the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to enforce social distancing guidelines on Florida waterways.
“We’ve received reports from FWC and local governments that many people continue to violate social distancing requirements. You need to be in groups of ten or less. They’re tying all these boats together and having large group parties. We can’t be having these large crowds,” DeSantis said on Friday.
Last weekend, large groups of boaters gathered near Jewfish Key, Passage Key and Egmont Key in the vicinity of Anna Maria Island.
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