Harbor panel looks for ways to bring anglers to Norwich wate

bigoutdoors

Norwich, Conn. —
A plan to make the city’s waterfront a fishing destination was cast out to members of the Harbor Management Commission Tuesday.

They bit.

Commission Chairman John Mereen said it was important to get out the message that the city’s waterways are an underused economic treasure.

“We’re never going to be a Newport or a Mystic,” Mereen said. “We’re going to be Norwich, and that’s pretty great.”

The commission listened to Board of Education Chairman Charles Jaskiewicz, who suggested bringing in a state marine biologist for suggestions on improving the fishery.

“One of the things people don’t know is that some of the best striper fishing this spring happened behind the football field on Hamilton Avenue,” Jaskiewicz said. “People don’t understand what we have here.”

Jaskiewicz proposed putting a weekly fishing report on the city’s website that updates current conditions.

Pete Surveski, of Harwinton, who was fishing at Norwich Harbor Wednesday morning, said he makes the 65-mile drive to fish from the city’s public dock for bluefish. He has not been disappointed.

“The fishing here is really good and I’ve already got one blue,” he said.

Surveski shared a stringer with Frank Adamski, of Voluntown. The two displayed three large bluefish.

“The only thing we need is more dock space,” Adamski said. “It can get crowded when the stripers are running.”

Both men used menhaden, or bunkers, for bait that they caught from the dock.

Mereen said his plan is to bring other outdoors people to the city as well.

The commission will meet with city leaders to propose changes to the harbor, including establishing water trails for canoes and kayaks, a new public boat launch with parking area, dredging a channel in the Yantic River and acquiring property for outdoor use. The plan also calls for enhancing Hollyhock Island, including a linear park trail along the east shore.

“I would be extremely pleased to see the harbor full of fishermen,” Mereen said.

The Harbor Management Commission will outline its plan Oct. 14 at the Otis Library.

aqualung · Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 5:54 pm Post subject:

IMHO that area is plenty busy and can be fairly crowded as it is right now. With a major push to increase the amount of people without making major improvements (money) it will turn into more of a zoo than it is now.