Florida Anglers Marking Territory With Feces: Report

MELBOURNE BEACH, FL — Predators in the wild are well-known for marking their territories in a fashion that most people would turn their noses up at. It seems the behavior, however, isn’t limited to bears, big cats and other four-legged creatures with sharp teeth. Men and women armed with fishing poles have also been demonstrating territorial behavior as of late at one Florida angling hotspot.

That’s the report out of Sebastian Inlet where disputes among anglers have taken on a decidedly predatory tone in recent months. The problems have been so bad, in fact, the state-created Sebastian Inlet District even wrestled with the notion of closing the north jetty fishing pier at night to prevent run-ins between anglers.

Those disputes reportedly arise when lines cross, boats get in the way of those on the pier and when anglers attempt to hone in on each other’s spots. Reports of lead fishing weights being hurled at boats and boaters tossing things back have come into the district. It seems two people had to go to a hospital for treatment after incidents at the pier.

As for the territory marking, it’s been confirmed by Martin Smithson, the inlet district’s administrator.

“We’ve had reports of people defecating and spreading it on the rail to mark their territory so nobody will fish next to them,” Smithson told Florida Today. “There have been several citations for public urination.”

The troubles have been so pronounced in recent months, the district is now working with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to get its wildlife officers to patrol around the clock.

Sebastian Inlet State Park “is a favorite for anglers nationwide for catching snook, redfish, bluefish and Spanish mackerel from its jetties,” according to the Florida State Parks website. The park is considered second only in popularity to Dunedin’s Honeymoon Island State Park, Florida Today noted. That park on Florida’s west coast is also a favorite for those looking to fish for flounder, trout, redfish and snapper, among other species, according to the state.

To find out more about the hubbub at Sebastian Inlet, visit Florida Today online.

Photo of Sebastian Inlet from the Florida State Parks website