Anglers squeezed at both ends of Imperial Beach Pier

As restaurants resume indoor dining, more people are wanting to take back the outdoor space the businesses were allowed to occupy during the pandemic.

On the Imperial Beach pier, it's 50 feet of fishing habitat right behind the Tin Fish restaurant. Where the big fish hang out, anglers say.

It was theirs for decades, the spot to catch yellowtail and six-foot thresher sharks rather than the eight-inch specimens common to the rest of the pier, and it now belongs to a business that no longer needs it.

But during a city council discussion last week about public safety on the pier, options being considered for included permanently eliminating fishing behind the restaurant.

That "could be a travesty" said Imperial Beach fisherman Kevin Rasmussen, who favors the council's "do nothing" option that would return to pre-Covid conditions, when lines could be sunk where tables now reign.

He denounced the council's "middle ground approach" that would give the restaurant "even more designated outdoor dining area." Fishing would still be allowed, though not behind the Tin Fish.

Under consideration is the entire Port-owned 1500 foot pier, along with the surf and swim zones around it. Anglers now have access to about 600 feet. City manager Andy Hall stressed that fishing is only a blip of the activities around the city's most popular outdoor destination.

People surf and swim and walk and jog from the east to the west end. Hall's own pet project – a zipline – was recently voted down by the council, but he's not giving up on it, he said.

"What really brings this item to the city council tonight was a change implemented at the end of the pier during Covid-19." It affected about 150 feet of pier, stretching from the West Gate to the end. The first 100 feet – from the West Gate to the front of the Tin Fish – has always been restricted for fishing, he said.

The issue is a 50-foot section from the front of the Tin Fish to the end of the pier.

"During Covid, cities were encouraged to help restaurants by allowing them to expand into areas that were a little bit atypical. Unfortunately for the Tin Fish, they didn't have a street or parking lot. The only area they could expand was around the restaurant itself."

So fishing was further restricted.

The extra outdoor space, along with city efforts to enhance the area with murals, has been a boon to the restaurant, owner Ed Kim said. People are flocking in to soak up the views of Pt. Loma, Coronado, and Tijuana.

"As we see more visitors and tourists I would like to ask that the public safety of the pier can be enforced so it will continue to be a safe place to visit."

Tricia Baglione, manager of the Tin Fish, said she has witnessed a lot of vandalism of tables and restrooms. "We're just looking for some peace around here, and for everyone to feel comfortable and safe all over the pier and not just by our location."

Residents complained about fish guts on benches, drinking and harassment. "We would like to see the space behind the Tin Fish remain fisherman-free," said Tony and Karen Odermatt.

"Since the prohibition of fishing at the far west end of the pier, the environment has been much more pleasant, safer and more sanitary than when that area was open to fishing," said David Frank, who walks the pier daily.

Supporters of the fishermen said "the people's pier" should not be given to a private business. Anglers should have access to its entire length. Fishing is more than just recreation, said I.B. resident Lauren Gaw.

"I would hate to remove a source of sustainable food for families in these uncertain times."

With so many different activities and interests, Hall said, safety would have to come before keeping everybody happy.

The city cast its post Covid-19 goals around public safety back in April, when mayor Serge Dedina announced it a priority in a 2021 State of the City address.

The Port of San Diego, the pier's owner, contracts with Imperial Beach to provide municipal services that include public safety.

From 2013-2021, the sheriff's department responded to 593 calls on the pier, most for disturbance, under the influence and suspicious persons. The fire department answered 49 calls involving mostly assaults and drowning.

Lifeguards were the busiest, making 6,842 contacts and issuing more than 60 citations. The majority were for overhead casting and swim and surf zone violations, along with alcohol, smoking, glass containers, dogs, bikes and skateboards.

Current regulations for fishing include no overhead casting, no cleaning or cutting fish except in designated areas, and no bait or equipment left on the pier. No swimming, wading or surfing is allowed within 20 feet of the pier.

Rasmussen said anglers face restrictions in the surf zone, too. He suggested a code change requiring surfers and swimmers to stay 100-150 feet from the pier. "This would eliminate line entanglement and surfers could still surf the same waves," he said.

"We hope the council can find a reasonable solution in both zones."

Anglers have very limited options to fish without a license, and in areas over the water, he said. "There's no place to do so in I.B. other than our fishing pier."

Hall said the city will collaborate with the Port to decide how to amend Port policies and the city's municipal code before the city takes action on a range of questions, including the possibility of more public input.

They'll be looking at everything, from whether the pier should stay open 24 hours to how well dining and fishing can co-exist in the same area.