What Will Happen to a Once Popular Bay County Fishing Spot?

“We would fish for mullet, redfish, trout,” says Bay County resident Jim DeGregoria.  He also says, “Lot of people can’t afford to go to the beach pay the entrance fee to the parks...go out to Panama City Beach Pier...pay that entrance fee.  It’s easy to bring kids here...teach them how to fish.”

Jim DeGregoria misses his relaxing days of fishing on the old DuPont Bridge built some seventy years ago.  Jim says “No Trespassing Signs” went up about a year ago.

Jim has a problem.  He says he has heard that the bridge will become a thing of the past and will not be standing much longer...something about safety.

Fellow fisherman Robert Adams thinks there is another reason.  “I think its political.  I know there’s bridges in the state of Florida in worse shape than that one right there and there is traffic going over them.  They just want it down because they think it is an eyesore,” says Adams.

With more of the immediate area being developed with condos is the eyesore the real reason?  The Florida Department of Transportation says no.  According to FDOT spokesman Tommie Speights, “both county and state decided that the bridge was not safe enough.  That is why they turned it back over to the sate.  Engineers say it is not safe...best thing is for it to be demolished. 
It is not who is building in that area. They have deemed it not safe...it is in the best interest of all involved to take the old bridge down.”
But, try telling that to Robert Adams.  He says, “I would go out there right now if they would take that gate down.”

Tommie Speights of FDOT says it will cost about five million dollars to take down the bridge.  He says there is no set time table set for that to happen.

Posted by on 03/05 at 04:46 PM
------------------------

The reason for not fishing on the bridge is because the county has a pier to make money for the elected officials.

Above comment posted by  on  04/28  at  11:36 PM
------------------------