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August 28, 2008 |
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More Than a Big Fish Story at Rollover Pass Bolivar Peninsula
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2 Comments ::  :: Local News |
The famous Rollover Pass will continue on thanks to the many donations, large and small.
Fishing and Hunting have been enjoyable pursuits on the Bolivar Peninsula since man first inhabited the area and are still popular sports, particularly fishing.
Bolivar has fishing available from the Gulf of Mexico, Galveston East Bay and the Intracoastal Waterway. The Bolivar Peninsula has water on every side and also a channel cut through its entire length - the Intracoastal Waterway.
Rollover Pass is one of our most popular fishing holes because it is the easiest to reach, it's free, it requires no special equipment and the fish are abundant.
Rollover Pass, also known as Rollover Fish Pass, is a strait 200 feet wide, five feet deep, and more than 1,600 feet long across Bolivar Peninsula; it links Rollover Bay and East Bay with the Gulf of Mexico in extreme southeastern Galveston County.
Rollover Pass 2008
The pass was opened in 1955 by the Texas Game and Fish Commission to perpetuate state fish and wildlife resources and improve local fishing conditions; it introduces sufficient quantities of seawater into East Bay to increase bay water salinity, promote growth of submerged vegetation, and help marine fish to and from spawning and feeding areas in the bay.
The pass is named for the practice of ship captains from the days of Spanish rule through prohibition, who, to avoid the Galveston customs station, rolled barrels of import or export merchandise over that part of the peninsula. Rollover Pass is privately owned and leased to the Gilchrist Community Association (GCA) who maintains and pays for the upkeep so that anyone can stay and fish on the Pass free of charge.
Most people mistakenly believe that the state of Texas or the federal government takes care of the upkeep of Rollover, however, neither agency has the obligation or the inclination to do so and the monthly upkeep is close to $1100 a month for port-a-potties, dumpsters and weekly cleanup of the Pass.
Recently, the GCA met to assess the depleted funds and to come up with new ways to replenish them. Commitees were formed and the hard work began. Since April, the GCA has raised about $9000.
"We still have a long way to go says Debbie Smith, association member, adding that the association members just received notification that some of their costs would be going up. With rising fuel prices, it's neverending."
Your help is needed now to keep the Pass open for your enjoyment. If you are not a member of the GCA and would like to join or simply make a donation, please visit thier website www.rolloverpasstexas.com.
Membership is $25-Family/year and $240-Business/year. Also, now you can advertise your business on our site for just $50. For more info on getting a business listing contact Connie Tomerline at 210-414-3783.
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| Comments | |
By
Sissy and Jim P. @
Thursday, June 19, 2008 7:38 PM | |
I have owned a home in Caplen Shores for the past 50 years. My wife and I come to beach from Beaumont as often as possible. We have been through the wrath of Carla and Alicia. We have seen first hand the erosion that has taken place and continues to take place because of Rollover Pass. Granted, the pass provides recreational fisherman a place to fish during certain times of the year. The pass has also helped to provide better fishing along with an additional outlet for species of fish entering the East Bay. My question is “Is keeping the pass open worth it ? Our property is nearly gone. The State came in after Francis to install hay bales. The bales lasted until Claudette 4 years later. Then came the GEO tubes. We still had some beach left after the tubes were installed, but now however, after 6 years, the water lashes at the base of the tubes nearly daily. We still have 40 feet to the man made dunes. Do we intend to give up our retreat? No!!!!! We both are of the opinion that the state should either close the pass or install rock groins or perhaps even another jetty located between Crystal Beach and westward toward the pass. Look what has happened at the flats. The beach is growing daily. That portion of the beach is growing because of the sand that is being pushed westward. Why not do the same thing east of Crystal Beach? Why allow this sand to fill in Rollover bay? Only the barge traffic can cross now. In a boat, it is nearly impossible to use the ITCW to reach rollover bay. Any fisherman with a boat will confirm this. Here is an interesting link to read. This is an extensive research done by many faucets of researchers, scientist, state and federal officials. This comment is not meant to be a negative. Again, my wife and I have been quite successful in life and understand the economics and demographics of The Bolivar Peninsula. We love coming to our second home. We have seen the development and growth firsthand and in many ways have contributed to its present state. We, along with what I would hope to be the majority simply want to help. http://www.coastal.tamug.edu/am/Rollover_Pass_Bolivar_Peninsula/Rollover.pdf |
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By
Sissy @
Thursday, June 19, 2008 7:41 PM | |
http://coastal.tamug.edu/am/Rollover_Pass_Bolivar_Peninsula/Rollover.pdf |
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