SWFL.io - Local NewsJillian Haggerty
•8/4/2026
CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. (WINK)—"No Fishing" signs installed last month along the U.S. 41 bridges in Charlotte County will soon be replaced after local anglers pushed back against the ban.
The Florida Department of Transportation put up the signs after receiving complaints about trash and safety concerns on the bridges. Charlotte County leaders say they were never notified before the signs went up.
After hearing from dozens of anglers, county officials worked with FDOT to find a compromise. For weeks, anglers arriving at the U.S. 41 bridges were met with the new "No Fishing" signs.
Many say they were shocked, especially after already losing fishing piers and shoreline access because of Hurricanes Ian, Helene and Milton. WINK News spoke with local anglers who say bridge fishing has become one of the few places they can still fish.
"It's a place where generations of people have fished, I mean I fished from that bridge when I was a kid. I fished from recently of last year I caught a lot of fish from down there," Captain Josh Olive, owner of The Fish Coach, said.
Charlotte County Commissioner Chris Constance says the county wasn't notified before FDOT installed the signs.
"The signs went in, and we had no idea at the county level this was even happening. This was a Florida Department of Transportation action," Constance said.
Constance says FDOT installed the signs after complaints about litter and safety issues, but he believes banning fishing wasn't the right answer. He brought the issue before the Metropolitan Planning Organization Monday, where board members and dozens of anglers voiced their concerns.
"There's a lot of elderly that can't pilot boats, that can't get out on the water anymore, and even folks that fish for food, this is to put food on the table. So, I think the MPO board was very compassionate, and we came to a great resolution," Constance said.
Instead of banning fishing altogether, the "No Fishing" signs will be replaced with signs reminding anglers not to litter and to yield to pedestrians. Local angler Frank Hommema agrees people should clean up after themselves.
"Like a warning on the first time. The second time is $100 plus a bucket with soap and a scrub brush. If you messed it up, you go back out and clean it up," Hommema said.
The county and FDOT are working to have the new signs installed as quickly as possible. As for rebuilding the storm-damaged fishing piers, that is moving forward but will take a few years to complete.