NAPLES, Fla. -- A heads up for anglers in Collier County: the Naples Pier has been closed for fishing through the tourist season.
Officials suspended fishing on Tuesday so crews can continue repairing the damage caused by Hurricane Irma in September.
City officials say with the western edge of the pier shut down, anglers are crowding the eastern side. That is posing a safety risk for others.
"You just basically need to know how to fish, said Shane Wallace. "You can't just be throwing it around, you got to to respect people."
There was a station for cleaning fish in the area of the pier that is closed. City officials are worried people will clean fish on the eastern side of the pier, leaving fish carcasses around to rot.
"A majority of people are putting the fish they catch into their cooler," said Brandon Dawson.
Fishing may resume when crews fix the western end of the pier, likely in August.
Those repairs are expected to cost about a half a million dollars.
