The bird situation at Ft. Desoto is troubling. The roped off area is much larger than it has been in the previous three years that I have been going there. And it is much wider in the areas where thongers congregate and from what I can see non existent in the "family areas."  

Years ago there was a beach in Rhode Island, Moonstone Beach, that the courts ruled was an official nude beach. The standard is if a place has been established by the community as a nude beach for a long time that it is legal. After that ruling officials "discovered" that there were birds nesting there that could not survive along side humans,. Therefore they shut the beach down completely. Only an idiot could fail to the see the REAL reason why they shut down Moonstone beach. Government officials stink when they act this way.

Oddly enough the only other official nude beach that is on the Atlantic in New England is Gay Head that is on Martha's Vineyard. One must be a resident of of the Vineyard to go there, which means it's for millionaires only. One of the more famous people who go there is attorney Alan Dersowitz. Odd enough government officials have not found any birds that need be protected by the total banning of humans on Gay Head Beach. I wonder why that is? Once more only an idiot would be unable to answer that question.

  BEACHLOVER -Can you provide a little more information on the bird area?  Has it blocked off the foot traffic coming from north beach?  Does it just extend out from the dunes further? Can you walk all the way up to the north beach inlet?

We lost a lot of beach during 2004 with the storms. When it is high tide now there is no room as you head north toward the inlet.  With the beach erosion came a little insecurity regarding the rangers anyway. We use to could sit on the beach and see them through the dunes. With the erosion you now have to stand up. So we actually feel more secure not going all the way to the north area anyway. The best thing is that by June the birds are done and the area will be opened back up. There is no way they can keep the area roped off year round for birds. We wish they would stop the foot traffic coming from the north like it use to be. It was so much better because people would start seeing butt cheeks and turn around. When they come from the north they are determined to walk south for a while.

grnngold93 The bird area at the north end of what is the thong beach is now so wide that the water goes around the polls that support the string fence at high tide. It does end in the area where the trees used to be. It is narrower of you take the truck road and turn right instead of left. There are also sign up that the bird area fences will be up from March through September. In other words they are taking a large area of the beach during the prime time for many people.

I think that they have gone overboard on this for a reason. Oddly the only people who I see ignoring the signs and walking into the area (not to set their stuff down) are young men wearing long shorts. The tongers are obeying the new rules.

Response to Beachlover492000

I agree its inconvenient.  But there are several questions here.  Is in unnecessarily convenient?  Possibly/probably.  If the inconvenience is unnecessary, is it due to intention or incompetence?  Hard to guess.  I mean, management may have just sent out a couple of rookies with vague instructions to put up a fence and signs.  It seems to me that having no space to walk within the rules at high tide invites disregard for the rules, and thus was a decision indicating incompetence..

Perhaps an interested party could discuss it with park management.

We hope to get out there this weekend. Anybody got an update for us. Are there a lot of people out these days? Are the rangers leaving the thongers alone?

I'm convused about the nesting area.

Are people thonging at the north end of the large parking lot up toward the inlet, or south of the large parking lot where you walk thru a pond through a large field, then up to the north end where there is a logoon area that separated the main north beach area.  The area north of the fort but south of the main large beach?  I have seen more thongers in that area last year, but wondering if that is the nesting area.

gold 93, thanks for the clarification

I was out at the Fort yesterday and the tide was up but the rope area was not in the water.  Limited walkers when I was there (2 pm) I laid out just south of the roped off area the sand is perfect and plenty of room away from the water.  I was next to small dune for sometime using it as a broke rest then I moved to the waters edge to get cooler as it was hot! The range went by twice, once up and then back the same path which he drove past the roped area all the way to the tree line.  The ranger stopped all he did was wave as he drove by. I was in my new Skinz Roman Cheetah Cub mesh which fits awesome.  I have been wearing g-strings for twenty + years and this is the most comfortable suit I own.  The mesh pattern allows a tan-thru but the print keeps the exposure down. There was at least 1/2 dozen other thongers and g's enjoying a beautiful day at the Fort, the weather is perfect this time of year and so I the water.  Enjoy!!!

I took a couple hours out of my day to soak up some rays at the Fort.  The sun was hot today but the sea breeze kept it comfortable.  I set up just south of the roped off area and tide was up.  There were about 5 or 6 other g's out along with me.  I did notice that all but one of us had g-strings on and one person had a thong.  I like the fact that more of us are into the g-string look, it must be from the fact that Skinz is just up the road so we can get to try on our loin clothes before we buy.  Gotta wonder how the beach in Australia is were Wicked Weasels are sold.  Just keepin it real and lovin the Fort. 

Ski

Another great day at the Fort, a little windy but nice and hot.  A few g's on the beach but not many and no women anywhere today.  Come on girls, hit the beach!

G

Got out to the Fort for the 1st time this year. The sun was pretty hot and intense today, but the wind off the gulf kept it confortable. Did not see the rangers today. Took a walk up up the north end toward the tree line and saw a few other thongers. Didn't make it all the way to the end due to high tide. Still it was a good day to be at the Fort.

V-String

Beautiful day at the Fort, the wind was nice and the waves were just right. The sun was hot but not bad and the water temp is perfect for cooling off.  The ropes are gone were the bird nesting was due to Tropical Storm Berry.  I laid out from 2 until 5 my favorite time of day.  I had a young lady about 100 feet away from me reading and tanning.  She made to keep a close eye on me the entire time I was there. We spoke for a short perioid of time and she said she liked my suit and could tell I was enjoying the sun.  Back again soon!

G

Beautifull out today.  Plenty of thongs and g's all along the beach.  Hit the restroom at north beach and got attacked by mosquitos.  So far no problem heading down to the beach.  Just remember to put that bug spray in the bag just in case.  We could not have ordered a more perfect day out there today.  Hope to see more people out toward the end of June as the water gets just warm enough to float all day.

P.S. Just a fun little hint for everyone out there. If you like to float but end up drifting away with the tide, here is a simple light weight solution. Take an old pillow case and get about 15 feet of nylon rope. When you get setup at the beach fill the pillowcase about 1/3 full of beach sand. Then twist the top around until it snugs down to the sand. DO NOT TIE THE PILLOWCASE. It is very hard to try and get untied all wet and heavy. Then tie the rope around the twisted portion of the pillowcase. At the other end of the rope make a little loop. Take the pillowcase out to your desired floating spot, drop it down, and either hold the loop or attach it to your float. You can leave the rope out in the water all day, it is easy to find. When the day is done just empty out the sand, rinse out the pillowcase and off you go. No extra weight and  no real mess. We have been doing this for a few years and it works wonders.

Just a quick survey for all you Ft. DeSoto lovers as I'll be in Florida in July. One year a while back I went to the Fort on the 4th but I did not really enjoy it as it was over run with families and kids. Do you agree with this assessment or do you think thongers will be out wearing them proudly? I went to the far north end that time and thought maybe "west beach" may not be as overrun as its slightly more private. any feedback appreciated.....I often see posts that people prefer the weekdays to weekends so perhaps that also applies to the "major holidays."  

We went out yesterday.  Ranger was out 4 times by 2:00pm. Found out from some regulars that the rangers caught a guy last Sunday. Appears he had been walking by everyone and dropping his thong as he went by. I would bet he was asked to stop by some of the regulars but refused. They said somebody would come walking down the beach and he would expose himself as he walked by them.  He was walking right next to people sitting in their chair and do the same thing. So the rangers managed to catch him and took him out with them. As we all keep saying. Respect the beach and the other people on it and everyone is fine. So I would just tell everyone keep an eye out for the ranger as they are back patroling every hour or so because of an idiot. Wome are still able to enjoy topfreedom most of the time.

It is beyond hot out there now. The sand is so hot you can barely walk to the water without it feeling like your feet are on fire. Water temp is over 90 so not much relieve there either.  The numbers of people out is also down because of the weather.

Was able to get to the Fort today.  Beautiful day. The trails leading to the beach had more water than usual due to the rain this week.  Stayed a little south of the ranger trail.  I got out about 11:00 and stayed until 2:30.  I saw the rangers drive by twice during the time I was there. All in all, a good day at the Fort.

V-String