People fishing off a public (DNR) boat launch blocking boats

[subzero350]

Is it legal for people to fish off of a public boat launch in such a way that it prevents/blocks one from disembarking from a boat to go retrieve a truck and trailer?

To explain it a different way, I was at a lake that had a DNR boat launch with a very narrow opening to the lake (not really any room for anyone to fish on either side of the boat launch without inhibiting the launching of boats). There was a concrete pad poured next to the boat ramp with a piece of wood bolted to it so someone could come alongside this pad with their boat to get onto and off of it without them having to beach their boat onto the sharp rocks that surrounded the boat launch.

At the time we were trying to pull our boat out of the lake, there were two people fishing off of this concrete pad next to the boat ramp, and they refused to move so my fishing partner could get off of the boat and get onto the pad so he could go get the truck and trailer.

Was it wrong for us to ask those people to move so my fishing partner could get off the boat?

Or was it wrong for the people to be fishing off of that pad and refuse to allow my partner to use it to get off of our boat?

[morrison]

As a society, every situation is either legal, ethical, moral or a combination. Unfortunately, your situation is not a legal issue. The properties of the DNR are for public use and, with a few restrictions, are open to all legal activities. While several different activities can be going on at the same time, everyone needs to be respective of others utilizing the facilities provided. Did they show a lack of respect to you and your partner? I can only say that in the scenario you described, I would have reeled my poles in and let you load your boat. Being disrespectful is not illegal and there are no laws regulating common courtesy. I apologize for your negative experience but please understand that in every group of people there are 90% that do the right thing and then you have the 10%. We should all strive to be the upper tier of that 90%.