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Bayshore Marina Ends Park N Fish Tradition After Lawsuit
Chambray Anaman
Sat, 18 Oct 2025 14:09:30 EDT
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Bay Port, MI
- A long-standing community tradition has abruptly ended at Bayshore Marina in Bay Port, Michigan. Owners Tom and Julie Stoyka announced this week they are immediately ceasing all off-season use of the property, effectively closing access for activities like shore fishing, fall and spring fishing, and the popular winter tradition of ice fishing.
The decision brings to a close a community staple that the marina says dates back to the 1940s, where off-season visitors gathered for activities that were "more than just a summer harbor."
The Stoykas cite a recent slip-and-fall lawsuit and the resulting rise in insurance costs as the primary reason for the closure.
"A few years ago, an alleged slip and fall during icy winter conditions resulted in a lawsuit against the marina," the owners stated in a letter to customers. "Since then, cost for coverage and mounting scrutiny by our insurance company has risen to unsustainable levels."
With the marina's business officially closed from October to April, the owners explained that there is "no practical way to limit the risks or control the activities" during the snowy and icy off-season months.
The letter stresses that the move was not taken lightly, but is "a necessary change to ensure we can continue to operate and welcome boaters during the summer months when the marina is open."
Effective immediately, the marina property is now closed to all off-season visitors. The Stoykas concluded by thanking the community for the years of support: "We are deeply grateful for the years of friendship and respect shown by those who have enjoyed the marina during the winter in the past."
