Chris Wilson called Thursday afternoon to let me know that the big red drum bite at Cape Point in Hatteras turned red hot Wednesday night.

When the bite turns on this time of year, fishing for big reds from the beach is one of the best experiences in the world.

But Wilson, who lives in Virginia Beach and is a surf fishing diehard if ever there was one, isn't going to the Point this weekend like he normally would after hearing such news.

You see, the big reds bite best at night. Wilson and a bunch of his friends usually would leave after work Friday and stay on the beach until late Sunday - sometimes even early Monday, before coming home to go to work. They would be joined by hundreds of anglers from up and down the east coast. Sometimes thousands.

But on Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Terrence Boyle signed a consent decree that ends a suit between two environmental groups and the National Parks Service. As part of the decree, no vehicles will be allowed on the beach from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. from today through Nov. 15. From Sept. 16 to Nov. 15, permits will be needed to drive on the beach during the day.

Wilson works for the landscape division of the Virginia Beach Department of Parks and Recreation. All his extra money goes into surf fishing. But now he'd have to pay for a hotel room for the nights he would spend at Hatteras. That would stretch his wallet too much. And, he'd miss what is typically the best fishing hours

"I'm not going to pay for a hotel," Wilson said.  "And I know a lot of other people that won't either. We used to stay on the beach the entire time except for going to buy bait, or ice, or maybe get something to eat. I can see right now that I won't be going down there as much as I used to."

Which sits at the root of the real issue on Hatteras Island.

The environmental groups want to protect endangered shore birds and turtles. There isn't a fisherman out there who has a problem with that. But with the protected areas getting bigger and bigger, and making the accessible portion of the beach smaller and smaller, there is less room for people. Now, with no night access, fewer people are going to make the trip to the island.

"It's going to hurt the economy very bad," Wilson said. "It hurts me to not be going down there. But, personally, I really feel sorry for the people that are down there. I know a lot of people who feel like I do and if people don't go there, the people who depend on that won't make any money.

"How are they supposed to support themselves."

There was a threat of totally closing the beaches. The environmental groups had asked Boyle to issue an injunction closing them until a deal could get pounded out. He let the beach's stay open while the process played out.

Yes, the beaches will remain open to off road vehicles. But with tighter and tighter restrictions, and closures during some of the best fishing hours.

Saving the birds and turtles is a noble and just cause. But at what cost? Is the demise of the wonderful people on Hatteras Island really worth it?

Chris Wilson doesn't think so. And he isn't alone.