FORT PIERCE — It’s been 107 days since the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) warned the City of Fort Pierce that unpermitted “structures and activities” at the city-owned Little Jim Bait and Tackle location could prompt fines and legal action against the city.
But both FDEP and the city have continued to offer no specific responses to multiple inquiries by Hometown News about what remediation–including possible fines against the city–will result from FDEP’s December findings surrounding the North Hutchinson Island bar/restaurant site.
In a Dec. 17, 2025, letter to the city, FDEP said alleged encroachment on submerged state-owned property by structures that had not been approved by the state could cause the city to face “liability for damages and restoration and the judicial imposition of civil penalties…”
The city was given 15 days then to respond with dates to meet with state officials to discuss the matter.
To date, the city issued only a broad response Mar. 17 to media questions, saying that Fort Pierce “is working cooperatively with FDEP to address the issues that have been presented” and is “reviewing the findings and coordinating the appropriate corrective actions and ensure (sic) continued compliance with environmental regulations.”
The city has not specified what “corrective actions” must be taken, who will be responsible for the cost and whether state fines will be levied.
The city also has not disclosed whether rental fees are being collected from users of the allegedly illegal boat slips located on the Little Jim site and who is getting any revenue.
For its part, a FDEP spokesperson told Hometown News Thursday that she is still working on a response to the media’s multiple inquiries since March 13.
“I’m coordinating with the appropriate staff to ensure I provide you with the correct information,” said Megan Rutter, FDEP public information specialist in an email to Hometown News. “I’ll respond as soon as possible.”
At the same time, Little Jim’s current leaseholder continues to operate the restaurant site on a month-to-month lease extension since its original agreement with the city expired in February 2025.
The city has not indicated whether there have been any modifications to that lease since its original expiration, responding only that “the city is operating in accordance with its Code of Ordinances concerning the current month–month lease.”
The last long-term lease with Salty3 Baitshack LLC had specified a $2,000-a-month rent for the waterfront locale that was deeded to the city by the federal government after its use as a military guard shack ended after World War II.
The relaxed-vibe restaurant site has had growing popularity over the years among residents and seasonal visitors. The community rallied several years ago to have it preserved as a state historic site.
FDEP claims 1,425 square feet of docks and decks at Little Jim are located over property owned by the State of Florida, plus another 1,458 square feet are located on private property, but constructed without required permits. The state said the 25 boat slips were in “significant non-compliance.”
The boundary issue was raised in early 2025, when at least one bidder, responding to the city’s request for proposals (RFP) for a new, long-term lease to operate Little Jim, asked the city for definitive boundaries of the city-owned property. Those bidders hired a lawyer, claiming the city had failed to answer several questions that would affect their bid proposal.
The city subsequently declared their bids to be “non-responsive.”
A committee of city staff that evaluated multiple lease proposals finally recommended a Michigan group take over Little Jim’s operation, after the current leaseholder said it would disclose its economic terms to the city only after it was awarded the new lease.
But the recommendation to award the lease to the Michigan firm was subsequently withdrawn by the city, citing unresolved questions about the RFP.
The city has not responded to questions surrounding when a new RFP will be issued for a new, long-term Little Jim lease.