Tribute to Margate’s Beloved Fishing & Boating Advocate, Robin Scott of Ray Scott’s Dock.

Robin Scott Ray scotts Dock margate Fishing
Robin Scott

Margate’s Robin Scott of Ray Scott’s Dock was one tough, but very sweet, kind, smart lady. We loved her dearly.

With great sorrow, DownbeachBUZZ must report that Robin passed on December 11. She quietly battled an illness for some time.

We would often pop-in to see her baby terrapins. Sometimes we’d sit on the back porch of her Amherst Ave shop and talk about goofy flounder regulations.

Robin fought hard for much-needed, back bay dredging. She was unabashedly against wind turbines off our coast, concerned about potential harm to our fisheries.

Robin Scott was a mover & shaker. Highly respected. Feisty and fun. A true protector of the marine environment. An educator.

Firm but fair. Funny too. Some customers at her Amhest Ave tackle and boat rental business lovingly called her ‘The Oyster Cracker.’

At one time, Robin Scott felt that her family business, Ray Scott’s Dock, was being threatened by Margate. She fought back and won.

“They’ve been trying to get Robin for years. She’s sitting on some very lucrative property”

From Philly.com: 2008 Court Actions. Back then, Scott claimed there was an effort by the City of Margate to destroy her business in order to make way for more waterfront homes. They allegedly wanted to cut off water access for the average blue-collar worker or day-tripper.

Robin pushed back against insane, real estate over-development.

Robin Scott was one of the few trying to keep some ‘old school’ seashore traditions alive.

  • Boating, kayaking.
  • Fishing & crabbing with the family.
  • Access to public, back-bay waters.

“I represent the only public access to the bay” Robin Scott said.

Tribute To Robin Scott of Ray Scott’s Dock in Margate.

Robin’s parents, the late Ray and Blanche Scott, bought the business in 1958.

Robin loved saving and raising diamond back terrapin turtles.

Robin Scott is survived by her children, Rachel and Ray. Funeral services pending.

At one time, Margate back bay had small fishing village vibe. But no more.

Robin

Bill Shillingford: A very sad day. Robin will be missed greatly. I personally will miss her on Sat mornings between 7-8 am on Shep’s WOND Radio Fishing show. A huge loss to South Jersey. My thoughts and prayers are with her family as they go through this difficult time.

Robin Scott was a good friend and GREAT person willing to help anyone that wanted to fish or go out on a boat. Her knowledge and experience in the fishing industry was second to none. She was Mike Shepperd’s co-pilot on the radio show; Shep On Fishing. I will always remember her smile and bubbly personality. Thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends. I’m sure she will be at the counter of the Big Tackle Shop in the Sky and she will make a lot of anglers up there happy. RIP Robin Scott 🙁 Riptide Bait & Tackle in Brigantine.

Robin Scott NJ DEP Margate Fishing
Robin with NJ DEP

16 thoughts on “Tribute to Margate’s Beloved Fishing & Boating Advocate, Robin Scott of Ray Scott’s Dock.”

  1. Robin will be missed by so many. I looked forward to saying hi to her when Marc and I stopped at the shop, she always had a smile and a good story to tell. Heartfelt condolences to her family.

  2. Just loved Robin! She has so much intellectual curiosity and as a result was so knowledgeable about so much! When we would wander into her store she would always share so much fascinating knowledge about ocean animals, boating , climate and on and on. She was a fascinating and brilliant women that embodied independence and strength.

  3. Cathy Romano Marinucci

    I am so sorry and devastated to hear this news. She always had a smile on her face and a kind word. I dealt with Robin for many years working for the Radio station. I never knew she was sick. My heart is broken.

    1. Our family has been fishing the Margate Bay from Scott’s Dock for decades. Four generations of the Baldwin family enjoyed creating treasured memories during our annual pilgrimages to Amherst Ave. Robin greeted everyone with warmth and kindness while educating us with her vast knowledge of the bay, born from her love and devotion to the area. She was an unparalleled ambassador for the Margate Bay, but more importantly she was a wonderful person. Robin, you will be missed by all the were fortunate to know you.

  4. My family has been patronizing this special place for 3 generations. What a tremendous steadfast advocate for the small business of local fishing! I can confidently say we were all happy for Robin’s decision to not cash in and sell to a developer for another waterfront residential home .I will miss her smile behind the counter! May she rest in peace.
    John W. Ventnor

  5. Rest In Peace Robin you will surely be missed. Our deepest sympathies to the family. We shared making wonderful memories with our family on one of your boats.

  6. RICHARD SEITCHICK

    I am so shocked and sorry to hear of Robin’s passing. She was a smart woman with strongly held opinions about the things that were important to her. I always enjoyed listening to Robin. As a part of the kayaking crowd I know that Robin always gave us support and recognized that we too derived great enjoyment from the time we spent on the bay she loved. She will be missed. My deepest condolences to her family.

    Richard Seitchick

  7. I am saddened by the loss of such a good friend. Robin and I have known each other for over 60 years.
    I started fishing at age nine or ten and of course the place to dock s small boat would be Scott’s Dock which is now Ray Scott’s Dock. I only saw Robin when Irv Fischer and I would take his dad’s Boston Whaler out for flounder or tautog. Robin never went with us. Who wanted to fish with a girl when you were ten?
    Of course through high school Robin and I became good friends because girls were no longer creepy.
    We were both in the Atlantic City H.S. class of 1970. Robin and I stayed in touch ever since because fishing was a passion of mine. I will miss her dearly. Don’t know how I got through writing this. Rest In Peace Robin. There will never be another you.

  8. We would ride bikes down to Scott’s dock and get frozen Milky Way bars, the only place we could find them.

    Growing up near Amherst Ave, we would spear fish for blow fish on the corner of Nassau Ave where all the boats would be stored for dry dock. I think the name was risleys marina or channel. We used to go there and play pinball on Saturdays. It had an old baseball pinball machine.

    After reading about the passing of Robin, it brought back a memory of how I used to spend my time on Amherst ave and how her dock is edged in my mind of how it played a small part of a happy childhood I had growing up on Amherst Ave.

    Rest in peace Robin

  9. I have known Robin for over 30 years and for the last 10 years have averaged 8 flounder trips a summer with my son and other friends. I was saddened by her death. I had many good conversations with her. We had many good flounder trips and some really great ones. She will be missed. My condolences to Scott and Rachel.
    Sincerely, Bill

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