Here is a case where an organized and united group of anglers and the industry could influence the state/feds to open up tackle shops. I'm sorry if a liquor store is considered "essential" than so is the tackle shop. How many DWI's will a tackle shop cause? What anglers enjoy fishing right next to others? It sure won't be an issue keeping 10-people in at a time. I said this on my latest podcast and I truly believe that anglers will flock to the water and the outdoors. We can all hide in our secrete spots and easily keep a distance. It's inherent in fishing. We want seclusion. I know I do.

I hate the term "social distancing." It should be coined "physical distancing. We want to and need to be social nowadays.

There are many of us that enjoy the solace fishing, more so than a drink. Anglers naturally keep a physical difference, and we spend a lot of money on our sport!

I know we're in unchartered waters, but getting people outdoors seems like a no brainer to me.
Fishing Safely This Season
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New York State is open for fishing and DEC encourages anglers to recreate locally at a nearby waterbody. New York's lakes and streams offer great opportunities for fishing in a wide array of settings across the state. Even during the current COVID-19 public health crisis, getting outdoors and connecting with nature while angling in New York's waters is a great way to help maintain mental and physical health.
Please continue to follow the CDC/New York State Department of Health guidelines for preventing the spread of colds, flu, and COVID-19:
  • Try to keep at least six feet of distance between you and others.
  • Avoid close contact, such as shaking hands.
  • Wash hands often or use a hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available.
  • Avoid surfaces that are touched often, such as doorknobs, handrails, and playground equipment.
When fishing, DEC recommends avoiding busy waters and following the guidelines on DEC's website about fishing responsibly in New York State. If an angler arrives at a parking lot and there are several cars, they should consider going to another parking lot. If an angler is fishing upstream, they should fish downstream of the other angler or consider fishing another day. Anglers fishing from boats should always be able to maintain at least six feet of distance between one another. For more information about the benefits of being outdoors safely and responsibly, go to DEC's website.
Charters and Guides
The "New York State on PAUSE" Executive Order, a 10-point policy to assure uniform safety for everyone during the COVID-19 response, includes a directive that all non-essential businesses statewide must close effective at 8 p.m. on Sunday, March 22, and temporarily bans all non-essential gatherings of individuals of any size for any reason.
At this time, fishing guides or charters of any size have been determined to be not essential and are subject to workforce reduction requirements of the Executive Order. The full and updated guidance on which types of businesses are determined essential and other designations associated with the order can be found online.