Did you ever think the term "I wouldn't touch that with a 6' pole" would become law :)

george

george

Administrator
Staff member
Fishing rod between two people demonstrating 6 feet distance
DEC would like to remind all anglers to maintain safe social distancing while fishing this year to help stop the spread of COVID -19.

  • Fish local: Stay close to home. Keep your fishing trip short. Avoid high-traffic destinations.
  • Be safe: Avoid crowds and groups. Keep a distance of six feet or more from others. When fishing from a boat, make sure it's large enough so persons on board are at least six feet from one another.
  • Stay Home: If you're not feeling well, stay home. Anyone 70 and older or with a compromised immune system should postpone their trip.
  • Be Adaptive: Move quickly through parking lots and paths. If crowded, choose a different fishing location, or time to visit.
 
I am a bit surprised that they did not also say that only people from your own household should share that boat trip.
 
so if and when they open up head boat fishing a 70' boat can take 20 to 25 with mates ...a six pack is a 2 or 3 pack..if you want a mate one less..

Im only taking 2 or 3 on the big boat 32' and max of 2 on the 22' boat..only people I know who are doing social distancing..
 
I think it's wide open for interpretation and lets hope is actual boat owners that are involved in the process. Here's the latest update to that page:

"When boating and fishing, DEC and State Parks recommend New Yorkers to #RecreateLocal, avoid busy waters, and follow the guidelines on DEC's website about recreating and fishing responsibly in New York State. If an angler arrives at an access site and there are several anglers, they should consider going to another location or going fishing another day. Do not share a car, boat, canoe, or kayak with people not in your household while traveling to fishing or boating sites. Anglers fishing from boats should always be able to maintain at least six feet of distance between one another."

Kinda weird that you can't travel to a boat with a passenger but you can fish with them?
 
Sorry gentlemen but being that I am turning 70 next year I personally have no intention of having anyone other than my wife on the boat this summer, if I even uncover it at all (and just stick to the kayaks.)
 
This makes no sense to me, maybe I’m a little slow on the uptake now-a-days.

“fishing this year to help stop the spread of COVID -19.

  • Fish local: Stay close to home. Keep your fishing trip short. Avoid high-traffic destinations.”
Is fishing solo on your boat for two hours safer than four hours? Where the hell are high traffic destinations for a boat. Any boat closer than six feet to my boat is a nautical safety issue.
 
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they mean high traffic areas like tobay beach & zachs bay,,rafting up to 2 or more boats...covering all different types of boating not just fishing..also beaching your boat ...
 
Capt Richie said:
" not in your household" sounds like the final nail in the coffin..
Click to expand...

But if you're on a boat with only people from your household then why the social distancing? Also it says that you can't share a car or boat"while traveling to fishing or boating sites". I doesn't say you cant fish with people from outside of your Household.

I called DEC for clarity and I was told you could fish with whoever you like as long as you're wearing a mask and keeping 6 feet apart.
 
as I implied earlier, many working for this state have little grasp of the English language.
So no one outside of my household should be withing 6 feet of me. How far apart are my captain's chairs in the dual console ? Can't hand over a swivel or share the net ? Second person just sits in the stern and takes no part in shoving off, tying up, etc. ? Thank God for kayaking !
 
The ramps are going to be a problem. I put my boat in on Saturday. Splashed around 10AM. Just myself and one guy launching a jet ski. No problem, no crowds.

There is a floating dock at the ramp where you can easily launch two boats and (mostly) maintain social distancing. When I got back about 3PM the ramp was a zoo. There were FIVE boats on the floating dock with several more lined up to go in. Most were not going into slips.

The parking lot was very, VERY crowded. I have never seen so many people hanging out on an day in April there before. Welcome to the new norm!

Glad my boat is safely in it's slip.
 
Koz said:
The ramps are going to be a problem. I put my boat in on Saturday. Splashed around 10AM. Just myself and one guy launching a jet ski. No problem, no crowds.

There is a floating dock at the ramp where you can easily launch two boats and (mostly) maintain social distancing. When I got back about 3PM the ramp was a zoo. There were FIVE boats on the floating dock with several more lined up to go in. Most were not going into slips.

The parking lot was very, VERY crowded. I have never seen so many people hanging out on an day in April there before. Welcome to the new norm!

Glad my boat is safely in it's slip.
Click to expand...
Good point Koz

Fact is, this all SUCKS. No other way to put it.
However, with basic common courtesy and cooperation its possible to make the best of a shitty situation. Problem is, too many people don't give a rats ass about anybody but themselves and risk drawing too much attention to the whole scene and having additional restrictions imposed.
 
I usually put my kayak in on the town boat ramp, between the finger pier and the higher dock that only the bay constables use. Because of this, I don't foresee that much of an issue, especially since even on weekends I am usually in the water before the vast majority. Coming back in will be busier, but I still do not see it as that much different because of the china virus. Same goes for a town beach on the bay that I sometimes launch from. Empty at 8am, not at noon when I usually return if not earlier.
 
I've been trying but I can't seem to figure out the reason for this:

Keep your fishing trip short.

Any ideas why ?
 

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