Fishing in the age of COVID-19

social distancing
Social distancing doesn't mean you can't fish with a friend, but those who don't follow CDC guidelines will spoil it for the rest of us.

Follow social distancing when fishing, or we’ll lose the privilege

In the past 10 days, we’ve all experienced drastic changes in our lives, but fishing is still a viable option even with so many public places experiencing mandatory shutdowns. So far, the majority of boat ramps throughout the Carolinas remain opened, as well as most beaches and even state parks. This is good news for anglers, but if even a few don’t follow the CDC’s social distancing guidelines, we’ll all suffer.

This past weekend, I fished at one of our coastal state parks from my kayak. I met a friend at the launch site and fished all day together, maintaining social distance while in our ‘yaks and when we got out to wade or relax on the beach. We still enjoyed the day, caught some fish, and decreased our risk of either becoming infected or infecting anyone else. Unfortunately, we saw plenty of other folks not doing the same. And you can bet the state park rangers saw it too.

Some states have already closed many of their beaches. Many have also closed public boat landings and state parks. They didn’t do so from the onset of the CORVID-19 outbreak. They all intended to leave such areas open, which was a big relief to people. But when officials noticed people gathering in big groups just like normal, they had no choice but to close those areas down. It’s not possible for a small number of law enforcement officers to break up every congregation of people all day, every day.

Don’t spoil it for the rest of us

I was surprised to see so many people gathering in groups, not maintaining social distance. And today, I see it all over social media. Folks posting photos of big gatherings at popular sandbars. I saw one with no less than 40 boats beached together, with all their passengers gathered in tight clusters on the beach. Other photos show boats tethered together on popular lakes. I’m not against any of those under normal circumstances. But the folks doing these things right now are the very ones that will spoil it all for the rest of us.

social distancing
Even when taking a break on the beach, anglers still need to practice social distancing. (photo by Dalton Reames)

We’re going to lose access to our state parks, boat ramps, and beaches. And it’s because of the people that aren’t taking social distancing guidelines seriously and are carrying on like life is normal. And whether you’ve faced it yet or not, life just isn’t normal right now.

Many people are on extended breaks from work and/or school, and we are facing much bigger problems than restrictions from fishing and nature. But fishing is a great way to pass the time. It also provides food, allowing us to limit our social interactions on grocery store trips. And let’s face it, we just plain love to fish. And if we lose that option, the next several weeks or months will be quite a bit less pleasant.

More importantly, those not practicing social distancing while fishing (or doing anything else) are putting themselves and others at risk.

Carolina Sportsman encourages everyone to get out and enjoy the great fishing opportunities available here. But do it responsibly. Follow the guidelines. Don’t spoil it for the rest of us.

About Brian Cope 2725 Articles
Brian Cope is the editor of Carolina Sportsman. He has won numerous awards for his writing, photography, and videography. He is a retired Air Force combat communications technician, and has a B.A. in English Literature from the University of South Carolina. You can reach him at brianc@sportsmannetwork.com.

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