TRENTON – Gov. Phil Murphy signed Executive Order 146 May 16, allowing charter fishing and watercraft rental businesses to reopen. Both businesses had been declared non-essential in earlier orders that closed down much of the state’s economy to battle COVID-19.
The order specifies rules that accompany the reopening of the businesses, including appropriate social distancing, facial covering requirements, and necessary sanitation routines.
The full 11-page order sets capacity levels and rules for staff and passengers. Executive Order 146 is available on the Herald website.
For fishing vessels, the order comes after several weeks of the season for striped bass have passed.
The season for black sea bass is already underway. The fluke season opens May 22. Some are urging the state to extend the fishing season for many popular species as part of the effort to aid this segment of the tourist industry.
Cape May – Governor Murphy says he doesn't know anything about the drones and doesn't know what they are doing but he does know that they are not dangerous. Does anyone feel better now?
