Back to business … kinda

It’s going to be far from perfect, but it’ll be better than nothing.

After suffering through a couple of months of closure because of Vovid-19, Virginia charter captains will be allowed to resume business on May 15.

There will be some daunting restrictions.

As if skippers don’t have enough paperwork, rules and regulations on their hands as it is.

They need to get back to work and they can on Friday.

But like everything else, it’s not going to be same.

After the governor’s announcement that some businesses could reopen with restrictions, the Virginia Marine Resources Commission issued guidelines.

They include the screening of employees and customers prior to a trip. That means captain will have to go out and purchase laser thermometers. They’ll also have to provide hand sanitizer throughout their vessels and the mates will be required to clean common surfaces of the boat every 60 minutes.

Any employee working in the fishing area must wear a mask.

Sure doesn’t resemble any trip I’ve ever been on and it’s nothing like what’s happening in surrounding coastal states that kept their charter industries open.

But there’s more and this is the real sticking point for captains who say they’ve already lost a healthy portion of their annual income:

Boats that measure less than 18 feet are allowed a captain/guide and one customer; boats from 18 to 23 feet get a captain and two anglers, but only one if the boat carries a mate; 24- to 35-footers get a captain and three anglers, or two anglers if there is a mate; 36- to 47 footers get a captain, mate and three anglers; and finally, 48-footers and up get a captain, mate and four anglers.

That means the bigger charters boats will be taking out two less anglers than normal.

Boats like the High Hopes, which is licensed for 10 anglers? Nope, just four.

Captains tell me to make a living, their prices will have to stay the same – meaning a higher cost per angler.

Bigger head boats that charge by the angler can only take as many out with every fisher being stationed 6 feet apart.

Whew, that’s a ton to take in, especially considering the mountain of paperwork, reporting and licensing captains already have to endure.

And many captains tell me they’ve already had lots of cancellations because of the uncertainty of Covid-19.

If there are any silver linings it would be these: recreational catches have been pretty good, captains can get back to work, and fuel prices are cheap right now.