Forgive my rant. So in the great state of Maryland, our governor has decreed that no boats are to leave the dock during the pandemic unless its a kayak or similar device for purpose of exercise. Fine. No wait!! What about the poor fishermen who fish for sustinence. We must let them out also so they can provide food for their families. So now the rules state you can stuff up to TEN unrelated people on a fishing boat as long as social distancing is practiced (SERIOUSLY????). Wait!!! It gets better. These same poor fishermen who can't afford to go to the local Safeway for seafood (no shortage here) can buy a spot on a CHARTER fishing boat and go fishing. You can also stuff up to TEN of them on said charter fishing boat. Again social distancing being the joke here. And last weekend the fish must really be biting in Annapolis and especially in Ego Alley where more than a few half million dollar "fishing" boats were seen trolling up and down there. Some were also docked with their occupants partying on the dock. Fishing gear was of course in full view.
MEANWHILE. All sailboats are stuck at the dock. We were told the DNR was checking every vessel for fake fishing arrangements and to stay at the dock or face penalties. So while the fishing clowns are out there infecting each other we are not permitted to sail by ourselves (what I normally do) or with members of our own households. All of our neighboring states allow sailing under those conditions.
It is clear the sport fishing lobby is far more skilled at bribing the governor than the sailing community. With that I wait patiently for our turn to be released.
MEANWHILE. All sailboats are stuck at the dock. We were told the DNR was checking every vessel for fake fishing arrangements and to stay at the dock or face penalties. So while the fishing clowns are out there infecting each other we are not permitted to sail by ourselves (what I normally do) or with members of our own households. All of our neighboring states allow sailing under those conditions.
It is clear the sport fishing lobby is far more skilled at bribing the governor than the sailing community. With that I wait patiently for our turn to be released.