CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Gov. Jim Justice announced on Thursday that, in an attempt to help West Virginia residents cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, the requirement to possess a fishing license on state waterways will be waived through April 24.
Taking advantage of nature is something Justice has been pushing over the last week, while still maintaining that anyone who does travel to take part in outdoor activities needs to still adhere to social distancing guidelines and not be in groups larger than 10 people.
The announcement was met with pushback on Twitter, with some upset about already buying their license while one person said that it’s, “Simply encouraging people to travel and to ignore distancing.”
“DNR Law Enforcement will continue to patrol all state waterways. Officers may require proof of West Virginia residency, a valid driver’s license, or a state-issued ID. Existing license and stamp requirements for non-residents will remain in place. All fishing regulations remain in effect both for residents and nonresidents; these include bag limits, slot limits, catch-and-release areas, and fly-fishing-only areas,” the WVDNR release stated. “This waiver of the license requirement applies only to fishing licenses. It also includes a waiver for trout and conservation stamps. All requirements for hunting licenses remain in effect. “
Though Justice ordered a stay at home order which took effect Tuesday evening, he said that most of West Virginia’s outdoor opportunities were not closed to the public. The state did, however, close the Hatfield and McCoy trails as well as state park lodges, cabins and restrooms.
Further, the Division of Natural Resources has postponed the Gold Rush trout stocking event that was scheduled for Friday and will not be updating their trout stocking hotline or webpage. The WVDNR will, however, continue to stock lakes, ponds and streams as put forth by the 2020 trout fishing regulations. Trout stocking personnel will be accompanied by a natural resources law enforcement officer to make sure no crowds interfere and that anglers maintain a safe distance from hatchery staff.
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