Gov. Inslee expected to announce plans to reopen Washington state fishing

Gov. Jay Inslee was expected to announce at a Monday afternoon news conference plans to reopen Washington state to fishing and some other recreational use.

He was to be joined by the directors of the Washington state Department of Fish and Wildlife and the state Parks and Recreation commission, plus the commissioner of public lands.

The Seattle Times quoted the Northwest Marine Trade Association saying that it expects boating from state ramps to reopen May 5 and recreational fishing to be phased in later in May, starting with walleye, trout and bass fishing.

Fish and Wildlife said it closed fishing because in some areas people were lining banks and docks to fish without maintaining six feet of distance from each other to prevent the spread of COVID-19. It also protected its officers who check permits and monitor catches.

Inslee also has said he was concerned about people traveling to hunt and fish, spreading the new coronavirus to areas not yet infected with they stopped to buy food and gas.

On April 18 people on more than 50 boats near Columbia Point Marina in Richland and a couple people lining the shore protested the closure of fishing in the state.

This story was originally published April 27, 2020 at 10:50 AM with the headline "Gov. Inslee expected to announce plans to reopen Washington state fishing."