Galveston charter boats stressing safety as they hit the water again

Galveston’s charter boats are back in action.

A shutdown that began March 24 ended Friday as Galveston loosened restrictions amid the coronavirus pandemic. Stores, restaurants and theaters can proceed at 25 percent capacity. Beaches and piers opened, too.

Charter boats resume with guidelines for a changed world.

“The City of Galveston strongly encourages operators to ensure their customers are keeping six feet distance from others, avoiding physical contact, and wearing a mask to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” Galveston Mayor Jim Yarbrough said in a statement.

“We also strongly urge frequent cleaning of fishing poles and equipment and keeping hand sanitizer and other necessary cleaning products aboard the vessel.”

For charter boat captains, sanitation was a top priority long before coronavirus. The job demands it.

Scott Hickman, a founding board member of the Charter Fishermen’s Association, said captains are conscious of other microscopic threats as part of day-to-day duties.

“The thing that worries us most is Staphylococcus on the boat and the

possibility of having Vibrio. ... So, we’re really, really adamant about keeping lots of bleach on the boat,” Hickman said.

Dan Green of Fishin Addiction Charters said captains will need to pay more attention to cleaning rods going forward. He said boats are usually up to par, but that a heightened focus and generous bleaching will be needed for the rods.

Once necessary hygienic tasks are taken care of, fishing is one of the safest endeavors, Green says.

“As far as an activity to do, I think charter fishing is one of the cleanest and most fun. … You’re getting out in the sun, fresh air, you’re not being cooped up,” said Green, president of the Galveston Professional Boatmen’s Association.

“I think people are looking for something like that to do, and all the guys down here are itching to take them out.”

Charter boat companies are fixtures of the Galveston economy, and Green, like many others, took a financial hit during the closure. He holds both charter and commercial permits, and although he could still make

commercial trips, shuttered restaurants caused a lack of demand for his product.

Ultimately, he said he had to rework his entire business model after acquiring another license to be able to buy back his fish from market and resell to the general public. He brought his deckhand and other captains who normally would be busy this time of year along with him on his commercial trips.

It’s this detrimental economic impact that Michael “Sharky” Marquez hopes to see reversed quickly.

“We’re excited to get out. Most importantly, I’m excited to get my guys back out

on the water,” said Marquez, who has three other captains working for him, all with children.

“It’s one thing when you’re hungry. But when you’ve got three other grown men hungry, trying to provide for their families, it’s a whole different level of stress.”

The 25-year-old has operated Out Cast Charters for the past four years. His charter company has been ranked No. 1 four years in a row by Galveston.com and runs 600-700 trips a year. He said 95 were canceled during the shutdown.

Marquez took issue with the fact that the closure of

charter boats seemingly impacted only Galveston, while other places remained open. The shutdown was intended to discourage visitation to the island and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“There’s a lot of people who work in the industry around here and only rely on charter fishing and commercial fishing to make a living, like myself. When it’s shut down completely, it’s pretty tough,” said Green, who has guided out of Galveston for the past decade.

With operations resuming and summer on the horizon, Galveston’s charter boat captains hope brighter days are ahead.

Today coincidentally is also the reopening of amberjack season. Many captains will embark anxiously, setting out to navigate the new normal.

“We’re out in open air. We’re enjoying God’s creation. And it’s our constitutional right to be able to fish and provide food for not only ourselves, but other families that decide to come out with us. It’s a fun activity to do, and it’s safe,” Marquez said.

“In my opinion it’s safe, or I wouldn’t be doing it.”