As restrictions on many businesses ease, including the charter fishing industry along Lake Erie, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources will resume selling fishing and hunting licenses to nonresidents on Friday, according to an ODNR spokesman.
The sale of nonresident licenses had been halted indefinitely on April 6 in response to the high number of out-of-state anglers coming to Ohio to fish the waters of Lake Erie and the growing concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.
Fishermen from more than a half-dozen states had been observed using the state-run boat ramps along the Ohio portion of the lake early this spring, taking advantage of the abundance of walleye and the spring spawning phenomenon that packs the western end of the lake with these prized sportfish.
At the time license sales to non-residents were stopped, state officials acknowledged that these out-of-state anglers were very likely ignoring Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s order that all visitors to Ohio self-quarantine for 14 days upon their arrival.
First Published May 7, 2020, 7:48 p.m.
