State parks reopen Saturday May 2nd.:

[AndyS]

I guess it's a start.

[FASTEDDIE29]

Just got word of this from the wife. Great news as long as we can all stay away from eachother and be safe.
Another positive for today, I just walked into Quick Chek in Manalapan and made my own cup of coffee for the first time in a month. Yay!!! Lol!!!:D

[thmyorke1]

nice nice, it's about time :D

[NJSquatch]

Thank God. The kayak fishing was getting stale!

https://www.nj.com/coronavirus/2020/04/nj-parks-golf-courses-to-reopen-saturday-in-first-major-change-to-lift-coronavirus-lockdown-orders.html

[Mikey topaz]

Thank god!!!!!!

[AndrewT]

Needed it. The waters that were open we’re getting beat to hell

[Jigman13]

My opinion: too soon.

I want them open just as badly as everyone else but frankly, I think it's way too soon. The trend in decreasing hospitalizations and death due to Covid-19 are a positive but if I were making the decisions I'd err on the side of caution. This isn't a damned if you do damned if you dont situation. We're f'ed if cases spike back up. The progress made will be for naught. I'd rather hold fast for memorial day and look forward to a less stressful summer.

Science, not impulse.

Again, just my opinion.

[reason162]

My opinion: too soon.

Based on the madness I saw the week before they closed the parks...I have to agree. Hopefully people practice proper social distancing, but I'm not holding my breath.

[peahbeez]

As much as I love to fish I think it’s a little to soon as well. I think the boating fishermen are fine. Don’t approach anyone dump your boat in and keep it moving. But the people that just want to hang and congregate at the boat ramp are another story. Just be respectful of people and leave them alone. Lol

[bigfishy]

I'm on the too soon boat also....I think there opening parks on the nicest weekend possible, counting on failure and mob scenes..... so they can say , " we opened up parks and this is what happened, so now we have to close them again " .... hope I'm very wrong.....but think I'm gonna keep way and treat it like opening day trout season and take care of other stuff on the to do list...

[thmyorke1]

not sure what the 'too soon' is about.

We already have small, packed, non-closed town parks. Re-opening these large state parks and county parks will spread the folk out.

I figured they're re-opening because closing was a failure; it just condensed more people to do other activities.

The only change the state should do is do some enforcement in the parks; limit parking/capacity and demand people to wear masks. The same rules we see in cramped, indoor, areas like stores.

Im all for keeping the lower trend, but not convinced parks were a problem in the first place.

[Drossi]

I'll be laying low now for the next month. I'm in the too soon camp. People won't be able to control themselves. Going to buy a months work of provisions so I can stay out of the grocery store when wave two comes.

[Jigman13]

not sure what the 'too soon' is about.


For me, personally, fishing is basically my one and only therapy...my time away from work, the mrs, the kids and most outside forms of stress. That's under pre-covid circumstances.

Now, it's a matter of self preservation as my kids need me alive and well more so than I need fishing. My fiance needs me more than fishing. And my parents, who are over 65 and whom I'm extremely close with, do not need one more means of infection via me exposing myself and becoming a carrier.

One might ask "is the vampire jigman overthinking this?"

No, I'm not. If our president took this more seriously in late january/early February chances are we're well ahead of the game versus where we are now. But that's a discussion for another time.

Anyhow, it's a matter of perspective thmyorke. And kids add a shitload of perspective to life. As do the elderly or at-risk people in our lives who we may not have appreciated as much as we will now.

My point is, we didnt rush into more drastic measures as a country/society when this popped up. It royally f'ed up NYC and NJ. I mean shit, I'm starting furlough next week bc of it. Minute sample size of the impact. We cant rush out of it. The virus doesn't give a flying shit who it infects. And many people arent sanitizing per the CDCs recos. I cant chance fate to others or my government right now. I have to consider longevity in life. Fishing will always be there. And hopefully, so will I. But I'll gladly wait a few more weeks--for myself, for my family and for all of you reading this post.

And I've been doing a number on the stripers the last 4 weeks lol. Solo missions. Back bay ;)

[Sako1]

I believe State officials are a also worried about the growing resistance to travel and other restrictions which many consider the overly heavy hand of government. Things could quickly get out of control, especially in urban areas where people have less alternatives with regard to space.

Just think about civil unrest with COVID-19 thrown in.

Dave

[thmyorke1]

For me, personally, fishing is basically my one and only therapy...my time away from work, the mrs, the kids and most outside forms of stress. That's under pre-covid circumstances.

Now, it's a matter of self preservation as my kids need me alive and well more so than I need fishing. My fiance needs me more than fishing. And my parents, who are over 65 and whom I'm extremely close with, do not need one more means of infection via me exposing myself and becoming a carrier.

One might ask "is the vampire jigman overthinking this?"

No, I'm not. If our president took this more seriously in late january/early February chances are we're well ahead of the game versus where we are now. But that's a discussion for another time.

Anyhow, it's a matter of perspective thmyorke. And kids add a shitload of perspective to life. As do the elderly or at-risk people in our lives who we may not have appreciated as much as we will now.

My point is, we didnt rush into more drastic measures as a country/society when this popped up. It royally f'ed up NYC and NJ. I mean shit, I'm starting furlough next week bc of it. Minute sample size of the impact. We cant rush out of it. The virus doesn't give a flying shit who it infects. And many people arent sanitizing per the CDCs recos. I cant chance fate to others or my government right now. I have to consider longevity in life. Fishing will always be there. And hopefully, so will I. But I'll gladly wait a few more weeks--for myself, for my family and for all of you reading this post.

And I've been doing a number on the stripers the last 4 weeks lol. Solo missions. Back bay ;)

I see, jigman, I do agree the drastic measures came too late. And you make perfect sense when you ask why the state doesn't wait just a few more weeks to leave parks closed with the good trend. Though i think the park closures to begin with was a failure with how ppl are still packing in crowds in smaller town parks, urban streets, and other walking spots. Id wish something sooner and more complete was enforced earlier.

[NJSquatch]

I'm on the too soon boat also....I think there opening parks on the nicest weekend possible, counting on failure and mob scenes..... so they can say , " we opened up parks and this is what happened, so now we have to close them again " .... hope I'm very wrong.....but think I'm gonna keep way and treat it like opening day trout season and take care of other stuff on the to do list...

I too have little faith in humanity. It is going to be a hot mess out there.

[Hookmanski]

While I agree it may be too soon, I also know that being outside in nature is important to the physical and mental health of a lot of people. I'll probably be out in the woods hiking with my fiancee one day this weekend, in a lesser known state park. Hoping the crowds won't be too bad, but if they are we're prepared to turn right around and go home.

As long as you're smart, maintain social distancing and act responsibly, you should be ok. Hopefully on these hiking trails there aren't too many people. I have the feeling the crowds will be at the bigger parks with fields, bathrooms, etc.

Hoping to get the kayak out this weekend too, social distancing at its finest! Might go to a state controlled ramp but have a few much lesser known options as well, so playing it by ear.

[Godrew1972]

I don't think it is too soon, we do need to test waters and see what is safe. I would have liked to have rainy cold forecast for first few days of the parks opening though. The NJ weekend forecast of sunny and 70 will have more people outside and at parks than a nice misty rain. Hopefully it works out.

[reason162]

we do need to test waters and see what is safe.

You do that once you actually have enough tests - esp accurate antibody tests, and after you do random samplings through various populations so we have solid models to go on.

What you don't do is open things up and see if your hospitals get inundated with a second wave.

[Duffman]

As long as you're smart, maintain social distancing and act responsibly.

I don’t trust society to do that on a good day, let alone with what’s been going on.

[NJSquatch]

apparently they were going to open up just the golf courses but realized the firestorm that would have created

[FASTEDDIE29]

This is a very touchy situation. Unfortunately I know quite a few people that passed away from this virus. The most recent was a 30 year old female friend of mine who was in perfect health. Heartbreaking! Whatever you chose to do please be safe and stay away from people. The northeastern corridor is super infected with this virus while sussex county has minimal cases. It’s a sucky situation. “We the People”, are the only ones that can fix it. We should’ve did a 100% quarantine back when all this came to be. Who knows what the future brings. I really can’t wait to watch the kid and his team play baseball again. I miss normalcy! Be safe guys! TIGHT LINEZ!!!:)

[The Hunter]

The stream of cars coming west on rte 80 and 78 from NY is not going to be good. Parks will be inundated with people and garbage this weekend and in 10-14 days we will see another spike in the hospitals. On the too soon band wagon as well. Have lost a few friends and my wife is an RN in the hospital. Anyone who thinks this is a good idea just needs to visit the local hospital.

[Drossi]

The stream of cars coming west on rte 80 and 78 from NY is not going to be good. Parks will be inundated with people and garbage this weekend and in 10-14 days we will see another spike in the hospitals. On the too soon band wagon as well. Have lost a few friends and my wife is an RN in the hospital. Anyone who thinks this is a good idea just needs to visit the local hospital.

Went to the store last and shopped for the next 2 weeks, will just have to do a run to the butcher for meat. Trying not to go into a crowded store for the next few weeks after this weekends mayhem. It'll flair and we'll be back in lockdown until July 4th. I also have a friend that's an RN in EO, it's a MESS down there. And that mess will come west this weekend.

[Hookmanski]

I don’t trust society to do that on a good day, let alone with what’s been going on.

I'm with you, I don't trust the public either, but I also know how to behave personally. We'll be out hiking, and will maintain way more than 6ft distance from anyone. If the parking lot is even slightly full, we'll be turning around. Also planning on getting there around 7am to avoid crowds and get a decent hike in. We know the risks and aren't willing to take a big one, but also need to get out and enjoy some fresh air and scenery.

I do understand what you're saying though, there are plenty of people who dont have this mindset and it's upsetting. The bigger, more often used parks are going to get slammed, but hoping the one we are planning to go to isn't in that group.

[baetis]

They should have started with parks being open 6-10 am and then again 4-8 pm to see how people behaved and to limit travel from far away.

[NJSquatch]

As state and county parks and golf courses prepare to reopen Saturday morning in New Jersey during the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Phil Murphy stressed that police and officials will be watching closely.


If things go poorly, Murphy said, he won’t hesitate to close them down again. But if they go well, he said, that could lead to other restrictions being lifted.

Sigh

https://www.nj.com/coronavirus/2020/05/police-will-be-watching-you-when-nj-parks-golf-courses-reopen-saturday-murphy-says.html

[Merle31483]

Of course our governor stated in his briefing the other day the parks will open up this Saturday but dont let a few knuckleheads as he said ruin it cause he won't hesitate to shut them down again. WTF does he think is going to happen this weekend we have been all quarantined for 50+ days this weekend is going to be beautiful people are just itching to get out especially parents with multiple children I hope ot goes well but I think its gonna be a straight shitshow for our state

[Ike8120]

Of course our governor stated in his briefing the other day the parks will open up this Saturday but dont let a few knuckleheads as he said ruin it cause he won't hesitate to shut them down again. WTF does he think is going to happen this weekend we have been all quarantined for 50+ days this weekend is going to be beautiful people are just itching to get out especially parents with multiple children I hope ot goes well but I think its gonna be a straight shitshow for our state

I agree, I give a week then they will be shutdown again, Just can't fix stupid.

[Flygaff]

I agree it is way to soon to open. We are in a war situation. If there were snipers out there killing 300-400 people a day, everyone would be happy to stay down. All I can say is use common sense. Stay 20 feet from everyone else and Wash Wash Wash. Good luck all. stay safe. The fish will still be here when safe

[NJ Dave]

I just passed a local park in my area. The parking lot is completely full of cars and they are people everywhere. Naturally we're going to screw this up and the parks will soon be closed again.

[peahbeez]

Of course our governor stated in his briefing the other day the parks will open up this Saturday but dont let a few knuckleheads as he said ruin it cause he won't hesitate to shut them down again. WTF does he think is going to happen this weekend we have been all quarantined for 50+ days this weekend is going to be beautiful people are just itching to get out especially parents with multiple children I hope ot goes well but I think its gonna be a straight shitshow for our state

I think he’s putting his trust in that people will do the right thing. Wtf is he thinking. Lol

[Rich_S]

Took my kids to Manasquan Reservoir this morning. We got there a little after 9AM. Both the main parking lot and the little parking lot on Georgia Tavern Road were closed with Gestapo stationed at the entrances. I guess they never got the governor's notice re-opening parks. Had to park on a side street and walk. There were A LOT of people walking and biking on the trails, A LOT, only maybe 10% wearing masks and no one maintaining distance.

[Jigman13]

It's going to end up in a herd immunity situation and many many more will die bc we're not patient enough as Americans to self isolate the virus into suppression while science works out treatments and a vaccination. And you CANNOT count on others to take the required precautions.

Like I said in a previous post, science--not impulse. What would 3 more weeks mean in a lifetime?

[Merle31483]

Hit up 2 different parks today fishing with my father and my sons roosevelt park in Edison and colonial park in Franklin fisherman were all socially distant from each other except the people on the bike trails and walking paths it was very overcrowded and it's not like people walking down the path can just take over the roads the cars drive on pops wanted to go to echo lake this afternoon I said not a good idea we will be going there early tomorrow morning. If they really want this to work park rangers should be stationed at the entrances to these parks to get a head count on people coming and going just like they do at any Walmart, Costco, or any other grocery store.

[BT67]

It's going to end up in a herd immunity situation and many many more will die bc we're not patient enough as Americans to self isolate the virus into suppression while science works out treatments and a vaccination. And you CANNOT count on others to take the required precautions.

Like I said in a previous post, science--not impulse. What would 3 more weeks mean in a lifetime?



Spot on assessment. 30 more days and I think we'd got a real handle on this

[Billfish715]

Approximately 1200 people can occupy 1 acre of land if they are each spaced at 6 feet apart. How many acres are there in the smallest state park? In a park that has only 50 acres (very small by any standard) 60,000 people can stand six feet apart and occupy the entire 50 acres. 60,000 people is a huge number. How many people are we talking about who are walking, biking, jogging and otherwise occupying space in your favorite local or state park?

So, who reports to Governor Murphy about the number of non compliant people in the parks? Does he have a corps of Corona Police who count heads at every park? It sounds like there are some Corona Police reporting on social media about their impressions. We are our own worst enemies is what some have implied. Aren't we defeating our own access to the streams and lakes by complaining about others invading our space. The parks are for everyone and not just for fishermen.

One sure way to close the parks again will be for those of us who use them for fishing to start complaining about over crowding by others who also share the open spaces. Once it gets back to Gov. Murphy, he will act on impulse and not science and shut things down. Let it go. Any comments that anyone makes on social media is pointless. Murphy will do what he wants to when he wants to for whatever reason makes him think that he is protecting all of us.

Let him show us how many people have contracted the virus while they were walking in a park or fishing. He can't! Yet, he can indiscriminately close ALL of the parks without any real facts or scientific investigatory research about the number of Corona cases that were contracted or might be contracted by someone walking or fishing in a park.

Go back to the numbers. How many of you have completely isolated yourself from anything and anyone outside of your house? If Governor Murphy and others would have their collective ways, even fishermen would be quarantined. Look what he did to golfers! He shut them down. He can do the same thing to anyone or any group whenever he wants to.

Be careful how loudly you complain about others. People, like those who report to the Governor, are reading and listening. If anyone is concerned about contracting the virus from others in the parks, then stay home. Stay home from Home Depot, Lowes, Costco, B.J's., Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, the doctor's office, Shop Rite, Acme, Foodtown, Kings, Whole Foods, any nursery or farm supply store, post offices, liquor stores, and public transportation to name a few.

Let it go. We will never be back to normal but we will get through this. People will still contract the virus but it won't be from talking to another fisherman or from a jogger passing someone on a path. The numbers are still in your favor to avoid contracting the virus and even better to survive without dying.

Sorry about the ramble but the frustration about all this has consumed all of us.

[dakota560]

Billfish I have no problem with the number of people out today. I have a major problem with the number out without masks in areas where masks are mandated. With this virus if you take a risk infecting yourself, you're by default taking a risk infecting many others. No one has that right and people are dying because idiots are throwing caution to the wind simply because they feel they're governed by a different set of rules.

[Jigman13]

Billfish I have no problem with the number of people out today. I have a major problem with the number out without masks in areas where masks are mandated. With this virus if you take a risk infecting yourself, you're by default taking a risk infecting many others. No one has that right and people are dying because idiots are throwing caution to the wind simply because they feel they're governed by a different set of rules.

X2

[reason162]

Approximately 1200 people can occupy 1 acre of land if they are each spaced at 6 feet apart. How many acres are there in the smallest state park? In a park that has only 50 acres (very small by any standard) 60,000 people can stand six feet apart and occupy the entire 50 acres. 60,000 people is a huge number. How many people are we talking about who are walking, biking, jogging and otherwise occupying space in your favorite local or state park?

This is incredibly fuzzy math. You would have to calculate the actual available, accessible areas in a park, ie the parking lot, trails, open spaces off of trails, shorelines etc that don't require bushwhacking to access.

And regardless of how much acreage there is available to park goers, there are bottlenecks within any space that people congregate. That is where social distancing + masks are vital...and I'm not seeing it. Other people aren't seeing it. Photos of blatant disregard for social distancing and mask wearing is all over social media.

With all due respect, people should absolutely report what they're seeing at parks and other public places, and hopefully the governor is indeed watching and keeping tabs on how people are behaving during this experiment. We don't know how many have been infected, we don't know how many are asymptomatic carriers, we don't have nearly enough antigen or diagnostic tests and everyone have vulnerable family members who are at risk.

[acabtp]

It's going to end up in a herd immunity situation and many many more will die bc we're not patient enough as Americans to self isolate the virus into suppression while science works out treatments and a vaccination. And you CANNOT count on others to take the required precautions.

Like I said in a previous post, science--not impulse. What would 3 more weeks mean in a lifetime?

i wish there were a way to give posts a thumbs up

[acabtp]

Approximately 1200 people can occupy 1 acre of land if they are each spaced at 6 feet apart. How many acres are there in the smallest state park? In a park that has only 50 acres (very small by any standard) 60,000 people can stand six feet apart and occupy the entire 50 acres. 60,000 people is a huge number. How many people are we talking about who are walking, biking, jogging and otherwise occupying space in your favorite local or state park?

So, who reports to Governor Murphy about the number of non compliant people in the parks? Does he have a corps of Corona Police who count heads at every park? It sounds like there are some Corona Police reporting on social media about their impressions. We are our own worst enemies is what some have implied. Aren't we defeating our own access to the streams and lakes by complaining about others invading our space. The parks are for everyone and not just for fishermen.

One sure way to close the parks again will be for those of us who use them for fishing to start complaining about over crowding by others who also share the open spaces. Once it gets back to Gov. Murphy, he will act on impulse and not science and shut things down. Let it go. Any comments that anyone makes on social media is pointless. Murphy will do what he wants to when he wants to for whatever reason makes him think that he is protecting all of us.

Let him show us how many people have contracted the virus while they were walking in a park or fishing. He can't! Yet, he can indiscriminately close ALL of the parks without any real facts or scientific investigatory research about the number of Corona cases that were contracted or might be contracted by someone walking or fishing in a park.

Go back to the numbers. How many of you have completely isolated yourself from anything and anyone outside of your house? If Governor Murphy and others would have their collective ways, even fishermen would be quarantined. Look what he did to golfers! He shut them down. He can do the same thing to anyone or any group whenever he wants to.

Be careful how loudly you complain about others. People, like those who report to the Governor, are reading and listening. If anyone is concerned about contracting the virus from others in the parks, then stay home. Stay home from Home Depot, Lowes, Costco, B.J's., Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, the doctor's office, Shop Rite, Acme, Foodtown, Kings, Whole Foods, any nursery or farm supply store, post offices, liquor stores, and public transportation to name a few.

Let it go. We will never be back to normal but we will get through this. People will still contract the virus but it won't be from talking to another fisherman or from a jogger passing someone on a path. The numbers are still in your favor to avoid contracting the virus and even better to survive without dying.

Sorry about the ramble but the frustration about all this has consumed all of us.

i wish there were a way to give posts a thumbs down

[FASTEDDIE29]

From what I saw in union county this weekend. People did a phenomenal job of distancing. Absolutely amazed by the lack of people in parks that finally opened. :D