Charter boat captains seek smoother waters after rough early spring

PORT CLINTON — Captain Don Lowther steered his 30-foot Island Hopper toward the gas pump at Brands Marina and shook his head. "For a while there I almost hated to answer the telephone because lots of people were canceling and rescheduling," he said. "Our phones are not ringing off the hook right now." Lowther is one of more than 800 charter boat captains who operate on Lake Erie, one of the best fisheries in the world. He said the fishing this spring is "unreal," but the veteran captain known as Buffalo is just getting going this season. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources' decision in early April to suspend out-of-state fishing licenses, coupled with stay-at-home orders, essentially shut down the fishing charter business during what should have been a busy and profitable month. "I figure I've probably lost close to 40 percent of my business," said Lowther, who runs Osprey Charters. "Most of our business comes at the end of March, April and May. I (usually) run about every day in May." This is no normal May, of course. The coronavirus has hit all aspects of the economy, and the charter business is no exception. But there is a glimmer of hope: The ODNR gave the OK to sell out-of-state licenses last Friday. That decision and the gradual reopening of the state's economy will allow the fishing charters to operate — with restrictions. Charters normally operate with six passengers, but social distancing would be challenging with that many people on board. The Lake Erie Charter Boat Association, in an attempt to salvage some of the season, worked with the ODNR on guidelines that will allow the boats to operate with four customers. Large head boats must operate at 30-40 percent capacity. Captain Paul Pacholski, the association's president, said it's not an ideal situation, but it's better than the alternative. "We are experiencing some cancellations from the four-person rule, but we only have six months to make our living," Pacholski said. "Tourism keeps Sandusky and Port Clinton alive. It's going to take a serious hit this year." Lowther, who lives in Castalia, is beginning his 39th year as a charter boat captain. He said he'll encourage customers to wear masks but isn't making it a requirement. He used duct tape to mark fishing spots six feet apart on the deck of his boat, which has a 12-foot beam that makes it roomier. He's not a fan of the four-person rule but will give it a try. Captains dislike the rule because parties generally split the cost of a charter, which usually runs from $600 to $650 for a full day of fishing. That means it will cost each customer more money. "A lot of guys are having trouble with that," Lowther said. "You know, you can put 10 people at a table at a bar. To get us started we agreed to go with four. Hopefully, when we get a little ways down the road we don't have to do that." Lowther, the 2012 Charter Boat Captain of the Year in Ohio, said some people who canceled in recent weeks might reschedule, which could help recoup some losses. But the true damage to the economy and the fishing industry remains to be seen. "We're worried about people who have been out of work. Even if they get back to work they might not have the money to spend. This is a discretionary expense," he said. "I don't know how the bookings are going to go. "But in our favor, the fishing is unreal. We get people from all over the Midwest — Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Pennsylvania. I get people from all over." Pacholski hopes the attraction of easily reaching six-fish daily walleye limits is enough to overcome the uncertainty of the coronavirus. "With the fishery we have, especially this year, it's awesome," he said. "The DNR used to boast there were 80 million fish out there (in the 1980s heyday). This year's estimates are about 116 million." Lowther, who said he has some bookings next week, said he'll keep fishing no matter what happens. "People that get in this and think they're going to make a lot of money, that just isn't the way," he said. "I've watched so many people come and go. "I know everyone is in the same spot. It's just a terrible thing right now. But I enjoy what I do — that's my fringe benefit."