Friday, May 1, 2020 at 2:40 PM
Here is a summary of my understanding of the launch ramp and harbor situations in San Diego County. For more details with regard to San Diego Bay, please read the press release that is in the 12:15 AM update below that is from earlier today. The press release was based on a San Diego County amended health order and reflects the spirit of the situation with regard to San Diego County harbors.
My understanding is that Oceanside Harbor, Mission Bay and San Diego Bay are now open to recreational boating activities with certain restrictions. First and foremost is the restriction that all individuals in the group and aboard the boat must be of the same household.
A couple of the things that are not allowed are gatherings of people and non-physical distancing activities (non-social distancing activities.)
The information I have is that the launch ramp and the parking lot for boat launching in Oceanside Harbor are now open for recreational boating activity.
The information I have about Mission Bay is that the South Shores launch ramp and parking area are open for vehicles with boat trailers.
Paul Lebowitz of Western Outdoor News was at South Shores launch ramp this morning and reported that police were guarding the entrance and that you needed to be towing a boat trailer to get in. Paul also took a look at the Dana Landing Launch Ramp which was taped off and was closed.
Paul then went to the launch ramp at Shelter Island in San Diego Bay and said that it was indeed open. He said the authorities wanted people to park their cars with the trailers attached so there was an open parking space between each vehicle. They were also limiting it to there being no more than 4 vehicles on the launch ramp at any one time.
Paul took a look at the Pepper Park launch ramp on San Diego Bay and said it was open but that the parking was very limited. You also needed to be towing a boat trailer to enter.
At Shelter Island and at Pepper Park, kayaks and paddle boards were being allowed to leave their vessels on the ramp so they could go park but they had to find a place to park their vehicle out on the street.
Paul also took a look at the launch ramp at Glorietta Bay and said he saw some rigs in the launch ramp area. People had to find a place to park on the street and he said the street parking appeared to be very limited.
Paul did not visit the J Street Launch Ramp but said he had reliable information that the J Street Launch Ramp is still closed.
Please read the press release in the 12:15 AM report below. It gives good insight into what is being allowed and restricted in San Diego County.