Local anglers, fisheries and fly shops will have to wait until next week to find out the guidelines state and local officials will set for fishing and hunting as California continues to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

Thursday's public meeting hosted by the California Fish and Game Commission via WebEx had to be postponed after an influx of callers and app users caused the teleconference to overload.

California Fish and Game Commission President Eric Sklar and California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Charlton H. Bonham released the following joint statement:

"We are frustrated by what happened today and are looking for a remedy now. We understand that many members of the public and media were unable to join the call and because we also understand the importance to many of you, we need to ensure that you have an opportunity to provide input."

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Bonham and Sklar said in the statement that California isn't planning a shutdown of fishing statewide or locally.

"The decision is to help prepare us to work with counties and tribes to make those decisions based on their requests. We are working on a tailored and surgical approach based on local needs and knowledge."

California Sportsfishing League Executive Director Marko Mlikotin believes the recent statement made by Bonham and Sklar should put more people within the fishing community at ease.

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"I think's important for the public to understand what is being proposed, and it's not a statewide ban like the state of Washington," Mlikotin said. "We know that COVID-19 has a higher number of cases in urban areas, and unfortunately many of those people are migrating to rural areas through recreational or vacation properties and I think that's what the commission is looking at. There is nothing inherently wrong or dangerous with fishing whatsoever."

The pandemic has taken a bite out of local businesses that rely on fishing tourism to generate revenue.

As fishing access tightens up in California, residents of the Golden State will no longer be able to travel to Oregon to go fishing or hunting, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Due to concerns over the spread of COVID-19 Oregon is closing off fishing and hunting to all non-residents as of the end of Friday, Oregon officials said.

Sac River Guide CEO Kirk Portocarrero based in Redding says he has had to cancel 75 trips in the last month and his business revenue has decreased by 50%.

"It's hard on everybody that helps me out and it's hard on future trips coming up," Portocarrero said. "Most of the people come up from the Bay Area, and we don't want them to come up and bring anything here. We're not only canceling trips but customers are canceling trips."

The Fly Shop in Redding which works as a travel agency and guide for fly fishermen and retail store is another business that has seen a substantial drop in revenue, according to its chief operating officer Terry Jepsen.

Jepsen is worried not only for his shop but for people who might get penalized for using fly fishing to get outdoors and socially distance.

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"Getting outdoors is helping people and with fly fishing you can't be within six feet of people," Jepsen said. "We're allowing people to go walking on river trails and our concern is that we are taking away a right for people to go into the outdoors."

Local angler Tony Zanotelli who participates in tournaments across the state is hoping Shasta County will continue to support fishermen within the area.

"For a lot of people who are out of work and low on money, fishing is a source of food," Zanotelli said. "I know people that are out catching fish to eat and that cannot be taken away from us."

Another local angler Jim Elliott who organizes local fishing competitions says that four tournaments have been cancelled at Shasta Lake because of coronavirus. He thinks more business will be lost because of the lack of people who will travel to fish the Sacramento River during trout season which begins in April and ends in June.

"A lot of people who fish in the Sacramento River book their trips ahead of time so the impact is huge," Elliott said. "I think what people don't realize is how much those tournaments play an impact because they are staying at a hotel for 3-5 nights and they are eating and using fuel. Fishermen bring in a lot of money here."

Reporter Damon Arthur contributed to this report.

Ethan Hanson started working for the Redding Record Searchlight after four years with the Los Angeles Daily News as a freelancer. His coverage includes working the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament in South Bend, Indiana, and writing about the St. Louis Rams' move to Los Angeles with the Ventura County Star. He began his career as a play-by-play broadcaster for LA Pierce College from 2011-2017. Follow him on Twitter at @EthanAHanson_RS.