Although charter fishing resumed during phase one of Gov. Charlie Baker’s reopening plan, the dynamics of the business — in particular the small amount of space on a boat — have kept captains cautious, even as they take customers out on the water.

A stroll along the docks in Oak Bluffs revealed a strong sentiment of safety first this season.

Capt. John Potter of the Skipper is taking limited groups of people out at a time, he said, and asking everyone to maintain a safe distance from each other.

“I have a dialogue with everybody before we get on board the boat. We ask that people are wary and use common sense.”

Mr. Potter said demand in June was lower than normal but calls are increasing in July. For now he’s doing one trip a day.

“I think for this year we need to look at the safety first aspect of everything,” he said.

My Brother Charters is captained by Joe Diodati. He and first mate Aidan Gates run a single-group operation on their 40-foot downeaster.

“It’s a lot more comfortable for people to go out with their own crew, not lining up shoulder to shoulder with a bunch of people they don’t know,” he said.

Mr. Diodati said that most of his clientele are Island families.

“If you’re a family on the Vineyard, what else are you going to do? You can’t go to the Flying Horses, you can’t go to the game room. Even going out to eat you’re lining up with piles of people and you don’t know where they’ve been. To go out on a boat with just your group and myself and Aidan, it’s a pretty safe setting.”

Capt. Richard Cascarino of Redhead Charters said he is serving only customers he already knows and taking just two individuals out at a time.

“We have so many seasonal people who just come for the weekend or week, which has been the case up to this year, and I can’t trust the conversations,” he said. “I can’t trust that they’re telling me the truth about where they’ve been and how long they’ve been quarantined.”

Mr. Cascarino said he asks everyone on board to wear a mask for the duration of the voyage.

Out on the water, or rather in the water, things are busier than usual.

“Fishing has been great because there haven’t been many boats out there,” Mr. Potter said.

Mr. Diodati agreed. “It’s been one of our best Junes for striped bass.”