What price will keep you at the dock

[Tricia Lynn]

Please , really think about this question. What price on gas will keep you at the dock this year ? What price will truly have you re-evaluating boat ownership ?? Please no ego's

[Wahoo Too]

Hard to answer. My friends all split the gas and boating expenses when we go. With just the wife and myself we might go a little less often by ourselves or take the bay boat in the bay. As long as the guys split I see us going as often as last year. However, after they get a good dose of the expense they might just pull in their horns. Only time will tell. The combination of fewer fish and higher gas might just conspire against us to severely limit our fishing. Wahoo Too.

[SuperS]

It's hard to say. I don't think any amount could keep me at the dock. I love to fish too much. But if prices hit $5 or higher I won't be running offshore as much. Last year we paid about 3.20 give or take during the heat of our Canyon season. We burned around 150 gallons per trip costing us about $700and we split the costs. We may just need an extra guy to help subdue the cost this year.

[Scooper]

tough question... my time on the boat fishing is about me getting away, doing something I love and recharging my internal batteries and not so much about overall costs..

In the past when I have taken people out fishing I haven't asked for them to pay for gas. Not that I am made of money, I just figured I was going out anyway and it was nice to have someone to hang out with. This is especially true if it was their first trip out on my boat. In addition, I have been fortunate to be in a marina that charges a reasonable price for gas. I'm sure I'll start seeing $4+ / gallon this summer so the free rides are going to have to stop. Not sure what will keep me at the dock. I guess it would be the price at the gas station that would keep me home, more so than the marina.... once I committed to driving and the gas to get there, the boat gas is an after thought.... If I had to put a # on it... $4/ gal for the car & $5/Gal for the boat.... if you read the headlines, it would appear that my boat isn't going to see a lot of action this year...

[Hudson]

Originally Posted by Tricia Lynn

Please , really think about this question. What price on gas will keep you at the dock this year ? What price will truly have you re-evaluating boat ownership ?? Please no ego's

What you worried about....you still have your Communion money!!

[DOGKILLR]

I will be fishing my Carolina Skiff as much as possible but will not be purchasing an offshore boat per plans this year. My heart wants it bad...but my head tells me to watch this fuel thing. I will have to charter or go with a few friends who own boats this season. I don't mind chartering but I like the hands on off running my own boat. This has really thrown a wrench in my plans. I bought the vacation home near the sea but will have to enjoy it from the surf.

[bohica]

I'd never get rid of the boats, and never stop fishing, just use them less.

Ya gotta pay to play!

I'd love to be able to find a regular group of captains in OCMD to start kind of a fishing ring. Alternate boats on different weekends, and split costs.

[tool box]

Tough one here I think we are going to be seeing $4.50 in the marinas which is about a dollar more then last year from what I can remember. When I run offshore we split the costs like someone previously said may need to add a guy to offset the cost. I like fishing too much.

Inshore won't be horrible it's the offshore that is going to kill people when you. I know a typical day trolling at the canyons we are looking at 125gallons.
Hopefully that inshore BFT tuna bite will be good again this year.

[B-faithful]

I am glad i am a striped bass fisherman. i can leave the ramp/dock, run to the fishing grounds, troll all day and return burning under 15 gal. I miss the big fish during the summer months but chumming, light tackle fishing and livelining keep me occupied until i can chip in for an offshore trip on my fathers or a buddy's boat...

[Squidnation]

On my 32 mirage we burn about 70 gals per canyon trip. Last year I think we averaged around 2.75. So our fuel bill was about $192.50 per trip. split 4 or 5 ways mean that the fuel portion of our trip was about $50. Luckily most of the guys that fish on my boat regularly help me maintain the boat with help in oil changes and electrical work, cleaning etc etc. This year I am told we are looking at around $4.00 a gal and if you are a pessimist then $4.50. Well at $4.50 it would go up to $78.00 a man for the fuel. I think it would have to get pretty high to keep us at the dock.

But there are many ways to cut back on other parts of fishing that will really help the bottom line.

One good one is ice. Keep that ice insulated as best as possible. Most folks don't need 1/3 of the ice they bring.