For me fishing is a way to escape from the day to day hustle and bustle. There is nothing like being out on the water with the potential to catch a fish. I personally don’t even eat fish and release most of the fish that I catch unless it is obvious that the fish will not survive (when fishing offshore I keep more fish as all my friends want some).

In the case that I do keep fish I make sure that none of it goes to waste and give it away to a friend or sometimes even cook some for my wife .

Here is what I spent last year to give you an example. I’m sure I am missing stuff but this is what I can think of at the moment.
• Winter storage and hauling (local marina) $2,500.00
• Spring service (local marina) $1,890.00
• Bottom paint material and labor (local marina) $900.00
• Summer dockage (local marina) $5,300.00
• New electronics for the boat (BOE Marine) $11,000.00
• New hoses for entire engine cooling system (local marina) $2,300.00
• New Rods and reels (some local- some online) $4,800.00
• Cleaning products (local marine store) $400.00
• Food and drink (local deli, supermarket, liquor store) $2,000.00
• Fuel (local marina) $8,000.00
• Inshore Bait (local bait shop) $450.00
• Offshore Bait and lures (local bait shop) $2,300.00
• Ice (local store and bait shop) $800.00
• Tourney fees including dockage $1,900.00
• Insurance $1,500.00


Total $46,040.00


And I am just one person with a small boat. I can only imagine how much $$$$$ some of the guys with the battle wagons are spending.