State of the Industry "Sportfishing"

[BlueH20Boss]

Hey Franky...i suppose the powerball isn't the best contingency plan, but hell i'll play anyway haha!

[Anthony of the ARK]

Thanks for the responses guys, i think i was a little mis-understood in my original. My primary reason for posting is solely because I have not seen a good conversation about the state of the industry on here. I wanted to hear from all different points of view on how the economy and other factors are effecting people.

I wanted to start people talking about the way things are done and how they could be changed for the better.

Thanks guys for the responses, as for me uncle bill i know ill be doing what i love soon enough.

I think my first may have had a little bit of a marty kind of feel to it.

I was not my intention at all.

[Ultralite]

I think the more appropriate "economic" description is that fishing is a highly discretionary expenditure (i.e. a choice, not required). In bad economic times, people pull back on their discretionary expenditures. These could range from going out to eat less often to fishing. Since fishing is a highly discretionary expenditure, it is one of those expenditures which are most likely to be halted. So you see it in boat sales, tackle sales, charter trips, etc. You'd be wise not to focus on a career which is based on such a highly discretionary expenditure.

Someone cutely posted that Microsoft was started in a recession. Good point, but Mircrosoft's main product has worked its way into everyone's life such that it cannot be considered a discretionary expenditure, more like a necessary expenditure in our modern life. Their product changed how we carry out our lives in a significant way such that most cannot live without it. In contrast, though we hate to admit it, we can live without fishing.....though some for only a short period of time.

[Squidnation]

I think the more appropriate "economic" description is that fishing is a highly discretionary expenditure (i.e. a choice, not required). In bad economic times, people pull back on their discretionary expenditures. These could range from going out to eat less often to fishing. Since fishing is a highly discretionary expenditure, it is one of those expenditures which are most likely to be halted. So you see it in boat sales, tackle sales, charter trips, etc. You'd be wise not to focus on a career which is based on such a highly discretionary expenditure.

Someone cutely posted that Microsoft was started in a recession. Good point, but Mircrosoft's main product has worked its way into everyone's life such that it cannot be considered a discretionary expenditure, more like a necessary expenditure in our modern life. Their product changed how we carry out our lives in a significant way such that most cannot live without it. In contrast, though we hate to admit it, we can live without fishing.....though some for only a short period of time.

Very true but Microsoft's product was supporting a discretionary income product when it was introduced and a very expensive one at that.
The point of the microsoft analogy was not the neccessity of the product but rather the balls that Gates had to build it and market it and continue to build it. And to do it when he did it.

But you are correct that fishing is the one of the first things to go when the money isn't flowing.

[costaricasportfishing]

Last Year 196 trips....This Year.......MAYBE 100! MAYBE....



SUCKS!!!! The fish are here just no clients.



Anyone wanna buy a charter boat?? haha

[Fritz]

to the economy is saturation. I have seen it in my own industry where every laid off truck driver or butcher tried to become a building inspector. Well alot of those boneheads are gone now and the core group of professionals with cred and experience that were there before the rush are here now.

Let's face it, every guy with a passion for the sport has gotten into the internet tackle biz and every guy with a row boat & need to supplement his boating habit has gotten a charter cap's license. The industry really should have a done a better job of policing itself.

Take for example the charter biz. Its just too easy to get licensed. The license requirements need to be more strict. Also and I have said it before, the industry needs to form a national association that can create a Standards of Practice and their own certification process. I have seen guy after guy with little mechanical ability and little more than a couple of years experience become a charter captain using a piece of boat. OK, so the real players have real rigs, but you need to be honest. The quantitative effect of all those little guys does impact the industry. So how do you improve your business and eliminate competition? You raise the bar of professionalism and force out the knuckleheads. Perhaps continuing education could be added as a requirement to obtaining insurance or keeping your license. A real charter cap association could lobby for those things and the insurance companies would love it. Pain in the ass? Sure, but everything comes with a price. Sorry for the ramble, but I get these crazy ideas and go off sometimes.

[scattered_grass]

to the economy is saturation. I have seen it in my own industry where every laid off truck driver or butcher tried to become a building inspector. Well alot of those boneheads are gone now and the core group of professionals with cred and experience that were there before the rush are here now.

Let's face it, every guy with a passion for the sport has gotten into the internet tackle biz and every guy with a row boat & need to supplement his boating habit has gotten a charter cap's license. The industry really should have a done a better job of policing itself.

Take for example the charter biz. Its just too easy to get licensed. The license requirements need to be more strict. Also and I have said it before, the industry needs to form a national association that can create a Standards of Practice and their own certification process. I have seen guy after guy with little mechanical ability and little more than a couple of years experience become a charter captain using a piece of boat. OK, so the real players have real rigs, but you need to be honest. The quantitative effect of all those little guys does impact the industry. So how do you improve your business and eliminate competition? You raise the bar of professionalism and force out the knuckleheads. Perhaps continuing education could be added as a requirement to obtaining insurance or keeping your license. A real charter cap association could lobby for those things and the insurance companies would love it. Pain in the ass? Sure, but everything comes with a price. Sorry for the ramble, but I get these crazy ideas and go off sometimes.

Interesting and well written. I think you may be on to something...

[Squidnation]

to the economy is saturation. I have seen it in my own industry where every laid off truck driver or butcher tried to become a building inspector. Well alot of those boneheads are gone now and the core group of professionals with cred and experience that were there before the rush are here now.

Let's face it, every guy with a passion for the sport has gotten into the internet tackle biz and every guy with a row boat & need to supplement his boating habit has gotten a charter cap's license. The industry really should have a done a better job of policing itself.

Take for example the charter biz. Its just too easy to get licensed. The license requirements need to be more strict. Also and I have said it before, the industry needs to form a national association that can create a Standards of Practice and their own certification process. I have seen guy after guy with little mechanical ability and little more than a couple of years experience become a charter captain using a piece of boat. OK, so the real players have real rigs, but you need to be honest. The quantitative effect of all those little guys does impact the industry. So how do you improve your business and eliminate competition? You raise the bar of professionalism and force out the knuckleheads. Perhaps continuing education could be added as a requirement to obtaining insurance or keeping your license. A real charter cap association could lobby for those things and the insurance companies would love it. Pain in the ass? Sure, but everything comes with a price. Sorry for the ramble, but I get these crazy ideas and go off sometimes.

some intersting points but I guess the first thing that comes to mind is the captains (pro and semi pro) that cry foul when new license requirements such as twics and dolphin/wahoo permits are imposed as well as mandatory circle hook rules, closures and certain bag limits but want more policing to keep others from entering the business.

The policies are not the issue. The enforcement or lack of enforcement of the current policies are the issue.

[Fritz]

some intersting points but I guess the first thing that comes to mind is the captains (pro and semi pro) that cry foul when new license requirements such as twics and dolphin/wahoo permits are imposed as well as mandatory circle hook rules, closures and certain bag limits but want more policing to keep others from entering the business.

The policies are not the issue. The enforcement or lack of enforcement of the current policies are the issue.

You speak of fishery management issues. I speak of professional standards of practice and raising the bar on charter cap requirements. Two entirely different things. It needs to be a profession and not a part time endeavor. What is wrong with demanding excellence?

[Squidnation]

You speak of fishery management issues. I speak of professional standards of practice and raising the bar on charter cap requirements. Two entirely different things. It needs to be a profession and not a part time endeavor. What is wrong with demanding excellence?

Why - why is the charter buiness different then anything else in this great country. I can be a part time real estate agent, a part time car salesman, a part time paramedic, a part time manufacturer, a part time hunting guide, a part time web master, a part time taxi driver, a part time tour guide or bartender matter of fact I can be a part time just about anything. Hell I know a guy that is a vetinarian and a part time taxidermist. Either way you are getting your pet back

There are laws and policies to ensure that people do these things up to a certain standard but that doesn't mean that they are followed.