just sent in the check for my slip and I am worried about the cost of gas this season. It may get to the point where I cant afford my pleasure $on this. I've been getting more and more comfortable in the boat and going farther and farther away, spending more and more on gas. If it goes up to 4-5 bucks I dont know if I'll use it much.
Lot cheaper to make a 45 minute ride to the canal and fish from shore or drift eels in Narr.
Lets hope for the best.

You aren't the only one.

No more two man trips to the canyons... we'll be running with 4-5 to split the fuel bill!

I also just yesterday sent my check to the marina, I agonized over it for a while. The expected price of fuel will keep me closer to my slip. But there are some good beaches and fishing within 6-8 miles.

I love my kayak! Costs me nothing to run that bad boy! Boats are a hole in the water you dump money into! A few of my buddies are considering just trailering their boats as they can simply use the slip money to defray fuel costs.

should I drift or should I troll..........I'm sure there will still be PLENTY of traffic out there this year.

You aren't the only one.

No more two man trips to the canyons... we'll be running with 4-5 to split the fuel bill!

I'm in!:wave:

I love my kayak! Costs me nothing to run that bad boy! Boats are a hole in the water you dump money into! A few of my buddies are considering just trailering their boats as they can simply use the slip money to defray fuel costs.

yup.. yak attack.

I think at this point it's cheaper to trailer it from warren to newport rather than make the run in the boat :smash:

you cant compare a yak to a boat. I fished out of my yaks 8-10 yrs ago. its a different thing and both have their place.
I love my boat and cant wait to use it. The feeling of going on plane after existing the harbor and its still pitch dark is one of the highlights of a fishing trip for me. Trailering is not an option for me as I like to fish alone and it add too much time/effort on a fishing trip. It may be soon that I just cant justify the spend. I love fishing from the surf too, at some point the cost/benefit wont work out.

you cant compare a yak to a boat. I fished out of my yaks 8-10 yrs ago. its a different thing and both have their place.
I love my boat and cant wait to use it. The feeling of going on plane after existing the harbor and its still pitch dark is one of the highlights of a fishing trip for me. Trailering is not an option for me as I like to fish alone and it add too much time/effort on a fishing trip. It may be soon that I just cant justify the spend. I love fishing from the surf too, at some point the cost/benefit wont work out.

Yes I can! Gas......and no gas! Cha-ching!:uhuh:

Yes I can! Gas......and no gas! Cha-ching!:uhuh:



Jims got it right, "both have their place"
Pretty tough for you to take your yack offshore to jig cod or chase tuna.
Pretty tough for me to get my 3ft draft boat into some rocky spots you can paddle to, and you can do it a lot quieter.
One good thing, I remember 10-12 years ago most marinas you had to get on a waiting list if you didn't already have a slip there for years, and slip prices went up every year.
Now they call kissing your ass asking if you are coming back.
Lots of marinas were 1/3 empty the past handful of years.

I tried the yak thing about five years ago when Iron Mike let me borrow his for the year.I honestly preferred my Old Town canoe to fish out of (ask T O).Jimmy is right when he talks about that feeling,I love fishing in my boat at night,it's the nuts even when the fishing blows.That being said, I am probably going to trailer all year rather than keep my slip in New Bedford.I have no problem launching a 23 alone and it gives me a lot more options for where I can fish. Last year I used ramps in Scituate,Marshfield, Plymouth,Sandwich,Chatham,Westport and Point Judith.So maybe I'll just tune up the trailer and continue being a traveling angler.

love my gas sipping skiff :love: all morning/night on 6 gals. my old boat would use 14 gph cruising- that would hurt now.

just sent in the check for my slip and I am worried about the cost of gas this season. It may get to the point where I cant afford my pleasure $on this. I've been getting more and more comfortable in the boat and going farther and farther away, spending more and more on gas. If it goes up to 4-5 bucks I dont know if I'll use it much.
Lot cheaper to make a 45 minute ride to the canal and fish from shore or drift eels in Narr.
Lets hope for the best.

Once you own a boat find a way to use it.

I tried the yak thing about five years ago when Iron Mike let me borrow his for the year.I honestly preferred my Old Town canoe to fish out of (ask T O).Jimmy is right when he talks about that feeling,I love fishing in my boat at night,it's the nuts even when the fishing blows.That being said, I am probably going to trailer all year rather than keep my slip in New Bedford.I have no problem launching a 23 alone and it gives me a lot more options for where I can fish. Last year I used ramps in Scituate,Marshfield, Plymouth,Sandwich,Chatham,Westport and Point Judith.So maybe I'll just tune up the trailer and continue being a traveling angler.

No fish in Westport, just sayin. Or Falmouth, Or Green Pond, Or WoodsHole, Or Wareham, or ....

I have been holding back on my slip also . I really don,t know why .because I only have two options with that boat .....slip or trailer next to the house .
trailering is not a option for me / never mind the crowds & fluster cucks ........ i have to be real ,i no longer have the strenght or ability to tow / launch & haul out on a regular basis .
last fall when i took it out / the wind was so strong ,it actually took 3 of us to get it out .
But on the plus side ....my marina is so concered about gas .that when they sent out the contracts . they dropped $10 per ft . since then they have dropped another $5 . SOOOOO the good news is it would cost me a lot less to stay tied to the dock than the previous years ;;
I am 100% sure my tin boat WILL get a serious workout this year . but in reality its not the same .
I,ll have to hold my boundries & watch the weather / were with the sea Hunt .. that doesn,t matter ;;
OH well . I told Scott I want to get a metal detector anyway :soon::smash:

Maybe we can find a way to turn the lights on so they stay on - you know, for safety.

We've had the same slip in Fairhaven for 7 seasons now, and this is the 1st year I had reservations about going in or not. I don't have the option to trailer so for me it's in the slip or stays in the yard. But we spend weekends on the boat and even if we don't leave the slip for some reason or other, my kids have a small inflatable and have become pretty good fishermen within the boundaries of the harbor.

Honestly, how much gas do you burn in a season? At 200 gallons per year you're looking at an increase of maybe $200-400 more than last season. If you can afford a boat and a slip, you can afford $400. Even a 1000 gallon per year user is only talking about $1000-2000.

Heck, even at $4.00 or $5.00 per gallon, gas will still pretty much be the cheapest thing about boating!

We'll burn anywhere from 400 - 600 gal/ year ( ballpark ), if gas goes to 4 or 5 bucks a gallon it hurts, I'd have to look for my slips but last year I think I paid as low as $2.65ish/ gal. Which goes back to my original premise of cutting back.
If gas goes to 5/gal, a $1500/ year fuel bill almost doubles.

Some of us, even with boats in slips, are operating on a narrow margin to enable us to spend time on the water with family and when any of the associated costs almost double from 1 year to the next, it's a concern.

But hey, who knows, the oil companies seem to do this to us every so often, maybe these price predictions are bogus.

I JUST RAN SOME QUICK NUMBERS ;;

&& THESE ARE VERY CONSERATIVE

4 TRIPS A WEEK @ 15 GAL PER TRIP == 60 GAL

MULTIPLY THE 60 BY A CONSERATIVE 18 WEEKS == 1080 GAL THEN TIMES 4.00 PG .THAT,S A LUG IT TO THE BOAT PRICE / DOCK PRICE ADD APPROX..65 P/G ==SO THAT IS $4320 CARRYING IT / THAT,S NOT COUNTING ANY REAL TRIPS OR ANY TIME IN APRIL, MAY , LAST 2 WEEKS IN OCT , NOV & PART OF DECEMBER ;;

BEEN TALKING ABOUT SWEET WATER FISHING ..STARTING TO LOOOK BETTER AS WITH ALL THE REGULATIONS & IMO THE CONTINUE DROP OF BASS // &&&&&& GOING OUT / BEING TOLD WHEN YA CAN GO / WHAT DAYS OF THE WEEK IN SOME CASES / WHAT SIZE / HOW MANY ......&&& THEN THE DEM CHANGES ALMOST EVERYTHING THAT THEY WILL HAVE UP ON THERE SITE FOR 2011.
I HAD NEVER SEEN AS MANY SEA BASS AS I SAW & CAUGHT LAST YEAR .IN TALKING TO OTHER FISHERMEN DURING THE SEASON & THRU THE WINTER THEY ALL CAME UP WITH THE SAME ......... PLENTY OF SEA BASS ;
BUT NOT BY THE FISH COUNTERS . COASTWISE THERE IS GOING TO BE ANOTHER DRASTIC CUT IN THE QUOTA FOR BOTH REC & ESPECIALLY COMMERCIAL ;;
SOME NIT WIT MADE A POST THE OTHER DAY LOOKING TO BUY A MULTI-PURPOSE LICENSE ....... I SHOT HIM A NUMBER FOR EVERYTHING //HE DIDN,T REALIZE YOU JUST CAN,T SELL THE LICENSE /IT HAS TO BE THE BUSINESS ;; I HAVE ENOUGH LANDING THAT I WON,T HAVE A PROBLEM GETTING A DEAL LEGALLY APPROVED & TRANSFERRED ;
AT THIS END OF THE ROPE OF LIFE TIME .. I DOUBT IS I,LL BE AROUND TO SEE A UPSWING IN BASS & THE REGULATIONS ARE ONLY GOING TO GET TIGHTER & TIGHTER FOR BOTH REC & COMMERCIAL ;
DON,T FORGET WE NOW [PAY] FOR A LICENSE TO FISH IN SALTWATER ;
&&&&&&& THE USA GETS 80% OF THE FISH SOLD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPSATION FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES & THAT 80% IS FROZEN CRAP FROM 1/2 POLLUATED WATERS ;;

WHERE,S THAT METAL DETECTOR // @ THE PRICE OF METALS IF I USED IT 40 HOURS A WEEK /THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE I,D BE MAKING MONEY >>>>>>><><

I'm in!:wave:

Thats what they all say in March, until it's time to go. :fury:

I'll put you on the list though:love:

WHEN ?/ WHERE ?? WHAT TIME ?? HOW MUCH ??

CAN,T MAKE IT >THIS TIME :uhuh::fishin::uhuh:

Honestly, how much gas do you burn in a season? At 200 gallons per year you're looking at an increase of maybe $200-400 more than last season. If you can afford a boat and a slip, you can afford $400. Even a 1000 gallon per year user is only talking about $1000-2000.

Heck, even at $4.00 or $5.00 per gallon, gas will still pretty much be the cheapest thing about boating!

Thats why I said "my pleasure $" in my original post. Afford is different than willing to spend. I dont know if I am willing to spend $150 bucks a fishing trip for 6 hours on the water. Not counting eels. As much as I love being in the boat, it will cost me $15 to fish from the surf and I still enjoy it.
The past few years I spent way to much time and $$$ chasing bunker. That will end this year unless they show up in my harbor. I'll just stay closer to home. I never troll but I do run around to different areas, I may just stay within a few miles of the home port.

I can understand your concerns for sure, I expected the fuel price increases and it was one of the reason I decided to sell my Regulator here in the Outer Banks last Fall. For me it was a 8-mile run from my slip to get to the ocean front, my boat averaged 2-mpg so I was spending $28-$30 in fuel just getting to and from the water, from there it was another 35-45 miles to get out to the stream. I was spending $250.00 a day in gas to fish, add to that bait, ice, and tackle it was a cool $300.00, that was when fuel was $3.25 a gallon at the marina. Fuel here is approaching $4.25 at the marinas now. Then you start adding in all the other expenses I'm sure you are all aware of and to be honest it took all the fun out of boat for me. I was even lucky as I had two free slips at my disposal. Way back when I had my 21' Scout and fuel was $2.00 a gallon it was great to be on the water. If I ever make it back up to RI to live F/T you will find me in my 4x4 on the beach, much cheaper.

It's hard to have fun on the water knowing that for every two miles you travel it's costing you $4.25.

Thats why I said "my pleasure $" in my original post. Afford is different than willing to spend. I dont know if I am willing to spend $150 bucks a fishing trip for 6 hours on the water. Not counting eels. As much as I love being in the boat, it will cost me $15 to fish from the surf and I still enjoy it.
The past few years I spent way to much time and $$$ chasing bunker. That will end this year unless they show up in my harbor. I'll just stay closer to home. I never troll but I do run around to different areas, I may just stay within a few miles of the home port.

Does this mean that you'll be accepting some of my invites to come along and fish from shore this season? You'll be opening up a door to a whole new world.

Does this mean that you'll be accepting some of my invites to come along and fish from shore this season? You'll be opening up a door to a whole new world.

At this rate, the only way we'll be able to afford to fish is car-pooling.

At this rate, the only way we'll be able to afford to fish is car-pooling.

My company pays for my gas. Too bad they won't give me a company pick up or suv.

Here's something to keep an eye out for, and I wouldn't put it past the state or individual cities and towns.

Seeing that Chatham now has pretty much a "resident-only" boat ramp, how many other coastal towns will start charging more for non-residents to launch watercraft from their shores?
Boaters that plan on trailering their craft to the sea each trip will have to be aware of any fees, regulations and restrictions involved with the baot launch they plan on using.

I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of places follow suit with Chatham and impose a higher fee and limit non-resident use of their town boat ramps.
You know, anything to make a buck!

Of course with the rise in fuel costs, when no one travels to these locales because they can't afford to, who will suffer?

I would love to have a boat, but it's just too expensive. I love my kayak! fishing fresh, salt, day, night, spring, summer and fall!

Does this mean that you'll be accepting some of my invites to come along and fish from shore this season? You'll be opening up a door to a whole new world.

I invited you to fish the canal with me a bunch of times last year but you were hanging with your pre-work, non-eel fishing buddies while I could only slum it on the weekends.

I invited you to fish the canal with me a bunch of times last year but you were hanging with your pre-work, non-eel fishing buddies while I could only slum it on the weekends.

That's why I put in these grueling 6 and 6.5 hour days at work during the winter. I need to have more time to fish during the spring, summer and fall. I'll be going at night after work more this season. Any time you want to go, call me. Oh yeah, I now have an eel tank, so you don't need to worry about untangling all your plugs. :devil2:

We're looking to sell the boat and downsize this year. My dad wants something in the 17 to 19 foot range so we can trailer it more. I only fished 3 times from the boat last year and only 1 trip was for bass.

Thats why I said "my pleasure $" in my original post. Afford is different than willing to spend. I dont know if I am willing to spend $150 bucks a fishing trip for 6 hours on the water. Not counting eels. As much as I love being in the boat, it will cost me $15 to fish from the surf and I still enjoy it.
The past few years I spent way to much time and $$$ chasing bunker. That will end this year unless they show up in my harbor. I'll just stay closer to home. I never troll but I do run around to different areas, I may just stay within a few miles of the home port.

So stop chasing bunker. I called it quits on the bunker after ARK Bait cleaned out the upper bay. I went to eels at night and 3 way eels in the daytime. Pulled Montauk Bunker spoons on wire and lead core and started to fish Brenton Reef and Anawan. Lots of fish at all the usual places.
Don't get me wrong, I love livelining bunker. Nothing is as exciting as when the bunker start their nervous dance and a big bass blows up on the surface. I just saved a lot of time, aggrevation and gas by using other methods.
Jimmy, try livelining Scup. Works great and you have double the fun. Once catching the Scup and then catching the Bass on the Scup.

should I drift or should I troll..........I'm sure there will still be PLENTY of traffic out there this year.

when gas spiked to $ 4.50 a gallon 3 years ago i saw no decrease in boat traffic .

There is no question boating activity and fuel costs have an inverse relationship. For me the long exploratory runs (which I like to do) just won't happen nearly as often when fuel is high. I tend to fish more locally and do more short overnighters and spend more time with the engine off on the boat. Many guys who are stretched to own a boat don't even de-winterize it.

I too wasted WAY too fuel last season in search of bait. I estimate 300 gallons. Was it worth it?...I can say without question: NO. I enjoy catching bait but spent just too much time looking. I covered a lot of coastline. In general I think the fishing was poor, at least for bass around the islands. Yeah, we caught fish but nothing like in years past. Both quantity and quality sucked IMO.

To be honest last fall I was planning to get the boat in early and move the boat out to Ptown for a few weeks to get some cod fishing in then bring it back home and do more distant offshore stuff this summer. But right now I am deeply involved in a lot of (unfinished) boat projects that I want to complete this spring and at this point I am hoping to splash it around the 4th of July. And if the fuel stays at these levels (which IMO has spiked for NO REASON AT ALL because there has been no supply decrease and refineries have more crude than they can use now anyway)...anyway if it goes over $4-5+ (for diesel) this summer there will be fewer long distance runs for me.
Further, I am thinking of moving my boat from a private slip to a town slip or mooring which would not be as nice but would save me a few grand which could go towards fuel and/or boat stuff.

Frankly, when the gas spiked a few years ago, marinas had a BUST year. They went for days without a sole fueling up. Much different last spring. There was more small boat activity and I was able to fuel up in NB last spring for 2.39/gal from the commercial truck... right now I am afraid to look.


(PS...the problem with scup is the legal size limit....)

I SOLD MY "HOLE IN THE WATER" Thank God...

1 fish and it's all paid for :hee:
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

I've owned the same boat since 1980... been birthed in the same slip since '86.. my "mud" slip hasn't gone up in price in 10 years... I wont leave the river , excepting a few cod trips, until mid July... a heavy fuel night is 3 gallons until that time... then I can make my round trip with 9 gallons.. .. I can do it on 7 if I back off the throttle... electric motor supplies most of my propulsion..... when the day comes I deem it too expensive or tiresome.. I'll sell the boat and I'll sit on the couch and play WEI fishing and call it a lifetime...

So stop chasing bunker. I called it quits on the bunker after ARK Bait cleaned out the upper bay. I went to eels at night and 3 way eels in the daytime. Pulled Montauk Bunker spoons on wire and lead core and started to fish Brenton Reef and Anawan. Lots of fish at all the usual places.
Don't get me wrong, I love livelining bunker. Nothing is as exciting as when the bunker start their nervous dance and a big bass blows up on the surface. I just saved a lot of time, aggrevation and gas by using other methods.
Jimmy, try livelining Scup. Works great and you have double the fun. Once catching the Scup and then catching the Bass on the Scup.


I've chased bunker less than 4 times last year. I'm 90% eels. And spend most of my time in Newport and Narr. Its all doable when gas is less than $4. If its $5, that changes the story.

I've chased bunker less than 4 times last year. I'm 90% eels. And spend most of my time in Newport and Narr. Its all doable when gas is less than $4. If its $5, that changes the story.

Well, YOU were the one who said he spend a lot of time and money chasing bait. Maybe it wasn't bunker you were chasing.:smash:

Well, YOU were the one who said he spend a lot of time and money chasing bait. Maybe it wasn't bunker you were chasing.:smash:

that was a few years ago.2007-2009. I only went up the river to get them a few times last year.