worried - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

RIJIMMY · 03-03-2011, 10:28 AM

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.

RIROCKHOUND · 03-03-2011, 11:06 AM

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!

zacs · 03-03-2011, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RIROCKHOUND

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!

RIROCKHOUND · 03-04-2011, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zacs

I'm in!

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

I'll put you on the list though

Clammer · 03-04-2011, 10:44 AM

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

CAN,T MAKE IT >THIS TIME

InTheHole · 03-03-2011, 11:41 AM

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.

BigFish · 03-03-2011, 12:32 PM

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.

Nebe · 03-03-2011, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigFish

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.

Fishoholic · 03-03-2011, 04:44 PM

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

Piscator · 03-03-2011, 12:42 PM

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

blue oyster · 03-13-2011, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Piscator

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 .

Mr. Sandman · 03-13-2011, 11:14 AM

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....)

RIJIMMY · 03-03-2011, 05:06 PM

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.

BigFish · 03-03-2011, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RIJIMMY

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!

Raider Ronnie · 03-03-2011, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigFish

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

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.

Sea Dangles · 03-03-2011, 06:48 PM

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.

afterhours · 03-03-2011, 06:58 PM

love my gas sipping skiff

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

striperman36 · 03-03-2011, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sea Dangles

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 ....

striperman36 · 03-03-2011, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RIJIMMY

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.

InTheHole · 03-03-2011, 09:52 PM

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.

gf2020 · 03-03-2011, 10:02 PM

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!

RIJIMMY · 03-04-2011, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gf2020

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.

fishbones · 03-04-2011, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RIJIMMY

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.

JohnnyD · 03-04-2011, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishbones

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.

fishbones · 03-04-2011, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyD

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.

RIJIMMY · 03-04-2011, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishbones

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.

fishbones · 03-04-2011, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RIJIMMY

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.

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.

piemma · 03-12-2011, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RIJIMMY

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.

RIJIMMY · 03-14-2011, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piemma

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.

piemma · 03-16-2011, 05:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RIJIMMY

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.