Impact of Fuel Cost on Your Fishing Passion

[Dawn Treader]

So now gas is over $4 per gallon at the gas station if you trailer and higher at the gas dock. Diesel is higher. Prices are going to go up from here.

I’m glad I’m not facing this dilemma as a party boat or charter captain, but as a boat owner fisherman I’m thinking about what this is going to mean to my season.

What are you boat owners thinking? The same, less or sitting it out?

How about those of you that fish on party and charter boats? Is there a price point where you’d pack it in?

Hard times ahead for what we love…

[Duffman]

For me personally, still won’t change when I go out, how often or how far I go. Been fortunate enough to not miss a beat at work thru the pandemic so the gas prices are def gonna hurt but not gonna stop me.

Bigger questions are party boats. Prices go up and getting the occasional fisher person to commit will be tough. On the charter side of things I can’t imagine what a canyon trip will go up to.

Then the pandemic boats that were bought in the last year. Gonna be some rude awakenings when new boaters realize just how big the tanks are and how thirsty an engine can be.

[Jigman13]

Fewer canyon trips, that's for sure. Inshore and midshore grounds, we'll take the lumps. Better than sitting home going insane lol. I'm fortunate to be able to split and afford costs with friends/family.

I also do a lot of freshwater fishing north of 78 in May and June. I'll have to cut back on those for sure. No more 3 to 4x per week night trips, even getting 30+ mpg.

[shrimpman steve]

Trips to Montauk ain’t gonna be cheap

[bulletbob]

Yeah, this will probably end my salt water fishing "career"... $175 in gas for the drive down and back towing the boat, then another probably $40-50 in the boat at least, ramp fees, bait... Looking at a minimum Of $275 or so, just to fish for fluke, blues, etc in the NY Bight. Not any cheaper going on a party boat either.. Plus, I'm soon to be 68, and leaving at 1 am with very little or no sleep, fishing from 6 am till noon or 1 PM, and then driving home in horrible traffic until I make it up as far as the Water Gap???... Yeah, just not that appealing any more. Just too much distance.. Looks like I will have to stick a lot closer to home.
Matter of fact, past several years I have been considering listing all my salt water gear in the NJF classifieds for practically nothing just to be rid of it... probably do that soon .
Knew this day was on the horizon.. gas prices as well as age just nudged me into the realm of the inevitable.... bob

[Jigman13]

Trips to Montauk ain’t gonna be cheap

...And that's where the boat is docked late April to November :eek::eek:

Diesel out there will likely get closer to $6!!!! Might have to chat with the old man about getting a "temp" center console for inshore fishing out East lol...

[Jigman13]

and then driving home in horrible traffic until I make it up as far as the Water Gap???...

with fuel prices being high maybe this will lessen traffic??? just a thought...

[dakota560]

Gerry on the "what just happened to sea bass thread", you posted please keep political commentary off the site. The next five posts after yours on that thread dealt with gas prices and politics and were left up.

My post of what would happen if this conflict escalates, something happens to Biden and Harris and Pelosi become President and VP gets deleted. Are their political posts that are acceptable and ones that aren't.

If you're talking about gas your talking about politics and definitely not fishing related issues. Based on that, there shouldn't be any posts involving gas either but would appreciate a clarification on what's allowed and what's not.

[Skolmann]

We’ll definitely being doing more inshore, river (Manasquan) and back bay (Barnegat) fishing. We’ll also waiting until we get reliable intel on whats happening on the lumps & ridges before we make the trek.

I also think think if we decide to make any sort of ‘run’ say from Manasquan Inlet up to the Rocks we will commit to staying there. A few times last season we started out at Manasquan Ridge only to run up to the Rocks later in the day-don’t see us doing that this season.

I also plan on continuing to build upon what I did last season & that was fishing from land, beach, sod banks more. I become confident in several spots and plan to expand on them this season.

[Duffman]

If you're talking about gas your talking about politics and definitely not fishing related issues.

OP’s original question was simply whether current fuel prices will affect the way you boat and/or fish this season. Why bring politics into it? The question wasn’t WHY prices are high. Could be as simple as a yes or no reply.

[Skolmann]

OP’s original question was simply whether current fuel prices will affect the way you boat fish this season. Why bring politics into it? The question wasn’t WHY prices are high. Could be as simple as a yes or no reply.

👍

[mkyb843]

I'm investing a little more in my kayak setup. Not a boat owner but I have a feeling party boat fares are going to (reasonably) go up enough that it's worth it to throw some money at a drysuit

[Gerry Zagorski]

Gerry on the "what just happened to sea bass thread", you posted please keep political commentary off the site. The next five posts after yours on that thread dealt with gas prices and politics and were left up.

My post of what would happen if this conflict escalates, something happens to Biden and Harris and Pelosi become President and VP gets deleted. Are their political posts that are acceptable and ones that aren't.

If you're talking about gas your talking about politics and definitely not fishing related issues. Based on that, there shouldn't be any posts involving gas either but would appreciate a clarification on what's allowed and what's not.

Just removed those posts too.

[dakota560]

OP’s original question was simply whether current fuel prices will affect the way you boat and/or fish this season. Why bring politics into it? The question wasn’t WHY prices are high. Could be as simple as a yes or no reply.

Duffman you're right, I agree. Was just trying to point out things could get a lot worse, should have worded it differently. Gerry wasn't necessary to delete other posts, just wanted a clarification. Sorry for the trouble.

[dales529]

Just like Duffman said I have been working through the pandemic and its only gotten better so no plans to change my fishing for personal ,charter or PB dates. It is what it is , the world throws curves at us all.
Hopefully it gets corrected soon as we all know it can be. USA Oil companies like Exxon, Chevron , Conoco Philips need to step up and not be greedy.

I just hope the PB and Charter for hires get the fares if they have to raise prices. If they don't we as a recreational fishing community can look at ways to offset the surcharge as we have a mass following.

Dont want to see a NJ shore with less boats!

Sure makes fishery management issues seem slight if you put yourselves in the shoes of families that lose everything due to senseless war

[Gumada]

Fuel prices are certainly a consideration when boating or fishing. However, it is certainly not the most expensive part of boat ownership if you berth at a marina. Fuel prices may alter the way I use the boat, but they certainly aren’t going to stop me from using it as much as possible.

IMHO

[Gerry Zagorski]

As far as using our boat, It will definitely not effect how frequently I go but it will effect and make me think twice about how far I go.

As far as charters and party boats, if you divide up the extra price you may need to pay per person, it won't be enough to make a difference to me.

Having said all this, if this is the price we have to pay temporarily to put the screws to Russia I'm all in!

[Detour66]

I will fish closer to port and do less driving around but I plan on fishing and catching fish! Tight Lines!

[reason162]

Having said all this, if this is the price we have to pay temporarily to put the screws to Russia I'm all in!

Amen.

[hammer4reel]

Will fish as hard as normal inshore .
But doubt I will be doing many offshore trips .
The rewards aren’t worth the price of admission .

While I love catching tuna , it’s far from being my preferred table fare .
Def like eating many other fish local to us .


.

[Jigman13]

Two things:

1.) LNG is in the near future. Thatll help tremendously. Mega sites are being built in the US. That'll help offset our foreign reliance on oil. Keep in mind, of the top 10 countries we deal with for crude, Russia is like 9th on that list and it's a fairly small percentage in terms of barrels.

2.) During the pandemic, the US Gov GAVE many Americans FREE money. It was with just cause for the most part, many many families needed it to make some ends meet. These checks and payments were administered under the previous and current administrations. HOWEVER, the bill comes due. Costs on commodities in the US were inevitably going to rise to offset the valuation of the stimulus payments many across the country received. I strongly believe gas prices were going to go up because of this. The Russia Ukraine war has accelerated my expectations. Gas is the easiest way to reclaim the dollars given out. Theres no such thing as free money.

I still plan on fishing, just as I did last year. I'll make less wiggles, perhaps cut back on long distance drives a bit. Ultimately, I cannot put a price on my mental well being therefore, I will fish. And lastly, I'm all on on putting the screws to Russia. As a wise person once said, "this, too, shall pass..."

[Gerry Zagorski]

OK, I've had enough of the political stuff and closed this post.