Party Boat Seahorse

[courbeco]

Does anyone know happened to the Seahorse? Why did they give it up?

[penn50w]

From the Seahorse Face Book page - June 3rd We announce with great sadness that the Sea Horse has sailed for the last time. This was a very tough decision to make and very upsetting to say the least.

There have been many great friendships formed on our decks along with many wonderful memories. We are going to deeply miss our time spent onboard with our customers and just want to say thank you for your patronage over the years.

Capt. Jack

[Jpell15]

Was wondering...can those party boats survive only fishing daily during fluke season? I know during the spring for blues and stripers during the week only a few boats would get out everyday.

[NoLimit]

The draggers have killed the whiting, ling, winter flounder, and weakfish. They are doing a number on fluke too.

These boats used to be railed throughout the year. People would go home with burlap bags of frozen whiting in the fall and winter. Spring was for winter flounder and weaks. Plus you had the usual seabass/blackfish.

It aint like that anymore.

[Jpell15]

The draggers have killed the whiting, ling, winter flounder, and weakfish. They are doing a number on fluke too.

These boats used to be railed throughout the year. People would go home with burlap bags of frozen whiting in the fall and winter. Spring was for winter flounder and weaks. Plus you had the usual seabass/blackfish.

It aint like that anymore.

That's my point....most of the year the boats can't fill their rails....I'm sure that makes it tough to survive.

[SaltLife1980]

The laws are killing sea bass fishing too. After fluke if there is no bass what do you fish for? Its a joke. I also heard when i was at the shore last week that they are going to make the season even shorter next year

[MrAC1980]

I also heard when i was at the shore last week that they are going to make the season even shorter next year

I've had some great times on the Horse over the years! Definitely going to be missed... Those ole wooden decks are surely appreciated during those cold blackfish days! The AH docks definitely aren't the same with her gone...
And Jeff, they say that every year... The whole fishing industry as a whole sucks... look what happened down our way in LBI... used to be 4 or 5 PB's, now we're down to 1.5 (the red/white cat PB doesn't get a whole number, lmao).

[bunker dunker]

very sad to see the sea horse go.this is just a sign of the times.

[Capt. Debbie]

Its a tough and seasonal business. Depends on the bite. Depends on weather. And it depends on how many passengers show.

Even a look at the fares are older guys. Not a lot of 20 years olds on board to fish.

Whiting have not been targeted in almost 3 decades. Most north Jersey anglers have only heard about those days before their lifetime. "The good old days"

It's odd because I would almost guaranty the waters are much much cleaner than they were in the good old "hey days" of the 1970's.

Things change. Some good and some not.



The draggers have killed the whiting, ling, winter flounder, and weakfish. They are doing a number on fluke too.

These boats used to be railed throughout the year. People would go home with burlap bags of frozen whiting in the fall and winter. Spring was for winter flounder and weaks. Plus you had the usual seabass/blackfish.

It aint like that anymore.

[dakota560]

Nolimit is dead on. It's always been a seasonal business. Difference is there were always a species or multiple species to fish for throughout the year. Today with all the regulations that's no longer the case. There weren't many of the younger generation fishing back in the 60's or 70's either. but there was always a viable fishery which justified sailing year round. Commercial harvest and politics have crippled this sport for the recreational angler and for charter and party boat operators. It's that simple. Whiting / ling absolutely destroyed by commercial over harvest....period. Flounder. in the 60's and 70's flounder were insanely abundant. The last what 7 years have essentially been closed and still today you don't see anywhere near the numbers in the spring or fall. These fish produce millions of eggs each, where the hell are all the fish going. Talk to guys in Shark River and many of them will tell you they didn't see a winter flounder caught the entire spring in back. I'm sure the dredge operation and warm winter had an impact, but that river used to be paved with flounder. Weakfish were destroyed by greed many years ago. And politicians want pay for catch limits. As if the resource belongs to your local politician. Sad but one thing and one thing only killed the fisheries and it's greed on the commercial level and on the political front.

[laketrout]

Dakota, I couldn't have said it better....

[TAB95]

If you step back and take a serious look at this industry you will quickly come to the realization that this recreational fleet "downsizing" will continue. You can argue about the culprit but I think it is the deadly combination.

Restrictive and unjustified legislature

Stretches of terrible fishing

Declining interest in younger people

[RussH]

I'm 35 and I often notice that I'm one of the youngest people on the boat. I very rarely see the grandfather with the 6 or 7 year old teaching him the ropes. Or the kid yelling for the net for no reason because he's excited he caught a sea robin. That's on us. Much of the rest of it is definitely on the regulation side of the industry and the commercial draggers.

And on top of ALL of that it's not a cheap hobby and party boats are for the lower to middle class angler. But think about it, a day out is at least 100 bucks. You've got 60-65 for the fair, another 10-20 for the mate, tackle say 5-15 dollars, gas and tolls depending on where you come from. I know I can't afford to go nearly as often as I used to and I didn't even go more than twice a month back then. ALL of that even doesn't include the gear you need to have. Sure you can rent a rod for 5 bucks. But if you are a hobbyist you're not going to rely on rod rentals. So another 100-500 for a rod/reel per species you want to target?

It's a tough situation, but at least the boats that survive SHOULD be the very best boats.

[arat]

Rumor is that the boat failed coast Guard inspection and it would have cost an arm and a leg to fix it up. Better off just to close up I guess

[Capt Joe]

Sect De. Bay has at least one "rogue" in its ranks as most know.

btw, have you checked the latest "yellow sheets"? Getting crowded in there.

[the1jonc]

This is sad news. Another boat from the fleet is gone.



And to top it off this personally impacts me. I have a certificate for a free trip that I won't get to use.