Hey Mister, how much did that fish cost you?

[Pilar]

Does anyone here know anyone that tries to justify the cost of a boat with the fish caught?

Personally I think most of those people have yet to fully understand the meaning of boat, Break Out Another Thousand. Or its their first rodeo and they are still in love with the boat. A guy in a boatyard said 'Marine Financial Unit' (MFU) to me in a conversation about boat insurance claims once. The comment went right by at first but then I had to ask. It is a thousand dollars he said.

How much did that fish cost you anyway? I've tried to figure this out before but man it is sure depressing.

Lets see, 190 miles at 10 mpg and $1.50 /gl so $29 for the rig, 15 gallons of boat gas $27, bait, ice, food, drink - $50. Oh the trailor lights are out and the kicker needs some new 2 stroke gas, make it $15 more for a total of $120. Oh wait there is the trip to the tackle shop for spinners and new tuffline. Make it $140.

Your buddy gives a 20 for whatever.

You fish all day, have a blast and catch one 20 lb hen. Score! another quart of eggs and something for the Bar b que.

What did the fish cost? $7 a lb, just like at the store. What if you got 2 or none? Does it add up until you get a fish? for $20 a pound or more?

What about the cooler full of crab?

But I digress .........

[ 10-26-2001: Message edited by: Pilar ]

[Ol' Blue]

If I worried about the cost of owning a boat - I'd be worry'in all the time. Fishing is recreation and how do you measure the price of fun? Yea, sometimes we come home with pounds of fish flesh for our efforts. Better than "Mickey" t-shirts from Dizzyland.

Some of the most memorable moments of my life were while I was fishing.

[Sliderite]

Hey Pilar! That goes the same with driftboats drifting the river too! Those that go or those hear of your catch always think small dollar amounts to get that catch. If ya got a rig that eats gas for fun like $20 to $25 there and back and then buy sandshrimp(2 dz just in case your xcellent eggs need help)..your catch is kinda special.
I have been asked...where is mine? I say it is probably still swimming up the ******* river!! Those that DON'T ask for fish get my fish...period!!!! They are the worthy ones!

[local_hooker]

I explained to my wife that it's no different than throwing cash in the burn barrel......But it's a whole lot more fun.

I have had crab trips that more than paid for themselves, as long as you judge that individual day and not the investment as a whole.

We can't take it with us when we go, so go get that new reel, or rod, or boat, it's only money?

Sean

[Pilar]

Amen. Its all about the fun. When I see the kids faces all lit up on a crabbing trip, I don't really care how much it costs.

To me what is really cool is watching a guest change their mind about the Ocean. Some start out with dislike, fear, apprehension.

They all seem to end up somewhere near awe and wonder.

A few guys I know are all about tallying up the expenses. I don't fish with them anymore .....

[brshooter]

We look at it as that first fish cost us 30K. After that, they are all paid for. That way, you get it out of the way. Don't even try to figure what it cost per fish or per pound. That's not the point. It's kinda like hunting, you could go buy a side of beef much cheaper than it costs for a week long elk hunt when you figure everything involved.

Boat - 28K
Poles, tackle, & Misc - 2K
Watching my wife land a nice fish - PRICELESS!!!

[ 10-27-2001: Message edited by: brshooter ]

[Pete]

How about "life-cycle" costing? Include all related expenses over the life of the asset ... had to buy a new truck to pull the boat, gotta include all the gasoline and maintenance expenses, insurance ... but you get to offset by any depreciation you can claim and any money you realize on the disposal of the asset (sale of the boat or truck) .... Aw forget it ... it's just fun! I'm not going to think about it! images/icons/grin.gif

[Thumper]

As a sort of meat fisherman I have concluded that only by going to Alaska for salmon is there barely any financial sense to fishing. It works out to $14 a pound for the highest quality fish on the planet. And of course the week's vacation and the offset in costs you would have incurred had you stayed here probably cuts that cost to about what you would pay at Freddie's. Not a bad deal, and the fish is of much better quality.

[ 10-27-2001: Message edited by: Thumper ]

[fishchaser]

You can count up all the money in the world but you can't put a price on life long memories. Memories are PRICELESS Could you put a price on the smile of the boy images/icons/grin.gif images/icons/grin.gif images/icons/grin.gif http://www.ifish.net/uploads/350911294.jpg images/icons/shocked.gif images/icons/shocked.gif

[ 10-27-2001: Message edited by: fishchaser ]

[ 10-27-2001: Message edited by: fishchaser ]

[Lipripper]

I'm sure we would all agree if we could accurately figure the cost per pound of fish we would likely find out that it is cheaper to by your fish at Safeway. But that's not the point. "Fresh" fish at Safeway is not the same as "fresh" fish you caught. Not only do you know how fresh it is but it also tastes better. Fishin gis a hobby and like all hobbies it cost money and time to persue. I am just thankful that my hobby also produces eats. The **** with the costs GO FISHING!!!

[Barnyard]

And no one added in thecost o the divorce and lawyer either...LOL

[livininthezoo]

Okay, I'm convinced!!! Time to refinance the house. I'm going BOAT SHOPPIN!!! images/icons/grin.gif images/icons/grin.gif images/icons/grin.gif

[Mr. Fisherman]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR> Lets see, 190 miles at 10 mpg and $1.50 /gl so $29 for the rig, 15 gallons of boat gas $27, bait, ice, food, drink - $50. Oh the trailor lights are out and the kicker needs some new 2 stroke gas, make it $15 more for a total of $120. Oh wait there is the trip to the tackle shop for spinners and new tuffline. Make it $140.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Heading back through the Fog Dog and looking over at yer buddy and grinning from ear to ear like you just robbed the bank cause ya just put the fish box through another capacity test with multiple target species....PRICELESS! images/icons/grin.gif

John, this season has been full of memories that will last my lifetime. How many sport boaters can say that they have had more than one Halibut day with Triples? I don't know but I have seen them three times this year alone and two of those were with you.

Thanks dude.... Yer the greatest! images/icons/cool.gif

[ 10-27-2001: Message edited by: Mr. Fisherman ]

[Pilar]

Basically Ray we're screwed. Where do we go from here dude?

Well thanks all for sharing. Pretty early on when I watched my Dad with his boat, I learned that fun is priceless. Fun on the water is worth any cost.

Turning a newbie onto fun on the water is a lifelong ambition....

[Dogfish]

I spent around $2,000 this year on fishing trips this year, and I have about 65lbs of fish left in the freezer of about 130lbs caught this year, (my son and I punched a total of 34 fish that we brought home this year). Add to the pounds that the guests on my boat caught and kept, maybe another 300 lbs, and then the contributions they gave back to me for gas, camping and bait (about $1500), and I come up pretty good for my fish, for about $3.30 a pound, all fish combined, about $2.25 a pound. Now add back the fun I had with my son and guests, and I am way ahead.

280 mature salmon brought to my boat this year! I just hope I get another chance, no matter what the cost!

Andy

P.S. In case you're wondering, the pounds listed are just filets only. No bones, no guts, no heads, only meat.

[ 10-27-2001: Message edited by: Dogfish ]