i, too, have friends who seem more available during the fishing season. but hey, fishing is our common bond. non boat owners really have no clue as to the expense & commitment of ownership. do they call in early spring when we're preparing our vessels for the season? as a uscg master & life long angler i do offer some charters, but much of my fishing is with family & friends.
one trip comes to mind when an long time friend asked to bring his grandson on a fishing outing. (bringing young-uns is a pleasure to me) after a day of finding this 10 yr old blitzing blues topwater, fluke on the drift, & ending with a couple respectable T&W stripers. the lad was ELATED!. back at dock i split the fuel & bait with my bud 50-50. half my treat, although i guided all day without hardly wetting a line, i was happy to offer the experience to the lad. so as my bud shells out a little cash he comments that fishing sure has gotten expensive. i called him a cheap irish so & so and told him that the 10 hour charter he just was on was over $400 retail value.. he just said he would never pay that kind of money for such a trip. i said i would give much more than that for the memories created that day with a grandchild.
sorry for the long winded post, just a point of view. not all about fishing but quality time with those we care about...
cheers! cap'n mick |