Scup

That rowboat, officially registered as a commercial fishing vessel, was originally designed as a ketch. It still retains its centerboard trunk that has been covered over. If worse comes to worse, there is going to be two sticks, a rudder, and centerboard in its future. Must be due to the Sicilian blood that flows in my veins but I am going down fighting and plan to be the last Connecticut commercial fisherman out there when this is all over.

Attached Images

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ChuckA From "Land of the Lost"

There are more and more people burning wood again .I know there will be an insert in the fireplce this next year. I'm planning on a new used boat this year . There will probably be many for sale come June. It will be a diesel for sure .I wont be able to run twins on gas . I sure hope who ever gets in the Novenber election can put a stop to all this BS

Scup

ChuckA,

I think we are in the middle of a tempest, regarding the cost of oil, and unlike most storms this one is never going to let up. We are on a one way street. Things are only going to get worse no matter who gets elected as it is now controlled by the world market. The other day, I stopped by one of my favorite Mom and Pop seafood stores; the price of fresh Black Sea Bass fillets was selling for $15.00 per pound. The owners are hard working, honest people, now caught up in a very tough business. Fishing, commercial or recreational, is going to get pounded because it is so fuel dependent and is now being driven by out of sight oil prices. Charter boats, head boats, marinas, and even marine retail stores are all going to be in the forefront and will be hurting. I have been reading the threads in this form about how hard working captains are being forced to up their fees at a time when people just do not have surplus money in their pockets anymore because no matter how much we love fishing, our first priority is to provide the basic necessities for our families. You are very right in that we are going to see a drop in the number of boats out there. The only thing that might help our captains is if it becomes too much for the average fisherman to own a boat, then a cheaper alternative might be to wave goodbye to your love and get out there on a head or charter boat. Should one compare the cost of their ride, fuel, maintenance, dock fees, insurance, boat payments, etc. against going out on a charter, it just might work out that you could spend more time fishing than if you try to go it alone. There are still many out there (doctors, lawyers, business men, CEO types, etc) that command big salaries, but for us common folk, it looks to me like things are going to get worse not better.

hoopa drives the boat

Here's a good link that can save you a few cents. With the current oil prices, cutting and splitting wood doesn't seem so bad anymore.

New England Oil Prices

__________________
Chris - "hoop"
26' Triton Walk w/ twin 200hpdi
"Here's to swimmin with bowlegged women"

AlloyToy

As a kid growing up every Sunday was the same routine.....Church, cut firewood, mom would have an afternoon meal going, and after that hard work it could have been dog food and it would have tasted great!!!

This sucked at the time but looking back was some great times, laughs, and well spent time with the family. Har enough to get the kids to make their bed & clean their room today............

Maybe the world needs a reality check. We as individuals have become complacent, wasteful, and unappreciative for the basics in life...........

This may be a good time to reconsider life priorities, and think basic.........

__________________

"First The Bite Then The Fight"

Fishgill

How high can it go? If it keeps climbing there won't be any funny money in the budget to go out as much. I'm thinking of looking for some first mate work to get some sea time in. Something gonna have to change.

tunaless greg

You always have to look at the bright side:

1. More, not less people will hit the charter/party boats. It may take a year, but many may mothball or sell their rigs, will find there way back on the water thru these 2 means. A $150.00 day on the water will seem cheap compared to the cost of running your own boat. I know i'm hitting my beloved bunnyclark in april, and delaying my splash a few weeks.

2. Semi-non social fishermen will be forced to socialize and make new friends. It cost me normally (the good ole days.....aka 2007) $150 a day to chase the tunas. This yr....$2-$225. Since I know i will not fish less (i plan on slowing down just after death), I will probably reach out to people on the various sites, to see if they want to go, as long as the chip in. I have met many people this way.

3. Less Pressure! There will be less traffic, better fishing.

4. People will slowwwww down. That piece about chopping the wood is sooo dead on.

5. Surfcasting/kayaking will get more popular!

so, nothing to lose sleep over. Metorite heading to earth=real bad, high gas price=force all of us to be better, more efficent human beings.

On The Edge

Nice First Post greg.
gotta agree kinda like the Carpooling except boat pooling.

Hoop and i were talking about this the other day and off shore fishing is looking like a 4 man mini this season. The 2 and 3 man all day tuna chasing junts are all but out this season.

Any one out there looking to do a day out east for BFT or south for sharkin this season hoop and i are always looking to fill a spot or 2..

Also there are some Great charter outfits out there for just about any type of fishing you want to do, from ground fish to bass and blues, fly and light tackle casting, or running to the Edge. we have it all in NE Definately Patronize you local charter boats and shops.

__________________
Catch um up

1999 proline 2202 wa
1999 200 merc

Special K

spent a couple hours today splitting firewood for next season.
i stopped when my oil delivery came....200 gallons dropped my checking account nearly $700. we spoke on how the traders & speculators were driving up prices at a time when supply is high & demand is low...contrary to all trading wisdom. we are being betrayed from within!

still, i'll be out there with or without paying guests. remains to be seen if it will be less crowded on my favorite grounds.
cheers! cap'n mick

seaclops

The thing that really irritates me is ''OUR LEADERS" knew about this
since 1973 remember the gas lines odd and even days to get gas.
They called it the ENERGY CRUNCH... Whats happened since then,
No new refineries, It took the Japanese to shame us into making better
more fuel efficient cars. Still involved in oil wars, WTF.
I THINK once oil gets to $120-$140 a barrel oil will start pumping out of
united states oil wells now that the price is up there. The days of cheap
oil are all done. We are just going to have to change are ways a bit.