Author Topic: Budget fishing trip  (Read 2290 times)

fpjeepy

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Budget fishing trip
« on: February 24, 2022, 06:12:09 AM »
I posted on a fishing forum looking for options for inexpensive boat rentals in areas that are inexpensive to get to via commercial flights and have good saltwater fishing. I like being outside. I like fishing. I hate winter in the northeast and it gets me pretty depressed. Getting away for a weekend and going fishing is worth spending money on for me. But I wanted to know what would have the most enjoyment per $.

The other forum wasn't very useful. Most comments were calling me a cheap skate and telling me I should spend more money; that "Fishing ain't a cheap hobby."

One person did contribute. And I found a few myself. I figured I would post them here, in case anyone else was interested

Steinhatchee, FL $199/day
Steinhatchee, FL $199/day
Crystal River, FL $90/day
Homosassa, FL $160
Milton, FL $120
Hudson, FL $170/day
Weeki Wachee River, FL $150/day
Everglades, FL $89/day
Layton, FL $179/day
Everglades, FL $125/day
Pawley Island, SC $175/day
Murrells inlet, SC $149/day
Urbana, VA $100/day
Cape Charles, VA $187/day
Annapolis, MD $84/day
Solomons, MD $199
Ocean City, MD $119/day
Delaware City, DE $100
Seaside Heights, NJ $86/day
Ocean View, NJ $110/day
Highlands, NJ $185/day
Bronx, NY $120/day
East Moriches, NY $168/day
Charleston, RI $150/day

If anyone has any other suggestions feel free to post.

gooki

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Re: Budget fishing trip
« Reply #1 on: February 24, 2022, 12:17:44 PM »
Nice work. Some of those are cheaper than hiring a suitable kayak for a day.

If I could rent a boat at those prices around here, I wouldn't bother owning one.

fpjeepy

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Re: Budget fishing trip
« Reply #2 on: February 24, 2022, 12:59:13 PM »
Nice work. Some of those are cheaper than hiring a suitable kayak for a day.

If I could rent a boat at those prices around here, I wouldn't bother owning one.

Maybe you should start a boat rental business.

Poundwise

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Re: Budget fishing trip
« Reply #3 on: March 07, 2022, 07:45:12 PM »
Have you considered fishing off a pier? Or renting a cabin (or finding a way to stay in one free, perhaps as a caretaker or dogsitter) near a lake or river?

pressure9pa

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Re: Budget fishing trip
« Reply #4 on: March 09, 2022, 11:27:59 AM »
Solid list, but I agree hat your options get a lot better if you are willing to consider freshwater fishing. 

ROF Expat

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Re: Budget fishing trip
« Reply #5 on: March 13, 2022, 12:36:55 AM »
fpjeepy,

I fly fish and I seem to have a knack for making what should be a low cost hobby expensive... 

But saltwater fishing doesn't have to be expensive.  If you want to fish saltwater for a reasonable cost, I'd look hard at the Tampa Bay area.  I've only waded there, but it looks like you can rent a kayak for around $50 per day the first day and $20 per day for the subsequent days.  You can camp in the park for about $40 per night.  The fishing in the area is good and includes species like redfish, snook, and seatrout. 

Good luck! 

BikeFanatic

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Re: Budget fishing trip
« Reply #6 on: March 13, 2022, 06:22:15 AM »
Also cape cod Massachusetts you can fish in the canal from land, and the beaches, but not a warm climate in winter. Can be expensive to stay too.

dblaace

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Re: Budget fishing trip
« Reply #7 on: March 13, 2022, 06:38:35 AM »
Galveston or other Gulf coast areas are an option. You could fly into Houston Hobby and drive down. I went a long time ago and I think it was on this boat. https://charterfishinggalveston.com/fishing-charters/12-hour-fishing-charter-texsun-2/ It's $115 now. We had a great time and caught a lot.

texxan1

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Re: Budget fishing trip
« Reply #8 on: March 18, 2022, 10:22:22 PM »
You may consider getting on a few forums and finding people you can go with and chip in for gas and such.. For example.. The largest fishing website in Texas is 2coolfishing.com... There is a classifieds section for people looking to chip in gas and such and go fishing.... I am a FIRE'd fishing guide in texas and we do trips all the time where its people wanting to just go fish... we all chip in and fill the boat with gas and go.. another optioin is alot of fishing guides now do Open boat trips, where they get each person to pay say $150 bucks etc.. These are easy to find for galveston area, and im sure many others too.... facebook is a great place to find these in most coastal communities

fpjeepy

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Re: Budget fishing trip
« Reply #9 on: March 21, 2022, 07:21:02 AM »
Solid list, but I agree hat your options get a lot better if you are willing to consider freshwater fishing.
I like to eat the fish I catch. Nothing wrong with eating largemouth and sunnies, but I just feel funny doing it.
fpjeepy,

I fly fish and I seem to have a knack for making what should be a low cost hobby expensive... 

But saltwater fishing doesn't have to be expensive.  If you want to fish saltwater for a reasonable cost, I'd look hard at the Tampa Bay area.  I've only waded there, but it looks like you can rent a kayak for around $50 per day the first day and $20 per day for the subsequent days.  You can camp in the park for about $40 per night.  The fishing in the area is good and includes species like redfish, snook, and seatrout. 

Good luck! 
Agreed. Redfish and seatrout are my favorite. Both are delicious as well. Catching a keeper snook in FL is difficult and you need the extra permit and its one and done. Not opposed to catching them, but usually not my target.

Also cape cod Massachusetts you can fish in the canal from land, and the beaches, but not a warm climate in winter. Can be expensive to stay too.
I ran a charter business out of Mystic, CT for a few years with my dad. He still does about 60 trips every summer. Plenty of places to catch striper, scup and tautog from shore up there.

You may consider getting on a few forums and finding people you can go with and chip in for gas and such.. For example.. The largest fishing website in Texas is 2coolfishing.com... There is a classifieds section for people looking to chip in gas and such and go fishing.... I am a FIRE'd fishing guide in texas and we do trips all the time where its people wanting to just go fish... we all chip in and fill the boat with gas and go.. another optioin is alot of fishing guides now do Open boat trips, where they get each person to pay say $150 bucks etc.. These are easy to find for galveston area, and im sure many others too.... facebook is a great place to find these in most coastal communities

I usually prefer the DIY method, but I think I could get on board with this. I haven't spent much time on 2coolfishing, but I have posted on thehulltruth. I didn't get much positive feedback there. "Fishing isn't cheap. Fork over the cash or find a new hobby" was the idea of most comments.