Monthly fishing trip budgets

[SC53]

I’m curious what y’all’s budget for fishing trips for a month and how many days you go out of the month.

I’m not talking tackle, just fuel costs based on where and how far you have to travel.

For the wife and I, being retired, and being on a fixed income, we have to consider where we fish to get the most out of our budget.

 

[A-Jay]

My open water season is usually April thru Oct.  So during the 6 months of hard water, I'll contribute monthly to my own fuel fund.

Until recently, it worked out pretty good, but the wild rise in gas prices for both the truck and the boat have really required a concerted effort on my part to ensure my fuel cost needs are met that next year and I can still feed the bait monkey 🐒 as required. 

A-Jay

[Tennessee Boy]

It’s about priorities.   I fish whenever I can.  I eat if I have any money left over.

[Bankc]

For me, it's more about time than money.  I'm not retired, so on the weekends, I usually have chores and stuff to catch up on.  And there's just not enough time on the weekdays to go fishing.  So I probably go about two times a month on average, or once every other weekend.   Some months more, some less. 

 

As for how far of a drive, I like to keep it below about an hour's drive (two hours both ways).  About the most I can spend on fishing is a half day, so I don't want to waste any more time than that driving.  Every once in a long while I'll make a longer trip, but to be honest, it's rarely worth the extra effort.  The lakes get better the further east I drive.  But the further out I get from home, the less I know about that lake, and the more time I spend running around looking for a place to fish, instead of just fishing. 

[gimruis]

2 minutes ago, Bankc said:

For me, it's more about time than money. 

 

Same.  At this point my time is more valuable than my money.

 

There was a point not long ago where I would have said the opposite.

 

Like @A-Jay stated above, my season is about from mid April to mid October (approximate based on weather).  Gas prices have fallen pretty dramatically here though, at least compared to a year ago.  Almost every place I fish is within an hour of my house, except one, which is about 90 mins one way.  That particular location I go to about 4 times/season.

[GreenPig]

Sadly the amount of fuel/time I burn in tractors, zero turns, and big trucks, doesn't leave enough time for me to go over a fishing travel budget. 

Typically I get my boat on the water twice a week. In a month my truck burns $180($5 a gallon) and Mercury burns $80 - 90($4 a gallon). So $260 -270 a month, but given the time I'll gladly double that and some months I do. Many short trips to fish local ponds are not included.

My fishing budget is one of the many reasons I married a Doctor.😆

[Rockhopper]

10 minutes ago, Bankc said:

For me, it's more about time than money.

Nail on the head.  I am blessed currently to be very financially stable.  But with three kids playing club sports, and myself coaching travel baseball year round, I have not much time for my own hobbies.  Heck I have a nice dirtbike that I have not ridden in almost two years now.  Used to take it out every other weekend.

 

Thats why I bought a kayak.  My trips usually involve only a couple hours and I want to utilize the time as best as possible.

[Susky River Rat]

I get out 4-5 times a month once thanksgiving hits that drops till about april. I do not really budget myself on money. My bills get paid I’m not living tight. I’m also not eating steak every night. I just maintain. 

[Mike L]

Being a co angler, the vast majority of the time I fish tournaments from September to May. Most of my friends are either salt water guys or co anglers like myself. 

I fish the BFL and Bass Nation circuit and a few invitationals. 
Considering entry fees, fuel for my boaters, big bass and total weight side pots and required club dues to fish, I average a little more than $3,000 a season. 
 

Doesn’t include lodging and travel expenses for tournaments in Central or North Florida or out of State if fortunate enough to qualify 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SC53]

@A-Jay thanks for replying Andy. I know you’re retired and would have some input.

 @Bankc that’s kinda what we do with trips. Some long distance trips just aren’t worth the “ return on investment “ so to speak.
Being we live right off the St. John’s river,  it’s much easier, and cheaper, to go to it being one ramp Is 2 minutes from our house and fish it.  With West Lake Toho being  100 miles round trip and Headwater and Stick Marsh being 230 miles round trip we save those for the better springtime.  

[The Budget Angler]

I'm a college student without a boat, so as long as a rod doesn't break and I don't lose too many lures, I can stretch $10-20 for a month.  I fish at least once a week, usually two or three times, but I also don't fish tourneys or anything.  That $10-20 doesn't include gas for the truck, of course...

[crypt]

I have never really counted my dollars when fishing....I might not fish anymore trips if I saw what I have spent over the years. seriously though it's my hobby, passion,it's what I do. It's my way of life so cost doesn't count. My wife says I work hard and long enough to not let cost get in the way. Also I don't go overboard anyway when going on trips. I'll sleep in my truck if I have to. bring my own food drinks etc. the biggest cost if fuel. 

[SC53]

@crypt I’m mainly talking about the fuel costs too. When you retire and have a fixed income it makes a big difference.

[J._Bricker]

Like you @SC53, I can go fishing on any day ending in “y” year round, for which I’m fortunate. As others have stated, fuel costs are a big part of things for both my boat and truck. I’m guessing I average a least $200 on fuel between the two, not including the $15 launch fees which is just part of doing business.

 

*edit- $200 on fuel per month 

[Big Hands]

I live less than 2 miles from Castaic Lagoon, and another mile or so to the upper lake. My 40 hp four stroke practically makes it's own gas. On a long day of running around, I might use three gallons, but usually a gallon to a gallon and a half for the boat. 

 

This year, I have been throwing many more hard baits than plastics, which is crazy talk if you know much about the way I fish most of the time. I used to figure that plastics are cheaper to fish than hardbaits, but after this year, I have been rethinking that logic. I was even going to start a thread to discuss just that.

 

Normally, it would be a $25 launch fee per day, but I volunteer at the lake so I launch for free. I can go for a few hours and not feel too bad about doing so.

 

My fishing budget has been pretty modest lately TBH.

[DaubsNU1]

Several lakes in the metro area...I fish three primarily...they are 2 miles, 7 miles, and 19 miles from my house. Menards is 10 miles, Walmart is 11 miles, and work is 31 miles from home.

 

I try to fish Saturday and Sunday mornings on the regular, unless we have something going on, or a project around the house. Don't sleep much...so I am usually on the water before sunrise, and back home around lunch time. 

 

Wife likes the new boat...she named her "Marge." Most mornings she will bring me snacks around 10 AM, and ride around with me for an hour or so before we head home for lunch. 

 

Brother and I take my Dad to South Dakota every spring -- we split cost of fuel, Air BnB, and Dad's license. Good times! I'm guessing Brother and I spend ~$300 total. Drive up on a Thursday...fish Friday, Saturday, and part of Sunday...then drive home. 

 

This summer Brother and I made the trip to Canada to chase big Pike. Just the two of us...cost was ~$1,400 each. Two days to drive up, five full days of fishing...two more days to drive back. Food, lodging, fuel, licenses, etc. (I'm not including the 4-6 months of Bait Monkey prior to this trip 🤫). Looking to do this trip again in 2026.

 

 

[Jig Man]

I typically go twice a week.  My outboard is a 250 hp and uses quite a bit of gasoline.  I fish lakes where I might travel as much as 30 miles in a day.  I budget $500 for boat and truck gasoline and boat fuel additives.  Some months it takes it and some months it doesn’t.

[Functional]

I'm with @Bankc and @gimruis here, more about the time than money. 2 kids, a wife, house, yard, trying to advance in career. Closest family is 3 hours away except the few weeks a year the inlaws are down (still 1 hr away). The rest of the family is 10 hours away. We do a lot of traveling because of it and I dont care what it costs, when I have the window I NEED to go out and decompress. 

[Bankc]

I'm lucky in that when my grandfather taught me HOW to fish, he also taught me WHY to fish.  For me, the best part of fishing isn't catching fish, but just being there, fishing.  And that taught me all kinds of valuable life lessons, like happiness is a choice we make, and not a reaction to our situation.  You don't need to catch fish to have a great time fishing.  Because fishing isn't actually about catching fish.  It's about quieting the mind and connecting with nature.  Sure, I'd rather catch fish.  Who wouldn't?  But that's not the goal.  That's not why I do it.  The goal is to have a good time and come home a better person than I left.  To remind myself, of myself.  You know, to smile for no good reason other than it felt right! 

[TOXIC]

Kind of a loaded question because if you factor all of the costs that go into a day on the water, it can be a staggering amount.  Especially if you are a boat owner.  I went through the process in depth because as a sole proprietorship in the guide business, I had to split all of my costs out for the business.  There’s not a lot of difference on the balance sheet between fun fishing and guiding except there’s an income side to offset the expense side.  As a casual fisherman you still have a lot of the same expenses.  
Fuel-Truck and boat.

Insurance-Truck and boat (+ large liability for guide).

Maintenance-Truck and boat.

Gear&Baits

Launch&Ramp Fees

 

Of course there’s a lot of additional things that go into a business operation like clothing, phone, office equipment, home office write off, advertising, etc.  and there is some offsetting things like sponsors providing baits/gear.  You can add in more costs if you tournament fish (entry, travel, lodging, food) and let’s not forget, time is $$, whether you are fun fishing or not, your time is worth something even though we all agree it’s worth the cost.  Nowadays, I am happy to go when I can, take my trips to Michigan and Florida as annual expenses (I am going up to the St Lawrence in a couple of weeks as well), throw my buddy some gas $$ when I ride with him, and keep my paid off boat and truck in service for the days I want to hit the water alone.  

[Pat Brown]

I bank fish a lot and I fish from a Jon boat that has me paying about 150$ a year give or take to stay on the water.  I only use a trolling motor and battery.

 

I mostly spend money on new rods and tackle throughout the year but lately I'm trying to spend less money and fish with the lures I have.  I'm coming to the realization that I couldn't fish every lure I own before I die even if I tried.

 

Trying to stick to terminal tackle and replacement rods etc for the most part this year but we all know how that goes 🤫🤫🤫🤫

[Alex from GA]

When I lived in S CA and had a saltwater boat the cost was many times more than now.  I'm in GA and have use of 1/2 of my neighbor's dock so towing isn't a cost unless I'm not in FL where I have to tow.  5 gallons of gas a week plus oil is about what I use.  For river fishing in a kayak I go all over GA and spend a lot more on gas but it's worth it.  In FL I we live within 35 minutes of 5 lakes, 2 rivers and the gulf so, even with fishing 4 times a week it's not bad.  I spend more $ in gas going to Drs appointments than fishing; you'll see.  

[Skunkmaster-k]

I don’t really budget. I just do things. 

[Woody B]

1 hour ago, Skunkmaster-k said:

I don’t really budget. I just do things. 

 

Me too.  I'm pretty tight though.   If I want something I'll buy it, but I probably spend less than average.  I work hard for my money.  That makes me careful about how I spend it....but it also helps me spend some when I decide to.   

[king fisher]

I have time for 1-2 trips a month.  Price for a two day trip.  Gas, food, drinks, misc.  around $100.   Catching that big one- priceless.