Howdy Finegrain,

I said that "one" of the reasons that I go out was to get some fish to eat, primarily hatchery silvers. Not many wild fish killed by me, except for four pinks and one king this year. I prefer silvers to most others, except sockeye. They're the best, but I can't catch those with regularity.

I go fishing for the entertainment value. That's the primary reason why I go. My boats been paid for for about 4 years now, so one tune-up a year plus gas, oil and bait, plus gear replacement are what I have to figure in. Both salmon rods are over 12 years old, etc. Total invested in gear is about $3,000.00 because I bought my boat with a friend. Figure 30 days a year on the water fishing, crabbing, and shrimping you get about $25 a trip, but that gets less every time I go out.

Last trip I spent $60 on gas, $24 for campground and moorage, and $30 on bait. Add in about $5 for gear "used up" specifically on this trip and I get about $120 for the total trip. Cost of food doesn't count, 'cause I'd eat it no matter where I was. Divide that by the three of us who went and you get $40 per person for two days of fishing, or $20 a day each. Now figure that we caught two fish each, average of about 7 pounds with maybe 10 lbs of meat in each person's daily limit.
That gets me to about $2.80 a pound. We also caught 53 fish. so there was definitely some value in the fish we released.

Is it the cheapest or easiest way to get food? No! It is a lot of work, and it takes a lot of time, but there is satisfaction that you get from it that just doesn't exist at the grocery store. I also butcher my own game, so I know that the time and money involved make it more expensive. Hunting and fishing are my hobbies, and I do both relatively well, but I am willing to pay to do it. I could ride dirtbikes like some of my friends, but what could I bring home except for broken parts, and dirty clothes?

You are right that eating is the icing on the cake. Providing a dinner for your friends just makes it even sweeter.

Kid Sauk,

I agree with you on the wild fish issue, but your average city dweller citizen doesn't possess the knowledge that you, I or Finegrain has about the issues related to salmon and more than half wouldn't know what an adipose fin was. Some dork in advertising probably thought, "Well, if they don't come from a farm, they must be wild."

That is why I catch my own fish to eat, so that I know if it is wild or hatchery. I am in control of what I eat.

Take care, and I know that we are all on the same side of the issue. Andy