I'm finally in a position financially to buy a power boat (sled or saltwater fiberglass) if I want to. Would buy new and something in the 18-20 ft range with all the necessary goodies.

But I don't know if I should with the state of our fisheries. I've been around this game long enough to know that the only consistent thing about Washington's fisheries is that they are inconsistent. Much more so in the last decade and that's what troubles me. I'm looking ahead and honestly, the writing on the wall I see ain't good. Everything from salmon to steelhead to sturgeon to crabbing to clamming is being more and more restricted(all the things I like to pursue).

Sure, things are cyclic but with gas going the way it is, more people and more restrictive fishery opportunities by the year I'm not so sure this is an era where a new boat would be a good investment.

On the other hand, I fish. It's what I've always been and is the fabric of who I am.
I've got bank fishing & driftboating covered. A power boat would be the next and final step in my climb up the fishing ladder.

If you were in my shoes, would you "take the plunge" with the state of things? I have enough doubt right now to avoid pulling the trigger.

What would you do?