Plan Your Fishing Trip.

Hi
Welcome to the Fishing Tackle Box.
Today’s topic is: - Don’t Be Cheap

Anglers leave fishing expenses buried in the fine print of a credit-card bill or, better yet, pay cash and forget about it. After all, fishing the ocean from a private boat offers relaxation, fun, the chance to catch dinner and hours of uninterrupted time for family bonding — pleasures that, at least in theory, have no price tag.

Yet, as the long days and calm seas of summer expand fishing opportunities, costs— like it or not — become a factor.

If the cost of a fishing trip and getting your fishing tackle box up to standard are not ever a factor for you, congratulations. For the rest of us towing fishing boats and grumbling about the cost of a gallon of gasoline at the neighborhood filling station, is a reality. Here are some tips for fishing on the cheap.

Make a few phone calls. Find the fish before launching the fishing boat, then launch the boat as close to the fish as possible.

Take a friend. Fishing buddies can chip in for fuel, bring bait and tackle for the fishing tackle box and make the trip more enjoyable. The number of fishing guests should be limited based on the size of the boat. Nobody likes fishing in a crowd. If you're lucky, fishing friends will help you wash the boat, clean the fish and chip in at the fuel pumps.

Don't troll — unless you're doing so on the way to another fishing spot. True, you'll still have to run the engine to get back to the boat ramp if you're drifting over productive fishing areas, but you won't be running it for hours while you're fishing. Another cost-cutting option: Anchor near a nice patch of reef and chum to catch fish.

If you trailer your fishing boat, fill it up before you launch. At marinas, gasoline often sells for more than it does at a filling station.

Keep the bottom of your fishing boat clean. Barnacles and other bottom grunge increase friction. Similarly, keep the engine tuned so the fishing boat runs as efficiently as possible.

Use live fishing bait if it's available and you have a live well on your boat, but bring dead fishing bait such as sardines and squid as a backup. That way, you won't spend time and fuel running the ocean in search of bait.

Start planning your fishing trip and your fishing tackle box the night before, especially on weekends. If the ice and food are in the cooler and the boat is hooked to the car or truck, you'll make it to the boat ramp earlier, launch with fewer hassles and be out on the ocean fishing well before the fish are picked over or an afternoon thunderstorm chases you off the water.

Oh, many a salty sea angler has a few recycled sardines, squid or ballyhoo lurking in his or her freezer. These can be chopped up and tossed overboard to attract fish to the boat — or used for tipping jigs pitched at fish. And there are plenty of stories floating around about prized fish taken on fishing baits that have been in the freezer since the Korean War, probably because the lucky anglers happened to be at the right place at the right time.

But, as a general rule, don't skimp on your fishing bait and fishing tackle kept a in fishing tackle box.

Be careful when it comes to fishing hooks, leaders, jigs, swivels and other fishing tackle as this is where knowledge of fishing knots plays an important part.

Fishing hooks should be strong and sharp and fishing Lines and leaders should be changed regularly.

Wire tips are a good idea on monofilament leaders because toothy fish such as kingfish can sever monofilament leaders. Check to make sure the wire has not been kinked and that connecting fishing knots, swivels and other components linking the terminal tackle to the fishing line are in good shape.

Fishing Rigs are best changed a day or two before a fishing trip.

Don't use old fishing line that has been worn down by abrasion, sun and salt. If it's questionable, change it at home and throw it away there.

Few fates are worse than hooking the fish of a lifetime — or worse, having a friend or child hook it — and watching the fishing line snap because you were too cheap or too lazy to change it.

Finally, if your fishing reel has a drag that's about as smooth as a car lumping along on a flat tire, have it serviced, fix it yourself, give it away or leave it at home.

With some things, it actually pays not to be cheap.

Good fishingand until we meet again next time,
Enjoy your Fishing