Cost per crabbing trip and other thoughts...

[ravlegend]

Let's see my cost per trip as a pier based crabber

-necks-$2
-ice:  $2.50
-drinks/lunch: $5 per person
-gasoline:  $15 (rough cost)
-losing premium sleep time in my A/Ced room:  almost priceless

You know, sometimes I wondered if  all the investment worth all that effort in catching a dozen or so crabs.
I means, doesn't it make more sense to just buy a dozen jumbo's from my nearby seafood place and save 6 hours of my life?

ANSWER - Well WORTH it to me!   As someone mentioned, it's liked going to Vegas - you never know what you might get.
Getting a jumbo is liked hitting 777 on a slot machine, and a throw back is liked a cherry  ...

What's your cost per trip & other thoughts?

[Stevo]

To the Wye or Narrows

$15 fuel for truck
$15 fuel for boat
$ 8-10 in bait
$5 toll
$15 in beverages
$ 15 in food for me and the kids

4-5 hours lost sleep..........

The Magothy about $25-30 less and 2 1/2 extra hours sleep, and back in earlier!


Yep, well worth it!
Still less money than taking them to an Orioles game and a much nicer reward and better quality time!

[HenPot]

$60 for fuel
$75 for boat/motor
$2.50 for toll
$6 for bait
$50 for lunch/drinks/snacks on boat
$20 to get crabs steamed for family
$7 for a Wendys #2 plain, with Coke

1 whole nights sleep lost!

Yep, well worth it, willing to go everyday!

[dfran]

Are you ready for this?

     $120      Gas for truck/boat
     $5          Tolls
     $40        Food  2 breakfst, 1 lunch, 1 dinner
     $40        Beer
     $10        Bait
                   Lost Sleep- Who cares?
                   8 hr. round trip to the Wye

Is it worth it? By all means, I love it.

[frankwyte4]

$15 launch fee
$20 in gas in the truck
$10 in gas for my lil motor
$3 in necks for the day
$10 in cold beverages

and i'll do it any chance i get, I only buy em when I strike out on the water or never make it to the water.  If i get one 8 incher it was worth it.

[CrabstaDude]

  good ones guys..

here's from NY to the Wye... approx 7-8 hrs r/trip

$75 - car fuel r/trip
$20-$25 - tolls r/trip
$40-$75 - boat rental (depends if we're too lazy to bring our motor)
$15 - gas for our motor if we bring it
$15 - chicken legs bait 36 count
$25 - lunch/drinks/snacks on boat
$80 - for lots of coffee 
$3.00 - for quart of transmission fluid
$25 - co-pay for chiropractor next day - lower back manipulation
sleep - same deal - zero

wye oh wye 

for the action !! that's wye 

[kingcrabber]

lets see....$75 for fuel..$20 bucks fer bait...$3 fer coffee...$40 for GROG..$40 fer Heaters...$3 for ice...$75  for Philly hoagies  ...and the time spent with you guys..PRICELESS..

[kingcrabber]

see the laugh?..this was Kennys(Crabbygramps)  first trip on the Wye  ..I dare anybody to put a price tag on that kind of memory  ..I'm just fortunite to see that kind of laugh when I go crabbin with someone  can anybody tell me how much that laugh costs? 

[CrabstaDude]

lets see....$75 for fuel..$20 bucks fer bait...$3 fer coffee...$40 for GROG..$40 fer Heaters...$3 for ice...$75  for Philly hoagies  ...and the time spent with you guys..PRICELESS..

you're right brother Ric.. the times spent on the river with pals and family is priceless..  them Philly hoagies are also terrific !!  hey, i make a mean Italian hero for our trips.. ask brother CJ. i get a big loaf of the semolina bread and all the regular italian meats, sweet and hot peppers.. the works !!! 

[GV]

....and here I am bitching and complaining about driving 20 minutes to get a boat and 20 minutes back before I can head on my journey to the Wye....which happens to be 50 miles from my house.....the Severn and Magothy are about 20 miles.

I don't think I have that little switch flipped in my brain yet.

I enjoy crabbing.  I really do.  I don't mind gettin up early.  I don't mind slinging chicken necks.  I don't mind crabbing in 100 degree heat.

But - I don't think that I'd drive to crab as long as you guys.....and I know that, given the chance - I wouldn't stay out on the water as long as you guys.  I think most of you guys are more hard core than I am.  This might label me as a Crabber-lite....or Wuss Crabber.

If Neptune means for me to catch crabs and I'm rolling - I'll catch my limit.   If the crabs shut off - I'll go home and cook my wife and daughter a nice brunch.

I've been out a few times w/ different folks.  I think for me - I'll head out a little later than most.....maybe hit the water right before legal time....if someone is in my spot (I'm new - I don't have spots) - I'll find another......This gives me another hour of sleep.  I'll also come off the water much earlier than most.  I read all the posts about getting done mid afternoon......By the time you guys get the boat out of the water - back to your house....steam the crabs.....de-bait lines and flush motors.....I don't see how you do it.  I'm exhausted when I get back and I haven't had nearly the work you guys have had.

I'm doing this to enjoy myself.....and have fun.....and spend time w/ those I care about.

What have we learned?  GV is a wuss.  I can live w/ that.....b/c all I really need is a couple dozen....for me...the time w/ friends and family out on the water and the chance to come home and enjoy the crabs - that is a successful "hobby". 

For me crabbing will be a hobby........and one I plan on enjoying w/ my family and friends.....for years to come.

Amazing to see the lengths people go to go crabbing.  I feel that way about one of my hobbies......perhaps one day I will feel that way about crabbing as well.  Maybe I have not had that "epiphany" yet....

GV

[kingcrabber]

I'm doing this to enjoy myself.....and have fun.....and spend time w/ those I care about.

..b/c all I really need is a couple dozen....for me...the time w/ friends and family out on the water and the chance to come home and enjoy the crabs - that is a successful "hobby". 

For me crabbing will be a hobby........and one I plan on enjoying w/ my family and friends.....for years to come.

Amazing to see the lengths people go to go crabbing.  I feel that way about one of my hobbies......perhaps one day I will feel that way about crabbing as well.  Maybe I have not had that "epiphany" yet....

GV

Brian..you understand ..you've had your "epiphany"..you just havent realized it yet  ...it aint about catchin a bushel of crabs..its about catchin a bushel of memories 

[Crabbyd]

lets see....$75 for fuel..$20 bucks fer bait...$3 fer coffee...$40 for GROG..$40 fer Heaters...$3 for ice...$75  for Philly hoagies  ...and the time spent with you guys..PRICELESS..

$90 fine for no life jackets....

still priceless!!!!!!!!

[captaincrab55]

$90 fine for no life jackets....

still priceless!!!!!!!!

Thats not funny.....      O  Well   

[GV]

Brian..you understand ..you've had your "epiphany"..you just havent realized it yet ...it aint about catchin a bushel of crabs..its about catchin a bushel of memories

Thank you Yoda.

Very profound - I hope you are right and I do catch those memories.  I sure as [Sam Hill] plan to.  We'll know more after this weekend.

[crabologist]

I never really give it much thought . I guess as long as the bills get paid and I'm having a good time I'll just keep doing it . But some of you guys really shell out some coin for your adventures . That just tells me we all share a serious passion for this sport . As long as I keep seeing you all out there , I'll keep going ....................

[twicebitten]

Crabbin:
     gas(boat):  $15.00
     gas(truck):  $25.00
     bait:            $  4.00
     food/drink:  $20.00
     tolls:            $15.00
     -------------------------
     total:           $79.00

If I wasn't crabbin, I'd probably be golfin

    green fees:  $60.00 - $90.00
    with cart
     2 dz balls:   $30.00
     golf glove:   $15.00
     food/drink:  $25.00
     ------------------------
     total:          $130.00 - $160.00

so the way I figure it I'm saving money.  I can golf for 6 hours, get pissed off at the idiots playin slow, then be really unhappy with my game.  Or I can go crabbin, -- I've never had a bad day crabbin -- hopeful, pull-in a bushel or two --  go home and have a crab feast.  Friends are always amazed with the Wye crabs.  I'm a hero, at least until the crabs hold out.

Even with the high cost of gas; its only costing me $15.00 more now compared to last year.  Just need to stay away from the fast food junk a couple of times a week and I'm golden.

tb

[guy22391]

typical trip to the severn or PAX:

gasoline:  about $20 either way
food and drink: $10
lack of sleep after getting off at 1am: ARRGGHHHHH
bait: $5 to $1traps i bought this year: $100

First year out on a boat and the worst day ove had is a dozen and a half, few heavy.  Getting out on the water enjoying the day and coming back with something is priceless.  Heck for a dozen of the average crabs Ive caught I think its running $30.  Its so much more fulfilling catching them for yourself. 

[procrabber]

you guys are forgetting the cost of your boat itself!  the largest expense.  Take what you spend in a year and divide it by the number of times you go, and also take what you spent for your boat, divide by the number of times you use it before you get a new one.  dont forget trailer too.  it costs me 400/day to go crabbing with pots

[Black Irish]

you guys are forgetting the cost of your boat itself!  the largest expense.  Take what you spend in a year and divide it by the number of times you go, and also take what you spent for your boat, divide by the number of times you use it before you get a new one.  dont forget trailer too.  it costs me 400/day to go crabbing with pots

You're starting sound like my wife now.

Button that lip before we're all in trouble.

[frankwyte4]

$90 fine for no life jackets....

still priceless!!!!!!!!

  that was a low blow   

oh yeah i forgot to add that one to the price list.

[Crabbyd]

that was a low blow   

oh yeah i forgot to add that one to the price list.

Frankwyte4

It wasn't to you....the last time I was at the wye, ran into KC and JH...the man had gotten them that morning without life jackets.  .  So I keep kidding the king about it.

[frankwyte4]

well da man just busted me on sunday for that same thing.   thats a big ticket it sucks
      

you guys are forgetting the cost of your boat itself! the largest expense. Take what you spend in a year and divide it by the number of times you go, and also take what you spent for your boat, divide by the number of times you use it before you get a new one. dont forget trailer too. it costs me 400/day to go crabbing with pots

don't forget the cost of the traps/trotline and then everytime u hit the water the traps/trot depreciates,   

OR you just crab and worry about the money when you don't have any more.

[Crabbyd]

well da man just busted me on sunday for that same thing.   thats a big ticket it sucks
      



but you had them..just the wrong size.........

[tattoo]

SORRY to hear that.

[CRABGUY]

PER TRIP COST
LETS SEE , GAS FOR THE BOAT 9 BUCKS /3-4 TRIPS
GAS FOR THE BRONCO 5 BUCKS
BUNKER 5 BUCKS
RAMP FEE 5 OR 8 ON THE WEEKEND
BEER 5 BUCKS

TOTAL TIME , BOUT 45 MINUTES TO AN HOUR, DOOR TO DOOR
USUALY 3/4 BUSHEL OR BETTER