wainemaine Loc: western mountains, Maine

I am almost 70 years old, been fishing since i was 4-5. I eat some kind of seafood 4-5 times a week. I live almost 100 miles from the ocean but have a trout brook and 200 feet of water rights on a stocked pond. I have never dropped a hook in either 1 because I don't care for fresh water fish. My brook http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAgxInIdSmc .
The reason I fish is to hopefully fill my freezer, store bought fish is a minimum of $5. 99/ pound and the fish I really like ( sword, halibut,tuna, haddock, flounder, striper) are much more! I weigh all my fishing purchases for how many pounds of fish will I need to catch to justify the expence. I like to see 200 pounds of fillets in my freezer every fall/ beginning of winter to get me thru till the next spring/ summer. So, 200 pounds at say 9 dollars average is $1800 .00.When I worked at the shipyard it was no prob, I had unlimited fish and even lobsters given to me as "Tips" because I did good work.That stopped when I retired and moved here :(
Ok, I use mostly Ugly Stiks mostly cause of the selection and their reliabilty. I have never had a problem with any of them. I am a fan of Kast King , Penn and Fin-Nor reels. I do have 1 Shimano thats been rock solid reliable but was used and cheap. I have a Daiwa eliminator 4500 on a Ugly tiger that i s almost new and is 1 of my must take everytime I go fishing rigs. My surf fishing rig is a Ugly 12 foot Bigwater with a Fin-Nor offshore 6500( that I love. That also doubles as a trolling rod on my boat.I always take a Ugly GX2 7 foot with a Kast king royal legend baitcaster for Sabiki rig for bait and fish like scup and flatfish if I get lucky. The whole purpose of this rant isYOU DON'T HAVE TO SPEND A FORTUNE TO CATCH FISH. I have never spent more that 80 bucks on a pole, and never more than 100 on a reel. I got a bunch of Penn boat rod combos and Sturdy stiks with Whatever reels Kast kings, Abu, I got on sale for the kids, and They catch fish on them too . Yup,I cast my own sinkers and crimp my own leaders/ bottom rigs.

wainemaine Loc: western mountains, Maine

Oh yeahI forgot to say,that 1800 has to include boat reg. permit,fuel, bait and gear.My Starcraft 20 foot Islander was $750.o o with a almost new easy load trailor and a brand new Imron paint job:)

Whitey Loc: Southeast ohio

Show some pictures of the bottom rigs you use.

wainemaine Loc: western mountains, Maine

I just got a new phone and pics are hard to impossible for me right now,but basicly a twisted coathanger/bicycle spoke like a T with 2 short booms for 8" leaders with hooks with a sinker hanging in the middle

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

WayneMaine: I am happy to ready your post. I grew up with your philosophy of "do it yourself" attitude and not spend a lot on tackle, or any more than necessary to catch fish to eat. Only after I became older did I switch to catch and release because I could catch more than I wanted to clean and eat. Thanks for your post. Just Sayin....RJS

Jeremy Loc: America

So you spend 1800 on Fish a year?

wainemaine Loc: western mountains, Maine

hopefully not if I catch enough:)

wainemaine Loc: western mountains, Maine

200 pounds a year is only 4 pounds a week i eat that much easy when u add in clams, scallops, sword, shrimp, and fish. I get very little b eef,pork, chicken. In my life I have NEVER ordered a steak in a restarant.

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

I can understand that, being from Maine. It's different if you are from Texas, or another beef state. Just Sayin...RJS

wainemaine Loc: western mountains, Maine

I was born and raised on a farm had 28K chickens, always had a hog or 2 and a few cows,by the time i was grown I had enough eggs and chicken to last me a lifetime. I grew up where Seafood was a real treat, now that I can afford it, I do !

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

I understand. You might find my article posted under the Title of "Sam Blummer, at Real Salty Sailor". a treat. He and my cousin would not touch any kind of seafood. The story explains why. Just Sayin...RJS

dbed Loc: POMME DE TERRE LAKE MISSOURI

out here you would be branded a heretic we eat beef pork and chicken fresh water fish when you catch some seafood is a luxury catfish at tbe store is $8 a pound good seafood much higher

wainemaine Loc: western mountains, Maine

I still eat a lot of beef, pork, and chicken. Fried , tenders, chicken pot pie. Beef stew, hamburgers, meatballs, meat sauce,meat loaf, pork and beef sausage, bacon. I look at meat like fish, if i can't fillet it, or if there's a bone in it, i'll pass.