SUBJECT: # 39272: Never again, fishing buddies?

Submitted by RickK (64.12.117.14) from VIRGINIA on 9/8/04 8:15:00 AM

I haven't seen this SOB in 4 years. He shows up at the door one Sunday, several months ago, with his new wife, wanting to be friends, again. I'm not only reluctant to let him in the house, but to let him off the property alive. The wife's attitude is "give him a second chance".............he's back on his feet, and maybe a changed man.

Rich, I'll call him, is a General Contractor, so he's been doing fairly well in the past 4 years. New house, built with his sweat equity, and a new 2 seater Benz, new trucks, equipment, etc............the homebuilding business is booming in Northern Virginia....................

He and another fella come to Ocean City for 2 days. I put them both up for 2 nights, we use my boat and equipment. We go out to dinner, he doesn't buy. The first day we can barely make it out the inlet, so we turn around and fish the bay. The second day we make it out the inlet, in small craft warnings, and troll the Jackspot. He's determined that we go, but he's not the Captain, I am. Against my better judgement we went, we fished, caught nothing but a couple skippies. He's pissed because we didn't chunk................ We go to Royal Farms to fill up the boat. He and the other guy go in his 4 Runner, ahead of me and my brother. While I'm filling the boat he and the other guy get a sandwich and coffee. My brother brings me a chili dog.........................

This man will NEVER set foot in my house, on my boat.......

My wife now understands how much this SOB is inconsiderate, and thoughtless........she now understands............

I can't believe I allowed myself to be lead down this frickin path. Never frickin, again. Had the boat gone down, his new, 5 month pregnant wife, would have sued the $hit out of my estate. Now the wife finally understands..........

RickK

1. 9/9/04 8:02:00 AM Submitted by Capt. Rick (192.58.204.226) from NORTH CAROLINA says Sorry Rick
   Burn me once shame on you, burn me twice shame on me. I know the feeling and it will never happen again. I guess some "friends" never do change. Good luck up there for the fall season I do miss that nice big inlet and the Jackspot bluefin. I fished out of OC for 20 years but fell in love with the NC coast and fishing.

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2. 9/9/04 8:02:00 AM Submitted by Gerry, SFHP from VIRGINIA says Blackhole in the water that you throw money into...
   Sometimes this is one of my favorite subjects to rant about. But the fact of the matter is unless your a charter nobody really owes you anything. I just find that I tend to be pretty careful about who I'm willing to take out a second or third time.

   I always get annoyed with people who say their paying their fair share by buying ice and/or bait. Nothing gets my goat better then guys who ask can't we get away with just 3 bags of ice (I tend to like at least 6 in the fish box.) I would just about rather not have them chip-in then get cheap on essentials. The other classic case is the guy who loves to do off-shore trips (in fact loves to suggest them) but after the trip says he will take you out flounder fishing in the sound in his bay boat (and maybe burn $10 of gas.) This is particularly aggrevating while your pumping a hundred dollars plus of gas into the boat. But then again if your setting the condition that they help pay you had better state it before the trip starts.

   I have some good friends that fish with me and they always volunteer to pay more then half the cost of the trip, so we get to take a lot more trips. It doesn't really lower the base cost of the boat (monthly payments, maintenance and equipment) but it does make it easier to afford more trips.

   Equipment is another cost that people tend to ignore. We always use my equipment since I've had some really bad experiences with people insisting on bringing and using inadequate or poorly maintained gear (this has happened both fishing for big stripers and offshore.) I get pretty upset when I see people mis-using my gear, but I don't hesitate to remind people about its cost and/or proper utilization.

   I try to look at my boat as my labor of love (remember your the one who signed the contract) and try to realize it's a lot easier to fish offshore with a partner (even one that doesn't want to split the cost) then it is to go it alone.

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3. 9/9/04 2:38:00 PM Submitted by RickK (64.12.116.143) from VIRGINIA says Yup!
   You guys both hit the nail on the head, so to speak.

   For the past 4 years I've developed a great circle of fishing buddies in the development where the house is located. All these guys are boat owners and appreciate the trials and tribulations of fishing and boat ownership. We're all about 50 years old and really don't venture out if there's a distinct possibility we'll get beat up all day. I didn't need this SOB, and as a matter of fact, I was pizzed when he showed up at the door.

   Want to hear about how he TRIED to charge me $5500 for a 28 square roof 5-6 years ago........

   You're right Gerry, fool me once shame on you, fool me twice...........I figure I cut my losses...........

   Thanks for the support and letting me vent!

   RickK

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4. 9/9/04 4:09:00 PM Submitted by Capt. Ken Roy, Whopper Stopper Sport Fishing from ALABAMA says How many times have Iheard this tale.?
   Great post. I think I know the guy. Come to think of it, I know both of his brothers too.

   You have a boat, ergo, you must have plenty of money and my company should be very valuable to you. You ought to be honored that I chose to fish with you and, of course, you shouldn't mind cleaning up the boat after me and, what is a little gas?

   Yeah, I have met the guy.

   As a charterboat captain, I hve been stiffed a few times, stood up at the dock waiting on guys more than once, etc.

   Now, I am semi retired. I have a few old time clients who I love to have aboard, fish when I want to, and have the knowledge to avoid XXXXXXXX like the plague.

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5. 9/10/04 1:07:00 PM Submitted by KenG (155.103.6.254) from NEW JERSEY says Capt Ken Roy
   Ken, is your web page still up? My link has not worked for awhile...

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6. 9/10/04 7:11:00 PM Submitted by Carl (4.154.36.165) from ALABAMA says I've been lucky...
   When I owned my offshore boat, the friends I took out with me almost always picked up, or split evenly, the tab for bait, gas & oil. We had acces to an ice maker, so that was not an issue. Other than providing the boat & gear for the day, I almost never paid for anything for the trips we took. Heck sometimes they even bought dinner on the way home. They also never complained about scrubbing the boat, washing rods, helping clean fish & all the other stuff that goes on back at the dock. I guess I just have great friends.

   Now, if I can just get them to make payments on the new boat I want to buy......

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7. 9/19/04 10:33:00 AM Submitted by john (208.8.57.2) from TEXAS says cost
   well i only take people that know that they r going to help with the cost i do not think that i payed for any fuel this summer they all know what it takes to go out and the fuel is the cheapest think of the boat.

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8. 9/19/04 7:06:00 PM Submitted by ArtsNFlies.com from ALABAMA says All too true
   Sorry to hear it but as the above all have said, same story told over and over.

   Even fishing the surf I'll take someone out, show them some of my favorite out-of-the-way spots and all I hear is whinning:

   "What a long walk!" "Too much weed here to fish!" "All that driving and no fish!" Someone we meet says they did well else where and the whine is "Why didn't we go there instead?"

   I'm now very picky who I take fishing.

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9. 9/23/04 9:39:00 PM Submitted by NickN from GEORGIA says Since I run a bass boat in salt water for fishing....
   It doesn't use much gas. We usually catch our own bait, and a couple of bags of ice is plenty. What I appreciate the most is a fishing partner who stays to help clean up the boat and gear. When I go out with someone who has an ocean going boat, I always buy half the gas, bait, and ice, and stick around to clean up the boat and gear. I'd have to be pretty two faced to do less!

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10. 9/24/04 9:16:00 PM Submitted by Wyt (24.163.55.66) from NORTH CAROLINA says Consider myself lucky
    I've been lucky enough to have Gerry take me out for Tuna and Stripers several times.

    Like anyone these days I cringe at the thought of fueling the boat, but then I realize that putting half the fuel in and buying ice and bait is nothing compared to making the payment on the boat. If you are lucky enough to have someone that will take you... out pay your share!

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