Florida Sportsman Action Spotter Podcast

What Is The Cost of Keeping The Boat In Ship Shape?

·59 min·5 clips

Host Rick Ryals asks regional experts how much you really spend annually on boat maintenance as a percentage of its value.

The episode opens with host Captain Rick Ryals introducing a trip around Florida's fishing regions and Costa Rica, starting with a report from Craig Sutton in Nassau, Costa Rica, where marlin, mahi, and yellowfin tuna are abundant. Sutton details his boat maintenance costs at $100 per trip, with lower unit oil changes requiring beaching at low tide every 15 trips. The show moves to Northeast Florida with David Boreas, who discusses redfish fishing affected by recent rain and tides, and addresses whether too much bait hinders fishing, using a tarpon anecdote about isolated pogies. Boreas estimates maintenance costs at nearly 20% of boat value, noting rising live bait prices. Captain Jim Ross reports from the Keys on snook and trout fishing, advising anglers to gear up for large snook, and suggests varying bait types when mullet are overabundant. John Earhart in Stuart covers mixed pelagic catches and snook fishing, with a side discussion on jack crevalle fighting ability. Ray Rocher in Miami talks offshore fishing for blackfin tuna and sailfish, advocating for titanium leaders over mono for better catch rates, and shares maintenance tips like painting bilges white for leak detection. Brandon Storm in Islamorada reports on tarpon and bonefish, with maintenance costs around $12,000 yearly. Greg Stamper in Southwest Florida discusses nearshore permit and tarpon, echoing the bait variety strategy. Ray Markham in West Central Florida covers snook and mackerel, noting fishing pressure issues. William Toney in Homosassa talks tarpon migration and cobia as opportunity fish, estimating 20% of income goes to boat upkeep. Kevin Lanier in Mexico Beach prepares for red snapper season and cites 10% annual maintenance costs, including lower unit replacements. Tyler Massey in Destin reports on inshore redfish and offshore vermilion snapper, with federal snapper seasons discussed. The episode wraps with Ryals summarizing improving fishing statewide, especially for blackfin tuna.

As heard by us

A statewide fishing report becomes a practical conversation about tackle decisions and the real cost of boat ownership.

The clearest angle here is the cost of keeping a boat in working shape. Captain Rick Riles frames it as a practical question: should annual maintenance rise in proportion to a boat's price, whether it is a $100 johnboat or a million-dollar vessel?

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Why you'd press play

Curious what your boat really costs each year? You get a trip from Costa Rica around Florida, with fishing reports riding alongside a lively upkeep question.

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