We planned this trip for a few months. We were meeting at my house at 3 am to get an early start. At about 10 pm my fishing buddy texts me and says "my throat is bothering me so I don't want to go fishing". I wrote him back and told him to go to the store and pick up some tampax, and I would let him know how we did. I texted my other buddy that was still going and told him and asked if he could find someone on such short notice. He quickly wrote back that he filled the spot.

We made the 90-mile drive down, covered 80 miles on the water, lost several lures to the mangroves hidden below the water, ate lunch, caught plenty of fish, and made the 90-mile drive back home. Good thing I packed plenty of extra food and drinks because this extra guy showed up with 1 bottle of water and no food for an entire day of fishing. Needless to say, he ate and drank almost everything I brought because I told him to help himself not thinking he would clean out the cooler. As this fool is leaving, he hands me a $20, and says "I know gas is expensive, so here is a $20 to help pay for the costs".

That didn't even cover the cost of tolls on the turnpike. To top it off, he says "give me a call next time you go out, I will go anytime". It would be one thing if I were loaded, I wouldn't care, but times are tough and that was a big part of our conversation while out on the water. As my buddy and I were saying money is tight, this guy is bragging about how good things are Financially for him right now.

Ok, I'm done venting now. Does anybody else have a story that they want to vent and share? You might feel better. I do.

10pm, buddy bows out but found a guy to fill seat snd be resdy at 3am Chances are the guy didn’t know what all the details where snd thought was invited without cost sharing.

Just like boating with other people, if you don’t discuss plans and $$$ (eating out etc) then you are inviting them as guest snd paying. Usually. If they don’t know, they don’t know. Many of us boaters, when invited on another boat usually bring this up and offer up.

That's the thing...you have to be a boater or participate in what ever activity you are going on to understand the dynamics of it.
Years back i had an extra snowmobile that i let people "borrow" when we went up north....it was the beater sled...and 1981 skidoo citation 3500
I specifically told them THEY are to pay for their own gas if they want to come along.....i've had that sled rolled, one guy hit a tree, another went into the ditch...went over the handle bars bending them with his knees and took out the windshield....all kinds of things. Only 1 guy has ever offered to pay to repair it! He was the only one that got return invites

Sorry its not a fishing story

Best I can do. lol

I have a rule on my boat that none of my guests are allowed to pitch in for gas. I bought the boat for me and you are my guest on my boat. You wanna bring some food and drinks....no problem but I pay the gas bill and everything that goes with it.

I fish a lot by myself, but the guys I do take with me are there for the fish, and for the company. Not many on that invite list. If I take someone that doesn't know the ropes, I will teach them the ropes.....as my guest.

If it was a charter....I get it that you splits costs that's part of it and that would certainly be annoying so long as he knew the financial obligation prior to showing up.

Stacy and I strive to be the best hosts possible and try to provide as much as we can when we head out for a day with friends. I do appreciate it when people pitch in for big weekends/events where a significant amount of money needs to be put out for fuel (poker runs for instance).

Rules:
Poop before we leave the dock.

Did ya hear the one about the gal that went fishing with 5 guys and came back with a big red snapper .........

Two old and long retired friends decide to go out offshore fishing for the day in a boat reminiscent of the 'Orca' from the movie Jaws.
Conditions were a bit rougher than usual and it wasn't long before one of them became violently seasick.
Heaving over the gunwhale he accidentaly chucked his newest set of false teeth into 1000' of blue water. He was furious and inconsolable .

Half an hour later his buddy hooks and hauls aboard a nice 85lb tuna . With his back turned to his friend he cleans and guts it on the transom and slips his own set of false teeth into the belly of the fish. He turns to his friend and says 'Be damned , look at this ! ' as he pulls the expensive dentistry out of the tuna's tummy and holds them in the air.

Totally unexpectedly and in the blink of an eye his friend grabs them and puts them in his mouth in happy disbelief . A few seconds later to colorful expletives he spits them out and throws them overboard exclaiming ' these aren't mine , they don't fit ! '

We keep a 26' Glacier Bay cat in Cape Coral and regularly go out 50-75 miles. I usually take 3 or 4 with me, some family, some friends, and even a stranger or two that wants to go fishing. I buy the gas, I buy the bait, I buy most of the food and drink. Of course when we get out there, we use my rods/reels and tackle. I typically spend the day tending to the boat and trying to put them on fish. I hardly ever fish myself any more. Even with the strangers I have never accepted anything from them because I just like watching people catch fish, and I feel great that I am the one putting them on the fish. Many times, a 200-300 pound grouper, 7' shark, or big baracuda will leave a lifetime memory with them, If they offer anything at all, I refuse, but tell them that they need to help somebody out someday, or if they are ever in a position of being able to share good fortune, they do so. Funny thing is that I feel like i get as much out of the trip as they do.