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Ohio's 1990 Lake Erie Charter Fishing Industry
Author(s) -
Lichtkoppler Frank R.,
Hushak Leroy J.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
fisheries
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.725
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1548-8446
pISSN - 0363-2415
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8446(1993)018<0014:olecfi>2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - charter , fishery , fishing , oceanography , fish <actinopterygii> , geography , biology , archaeology , geology
Abstract In 1990, the Ohio charter fishing industry on Lake Erie consisted of 1,211 licensed vessel captains, an increase of 517 over 1985. Primary charter fishing activity shifted from June, July, and August in 1985 to May, June, and July in 1990. In 1990, boat‐owning charter captains made 37.5 trips annually in vessels that averaged 8.3 m (27.3 ft.) in length, 5.8 years of age, were inboard powered (75%), and licensed to carry up to six passengers for hire. Almost two‐thirds of the responding captains plan to increase the number of charter trips they make in the next 5 years. The average boat‐owning charter captain grossed US$10,020 in estimated charter fees and incurred $7,079 in operating expenses and $6,126 in capital expenses in 1990. The mean vessel replacement cost was $43,676. Business‐related, on‐board equipment was valued at $5,484. As in 1985, only those captains making more than 60 trips per year have economically viable enterprises which more than supplement the costs of owning a pleasure boat. The typical 1990 Ohio charter fishing vessel was newer, larger, more expensively equipped, and run by a more experienced captain than in 1985. Fewer boat‐owning captains had a positive cash flow in 1990 (38%) than in 1985 (42%). Operating expenses and capital expenses were higher in 1990. Gross revenues were about the same as in 1985 due to higher trip prices. Boat‐owning captains made 6.3 fewer trips in 1990 than in 1985; a major factor in reducing the average number of charter trips taken was poor weather.