It doesn’t take a genius to figure out super high gas prices are keeping many anglers from fishing offshore.

All you have to do is see the growing number of offshore boats with “for sale” signs stuck to them along the roadways of the Texas Gulf Coast. On a recent trip to Galveston I counted seven, some of which look like they have seen very little action.

Offshore fishing particularly out of Sabine Pass requires running long distances to get into good fishing and for many anglers it has become severely cost prohibitive.

“I got a boat to snapper fish with three years ago and due to the gas prices I sold it earlier this spring to a guy in Florida. Between the snapper season being so short with a two fish bag limit and then these insane gas prices it was just not worth it,” said Ronnie Singer of Gilchrist.

Gas prices and regulations have also severely hit the for-hire offshore charter industry. The only two party boats in the state of Louisiana recently went out of business and most in Texas say they do not know how much more they can take.

“When the government is making decisions on these regulations they need to take into account the economic impact more. There are livelihoods at stake here,” said Ed Schroeder of Galveston Party Boats.

Schroeder and about 100 other concerned anglers and business owners met last week with Roy Crabtree of the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council regarding the red snapper issue and the consensus was the for-hire sector is on the verge of collapse in the Gulf and the recreational side is in poor shape.

One of the more unfortunate consequences of offshore guides and party boats going out of business or having to greatly increase their charter prices is that it eliminates many of the average anglers from access to the Gulf. Most do not own an offshore worthy vessel and rely on these kinds of operations for access to Gulf waters.

Gas prices are also putting a squeeze on bay fishing charter boat captains who have had to adjust with much higher prices. It is not uncommon to see guided bay fishing trips for a party of three to be between $500-700 along the coast. Freshwater trips are increasing greatly as well with a number of trips I find conducting research on Rayburn, Toledo Bend and Lake Fork going as high as $500 when the top end on those lakes in recent years was around $400 with most in the $300-350 range.

With no end to high gas prices in sight, many anglers will have to rethink their options. Some will become strictly inshore anglers moving in from the Gulf while others may decide to become marsh fishing specialists allowing them to use smaller boats and burn less fuel.

Still others may join the tens of thousands of Texans getting into kayaks and other human-power shallow water craft.

Then again many will endure the costs and continue doing what they love most but no doubt having to hold back the negative feeling associated with high fuel costs and strict regulations so they can enjoy a day on the water.

It is a shame things have to be that way but it is the current reality.

Chester Moore, Jr. is the Port Arthur News Outdoors Editor. To contact Chester Moore, e-mail him at cmoore@fishgame.com. You can hear him on the radio Fridays from 6-7 p.m. on Newstalk AM 560 KLVI or online at www.klvi.com.