Catch limits on sea bass and other species are having an impact on the whole fishing industry. That includes boat sales, as many fishermen cut back their spending on new equipment.
Some of them say the limits have had a big impact on sales and service, but others aren't so sure.
They're sleek, beautiful and packed with features, including price tags not for the faint of heart.They're the boats at the Grand Strand Home and Boat Show. Boats are luxury items for most people, so in a weak economy, sales really suffer.
Catch limits on popular species like black sea bass and red snapper only add to the reasons people give for not buying a new boat.
"I've actually had people come and tell me, 'yes,' we'd love to have the boat. I love to saltwater fish, I would love to have the boat and would buy the boat from you, but why buy the boat if I can't catch the fish?"asked Terry Brown with the Marine Service Center in Murrells Inlet.
It's not just sales. Dealers say fishermen aren't spending as much to keep their boats serviced and maintained.
"Big twin engine boats - it takes away a lot of service, too," said Scott Terrell of Coastal Marine. "We don't see them near as often anymore."
But some in the fishing industry support the catch limits. Fishing guide Rod Thomas says meat fishermen, who catch fish for the purpose of eating them, hate the limits. But sport fishermen, who catch and release their fish, support the restrictions.
"They realize that the laws that are put into effect are actually to benefit us and from my perspective, I've got to go out and catch those fish again tomorrow," said Thomas, a boat captain with Ponytail Guide Service. "So for me, I am all for it."
Thomas says the still-weak economy is having a bigger impact on boat sales than the catch limits and many dealers agree.
"First thing that's going to go and the last thing someone's going to purchase when they can't afford it," said Terrell.
But he adds that he sees signs that sales are starting to come back, saying that customers still want to see value these days - more bang for their buck.
