A boat gas pump at the Georgetown Landing.
John Horton, the Dock Manager for Georgetown Landing, says times are tough for all fishermen right now.
Horton says between Georgetown County tax codes, catch limits on many species of fish and gas prices, things are becoming too much for fishermen to handle.
"I see a lot of charter boat captains having to take odds and ends jobs just to make ends meet, like painting houses," Horton says.
Charter Boat Captain Jamie Moore pays more than $350 to fill up the Instigator. His boat's fuel tank holds more than 100 gallons, and he paying $3.63 per gallon of diesel fuel.
Rising fuel prices have caused the Grand Strand's charter boat industry to rethink prices.
"We want to make it as economical as we can," says Moore. "But we still have to cover our own behind."
Moore says charter boat captains working with The Crazy Sister Marina plan to increase prices on certain trips to take up the slack of rising fuel prices. Farther traveling fishing trips, such as the mid-day and Gulf Stream, could see a rise in as much as $100 each.
The marina says the increase gives them another option other than asking customers for a fuel surcharge. "We try to stay away from that because it's very difficult to have someone book a trip at one price and then ask them later on to pay another price," Moore says.
Reservationist for Crazy Sister, Mandy Cook, is preparing the marina for the start of the season Thursday.
"We're going to start with a shorter trips tomorrow so their will be no price adjustment as of now," says Cook.
The marina plans to begin the longer trips April 1st.
