Here's my take regarding comparable prices. With ports, these boats sit side by side, most with prices published. Don't think barbers, plumbers and even charter boats have a similar situation. If there's five boats side by side and one has a cheaper price, whose going to get most of the business from people who don't fish that often. I'm sure that factors into it whether it's agreed to by all or not.

More so here's my take regarding prices in general. This is where regulations are killing these businesses. People are talking about bait and gas prices. This is a capital intensive business, how much does the boat cost and what kind of mortgage do these operators assume. Interest and principal payments alone must be significant and are due whether they sail or not. Factor in property and casualty insurance, crew costs (even if they get tips), slip rental, winter storage, repairs and maintenance, ancillary equipment. All these are significant costs, required just to be in the game before the first fare steps on board and incremental to operating costs like fuel and bait.

Now factor in how many less people are sailing these days due to regulations and try absorbing what are predominantly fixed costs into presumably lesser fares and truthfully I'm amazed prices haven't increased more. Now factor in how short the season is in this area of the country, legitimate bad weather days, days with not enough fares to sail because the weather man botches the forecast and how limited the time frame is for these owners to scratch out a profit to justify their existence. And when every marina turns into a high end water front real estate development, high end marina which doesn't cater to recreational or party boats or another 9th Ave. Pier in Belmar, I don't think anyone will be concerned if they charged comparable prices to eke out a living. Most people by that time won't even remember what a party boat was.