Have you had to choose a life in the woods or on the saltwater?

[yfarm]

This is a good point.
we've done a good bit of traveling the last five years, but I still haven't narrowed down where I'd like a place in the Mountains.




That was before they were all running 40' Freeeman cats...

I run a 29 and a 33 and at 72 my body gets fatigued doing overnights. I have a friend who has a 40 cabo, he drives and I nap in the salon, thats better. He owns a boatyard and takes care of the repairs. He is 65 and the pounding is starting to get to him.

 

[deltadukman]

That's a tough decision, and I hope to one day have a place in both. My wife has plenty family and we have a lot friends on the MS coast, so that is where base will be for now. I hope to own a place and move residence one day to somewhere in the mountains.

You mention the boat and marina being financially unsustainable. I don't know what costs are like in CT, but I'd be willing to bet you could do twice the fishing on the Gulf Coast for your cost in the Northeast, especially out of smaller, less populated areas in MS, AL, LA or TX. And we can fish year-round. We don't keep boats in the water, so there is no marina fuel cost, slip cost, etc. Fuel up at a regular gas station, and use the public boat lunch. Some guys pay for storing their trailered boat in a covered lot. We can do an overnight trip for YF tuna, red snapper, and swords with 6 guys and spend $100-200 a head.

We can head a couple of hours north and have a 100k-acre national forest to hunt whitetail and turkey.

Can confirm. Have a place in BSL with a boat in the back yard and hunt in the Delta. For as often as I draw tags out west, I can drive out there. But I can fish and hunt damn near any day I want to. But shhhhh...doesn't need to be publicized.

 

[Mr. October]

I left my easy saltwater access behind to move to where there were jobs. That was almost 40 years ago now. I still go back and fish as it isn't that far but it is too far to own my own boat.

 

[DiverCat]

Despite all of its flaws… and there’s a lot.. California does allow for me to enjoy the sea, and the woods. I’m glad I don’t have to choose between the two.. that’d be a tough call for me. Good thing about the ocean is that there’s always something to “hunt” for, all year round

 

[StuckInTheEast]

Knees shot? From what?

I think I'd choose salt. I've had enough mountains and the salt is new and exciting, for me.

35 yrs of damn near any activity can wear out knees or various other parts whether it be from work or play. Thats just life, but it certainly factors into the type of decision OP is contemplating.
Physical limitations brought on by age or kicking ones own ass for many years put aside...Id go woods/mountains over big water any day.
Thats just my happy place. The PNW would be a close second offering both, but certainly has its own trade offs.
Having grown up and currently stuck in the east(Midwest I guess is actually more accurate)
Ive been fortunate to travel quite a bit. For me, Ive never been on a trip to any coast that I wasn't ready to leave within a few days...save for Oregon/N.Cali coast, but that was a short trip.
Ive not made it to Alaska yet to have an opinion there.
The mountains though, I never want to leave everytime I get to them. The only reason Im not living there yet is its tough to find solid paying work out there to support a good quality of life for a family and realestate thats priced in the realm of reason close to that work.

It'll be different for everyone and thank God for that. If there was any one place that made everyone happy we'd be killing each other to get there and only the richest would be able to afford it...and they do anything possibly to keep the common folks out.
To the OP, It sounds to me like you currently have few limiting factors family or financially speaking so you have freedoms most dont in that regard.
I think the suggestions of traveling and spending chunks of time in places you are thinking would "scratch the itch" are solid advice. Then focus in on the one that you find fits you best.
I can relate to your geographic conundrum and wish you the best in finding the place that suits your desires.

 

[IdahoElk]

I love both hunting in the mountains and fishing in the sea, When you're young you can do both unrestrained to your hearts content but as you age things start to slow down hunting wise as I don't see many if any 70yr olds packing out Elk or climbing 2k vert to get a deer, However fishing in the sea you can do until you kick the bucket.
I moved out west 35yrs ago to be Jeremiah Johnson, had a great run but now see myself planning trips around fishing more, I still love to hunt but see my buddy's slowly disappearing when it's time to pack in for elk/deer hunting.

 

[AK Troutbum]

Absolutely no reason why you can’t have them both.

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[SurfAMHuntPM]

Yes- I have historically been choosing between the two every; extra vacation day, trip and budget dollar I can find.

 

[Capt.Gene]

First post by the way. Surprised it took me this long.

Basically, I'm torn. I grew up in AZ. All my exploring, hunting, off-roading started in the desert. I then moved to the Idaho Panhandle. Continued everything i loved. Spent every moment i had deep in the woods. Rough terrain nonetheless. But then life set in,

For a job that I no longer have got me to move to New England. CT to be exact. I lost everything i enjoyed back west. But I have become an exteme saltwater fisherman. In 5 years I have had a few boats, go out 3+ times a week and even became a part-time/fill-in mate on a charter. Often 40 miles off shore.

But that lifestyle is taking a toll on me. Mentally and financially. It just seems unsustainable. Everything about a 25' boat at a marina is big bucks and we're not talking deer.

But my love for the outdoors is too strong. If I dont have that here, I'll have nothing here. I am debating if moving back west is in my cards.

Of course if anyone is familiar with the Panhandle, there are 3 massive lakes for fishing. Some of those fish can be bigger than the fish I'll get out here. But I never got to involved in fishing there, I had enough going between hunting, hiking, shooting, exploring in the sxs, ect.


Has anyone else had to make similar decisions/sacrifices? Thanks.

You only make so many trips around the sun. Do what makes you happy.