The $564.50 Flounder

Jake stood at the edge of Carolina Beach boat ramp, looking at his fishing rod in one hand and a single flounder in the other. The waves crashed rhythmically, providing a serene backdrop to Jake’s mounting frustration.

After meticulously planning a fishing trip, Jake found himself reminiscing about the money he’d spent. The drive from Charlotte, pulling his small boat with his Ford F150 FX4, had cost him more than he’d care to admit. The hotel stay, while comfortable, had its own price tag. And then there was the food, the fuel, and the wear and tear on his truck and trailer.

His friend, Ron, had jokingly said, “Why not just buy a flounder at the store?” But Jake, enamored with the thrill of the chase, wanted to catch his own. Now, staring at the singular, small flounder, he couldn’t help but wonder if Ron had been right.

With all expenses considered, Jake’s trip had cost him around $564.50. A realization hit him: This was the most expensive flounder he’d ever “bought”, considering one would only cost him about $16 at his local store.

In the grand scheme of things, was it worth it? Perhaps not for the flounder itself. But as Jake packed up, he remembered the sunrise over the ocean, the thrill of the first bite on his line, and the peaceful solitude he felt. Maybe, just maybe, the experience was priceless

Conservative Estimated Trip Cost

1. Distance: The distance from Charlotte to Carolina Beach is approximately 200 miles one way or 400 miles round trip.
2. Gas:

• Let’s assume your Ford F150 FX4 gets about 15 mpg towing a small boat (this can vary depending on many factors).
• At 400 miles round trip, you’d consume about 27 gallons of gas.
• If gas costs an average of $3.50 per gallon (it could be more or less in 2023), the fuel cost is $94.50.

3. Wear and Tear:

• The IRS mileage rate for 2022 was 58.5 cents per mile which includes gas, wear and tear, and depreciation.
• Subtracting our gas cost (23.6 cents per mile for 400 miles = $94.50) from the IRS rate gives us 35 cents per mile for wear and tear.
• Wear and tear cost: 400 miles x $0.35/mile = $140.

4. Lodging:

• Let’s say an average hotel near Carolina Beach costs $120 per night. For 2 nights, that’s $240.

5. Meals:

• Estimating $15 per meal and 3 meals a day for 2 days: $15 x 3 x 2 = $90.

Adding all these together: $94.50 (gas) + $140 (wear and tear) + $240 (lodging) + $90 (meals) = $564.50.