mortgage payrnents. For some, fractional real estate; worthwhile . !\4th fractional real estate,which is with a club, your investment entitles you to betnelvr weels of use annually in a resort-style setting. While to pay to play, the overall cost could be lower than for ond home. Pick which option best suits your lifestyle as budget, and go from there. For years I went through the mental calculations and associatedwith coastal real estate. Several years ago, I, Boston, and Block Island off the Rhode Island coast, favorite spot in the world to fish. For a decade. I io numerous properties there, and even found onel couldn't afford it. As the years passed,my income increased, and I on other regions. I began vacationing on Cape Cod and around at nurnerou.sproperties. Ultimately, I found a place my budget-a mile {iom some of my favorite striper flats. So, dreams do come true, and dre variety of coastal properdt near outstanding fishing is seemingly endless. Coastal real estate i also a good long-term investrnent. fu the clich6 goes: "They ailr making any more of it." In general, northern reacheshold theirl value a bit more than do southern areas-which are more dramatic storms and hurricanes. I had a fiend whose familv owned 20 acres of land on Nantucket that drev used firr deer [4ren the whitetail numbers dropped in the I960s, they sold parcel for $30,000. Today, that property is worth about $I5 n lion. In short, most coastalproperties appreciatein value. r Nonetheless,aska bunch offishermen where they'd buy a and you'll get a bunch of different answers.That said, here is a pler of coastaltowns and approximate costs ofpurchasing your piece of terra fuma. These locales have it all: pristine
downtowns,good vibes.And despitethe variety of location dq pricerange,they all shareone thing in conunon:greatfuhing! ; --*
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asseffis sy ffiawwm*fu Wwffi FTfr THEFISHFACTOR: Every town on Cape Cod has oceanfront erty, the question is: Where do you want to livel The torvn cf Der-nis is an excellent starting point, for it spreads the width of the Cape, liom oceansideto bay side. If you choose bay, you're smack in between Barnstable Harbor Brewster Flats for striped bassand bluefish, and a short bluefin tuna. If you chose the ocean side, you're in the midc bass, bluefish, bonito, Spanish mackerel, and false World-famous Monomoy is a quick run, and depending on I boat you can hit Martha's Vineyard in an hour.
TRENDS: MARKET Waterfrontpricesrangefrom a low of for an 800-square-foot,two-bed, two-bath condo, to $4. for an oceanfront estate. A four-bed, two-bathroom rai with 1,950 squarefeet and a living room, family room, kitel ,'; laundry room on .37 acreswith a dock is $799,999. "t':t":.
Per SquareFooc $410 Bst. Mortgage: $4,045 MLS Number: 70468110
FlyFishing 54I Saltwater I www.flyfishingmagazines.com
n Gity, New Jercey THEFISHFACTOR: The Garden Stare offers seasonalfishing that fills a full year. In the spring you'll find bass, blues, and weakfish in the bays, inlets, creeks, and rivers. If you don't want to fish Ocean City's beaches, Grear Egg Harbor Inlet offers inshore islands such as the Rainbow Islands and Drag Island, bays such as Great Egg Harbor and Peck Bay, and Patcong, ]ob, or Flat Creeks and the Tuckahoe River. Come summer, you can fish for tuna and dolphin offshore as well as albies, bonito, and skipjacks. The bass and blues return in the fall and winter.
MARKETTRENDS:In real-estateterms, the ]ersey Shore has seen exponential growth from New Yorkers who can't touch Westchester'sor Long Island's price points but still want proximiry to Manhattan. But it ain't cheap: waterfront prices start at $1.2 million and go up to $5.3 million. A 2,000-square-foot home with four beds, three baths, nine total rooms, and a half acre of land with a waterfront dock will run about $2.2 million. Per Square Foot: $1,100 Est. Mortgage: $ll,l19 MLS Number:278597
d City, North Garclina THEFISHFACT0R: The Outer Banla are an angler'sdream,with a mlx ofnorthern and southern species,such asstriped bassand bluefish, as well as albies,bonito, drum) seatrout, cobia, and others. Situated on Bogue Sound, Morehead City is around rhe corner from Back Sound. Core Sound. and the famous Harker's Island. MARKET TRENDS:Heading south of the Mason-Dixon Line, buyers get more value for their money. And Morehead City is no exception. Values run from a low of $249,000 for a property on
Crab Point Bay to a high of $2.2 million. For a median, pi*ure yourself in a 1929 three-story home with four bedrooms, 3Z baths, and I0 total rooms fiIEng 4,176 square feet on I.26 acres of land. You'll have a dock in your front yard, and a two-car garage for your gear-all for $995,000. Per Square Foot: $238 Est. Mortgage: $5,031 MLS Number:064798
AugusVSeptember 2007I 55
Per SquareFoot: $305 Est. Mortgage: $4,020 rMLSNumber: 23II0I
morada, Florida THEFISHFACTOR:If you like fly fishing fbr tzupon, permit, ancl bonefish, chances are strong that yon'r,e alread\r been to Islamorada. Known as the Sportfishing Capital of the Worid, Islamorada's got the inshore slam on thc numcrous flats surrounding your home. The backcountry is ir short boat ride awa,v, and you can find snook, reds, and seasonallaid-up tarpon and cobia in the mangroves of Flamrngo and Hell's Bays. If you har,e to pass on the flats and backcountry fishing, all is not lost. Islamorada has some excellent night fishing for tarpon around the bridges and snook under the dock lights. It's slim pickings down here, not for world-class MARKETTRENDS: fishing, but for homes. Property values have grown steadily since 1998, with a peak in fall 2006. Salestrends for 2007 are showing single-digrt declines and may make for a good time to buy. You'll find more properties in the surrounding areas,and a quick perusalof local properties turns up this gem: a 2,800-square-foot home with five beds, four baths, and a new dock and boat ramp on the premisesfor $1,890,00. Per Square Foot: $675 Est. Mortgage: S9,557 MLS Numberz 539076
AugusVSeptember 2007| 57
mrahchicola, Florida THE FISH FACT0R:Apalachicola-including its tributaries: the Chipola, the Brothers and the Litde St. Marks-and its four-bay system has been a hub for tarpon, reds, snook, trout, and cobia for years. \Alhat makes the area so good is the muddy flow from the Chattahoochee and Flint Rivers out of Georgia to the Woodruff Dam to form the Apalachicola River. The outflow is rich in nutrients and createsa fertile environment for oystersand-more importantoutstanding fishing in the bay, rivers, and salt marshes.You'll find reds and trophy trout in Indian I-agoon, and Cape San Blas is one of dre best spots for a fall-run of bull reds. St. Vincent Island has great beach fishing. Offshore fishing for king mackerel is tluee miles away. MARKETTRENDS:Appalachicola has escaped most of the
Panhandle real estate madness of the last decade, but as Florida's largest private landowner, St. Joe Paper, continues to convert timber holdings to real estate development, the area is facing another potential growth cycle. There isn't a whole lot for sale in town in Appalachicola, but if you want a place overlooking some water) look no further than the Brothers River. A 3,000-square-foot six-bed, four-bath home with two acres of land and a boat house, ramp, and dock with a swimming pool built in 1972 wlll run you $1,895,000. Per Square Fooc $631 Est. Mortgage: 59,582 MLS Number: 110208
lfport, Mississippi THE FISH FACTOR:Gulfoort is redfish and speck heaven, with shark, amberjack, dolphin, severalspeciesof tuna, cobia, and seasonal billfish offshore. Due south of Gulfport is the Chandeleur Islands, a crescent-shapedsring of about a dozen islands that are litde more than sandbars. The cuts and flats offer some of the best redfish fishing around, with many bulls in the 30- to 50pound range. Biloxi Marsh sports hundreds of miles of flats and river systems,too. l{urricane Katrina devastatedthe area, but dre fishing is on the mend. New cuts and channels allow fish to get to placesthat they never could accessbefore. MARKETTRENDS:Hurricane damaee over the vears drives the FlyFishing I wivw.flyfishingmagazines.com 58I Saltwater
price of real estate down, making Gulfport one of the value markets in our listing. The Mississippi-l,ouisiana coast is rebuilding, and there are good deals to be found. Many insurance companies are thinking twice about offering hazard, flood, and wind coverage, so make srrre you will qualify before you buy. That said, a three-bed, two-badr, 2,450-square-foot home located on Bernard Bayou with a garage and dock in front of your half acre of land costs$239,000. Per Square Foot: $97 Est. Mortgage: $1,209 MLS Number 179474
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THEFISHFACT0R:Fishing around San Diego can be dicey; Nary SEAI-Strain along the beaches,and hooking one ain't a good idea. But the kelp beds of La Jolla and Point I-oma offer great structure for calico and white sea bass.You'll find bonita and sponed bay bassin San Diego, Mission, and OceansideBays and corbina and corvina on the beaches.Occasional bonefish are also caught on the beachesoff Coronado. Offshore, San Diego is well known for long-range fishing trips for yellowfn, yel-
lowtail, bluefin, wahoo, and dorado. MARKET TRENDS: While San Diego property values have appreciated
60t Saltwater FlyFishing I www.flyfishingmagazines.com
steadily over the rde, d thee crty ciq r exp : decade, ic 12( 126 ed e d a cdramatic lr experienced percent increase property osts between betv n Jan erty costs )3 anc and anuary anuary 2003 Janu past year prices Apin 2006. 2 April In ne past and a ha year and :Iining, half, pricer ces ces are declining hor r slighdy but rstea<r. With Mith over 8,00C ces are sale, arr sale,chances forr ssa ,000 homes y ou'lI findl one good you'll yol Entry pr Entr you )-water :y price onee r like like . an n oon-the-water rr-the-w ar forrr ae 1 island irn the Sarr Diego home in tfea comes afea c )mes on the Diego and rnd of Coron; islan, ego rar lnado, Coronado y. A fc southw,est o: southwest of thte ciw. ed, three four-bed, t hree-bath hc four-1 city. home widr 3,, h o m e 'with 3,437 3,43i rck in yotu I square feet and a ia dock your yard goes backyard back 000. for 995,00r [or for $I.995.000. $I,' 1 ,c $58 Per Squ, Square.Fooc 80 $580 Est., Mortga Mor 08r rge:$10,01 $10,081 t23005 SNt 07r0230c rcr:07102
ffiwffimmw#. ffimfumffiB&ffiffi THEFISHFACT0R:Considered the Bonefish Capital of the World, the 2,300-square-mile Andros Island offers a lot more than just bones. Most anglers come for the Ghost of the Flats, but there are also seasonaltarpon and permit, barracudas,Blue Hole diving, and weekend Rake and Scrapes.Much of the angling takes place in Central Andros around C*SI Creek, but drerc is plenty of action to the north, from Stafford and Fresh Creek all the way up to the ]oulters. South Andros offers about 40 miles of flats that run from Mangrove Cay to Curly Cut Cay.You'll find a wide range of fish, liom large schools of single-digit bones to doubledigit trophy fish. The variety of unexplored areasmakes Andros Island a fly fisherman's paradise. MARKETTRENDS:Once a thriving cash center, in the mid-S0s Reagan's Zero Tolerance act put a hurt on island "commerce" and property values tanked. There has been a resurgence in recent times, with undeveloped land being the main cornmodity. There are sorne homes fbr sale,and a tiree-bed, three-batl.roorn honse 90 feet from your own flat on I / 4 acre of land near Cargill Creek will cost you $385,000. The 1,500-square-fbothome also has an attic that could be converted to another bedroom. Per Square Fooc $256 Est. Mortgagez $1,927 MLS Number:5494J Torul(eer is a licensed.reabor antl regulnr contt'ibwtorto Saltwater Fly Fishing. He liyes'in Welftleet,Massachusetts. 2007ffi 61 AugusVSeptember
Steye
Wnlburn
ONE STEPCLOSER IOR ABOUT THE IAST FIFTEEN YEARS OR SO. I'\IE TENDED THE embers of two pipe dreams that, happily, never seem to go out. One is to own a house in the mountains. and the other is to own a house by the sea. But here it is more than a decade and a half into the pipe, and here I am stalled at part one of the master life plan. Back in 1989, my wife and I were lucky enough (and at the time broke enough) to qualify for a Board of Housing loan and buy our starter home in the original Last Best Place-just before all of creation discovered that Montana actually means "mountain." We lived in the house barely two years before career opportunities lured us toward more crowded horizons in the urban South, beginning a slow but inevitable emotional detachment from the litde yellow house at the corner of Mill and 2nd Street, 25 miles from Glacier National Park, eight miles from Chairlift One. We were srrrounded by thousands of square miles of snowy wilderness, rivers made for cutthroat trout and the fly rod, and forests deep with spruce) tamarack, and grouse. Grizzhes roamed the eastern tree line. So then we moved. And what started out asa two-year retreat from the idyllic turned into 16 yearsofwork, rent) car payments, dance lessons,college tuition, and second-home ownership far away from the Great Northern. Nonetheless, having bought a sliver of Montana at probably the last moment in history that we could have afforded it, we stubbornly hung onto the property, right from the start exceeding our mortgage pa).rrlent with monthly rental income. We've never spent another night in that house, but it's still there, more than payng for itse[ thus frrlfilling one halfof the Walburn prophecy. It's that saltier second halfthat has proved harder to reali.z,e,for if, as the old saying goes about coastal real estate, "They ain't making any more of it," then they apparendy have not made mine yet at all. Search as we might, the opportunity to buy into the American coast has not yet caught up with the ever accelerating rate of exclusion. \44ren we first began looking at beach property in the Florida panhandle more than a decade ago, you could get a hundred feet of sand on the shore break for $225 thousand. We wondered what Midas would pay that. Today, the same lot might fetch a couple of million or more. So, finding ourselveson the outside of an ever-expanding bubble in Florida real estate,we began looking-well, daydreaming really-about blue elsewheres.The Outer Banks, perhaps) The Bahamasf Maybe Charleston, or the Golden Isles of my own native Georgia. It's a dream that many of you no doubt share: to walk out your screen door in the morning braced by a sea breeze, fly rod in one hand, boat key in the other. To own a piece of the salt before every inch of our coast becomes a fiefdom of the rich and famous. In this issue, fellow daydreamer, ,lEFcontributor, and licensed realtor Tom Keer pens our fust annual overview of coastal real estate from a fly rodder's perspective f"Fish Shacks," page 52), sharing a bit of personal experience with his own coastal pursuits. We've limited the coverage to towns that are first and foremost "fishy as hell" and, secondly, that present a range of geographic and financial possibilities. We think you'll find something to interest every reader, no matter your location or tastes.And we will make it an annual feature. For me, coastal investment is still a few years away. But it recendy got a litde closer when I accepteda new position with our company that requires moving from Adanta to Augusta. It's a litde farther from the mountains, but indeed twice as close to the sea.I'll still be editing my favorite magazine (and hopefirlly it's one of yours), albeit with an expanded role in the entire Morris Communications family of great sporting tides. Rest assured,however, that the compass direction of mymove was no coincidence. It's all part of the plan, and hopefirlly one step closer to the dream. I 4I Saltwater FlyFishing I www.flyfishingmagzines.com
PUSLlSHEB
William
S. Morris
III
G E N E N A LM A N A G E R/ Steve Walburn
EDITOR
ARI DIRECTAB Wayne
Knight
E D I T O R I A LD I R E C T O R Phihp Monahm 6ROUPEDIIAE David I(ausmeyer M A N A G ] N GE D I T O R
RussLumpkn 6 B A P H I CD E S I G N E R lemifer Keller Vaz FULFILLMENf
MANAGER
Jennifer Dmigm SliSl,VFSS MANAGER
Michelle L. Rou,c A D VEN TI SI N G B T PF ES EN T A T1 VES Atbertidng Direcror Michael Floyd (706) 823-3739 Fax: (706) 724-3873 gsj fl oyd@eartlrlirk.net Northeast ScottBuchmalr f978) 462-0335 Fax: (478) 462-o445 sbuchmayr@u'orldret.att.net Mithtest,/Soutbeox AmosCrowlev (888) 299"5255 Fu: (.140) 564-5244 amos@buchmayrcrowley.com Western Clay Muray (,817) 626-7787 Fax: (817) 626-7786 clay@spurmcrcmtilecon Expeditions ChadMcClue (706) 828-3832 Fax: (706) 724-3873 chad.mcclure@morns.com Art nnd. Expeditiolr Vicki Hcndrix (304) 291-0137 Fu: (304) 292-0766 vicki.hendrix@adelphia.net Atbertising Coordlrarar MillicentWilliams (.706) 823-3629 Fax: (706) 724-3873 milliccn t.williurs@morris.com C O N T B I B U I I NW GR I fE R S Henry Corvcn, J. M. Chico Fernandez, Gibbs, Eci lerry Jalrorowski, Johr A. Kumiski, Dr. David A. Ross, Jack Sanson, Phil Shook, Bob Stemns
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