153 Fish Camp
Growing closer to God by enjoying His creation
Greetings all,
We have exciting news about the future of 153 Fish Camp!
The Lord has truly been present in the ministry of the camp. Over the last 26 years, He has continually provided a meaningful place where fishermen (and fisherwomen) come to disconnect from life, enjoy His creation, experience incredible fishing opportunities, and spend meaningful time in the Word and in fellowship with believers. Many, many people have experienced radical life change by coming to Fish Camp, and we’re so grateful to see that the Lord is continuing to grow and bless the ministry.
Because of the continual movement of God, we as the board of directors feel prompted to continue to grow and expand the camp as much as the Lord allows. Simply put, we want more people to be able to experience God through Fish Camp, and we want to use the facility and the resources to their absolute best!
Starting in summer of 2027:
- We will be increasing our number of camps from 4 to 6. Our fishing season will run from the end of July through the beginning of September.
- We will be increasing the number of areas we fish and the number of species we target (late-summer coho, trolling and mooching for kings, and more lingcod and halibut!)
- We will be adding to and improving our vehicle and boat fleet. (Larger motors/longer range on the skiffs, additional means to get out to better fishing spots)
- We will begin offering one-off special coordinated fishing trips in other areas of the United States, to bring the Fish Camp experience to new fishing areas. (Starting with a salmon fishing trip on the Oregon Coast Fall of 2027 – more details to come).
The plan:
To accomplish this, there are several specific things we need to do:
- Insulate and improve the cabins and facilities. For use into late August, insulating the sleeping cabins will be very helpful. We also have several other imminent maintenance items that are required – including pouring foundation footers under the freezer, and replacing the floor in the first bathroom. We will be recruiting volunteers for a dedicated work week to accomplish these tasks soon.
- Adjust the price: it is our heart to keep 153 Fish Camp as affordable as possible. Because of this, all staff are volunteer and all fees go directly into camp expenses. For the past few years, camp fees have covered only the baseline expenses – all capital purchases (the Suburban, the boat trailer, building materials, etc.) have come from donations. With the sharp increase in fuel and food costs over the last year, we have found that we need to raise the price of Fish Camp to maintain the baseline. Because of this, the new price for fish camp is $600 per person per week. All capital expenses will remain on a donation basis, and we will still maintain the $80 suggested donation for each halibut trip and the $10 suggested donation for each fish box.
- Expand the fleet. To fish in more areas and to widen our reach, we are going to be seeking donations to help us purchase the following items:
- Two 35hp outboard motors for our flat-bottom skiffs
- One additional boat trailer for a flat-bottom skiff
- An additional “halibut boat” (22’-24’ welded aluminum with a cabin, that can fish 6 campers).
- One additional vehicle, if needed.
Next steps:
- Check the website for new weeks being added to 2027, 2028, and 2029. As a reminder, to keep open space for all, campers may not register for more than one summer at a time.
- Note the new price of $600 per person. This means deposits will now be $300.
- Visit the new donation page on the website to learn more about the capital improvements we want to make, and to donate to specific items.
- Keep an eye out on the website and the Facebook page for more information about upcoming one-off trips, like our potential Oregon Coast trip in Fall of 2027.
We are so thankful for each of you and your prayer and partnership with the ministry. If you have any questions about Fish Camp, the new vision, or any of the specific items in this letter, please don’t hesitate to contact Luke Gunkel at (907) 723-0759, or by email at 153fishcampak@gmail.com.
Praise be to God!
Luke Gunkel