April 22 2020

3 Reasons Why I Charge for Full Access to My Fishing Cape Cod

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ryan collins my fishing cape cod breakfast

Some people get confused when they realize they have to pay a small amount of money in order to get full access to the My Fishing Cape Cod website.

The reality is that the website's monthly membership fee is exactly what makes everything you see here on My Fishing Cape Cod possible.

Today I want to take a moment to explain a bit more about the pay-for-access concept. 

I originally published this post in 2017, however I like to re-publish this post every so often because we always have new people here on the website. 

So without further ado, below are my top 3 reasons why charging for access to MFCC makes perfect sense. ?

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1) No Banner Ads

Most fishing websites are supported through advertisements. When you visit these types of websites, you will see all sorts of ads begging for your attention. 

I believe banner ads take away from the online experience. Banner ads are distracting and often annoying. Personally I just don't like them, and I no longer visit websites like the Saltwater Sportsman because of them.

When I started My Fishing Cape Cod in 2011, I quickly realized I did not want to populate the website with a bunch of ads. I knew banner ads would annoy visitors to the website and detract from their experience. 

By charging $9.99/month for full access to this website, you are essentially paying to maintain the "advertisement free" browsing experience. 

Imagine if you could pay to have advertisements removed from the entire internet? How much would that be worth to you? 

I know I would pay at least $25/month to never see an online advertisement ever again!

2) Paying Eliminates "Haters"

Have you ever tried posting a question to an online fishing forum, only to receive a bunch of rude and disrespectful replies from "haters and bashers"?

Have you ever read the nonsense and profanity left in the comments of videos posted on Facebook and YouTube?

Here on My Fishing Cape Cod you will encounter exponentially less "hating and bashing" due to the simple fact that our members pay a small amount of money each month for full access to our website. 

Even our $1 dollar 30 day trial is enough to scare away almost all the haters and bashers out there. As soon as you start charging money for something (no matter how small that amount of money is) the vast majority haters and bashers go away. 

This is particularly true in regard to online fishing forums.

Because of our $9.99 monthly membership fee, I can say with confidence that our forum is one of the friendliest and most helpful fishing forums on the web.

3) Constant New Additions

As our membership base grows, I am able to create and improve upon everything we offer. This means I am consistently re-investing in an effort to create a better and more valuable experience for members.

The table below highlights some of the additions I have made to My Fishing Cape Cod since the website launched in 2011.

What MFCC offered in 2011

  • A couple dozen fishing reports and articles

What MFCC offers in 2020

  • 1,000+ written fishing reports
  • 600+ videos
  • Courses
  • Podcasts
  • Fast customer support software 
  • Group fishing trips
  • TV shows
  • Members-only forum with thousands of posts, private messaging + more
  • Weekly email newsletter/updates
  • Active social media networks on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube
  • Off-season events, breakfasts, and appearances at regional fishing shows and clubs
  • Plus more

As our membership base grows, I can continue to add more services and improve the overall MFCC experience. 

Simply put, none of what you see in the table above would of been possible without the revenue generated through our small $9.99/month membership fee.

I hope this helps explain a bit more about how My Fishing Cape Cod works the way it does. If you have any questions, just let me know by commenting below.

Tight lines! ?

What do you think?

Let me know by commenting below.

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About the author 

Ryan Collins

I'm fortunate to have grown up on the beach, and I've been fishing since kindergarten. I have great family, friends and fishing experiences to be thankful for. Just being out there is enough-catching fish is just a bonus!

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  • I’m only a member for few days currently and I’d share from my perspective as a fresh member/outsider.

    For current members of myfishingcapecod.com, I’d imagine, it’s a non-brainer that this resources/community/forum/tv/blogs/articles/etc is 100% worth the monthly subscription.

    For someone new, who avoids popular platforms like Facebook and others, and is really ignoring most of the advertisements and promises from every angle, I was skeptical about this site (I was quite wrong here).

    It seems this site is a vast resources, with amazing focus and sharing mindset.
    As an example, I just found another section in the portal, almost by accident, about canal lingo, explaining the tides, rips, and other useful stuff – no one I’ve seen before cares so much about sharing so many details and giving a fresh saltwater enthusiast a chance to enjoy more moments while exploring journeys like this.

    The depth of knowledge on this site is just amazing. The quality of posts and videos is just something you don’t expect.
    Constant updates and stories and just positive output from fishing adventures every day is not the usual forums reports I was expecting.

    I expected fishing forums to have the usual mix of people with most feeling superior with snarky comments.
    Here members seem like real anglers/fishermen and enthusiasts that are very welcoming and open about giving chance to others for their lifetime memories/pictures opportunities.
    Of course, with all of that, it’s easy to have strangers abusing the knowledge and harm the resources but this group/community seems like focusing on that side too with organizing cleanup journeys to keep the areas clean and share the awareness with promoting proper fishing etiquette.

    I really wish I have found myfishingcapecod.com earlier.
    In case that’s some feedback, I found this site by accident when searching Youtube for canal stripers and saw the amazing myfishingcapecod.com trailer video that blew my mind..

    By finding accidentally myfishingcapecod.com, it opened the whole world of Cape Cod to me with extremely beautiful places, sunsets, potential monsters like turtles, whales, tunas, sharks, stripers, and other crazy beautiful creatures – just seeing them feels like a meditation in another world..
    I was exploring CC by myself and knew it’s a beautiful place with many fishing opportunities but it’s quite difficult/challenging for someone new to saltwater fishing in general.
    myfishingcapecod.com focuses on navigating and sharing this paradise corner.

    I’m really enjoying being part of MFCC site and community and will help whenever I can and will support “any” price for the subscription for sure 🙂

    MFSS is a gold mine with fascinating stories and people about fascinating places.

    M

    • Wow! Thank you so much Mariusz for your comment! It is great to have you aboard as a new member, and I know myself and others are looking forward to seeing what sort of adventures you encounter throughout the 2020 season and beyond. Please keep us posted, and thanks again for the comment!

  • Wouldn’t want it any other way, Ryan! Thanks for sharing this, I never thought to notice the no ads but man is it refreshing! Only been here for 2 years, but the content, education, creativity, and most importantly the community is unmatched. I grew up and work in upstate NY so have been somewhat landlocked all of my life, excited to have had a great work opportunity arise in Providence, RI starting in just a few weeks. I can not wait to bring all the reading and studying I’ve done on here to life this season living closer to the coast. Hope you and your family are healthy and well!

    • Thanks for the awesome comment John! It is great having you aboard MFCC as a member. Keep me posted with how things go for you this spring in Rhode Island. I know we have a lot of members inside the forum who are from Rhode Island, so I’m sure they’ll be happy to help. Have fun and I hope your family is well too. Tight lines! ?

  • Member for 7 years. Worth every penny. This is the best fishing website hands down. I have learned so much here. Keep up the great work Ryan. We all appreciate it!

  • Oooh my god, that subject, again!
    I think that you are paying a lot of attention to people that maybe shouldn’t be members. From my experience with dealing with public, one reaches the stage that you draw line. Customer service is one thing, waisting your time is entirely different Ryan.
    Much love and appreciation from me!

  • I joined MFCC on the summer of 2013 and haven’t looked back! All of the comments & compliments that members have shared make this an entertaining and helpful site. In addition, I look forward to the annual breakfast to renew acquaintances after a long winter and put names with faces. This year’s breakfast brought a record turnout that’s a testament to the the value of being a MFCC member. You can learn something new each day and that’s been one of the reasons I stay connected. Thanks Lauren & Ryan for all you do!

    • Ron, these past 7 years have flown by! Wow, I can’t believe you joined all the way back in 2013. Thanks as always for your comments and input. You’ve also provided us with some great ideas over the years regarding meetups, trips, and other additions to the site. Here’s to a great 2020 season! ?

  • Ryan, the fact you need to explain why members need to pay simply makes me sad. I have been a member for years and still haven’t come CLOSE to paying the price I have gained in knowledge and friendships. The information and environment you created is second to none. MFCC is special, unique, and has no doubt made me a better fisherman.

    We cannot thank you enough for everything you have done! Keep up the amazing work.

    • I am really pumped you’ve found good value in the membership John. You’ve also provided a lot of value yourself with your posts in the forum. Thank you for being so active on the site and within the community! MFCC is a dream come true for me, and it makes me really happy to know people are not just learning, but also making friendships and creating memorable fishing experiences together. Tight lines! ?

  • Hey Ryan, The membership fee is worth every penny! Comradery, inspiration, knowledge, drone footage, underwater footage, recipes, new friendships etc…etc You and Lauren work hard and do a fantastic job. I am so happy to be a member of MFCC! Thank You! Your passion is infectious!

    • Leslie, I am so grateful to have members like you supporting the site! Aside from just the membership fee, your contributions to the site and attendance at events are such a huge help. You and the other members are helping to build this community. I can’t thank you enough!

  • The impressive list below says it all PLUS wonderfully helpful and interactive Members, outstanding fishing trips and Ryan’s amazing ability that continues to show the “fishing experience” here on Cape Cod is about more than just the fish. Thanks to Ryan and Lauren for their sincere efforts and long hours of work to make MFCC the best Cape Cod fishing website.

    What MFCC offered in 2011
    A couple dozen fishing reports and articles
    What MFCC offers in 2020
    1,000+ written fishing reports
    600+ videos
    Courses
    Podcasts
    Fast customer support software
    Group fishing trips
    TV shows
    Members-only forum with thousands of posts, private messaging + more
    Weekly email newsletter/updates
    Active social media networks on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube
    Off-season events, breakfasts, and appearances at regional fishing shows and clubs
    Plus more

    • Thank you Mike for your comment! I am having more fun now producing content and running MFCC than ever before. I also enjoy following along with your adventures, whether it be fishing-related or hearing about your latest drone videos. Some of your intel from last year was also really helpful! I appreciate all your updates and posts! ??

  • Ryan, you’re doing a great job with the forum!
    I can not believe that you need to explain why there is a charge!!! Our forum became almost daily thing for me, off season and more than daily in season, great networking and source of info. Happy to have this on the Cape and ignore the haters, plenty of love around ????

  • I live in North Carolina, but have been coming to the Cape in May the past couple of years. Ten of us rent a house in North Truro, but surfcast with flies and spinning rigs from Race Point down to Nauset. We killed it last year, mostly schoolies (est 2500! over 4 days), only a couple of keepers. This year each guy with a keeper gets a really nice brass striper belt buckle. I joined here because I want to increase my odds of catching keepers. I also fish down south and belong to a similar website known as Salt Strong. Thus far, I am very impressed with the way Ryan runs things. I am getting pumped about the upcoming year. I am retired now, and with a cousin in Chatham with a guest house, I plan to start coming every spring and fall to catch the run. I’m in. Thanks for doing what you are doing! Walt Liggett

      • Hi Ryan, I’m a snowbird (fla & Cedarville) and a seasonal member. Love your site and the way you manage it with good info. In Florida I look at the Salt Strong site and was a member but dropped it. That site is good but they are constantly offering more info at higher prices. I’m sure some of it is worth it but I think they get a little carried away. You, on the other hand minimize the extras and offer great info. MFCC is a model for fishing sites on my opinion. Keep up the great work!
        I’ll be back in the spring!

        • Nice Steve! I am very familiar with the Cedarville area. Nice little part of town, and Florida doesn’t sound half bad either. ?

          Thank you for the insight and I am glad you are happy with MFCC. Spring will be here before we know it. I’ll look forward to having you back onboard during 2020. ?

          • Hi again Ryan, reference the difference between MFCC and Salt Strong, you charge by the month and I can cancel for my time in Florida but Salt Strong charges by the year plus all the extra charges. Also, I believe I lived less the a mile from you before I moved. Still love to fish those beaches on occasion.
            Hope this current virus situation will not keep us in Florida for the summer. Keep it up on your awesome site.

            • Thanks for sharing your insight Steve. I really appreciate it. ? I hope the fishing is treating you well down there in Florida! Keep us posted with when you come back. As you mention, hopefully the virus calms down and you can make the trip back north. We will save a few fish for you!

  • You get what you pay for in life! I am happy to pay. I had a rough summer and wasn’t on much after July 1st. I then purposely avoided the site with a plan to jump back in around 2/1. Basically using MFCC to get me through the final months before I will be back on Cape! I didn’t quite make it and have started reading and watching a little sooner than 2/1. I am already making notes and thinking about ways to get better this summer. Everyone is so helpful! Hopefully I will be able to “participate” more on the site this summer. Although with my inexperience Im not sure how helpful my “reports” actually are – “was out today, tried everything and was unable to catch fish” 🙂

    • What I see happen all the time Rick is that people struggle to catch fish for a period of months (or sometimes a few seasons) but if they stick with it, they eventually have an “ah hah!” moment in which they experience some success, and then really start dialing-in and catching fish.

      That is exactly the process I went through, and it’s still the same process for me when I fish in new areas, like Costa Rica for example.

      The thing is that a lot of people give up before they ever have that “ah hah!” moment. Fortunately, I feel like you are VERY close to that moment and I feel that this will be the season things start clicking for you.

      I know you’ve mentioned in the past how it’d be really helpful if I came out with you on your boat to show you the ropes. Well last summer I was remodeling our new home, but this summer I hope to have more time to do that sort of thing, and I might put together a program for folks like yourself who want that extra level of hands-on guidance.

      I will for sure post details of the program here on the website once I am ready to launch it. Thanks Rick and I look forward to your reports this season!

  • I believe what makes MFCC different than the other sites out there is the sense this is a “club” for Cape Cod fishing aficionados, and the fee is really a membership. Whereas the other forums tend to take on the personality of the posters, MFCC is really an extension of Ryan’s persona. The non-hostile/friendly/helpful nature of this community is what Ryan is all about. Having the fee helps enforce this as for the most part only these individuals who commit to being here participate in the on-line conversations. This is what it’s all about.

    I tell anyone listening … best $10 you can spend if you plan on doing any fishing at all on or near The Cape.

    • I like your comment about MFCC being an extension of Ryan’s persona Jeff, very insightful. We are very lucky to have such an honorable man setting the tone for the site.

  • This website is worth every cent. I joined last year then cancelled, during the winter. I’ll keep paying all year from now on. The blogs, podcasts, and drama free forums make it worth it. Looking forward to the mfcc tv show.

    Thanks for the site Ryan. And Kevin, I really enjoy the podcasts.

  • Ryan,

    I totally agree with all the points you and the other members have made regarding this site and the great value it provides. I would also point out that the member support which you provide personally is truly stellar. You won’t find that type of support on a free site. You are awesome and I really appreciate everything you are doing for MFCC members like me and the community.

  • Ryan,
    Great Blog! I appreciate the content I receive with limited access. As a New Englander now situated in Texas, I give my support to local fishing organizations. Keep up the good work! Bill D.

  • Ryan – I joined years back then cancelled when I stopped fishing the Cape. I’ll be moving to the Cape next spring and you bet I’ll be joining again. Well worth the price of admission. Great job!
    Gary

  • I think the monthly fee is somewhat like an HOA fee. Everyone pays a small amount in order that the facilities are well maintained, up to date and the value is maintained. The information provided by Ryan is well worth the money. Even though I don’t get out fishing as much as I would like to, the reports keep me connected to the sport and the people who are doing what we all love to do. Thanks to Ryan for producing a great site and thanks to all the members for their input, information and insights.

  • Ryan you are the best and I look forward to signing up with your MFCC tell me what I need to do.And thank you for those dead porgies at the east end of the canal recently.You are OUTSTANDING.

  • I think this site is great, a true bargain for such detailed and helpful info
    for fisherman who love fishing, created by people who love fishing.
    I would like to thank you for the work that you and your colleagues do to make this site awesome.

  • Never thought of the weeding out haters and bashers angle but true dat. The forum is friendly and helpful.
    Your openness and willingness to share knowledge is worth the price. If I buy one RIGHT lure instead of 5 wrong lures…that’ll pay for most of the year. Glad to help monetize your info sharing.

  • I think that the services and info provided to us as members is beyond what I have ever found before on fishing. Everyone is nice and helpful and willing to share and help with any questions . Fantastic job and I appreciate everything you do for us as members and the public as well. A big thankyou to you Ryan and all the supporting members.

  • This is a great website for HONEST reporting and up to date fishing information and the methods used to catch them. I learn something new every time I open up the forum read the blogs and the member threads and posts. It maybe what baits or lures are working, rigging, boating tips and the list goes on. Been fishing the salt for forty plus years. I’ve seen many changes and I’m still learning and still catching. This site has helped me to maintain my edge.

    • I think it is a great having someone like yourself Gary (who’s been fishing the salt for 40 years) as part of MFCC.

      There are lots more new things/adventures in store for all of us in the coming months and years!

  • I have been in IT for the better part of 40 years – so know the investement it takes to deliver a site of this quality.. and the amount of effort you personally put in to deliver the stellar content should be appreciated by everyone.

    This is simply my favorite $10 spent each month… I promise you… the gas, time and frustration I spent before joining this site – cost much more than a lifetime membership will.

    And yeah – the people I have met along the way just makes it an even greater value!

    Keep up the good work Ryan – greatly appreciated!

  • It’s quite interesting that individuals think that it’d be ridiculous to charge a fee for these fishing strategy details when these individuals could always put in their own extensive research and time to potentially get to the same result, but obviously aren’t doing so if they are expressing negative backlash over a price, meaning they are yearning for the key details disclosed in the membership haha. Nothing is free in this life ! Yes I can do my own research and be successful, and I do, but hands down, I have gotten better at striper/saltwater fishing in a much more progressive manner thanks to this membership (mind you I just joined in April 2017). But Ryan said it best, the fee weeds out the individuals we won’t want among us. And no offense, but if someone is barking at a $9.99/monthly fee for key access to great information that will guide you to success in the world of fishing, they probably shouldn’t be spending money on fishing gear in general if $10/month is a struggle for them hahaa. Just sayin ! #tightlines

    • I hear you loud and clear Nick. I think the internet in general is moving towards more “pay for access” models to help weed out the junk information/fake news etc.

      As you mention, the small monthly fee helps attract the right people. I appreciate having you onboard and tight lines out there this week!

  • I started Striper fishing in 2012 with little to no knowledge. With the help of MFCC I have caught hundreds of fish each year, with this year being the best yet!
    Thank you Ryan!

  • An MFCC membership is probably one of the best pieces of “tackle” a recreational New England fisherman could own.The content quality, quantity, unique resources and above all, tone of MFCC is vastly superior to anything else I’ve seen for a regional fishing enthusiast web platform. You’ve built a great product Ryan and the growing membership is a testimony to that.

  • Ryan, I think it’s worth every penny! It’s the one site were I can get everything I need and I have made some friends as well. Keep up the good work as it’s fun to watch the site grow!

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