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Lat22 · Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 5:58 pm Post subject: Tipping your guide.

I'm sure that this has been brought up before, but I'd like to revisit it. What is customary when it comes to tipping your fishing guide at the end of the day? In Cabo, I usually tip anywhere from 15 to 20% of the total charter price. I'm ready to hit the water with a guide and I want to make sure I do the right thing. Thanks.

RodBreaker · Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 8:08 pm Post subject:

I think it depends on whether the guide is the owner/operator of the boat or if they are working for someone else. Most offshore captains are probably working for someone else and tips are the largest part of their income. My dad and I have used bay guides for 35 years in Texas but have never tipped them because their fee included their costs and their desired profit margin. Good trip or bad trip, they get the same amount. What kind of charter are you asking about?

Lat22 · Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 8:16 pm Post subject:

Bay charters.

Bluffer · Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 9:14 pm Post subject:

After paying 400-600$ for what most local guides get for a day is enough for me. I tip waitresses not guides.
_________________
Fish hard, fish the Bluff. Surrounded by water!
-A quaint little drinking village with a fishing problem-

RodBreaker · Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 9:18 pm Post subject:

cjlandry · Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 9:53 pm Post subject:

The last time I went on a guided trip, he cut me a very good deal. I saw what he paid for bait, fuel, and his deckhand, and he made very little from the trip after expenses. He taught me a lot about the bays around Rockport, and I felt grateful. So I tipped him.

$300-$400 seems like a lot. But when you factor in all the money he has invested in equipment, advertising, etc. And the fact that he isn't booked every day, and he doesn't get paid when the weather is bad, the price isn't all that out of line.

I say tip 'em if you can afford it and you feel like it at the end of the day. Don't tip 'em if you can't afford it or don't feel like it.
_________________
Chad Landry

"Whiskey for my men, and beer for my horses"

Big John · Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 7:01 am Post subject:

I'd say tip them.

Knowing quite a few guides in the area, they don't make any money unless they have a trip booked, and their overhead is pretty high.

That means that they are paying on that nice $25-$30k boat they take you out in, and maintenaince and replacement on all the equipment they generally provide. Plus boats get only around 5 to 10mpg, so fuel cost are high too. They might be paying alot in ads as well. Plus they may be booked 5 or 6 days a week during peak season, but during the winter they are lucky to get 1 a week.

I'd say tip them, especially if they are the "No fish, no pay" guides.

I would thing 15 to 20% is fair, like any other standard tip.
_________________
Give a man a fish, feed him for a day.

Teach a man to fish, he'll be broke and hungry the rest of his life!

John Sullivan
Native Corpus Christian
Currently Displaced in San Antonio

Lat22 · Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 7:41 am Post subject:

Thanks for the replies. There is no doubt that I'm going to tip, I'm just looking for some guidelines (no pun intended Laughing

) on how much.

RPool · Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 10:22 am Post subject:

I guess tipping is optional if the use of the guide is a one-time deal. Still, I would tip something if service was good and never use them again if bad. But if you want to fish with them again, you should tip. I view tipping as a tool in building and fostering a productive relationship. There is no doubt that my use of one particular guide in the Corpus area has hastened my learning of the area, from CC bay to the landcut, to include details of how to get into particular areas, seasonal patterns, etc. That information has then brought great pleasure to me and my guests and I have learned fishing tips and patterns that only come from the time on the water that I could not afford to put in on my own. So, I "buy" a little experience through the use of a guide, but the guide decides how much information I get in addition to a fun day on the water. That's pretty much where taking a little extra care of a guide comes in - somewhat for what he did that day but at least as much for what he'll do in the future. And now, I run the lagoon, Baffin and the landcut with family anf friends with total confidence that it will be both safe and productive in my boat. Tipping has let him know that I appreciate his extra advice and help through the years. Yes, he should set his fee to produce the profit margin he desires, but having me pay for his gas or some other extra makes sure he's glad to see me next time. I just think of it as good business and that should be win-win.
_________________
Royal and Ancient Rod, Gun, Lager and Liar Society
Padre Island, Texas
Home of "Team Double Haul"

Lat22 · Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 10:26 am Post subject:

GoinCoastal · Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 1:57 pm Post subject:

LAT22--- you will do better tipping the guides instead of the cute waitresses.... at least you will catch some fish......
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GoinCoastal aka Cap'nSherbet

tyler · Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 2:00 pm Post subject:

Hey GoinCoastal, I think you and I need to tip the fish or the hex vexer lady! Laughing

Bluffer · Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 2:06 pm Post subject:

er, ya but a guide cant.....um I'll stop there. Confused

_________________
Fish hard, fish the Bluff. Surrounded by water!
-A quaint little drinking village with a fishing problem-

GoinCoastal · Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 2:08 pm Post subject:

just like the waitresses, it depends on how much you tip...

LOL!!!!
_________________
GoinCoastal aka Cap'nSherbet

nakedfisher2005 · Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2005 9:15 am Post subject:

I say tip the guides. but as to what Big John was was saying. All the expenses including the boat are tax deductable. So keep that in mind he isnt paying all that money your talking about.