guide tipping etiquette

[oteymc]

Going out with a guide this weekend -absolutely can't wait.

I don't go out with guides often, 1 or 2 times a year, I feel it is a great way to learn. I have always just gone by myself - just me and the guide. I have always tipped 20% (or more). My question is if there is two of us, should we both tip 15-20% or should the total be 15-20%, just like a restaurant?

I don't want to be cheap, but I don't want to be naive either.

[Dwight Hottle]

Tip on the total charged like in a restaurant.

[roadwarrior]

Tip on the total charged like in a restaurant.

Exactly.

8-)

[OneUp]

Typically I tip guides 15%.  If I feel like they really busted their tail trying to put me on fish, they get 20-25%.  The best advice I can give you is to tip based on how hard the guy worked to make your trip enjoyable, NOT how many/how big fish you caught.

[SirSnookalot]

I give 15-20% but I would rather take the tip out of the equation by just paying a higher price in the first place.  Yesterday I go out on a drift boat, now these guys work on tips, cost of the 4 hour trips is about $40, usually a $10 tip.  They take the fish you don't want, sell kings for $2.00 a pound (my 10 pounder was worth $20) and sell other species for bait , is that not a tip in itself?

[Nick]

I applaud the tippers that have responded.  You'd be surprised how many people just don't tip a penny! And I'm talking about return customers, not dissatisfied folks. I'd like to hear from more guides and their clients.

[frogflogger]

I guided for years both up north and in so. fla., for bonefish and then bass.  I never expected tips and was somewhat put off by them, it is or should be thought of as a profession - but I learned to appreciate them when they were offered.When I realized my fee was a major expense for some guys I would tell them it wasn't a necessity. Met a lot of great people, the tips or no tips never changed that.

[trevor]

DON'T tip based on how many fish you caught.... cause you probably just sucked. Tip based on how hard the guide worked to get you on fish! And if the guy worked hard, always tip at least 20%.

[OkobojiEagle]

If the guide is an independant he has set his own rates and I don't tip at all... if the guide is working as an employee of a guide service I tip 20.00.

[Nibbles]

Never went fishing with a guide before so I had no idea tipping was customary. Good info here. 

Although I will have to say that if I drop $300-$400 for a day of guide service, my wallet's gonna be pretty empty when I reach in there to find money for a tip.  ;D

Oh the joys of being an undergrad who gets paid $10/hour.

[CoBass]

Just like anything else, it all depends on the level of service provided. A guide who gives me useful info that I can apply on future unguided trips is going to get a bigger tip than the guide who simply takes me to a spot and tells me what to throw without explaining why. The guide who educates will always get bigger tips and more repeat customers.

[Shane Procell]

I always get tickled when a customers gives me a gratuity. I do not work for tips and I certainly do not expect a tip. I have repeat customers who do noy tip and I treat them the same as if they had given me a hundsky on the last trip. If I were to take a charter I would certainly leave a generous tip.....unless the guide sucked ;D

[whoopbazz]

The comment about if the guide is the owner or employee is a good point.

Case #1....if you go for a hair cut and the owner of the shop cuts your hair she/he gets 100% of the profit. If it is an employee they get paid a hourly wage or commision. I always tip an employee not the owner.

Case #2....you go into a restaraunt and and the owner serves you. They are already making money on your meal. Not like a waitperson who gets a small wage+ tip. I usually tip...but grumble about it, not thinking it is right. My ex wife worked for many years as a waitress (and family owns a diner) says you always tip your waitperson...it has just stuck.

Case 3#...you get a guide for a day or two. I tip no matter what. Self employed or employee but not unitl the end of the trip...no the end of the day. And never grumble about it.

The same situation each time but different out comes...LOL.

[Chris at Tech]

I've been out with quite a few guides, and I typically tip 20%. I've also been lucky enough to have been out with a bunch of very good, professional guides (professional as in the way they run their guide business, not Kevin Van Dam taking me out for a day)

I'd recommend that people consider the entire experience when determining tip amount. And that experience starts with your first communication with the guide all the way until the boat returns to the dock at the end of the day.

And as others have said, don't just tip based on the catch. The guide can put you on a ton of fish, and be an unprofessional, miserable SOB. A fantastic guide can also have a day where the fish just don't cooperate. And I'd tip the second guide more than the first guy.

Last thing to mention.  If your trip has a mate, chances are the mate relies on your tip to get paid.  In those situations, 100% of the tip should go to the mate.

[SoFl-native]

I by no means think that a tip is standard. I tip guides just like i would any other service. If they bust *** and really work hard then they get tipped, and tipped well.

On the other hand if i ever went out with a guide who really put in a poor effort/or had a poor attitude he would be getting NO tip from me, and i wouldnt feel bad at all.