Tipping charters? [Archive]

Captain's John & Diana

04-03-2006, 12:15 PM

It is always up to the charter what percentage the tip will be. Standard is 15-20 % of cost of trip but that is not in stone buy any means. If the captain or mate does not give you the service that you expected then you decide if a tip is warranted. This is very similar when eating at a restraurant where you get good service. This should not be directly tied to how good the fishing is because every charter boat is going to have good days and slow days. It is getting harder and harder every year to catch fish and so there always is the possibility the fish are not biting for a number of reasons on your charter date. Certainly having a good catch is what most people expect when chartering a boat but I feel the tip should be based mostly on how much effort the crew makes, and not on just how many fish you catch. If you have an excellent service when eating out but the food was not that great I would still tip the waiter or waitress 20% for their efforts. With the high costs of running a charter boat these days it is not out of the question to discuss the tip with the captain before your trip and do not be afraid to do this becuase it is your trip and money. Overall tipping is really appreciated by the charter boats industry and most good mates or captains earn every penny of it.
Capt John

fish2tell

04-03-2006, 01:51 PM

You also have to take into consideration that when the boat pulls back to the dock, and you head off happy with a cooler of fish, or sad with none at all. The mate and captain are left behind to clean the boat and make it presentable for the next group of fishermen! Its alot of hard work you dont see! I work for tips, therefor I TIP very generously! If I got 20% on every towel I handed out in the mens of the Gentlemens club I work at, I would be poor, however, people appreciate the fact that the place is kept clean, and tiddy, and thats the service they tip for! Same thing as a clean and tiddy boat to fish on!
I was once a Swabby too! TIP UP!! $$$$$$$$$

Grass Sound Bass Bagger

04-03-2006, 02:08 PM

I am an over tipper in life. I use to be in the restaurant business. So I know what it is like to work for tips. Saying that, poor service doesn't get the full 20% or more in some cases. It is your own gut feeling on what to tip but a tip is a must. I have been on boats where I felt the Capt who was the mate as well was having more fun than the paying crew. With that said this is where you would decide what was fair.

GSBB

DaisyMaySportfishing

04-03-2006, 04:08 PM

That sucks Skip! Hey at least you got something, right :confused: I have gotten completely stiffed before...and even had a tip taken from me once.....if you can believe that!!!

VDAWG

04-03-2006, 05:05 PM

Originally posted by striper2278:
Here is my $1 tip which will be seen hangin aboard the stalker!!! :mad:

http://images.snapfish.com/3467298%3B4%7Ffp339%3Enu%3D324%3B%3E567%3E6%3B9%3E WSNRCG%3D323362%3A897%3B87nu0mrj YOU have go to be kidding !!!
I know you not,But that has got to hurt !

do you think his money was all mixed together in his pocket and maybe thought it was a 20 spot he was grabbing ???

Freshwatergirl

04-03-2006, 05:14 PM

Thanks for the topic, I was just asking this question to someone else on the Barn. But what if you are going on a charter (in FlA), 3 ladies, little/no experience, mate and the captain are co-owner's of the boat?

VDAWG

04-03-2006, 05:18 PM

Originally posted by Freshwatergirl:
Thanks for the topic, I was just asking this question to someone else on the Barn. But what if you are going on a charter (in FlA), 3 ladies, little/no experience, mate and the captain are co-owner's of the boat? as long as you have good servise !
20 % to the mate,The capt is at your discretion !

If the capt dont use a mate but does the work of The capt/mate 20 %
again as long as the service is good ......

Freshwatergirl

04-03-2006, 05:37 PM

Originally posted by VDAWG:
again as long as the service is good ...... I don't want to insult anyone, is it a lot more stress/work for the mate when someone is inexperienced. I may have 2 other friends going with us, a couple, the husband get's out on the water practically every day. In your book what is considered "good service".Thanks!

VDAWG

04-03-2006, 05:43 PM

Originally posted by Freshwatergirl:
<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by VDAWG:
again as long as the service is good ...... I don't want to insult anyone, is it a lot more stress/work for the mate when someone is inexperienced. I may have 2 other friends going with us, a couple, the husband get's out on the water practically every day. In your book what is considered "good service".Thanks! [/QUOTE]Oh no in that case bring an extra 1,000 for the mate tongue.gif

inexperience should not be a problem for any good mate smile.gif

good service to me would be
Friendly,curtious,did everything he could to help you catch fish,prepaired bait,baited your hooks if need be,Takes the fish off the line,takes care of any tangles,and tries to teachs you techniques for the fish you are targeting,and helped make it as fun of a trip possaable for you ....

have fun on your trip and Good luck,catch um up ,Vinny

[ 04-03-2006, 03:51 PM: Message edited by: VDAWG ]

striper2278

04-03-2006, 06:49 PM

Originally posted by Grass Sound Bass Bagger:
I have been on boats where I felt the Capt who was the mate as well was having more fun than the paying crew. With that said this is where you would decide what was fair.

GSBB Who would that be?

[ 04-03-2006, 04:49 PM: Message edited by: striper2278 ]

phillyfishing

04-03-2006, 07:03 PM

skip they gave you a dollar... would have gave it back... i tip the hard workers... here i a question... you have a captain and mate.. trip was 500.00 i tip 20% or higher... do you tip them both seperate or tip them both 20%....if you give it to the captain does he give it to the mate... or should you pay the captain the charter fair then just tip the mate... how about on head boats... if the trip cost you 35-45 bucks what type of tip do you give?

captstaab

04-03-2006, 07:04 PM

Originally posted by Freshwatergirl:
Thanks for the topic, I was just asking this question to someone else on the Barn. But what if you are going on a charter (in FlA), 3 ladies, little/no experience, mate and the captain are co-owner's of the boat? I guess that depends.....Is it warm enough for bathing suits????? :D tongue.gif

BIGGESTJACK

04-03-2006, 09:55 PM

Originally posted by phillyfishing:
skip they gave you a dollar... would have gave it back... i tip the hard workers... here i a question... you have a captain and mate.. trip was 500.00 i tip 20% or higher... do you tip them both seperate or tip them both 20%....if you give it to the captain does he give it to the mate... or should you pay the captain the charter fair then just tip the mate... how about on head boats... if the trip cost you 35-45 bucks what type of tip do you give? VERY GOOD QUESTION ABOUT THE HEAD BOAT, I'M NOT AS FAMILAR WITH THE HEAD BOAT TIPPING AS I'M ABOUT THE CHARTER.

Rock N Roll

04-04-2006, 12:52 AM

biggestjack,on head boats you tip the mate,the captain is taken care of,the mate works for tips.On charters is it the same set up,or do the captain and mate split the tips.

bass ackwards

04-04-2006, 01:26 AM

Originally posted by bassvamp:
<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by bass ackwards:
I'll def do that especially the case of beer, this charter would be inshore with 5 guys probably different then offshore charters,right? What do you mean by different? Different species, diffent fishing methods, different in how much you tip?

Everything is different. Its typically done on a percentage of the cost of the charter. Tip like you would tip a waiter/waitress and consider that although an offshore trip may cost more the biggest difference is in the fuel to get you there and not necessarilly in the amount of work your crew does for you so you may want to be alittle more generous tipping for inshore trips. Just my .02 [/QUOTE]I was talking about the tip.

Striper2278 that really sucks,like someone else said they probably thought it was a different bill, did'nt have glasses on or something. Could not imagine someone tipping a 1$.

BIGGESTJACK

04-04-2006, 11:19 AM

Originally posted by Rock N Roll:
biggestjack,on head boats you tip the mate,the captain is taken care of,the mate works for tips.On charters is it the same set up,or do the captain and mate split the tips. WELCOME TO THE BARN.I KNOW THE CAPTAIN DOESN'T GET TIPPED BUT THE TIMES I HAVE BEEN ON HEADBOATS IT SEEMED LIKE THE MATES ON AVERAGE DON'T DO AS GOOD AS ON CHARTERS BOATS. THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW CHARTER CAPTAINS THAT TAKE PART OF TIPS.THANK GOODNESS IT'S A SMALL PERCENTGAGE.

Grass Sound Bass Bagger

04-04-2006, 11:39 AM

Skip,
I had made a statement like this before when this topic came up and you had a similar comment. Do you think I'm picking on you? I mean if you have a guilty conscience then I can't help that. I have fished all across this country and in many states. What leads you to believe I am referring to you? I fished with you once a few years ago and I landed my biggest striper to date. We caught more fish with you than any Charter before. If I was going to call you out I would have just said it. If you must know I was referring to a charter out of Redondo Beach California. I feel no need to mention a name because know one here would know who he was.

GSBB

striper2278

04-04-2006, 11:43 AM

Originally posted by Grass Sound Bass Bagger:
Skip,
I had made a statement like this before when this topic came up and you had a similar comment. Do you think I'm picking on you? I mean if you have a guilty conscience then I can't help that. I have fished all across this country and in many states. What leads you to believe I am referring to you? I fished with you once a few years ago and I landed my biggest striper to date. We caught more fish with you than any Charter before. If I was going to call you out I would have just said it. If you must know I was referring to a charter out of Redondo Beach California. I feel no need to mention a name because know one here would know who he was.

GSBB Trust me...No guilty conscience here! I'd be the last person in the world!!! I do my job the way I do it...and that's final...like it or not! Glad you had a good trip with me! Did you tip more then a $1? :D

Captain's John & Diana

04-04-2006, 12:04 PM

It is a tough situation when charter fishing when money is involved and dealing with many different people. You just plain cannot please everyone and some times the tips reflect this. Example; I used to allow my mates to set the hook and pass the rod to one of the charter folks and had complaints about about this. Also had some unhappy charters because the mates would fish and felt they were not getting enough attention. You lose both ways because many charters lose fish or cannot throw a jig and their catch numbers really go down know matter how hard we try to teach them. Some times experience setting up on a fish is the only way to have a good catch when the fish are only tapping the rod ever so slightly much like Black Drum fishing. I now try to dicuss this ahead of time with our charters to find what is their perference. It comes down to making every effort to please your customers and that is what working for a good tip is about. The only problem is I have seen charters lose lots of fish and then are pissed when they do not catch as many as they would have liked and the tip reflects this even though we the mate tried his best to teach them on the trip. Charter fishing and tips can be crazy at times and know matter how hard to try you end up on the short end but that is what happens when dealing with the general public. For those that are reading this post please consider the effort by the crew when tipping and not how many fish is brought back to the dock. Sometimes it falls right on the inexperience of the charter and not the crew and excessive drinking does help either. Almost all the charter captains I know work their butts off for their passengers and really do care about their customers.
Capt John

Grass Sound Bass Bagger

04-04-2006, 12:14 PM

Skip,

Grass Sound Bass Bagger

04-04-2006, 12:16 PM

Skip,
We gave at least 20 % if not more. We are former bartenders and waiters. Would never had thought to tip one dollar. I am sure that whatever day they try and rebook will be full.

GSBB

striper2278

04-04-2006, 02:00 PM

Originally posted by Grass Sound Bass Bagger:
Skip,
We gave at least 20 % if not more. We are former bartenders and waiters. Would never had thought to tip one dollar. I am sure that whatever day they try and rebook will be full.

GSBB U know it! ;)

Super Fluke

04-04-2006, 06:16 PM

I'm headed down to Captiva Island in FL for my honeymoon and am going out with a guy for two days (tarpon and snook/redfish). It's just the captain, no mate, he's running a 20' flats boat. Do you still tip when there is no mate? I thought you only tipped to take care of the mate. On a trip with only a captain, isn't it all just built into the cost? I'm paying $375 for a 6 hour trip. This is the first charter I'll ever be on by myself, I've always been with my dad before and he handled the tips.

[ 04-04-2006, 04:17 PM: Message edited by: Super Fluke ]

striper2278

04-04-2006, 06:22 PM

Originally posted by Super Fluke:
I'm headed down to Captiva Island in FL for my honeymoon and am going out with a guy for two days (tarpon and snook/redfish). It's just the captain, no mate, he's running a 20' flats boat. Do you still tip when there is no mate? I thought you only tipped to take care of the mate. On a trip with only a captain, isn't it all just built into the cost? I'm paying $375 for a 6 hour trip. This is the first charter I'll ever be on by myself, I've always been with my dad before and he handled the tips. If the Captain does it all...then YES!!! I don't have a mate on the boat I run..Tips are a huge part of some people income..hint, hint! Take care of them and they will take of you! ;)

[ 04-04-2006, 04:23 PM: Message edited by: striper2278 ]

outfished

04-04-2006, 06:27 PM

I can maybe see why someone who pays $85. for a 4-5 hour trip may think thats enough. $85. times 6 guys is a pretty good take for a 4-5 hour trip for a captain without a mate.

Munchman

04-04-2006, 06:37 PM

Originally posted by outfished:
I can maybe see why someone who pays $85. for a 4-5 hour trip may think thats enough. $85. times 6 guys is a pretty good take for a 4-5 hour trip for a captain without a mate. You are right, it is a pretty good take.

But what makes you think they own the vessel? Many charter captains do not own the vessel and are working for tips, just my .02... smile.gif

bass ackwards

04-04-2006, 06:41 PM

From what I've read so far the norm is 20% to the mate and if their is no mate it goes to the cap.
Thanks for the info guys def will tip no matter
if we catch fish or not. Im going with a bunch of NY guys so I dont think undertipping will be a problem. All this tip talk reminds me of when I used to work at a dock and a charter guy used to run out of there, over a four year period he never brought in more than 2 fish at a time and could hardly run a boat, while the other charter guys used to bring a cooler full back. Felt bad for the people going out, I used to hear him say "they just would'nt bit" every time they came back. He should have never been on the water never mind get a tip.

Bluewater sportfishing

04-04-2006, 07:17 PM

Originally posted by outfished:
I can maybe see why someone who pays $85. for a 4-5 hour trip may think thats enough. $85. times 6 guys is a pretty good take for a 4-5 hour trip for a captain without a mate. you are right its not a bad "take" for a days work...but
there are a few more factors that you dont see,
1) the capt. is paying the mate (if he runs with one)so that trip cost 510 for the day. take out 75 for the mate. now you are down to 435.
now take out bait, 2 bushel of clams...70?
not sure of the prices yet) now you are down to 365.now take out for fuel/gas fuel is 229 I think so burn 20 gallons and thats around 45 now your down to 320.
gas I dont know what it is but lets say 375 a gallon....again you burn 20 gallons thats 75 in gas.now the gas boats are down to 290.
now factor in your gear...rods reels hooks line sinkers the dock fee, winter layover maintaining the boat. now you cant make that all back in one trip but after a about 30 runs you should be doing ok.

2) the time it takes the capt and mate to clean the boat and make in nice for the next set of customers.
the time it takes the capt and mate to service the rods and reels so the next group is'nt fishing with crap.
the time it takes for the capt. and mate pre trip to get every thing in order and ready before the people come aboard.
and for some do this every day.
there is not much money involved with this. so the peole who do it are, doing it because they want to and they love it.also they are good at what they do.
so now I ask you this does a extra 20 or 30 spot from your pocket sound like a bad thing or a good thing? do you think the mate warrents a tip now?

I am basing this off of people I know and work extreamly(sp) hard for their cliants...so dont give me that horse crap about......well what if a mate or capt. doesnt do what they are saposed to do...my fellings on that are they shouldnt be on the water and they need to find a new job.period.

Skip, that is a damn shame what that cheap skate did
maybee we should get a list together and black ball the cheap ones, and I dont mean that in a bad way but the amount of work we do on the boats and on land, there is no room for these kind of people.

[ 04-04-2006, 06:50 PM: Message edited by: Bluewater sportfishing ]

sjb saxatilis

04-04-2006, 07:42 PM

No way skip, when I'm out with ya I'm the (old fart) mate :rolleyes: tongue.gif

just kiddin dude, you work your a$$ off

I'm usually around 25%, skunk, one fish or double digits, and more if its year end near the holidays

bass ackwards

04-04-2006, 08:16 PM

blue water sportfishing, why dont you add the tip into bill upfront like some restaurants do if you rely and expect that money. Some people probably just don?t know they need to tip.

Hightides

04-04-2006, 08:19 PM

At least a twenty percent tip everytime, regardless of how you did, because the boys are always working hard for ya, especially Skip, Bomb, and Jeremy. You'll learn a heck of alot fishing with these guys and that knowledge is priceless, so cough it up and enjoy the ride. ;)

freedom

04-04-2006, 08:19 PM

sounds to me charter boats need a union, so they can learn a desent wage. :D

heres my take, sure it cost money to run an operation like a charter boat biz. and you deal with joe public every day, but why not charge "UP FRONT" don't deppend on tips!

heres why, joe works as hard as you but a different job and joe makes less money then you. joe sees the cost of 85 or 250 what ever, a head and plans his trip not expecting to tip ya. he just don't have it in his pocket book,remenber joe learns less then you, joe plans and saves for that spical fishing trip.

charge up front don't sell your self short.

captian's john & diana thanks for a top class post, never did you disrespeict joe while posting, you may not agree with joe but you tryed to understand joe's life

so my question would be WHY don't charters charge up front ?

oh ps % how much do you leave tip at a buffet dinner ? :D

freedom ots.

[ 04-04-2006, 06:22 PM: Message edited by: freedom ]

Stalker Charters

04-04-2006, 08:30 PM

Originally posted by Munchman:
<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by outfished:
I can maybe see why someone who pays $85. for a 4-5 hour trip may think thats enough. $85. times 6 guys is a pretty good take for a 4-5 hour trip for a captain without a mate. You are right, it is a pretty good take.

But what makes you think they own the vessel? Many charter captains do not own the vessel and are working for tips, just my .02... smile.gif [/QUOTE]Exactly, my boat is $85 per person for at least a 5 hour open trip, (the other day it happened to be 8 hours and alot of days it is more then 5 hours!).

Anyway....In the instance above I take $510 (not make BTW, not even close), and the Captain/Mate gets his wage.

Look at everything else involved in a typical day running a charter boat working as a captain/mate. Yes we have fun and catch fish, but.....

this is how it starts, oh first of all before it starts, Skip is in his garage today on his day off, taking old line off, and putting line on 6 rods, also getting all the boat's tackle organized, figuring out what we need to order, watching the weather and trying to plan for our Thursday AM trip, while I am at home answering emails, and phone calls, paying bills, advertising, ordering tackle, rods, bait, etc.... (BTW this is our choice, and we love it, so I am not complaining, just letting some know what goes on behing the scenes of a fun fishing day.)

Oh so this is how it starts, after the bad weather day or day(s) off of work that was lost, and can not be made up.

EARLY AM
The capt/mate is at the dock in the early AM before the trip salting up and fileting fresh makeral, or shucking clams, OK some days just getting out bucktails :D getting the bait ready!...besides that getting swivels, hooks, fleurocarbon, ready or making rigs for each customer. Deciding the best plan of attack for the best fishng for the day depending on the bite, wind, tide, etc. Maintaining the boat before the trip, checking the oil, filters, etc....

FIRST TRIP STARTS
Taking the time to expain how we are going to fish to the customers, while navigating the boat in all sorts of conditions, sometimes flat, sometimes choppy, sometimes fun, sometimes taking spray getting your butt beat, sometimes foggy... making sure everyone is comfortable, safe and happy, Getting to the fishing area, trying to get away from the frequent shadow or two, Then fishing for 6 hours (if its good great, if its bad, getting stressed trying to figure out what to do next) while a shadow is following you, running all over a place killing the bite where you finally found your customers some fish.

END OF FIRST TRIP
Navigating back to the dock, in good or bad conditions(see above), docking the boat, fileting the fish, collecting their money, taking their pictures, getting the boat sprayed off, fixing tackle and rods for second group.

SECOND TRIP
See above, (repeat first trip), only a little more tired, stressed, and sunburned.

END OF DAY AT THE DOCK.
Same as above, but add the following, giving the boat a better cleaning than above b/c it has to be ready for the next morning, spraying all the blood and slime out of the cooler, walk the trash to the dumpster, answering all the questions to everyone at the dock about where and what we caught, while your wife, or girlfriend is calling you asking when your coming home, your friends are calling asking where you caught the fish, the boat owner is calling asking what time the trip is for the next day, and how the day went, when you haven't even been home yet to check the forcast, all this is happening while you are thinking about a shower, food, and some rest.

FINALLY HOME
Then finally getting in after around a 14 hour day around 8PM eating dinner, going to sleep and doing it again.

Its fun, but ALOOOOOOTTTT of work, I would never complain, or trade what I do and neither would the Capt/mate, but I think sure think what we do surely deserves a gratuity!!!!!!!

And to answer the question of how much, I think 15- 20 percent tip of the trips cost (whole charter, open boat, party boat fee, whatever the trip cost) is fair, this is well deserved whether you have a mate, or not, or weather you own the boat or not, you are still working your butt off.

If you think it is deserved and want to give more then do so, if you think the Captain didn't try or didn't do anything then give less.

To answer the question if the fishing stinks or is good, should the tip be adjusted, no I worked in restaurants all of my life as well, a tip should be given reflected on the service. If the food, or fishing sucks it is not the server or capts. fault, especially if they are giving it their best.

WOW IT MUST BE WINDY OUT, I WAS BORED, I DOUBT ANYONE WILL ACTUALLY READ THIS LONG AZZ POST!

[ 04-04-2006, 06:38 PM: Message edited by: Stalker Charters ]

Bluewater sportfishing

04-04-2006, 08:32 PM

freedom,
good points,
the drawback with adding in say 20% to the price would be joe might say' well if the mate (or capt) is getting the tip up front, then he wont work as hard for me and I can understand that.
as far as the buffet dinner that is done in different manner. the waitress and waiters get paid a flat rate for working those events. well at least they did when I was a prep cook at a resturant that had buffet dinners.

jeremy,
read mine in the page before this one I wrote almost the same thing.

[ 04-04-2006, 06:37 PM: Message edited by: Bluewater sportfishing ]

Stalker Charters

04-04-2006, 08:39 PM

Originally posted by Bluewater sportfishing:
jeremy,
read mine in the page before this one I wrote almost the same thing. oops :D sorry didn't see that. Oh well there is both our points of view!

Freshwatergirl

04-04-2006, 08:40 PM

Thanks, these are things I did not know and would not even consider. But after reading this I would consider starting at 25%. Another question, before someone get's on a Charter do you have them sign an insurance waver?

Stalker Charters

04-04-2006, 08:44 PM

Originally posted by bass ackwards:
blue water sportfishing, why dont you add the tip into bill upfront like some restaurants do if you rely and expect that money. Some people probably just don?t know they need to tip. I guess you could do that, but have you ever gone to a restaurant where the tip is included, and the server gives you crappy service, bc they are getting the included tip no matter what?!

It is nice to work hard and get a tip that you deserve to show that you were appreciated, thats why it really sucks to be stiffed.

[ 04-04-2006, 06:44 PM: Message edited by: Stalker Charters ]

Bluewater sportfishing

04-04-2006, 08:48 PM

Originally posted by bass ackwards:
blue water sportfishing, why dont you add the tip into bill upfront like some restaurants do if you rely and expect that money. Some people probably just don?t know they need to tip. One major reason is because the customers will think we wont work as hard because we have the tip allready, I dont want that.
what I was trying to relay to everyone is the amount of work we do before and after a trip, and, to put it blunt, we are not going to do all that work and then skimp on the acutal fishing part itself...make sense?...I dont take people out fishing for a tip thats dumb I take people out fishing to put them on fish, I try to have proper gear the right hooks good line that gets changed out at least twice a season so there are not any line breaks due to faulty line. good hooks no cheap things,
Also I dont recieve a tip, vinny does. I have never expected one. if I took a charter out without a mate I wouldnt expect a tip, If I got one then I thank the person and thats that.
I just want to let the people who dont know, know what goes on behind the scenes

Bluewater sportfishing

04-04-2006, 08:55 PM

Originally posted by Freshwatergirl:
Thanks, these are things I did not know and would not even consider. But after reading this I would consider starting at 25%. Another question, before someone get's on a Charter do you have them sign an insurance waver? I dont think there are any,
we all have insurance(sp) for the people on the boats if one were to slip and fall they would be covered under the charter boats ins.

Bluewater sportfishing

04-04-2006, 08:57 PM

Originally posted by Stalker Charters:
<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Bluewater sportfishing:
jeremy,
read mine in the page before this one I wrote almost the same thing. oops :D sorry didn't see that. Oh well there is both our points of view! [/QUOTE]lol I think people need to read this kind of stuff,
also thats just for a inshore trip----bay trip
offshore is a lot more involved

The Hard Way

04-04-2006, 09:01 PM

Tip The Capt. Then tip the Mate. Tip the Guy tha hands you the gas pump hose.
Call the owner of the boat and get his address so you can send him a tip.
Oh! don't forget to find out who owns the dock and tip him.
May as well drop a few bucks to the people who built the dock. The guys that put the poisen into the poles in the marina. Oh hell might as well send som tip money to the guys that grew and the ones who cut down the trees to make the poles for the guys to poisen to put in the water.
I guess you may as well go to the worship place of your choice so you can tip the god of your choice for the sun and rain to grow the trees....

Good Luck

Freshwatergirl

04-04-2006, 09:04 PM

Originally posted by Bluewater sportfishing:
I dont think there are any,
we all have insurance(sp) for the people on the boats if one were to slip and fall they would be covered under the charter boats ins. Just asking, most barn's/farm's have people sign wavers saying they will not sue, so if you get on the horse...but the the point I was trying to make was on the clip board with the waver there is usually a tip's appreciated note, and a little fact sheet about what goes into making someone else's dream a reality. I am a good tipper, but I also know I am going to have a great time if I bring that fish in or not. You enligtened me as to the hard work and cost that goes in to making everything a reality.

VDAWG

04-04-2006, 09:07 PM

Originally posted by bass ackwards:
From what I've read so far the norm is 20% to the mate and if their is no mate it goes to the cap.
Thanks for the info guys def will tip no matter
if we catch fish or not. Im going with a bunch of NY guys so I dont think undertipping will be a problem. All this tip talk reminds me of when I used to work at a dock and a charter guy used to run out of there, over a four year period he never brought in more than 2 fish at a time and could hardly run a boat, while the other charter guys used to bring a cooler full back. Felt bad for the people going out, I used to hear him say "they just would'nt bit" every time they came back. He should have never been on the water never mind get a tip. First you said That then after captain Kobey posted you said this

QUOTE Originally posted by bass ackwards:
blue water sportfishing, why dont you add the tip into bill upfront like some restaurants do if you rely and expect that money. Some people probably just don?t know they need to tip.

What you still dont get it ????

VDAWG

04-04-2006, 09:08 PM

ALL i know is every time these tip posts come up ,I just break out my book and start taking names ...............

Captain's John & Diana

04-04-2006, 09:11 PM

I always kid with our charters when the fishing is slow that on our boat the mate tips the charter 20% and boy does break the ice sometimes on a slow day. Never once have any of our charters disagreed with me but the mates get a little upset about this. I still have not figured out why. Don't all mates do this? We try to have a little fun while we are waiting for the bite to happen. Tip well because good mates work their tales off. Not a easy job.

Stalker Charters

04-04-2006, 09:17 PM

Originally posted by The Hard Way:
Tip The Capt. Then tip the Mate. Tip the Guy tha hands you the gas pump hose.
Call the owner of the boat and get his address so you can send him a tip.
Oh! don't forget to find out who owns the dock and tip him.
May as well drop a few bucks to the people who built the dock. The guys that put the poisen into the poles in the marina. Oh hell might as well send som tip money to the guys that grew and the ones who cut down the trees to make the poles for the guys to poisen to put in the water.
I guess you may as well go to the worship place of your choice so you can tip the god of your choice for the sun and rain to grow the trees....

Good Luck If you were a waiter or charter boat, party boat captian, you would want your 15-20 percent tip that you worked for, as far as I have know people in these professions have always worked for tips.

Did you ever see a waiter's pay check, 2.12 an hour, usually zero dollars after taxes, they depend on tips, and so do captains, and most of the population who goes out to eat or hires a boat to go fishing goes with this.

Now as for tipping the Guy tha hands you the gas pump hose, the owner of the boat and getting his his address so you can send him a tip, and finding out who owns the dock and tip him, and dropping a few bucks to the people who built the dock, the guys that put the poisen into the poles in the marina and sending some tip money to the guys that grew and the ones who cut down the trees to make the poles for the guys to poisen to put in the water..............
might be taking it a little too far, after all they are not working for tips, and it has not been customary to give then a specific tip. But if you feel they deserve it do so, I would.

And going to the worship place of your choice so you can tip the god of your choice for the sun and rain to grow the trees....is a little extreme too, just donate if you wish.

Good luck too, you might go broke tipping all of those people :D

[ 04-04-2006, 07:18 PM: Message edited by: Stalker Charters ]

Captain's John & Diana

04-04-2006, 09:20 PM

I might add that we do get quite a few business charters that include 20% tip to the mates right in their charter payment check. They prefer it this way for business reasons. I now show the check to the mates before the trip so they know exactly how much to expect and pay them cash on the spot when we return to the dock or the next day. This is very good post because we get lots of charters every year that ask me what is expected for a tip to the mates. I have personally never accepted a tip and always give it to the mates the times people have given my one. Without good mates our charter business would be nothing.

bass ackwards

04-04-2006, 09:24 PM

I get the whole tipping thing but I dont get your post, just was wondering why charters do not put the price of tip up front so they dont get stiffed? They gave there explantions and I understand. Dont worry about taking my name, wont be calling.

VDAWG

04-04-2006, 09:27 PM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by bass ackwards:
I get the whole tipping thing but I dont get your post, just was wondering why charters do not put the price of tip up front so they dont get stiffed? They gave there explantions and I understand. Dont worry about taking my name, wont be calling. [/QUOTE3 captains explained it,You said you understood,and then you asked that,after it was fully explaind

I was in no way refering to you about the "taking names thig"

Thats why i put in a seperate post ;)

Thats your loss not mine !!!

But come on dude a DOLLAR TIP TO A HARD WORKING CAPT/MATE

i guess people dont think that charter boat capts. and mates from other boats dont talk to each other :rolleyes:

[ 04-04-2006, 07:35 PM: Message edited by: VDAWG ]

striper2278

04-04-2006, 09:31 PM

Originally posted by bass ackwards:
I get the whole tipping thing but I dont get your post, just was wondering why charters do not put the price of tip up front so they dont get stiffed? They gave there explantions and I understand. Dont worry about taking my name, wont be calling. Don't worry...we wouldn't want you aboard anyway! Nice attitude! :rolleyes:

bass ackwards

04-04-2006, 09:43 PM

You probably didnt read the whole post, it is pretty long. Said that the dollar tip was rediculas. And I took the whole "taking names thing" to be directed to me because of the precieved attitude when stated "what you still don't get it". I didnt hit the refresh button in time I guess. Oh well, did'nt want to get on a online battle with you charter guys.

striper2278sgrl

04-04-2006, 09:44 PM

The only thing I can say is that not tipping not only screws the captain or mate, but you have to think about his family too. Not getting tipped is like not getting paid for only 36 hours of work and you were expecting to get paid for 40 hours. Captains/mates expect to make that extra money and work really hard for it. As a future family member of a captain, I can say that the job is not easy! He comes home exhausted everynight and tries to do what is best for the customer-he is all about customer service. So he definitely deserves to make that extra buck.

fish2tell

04-04-2006, 09:46 PM

Not to add to the mix, but, Jan 9 2005 I was on an open boat trip for Tog. To make a long story short, The Capt. of the vesel brought along a Capt. of another vesel to mate for him on this trip, one of the fishermen in the group (who was not with me) stated, you don't have to tip the mate, because he is a Capt.! What kinda BS is this! The guy worked his butt off for us all day, the Capt. kept us out an extra hour to try and get on more fish! Throw the guys a bone! they deserve it! Hell. That ain't easy trying to set that anchor on wrecks, and you know, when you miss your spot, its pull it in and try again! Capt. or Capt/Mate, You deserve a good tip, fish or no fish!!

Capt Mike

04-04-2006, 09:59 PM

I've been mating and/or captaining both party boat and private charter boats part time for about 15 years now. I agree with the fact that the tip should be based on effort/preparedness but a gray area I've come to notice lately is with fish cleaning. When I used to work on head boats bluefishing, people would ask me at the end of the trip how much it was to fillet the fish. My response would be whatever they thought was fair for the service throughout the day as well as the filleting. That response usually turned out better for us than charging a per fish price which often resulted in just getting tipped for the fish cleaning.

On the private charters I run, the fish cleaning is always included in the trip. I normally clean the fish while the mate gets started on the boat. On a canyon or good bottom fishing trip this can take an extra hour or two but it's always included and we hope they will tip well based on the service. It's alot of extra work added on to the end of an already long day but I've always kinda thought thats why people charter rather than fish on a head boat so they get that extra bit of service.

One thing I've noticed recently is that alot of private charter boats don't clean the fish for the charter. I've mostly seen it down south where the marinas will have a separate fish cleaning service at the dock that they expect the charter to pay extra for.

So I guess the question is, do you still tip 15-20% of the charter fee if they hand you your cooler full of whole fish and make you pay even more money to get them cleaned? If you caught alot of fish your tip could end up in the 30%-40% range.

Now don't get me wrong, the thought of doing less work for the same tip is appealing but I wouldn't feel right sending the charter away to pay more money for a service I assume should be included.

Any thoughts?

TheAdamBomb

04-04-2006, 10:51 PM

Wow! This thread has some pretty amazing and in some cases perturbing information!

I wasn?t going to post a response, but being in the industry, I thought, ?What the heck?!?

Besides being a full time charter operator, I have also fished on numerous charter boats up and down the east coast and over to the west coast. Even before becoming a charter captain myself, WHENEVER I fished on a charter, if there was a captain and mate I always made sure my party took care of the mate with a nice gratuity. If the captain is on deck with the mate during a hot bite and helping out, throw him a bone, too! Now, if you?re on a trip and it is the captain on his own working double duty as mate and captain?doing all the prep work associated with the trip such as rigging rods/getting bait/developing fishing strategies/etc., navigating to the fishing grounds, setting the boat up, cutting bait, baiting hooks, unhooking fish, giving instruction, netting fish, measuring fish, untangling lines, rigging rods, and doing all the other chores associated with being a mate and then returning to the dock and filleting and bagging fish for the customers(I do it for our customers!), cleaning the boat, and getting ready for the next trip/day, then DARN RIGHT he deserves a tip! I?ve fished on a few charters where the captain worked without a mate and worked his tail off to run the boat and do the job of the mate, too! Our crew took good care of those captains!

Now, probably the most gut wrenching of all the posts made so far was the gentleman who wrote about six fares at $85 each being a ?good take.? Tread carefully when making a bold statement like that! Sure, some charter operations are part time and just out to do it on the weekends and help defray the cost of owning their boat and upkeeping it. However, there are several(myself included) who do this for a living and are trying to support their families(in my case a wife and daughter). Believe me, you have to work your tail off to make a living in this business with operating expenses increasing every year! Make sure you?re aware of all the operating costs involved in running a charter business before stating that $85 per person yields a good take. Heck, just to name a few expenses that come out of that ?good take??

1. Fuel
2. Oil
3. Ice
4. Bait
5. Tackle
6. Maintenance on boat
7. Maintenance on motors
8. Slip
9. Winter storage
10. Insurance
11. Permits
12. Registration
13. Oops, I dropped your $200 rod/reel combo in the water here?s $50 to replace it
14. Oops, I hit your boat with an 8oz. Weight and put a big chip in the gel coat. I just don?t tell you and hope you don?t notice until after we are on our way home and you?re stuck paying to get that fixed.
15. Another sinker ding in the gel coat
16. Another sinker ding?
17. Oops, I broke your toilet in the head and don?t say anything to you and let you figure that one out when you open the head compartment and see the broken toilet
18. I wrapped up about 20 yards of braided line in your prop and broke it off when you weren?t looking. I don?t say anything to you, and now you?re stuck paying to have a gearcase resealed because the braided line ate through the seals and water entered the gearcase.
19. We were jigging and I sunk a hook deep into the coaming bolsters, call the canvas guy!
20. Another jig hook in the coaming bolsters, give the canvas guy another ring
21. Yet another
22. I was trying to hold my balance by holding on to the lid to your live well while it was up and I cracked it, call the glass guy
23. Your integrated cooler seat on the front of the console opens forward, and someone wedged their cooler under the lip on the front and someone tries to open it and breaks the hinge on the seat, next stop?West Marine
24. Countless jigs and bucktails of $3 to $8 that get lost during the course of a trip
25. The captain says don?t reel the swivel thru the tip of the rod and the guides, yet it happens quite often and guides and tips are constantly getting broken

The list goes on and on, and most of these items get fixed out of our pocket with little or no compensation from the person doing the damage. Most charter boats have policies that state you?re responsible for damage, but most isn?t mentioned by the person doing the damage and you?re left to find it after the group leaves the dock. After all the daily and yearly expenses that go into running a charter operation and this endless list of details that have to be paid for, that ?good take? isn?t so good after all, especially when trying to provide for your family!

Thanks for listening to my rant!

VDAWG

04-04-2006, 10:59 PM

Originally posted by TheAdamBomb:
Wow! This thread has some pretty amazing and in some cases perturbing information!

I wasn?t going to post a response, but being in the industry, I thought, ?What the heck?!?

Besides being a full time charter operator, I have also fished on numerous charter boats up and down the east coast and over to the west coast. Even before becoming a charter captain myself, WHENEVER I fished on a charter, if there was a captain and mate I always made sure my party took care of the mate with a nice gratuity. If the captain is on deck with the mate during a hot bite and helping out, throw him a bone, too! Now, if you?re on a trip and it is the captain on his own working double duty as mate and captain?doing all the prep work associated with the trip such as rigging rods/getting bait/developing fishing strategies/etc., navigating to the fishing grounds, setting the boat up, cutting bait, baiting hooks, unhooking fish, giving instruction, netting fish, measuring fish, untangling lines, rigging rods, and doing all the other chores associated with being a mate and then returning to the dock and filleting and bagging fish for the customers(I do it for our customers!), cleaning the boat, and getting ready for the next trip/day, then DARN RIGHT he deserves a tip! I?ve fished on a few charters where the captain worked without a mate and worked his tail off to run the boat and do the job of the mate, too! Our crew took good care of those captains!

Now, probably the most gut wrenching of all the posts made so far was the gentleman who wrote about six fares at $85 each being a ?good take.? Tread carefully when making a bold statement like that! Sure, some charter operations are part time and just out to do it on the weekends and help defray the cost of owning their boat and upkeeping it. However, there are several(myself included) who do this for a living and are trying to support their families(in my case a wife and daughter). Believe me, you have to work your tail off to make a living in this business with operating expenses increasing every year! Make sure you?re aware of all the operating costs involved in running a charter business before stating that $85 per person yields a good take. Heck, just to name a few expenses that come out of that ?good take??

1. Fuel
2. Oil
3. Ice
4. Bait
5. Tackle
6. Maintenance on boat
7. Maintenance on motors
8. Slip
9. Winter storage
10. Insurance
11. Permits
12. Registration
13. Oops, I dropped your $200 rod/reel combo in the water here?s $50 to replace it
14. Oops, I hit your boat with an 8oz. Weight and put a big chip in the gel coat. I just don?t tell you and hope you don?t notice until after we are on our way home and you?re stuck paying to get that fixed.
15. Another sinker ding in the gel coat
16. Another sinker ding?
17. Oops, I broke your toilet in the head and don?t say anything to you and let you figure that one out when you open the head compartment and see the broken toilet
18. I wrapped up about 20 yards of braided line in your prop and broke it off when you weren?t looking. I don?t say anything to you, and now you?re stuck paying to have a gearcase resealed because the braided line ate through the seals and water entered the gearcase.
19. We were jigging and I sunk a hook deep into the coaming bolsters, call the canvas guy!
20. Another jig hook in the coaming bolsters, give the canvas guy another ring
21. Yet another
22. I was trying to hold my balance by holding on to the lid to your live well while it was up and I cracked it, call the glass guy
23. Your integrated cooler seat on the front of the console opens forward, and someone wedged their cooler under the lip on the front and someone tries to open it and breaks the hinge on the seat, next stop?West Marine
24. Countless jigs and bucktails of $3 to $8 that get lost during the course of a trip
25. The captain says don?t reel the swivel thru the tip of the rod and the guides, yet it happens quite often and guides and tips are constantly getting broken

The list goes on and on, and most of these items get fixed out of our pocket with little or no compensation from the person doing the damage. Most charter boats have policies that state you?re responsible for damage, but most isn?t mentioned by the person doing the damage and you?re left to find it after the group leaves the dock. After all the daily and yearly expenses that go into running a charter operation and this endless list of details that have to be paid for, that ?good take? isn?t so good after all, especially when trying to provide for your family!

Thanks for listening to my rant! No problem Captain ! very well said and i hope Respected !!!!

freedom

04-04-2006, 11:32 PM

shoot bomb

all 1-25 happens to all boat owners :D not just charter guys..

i had a guy tell me that i should fold my covers not roll them up. he keeps at it telling me to fold them, to humor him after 20 minutes of this crap i turned the boat around and at the dock asked is this enough humor :D

did anyone tip the waitress at barn fest ? careful i know the awnser :D

freedom ots.

SHAGGERCF

04-04-2006, 11:40 PM

I'm not that good of a fisherman on my own but respect the effort and knowledge of a charter captain. I use AdamBomb to entertain my customers and he is worth every penny if not more. He has always worked his tail off to put us on the fish. He moves and moves and moves. He'll find them or run out of gas trying. I also love the fact that he fishes right beside you. If you ever seen him catch a fish it's like the first one he ever caught. It's a great thing.
Adam just wondering about # 9 WINTER STORAGE? smile.gif
TIP THE BOYS THEY WORK HARD!!

TWIN D'S

04-04-2006, 11:42 PM

Originally posted by freedom:

did anyone tip the waitress at barn fest ?

Tip was included in the price, wasn't it??

Hightides

04-04-2006, 11:44 PM

Bomb, good stuff and an interesting read into what goes down in the life of a charter cappy. I can't believe this is even a hotly contested issue, the career you chose might seem like a dream job, but there is a hell of alot of responsibility for customer safety and pressure everyday to produce. I appreciate the good times that I have on the Bomb and Stalker and that is why my buisness and TIP will keep coming back everytime.

Stalker Charters

04-05-2006, 12:54 AM

Originally posted by freedom:
shoot bomb

all 1-25 happens to all boat owners :D not just charter guys..

i had a guy tell me that i should fold my covers not roll them up. he keeps at it telling me to fold them, to humor him after 20 minutes of this crap i turned the boat around and at the dock asked is this enough humor :D

did anyone tip the waitress at barn fest ? careful i know the awnser :D

freedom ots. Yeah but does it happen 7 days a week with 12 different guys on your boat per day???

And when a waitress works a banquet, the tip is included in the price of the ticket, then at the end of the night all of the servers split it, or it comes in your paycheck at the end of the week.

If they do a great job and you want to slip them some extra cash then you can.

Commercial is over, back to the Deadliest Catch!

Also, great points Adam, I guess our posts are so long, and we get so aggravated because some people just don't understand, and still question you even after you make all the valid points and try to explain it!!! It really gets to you to see that. Oh well they just don't understand!

They should put themselves in our shoes and see what they think! ;)

The point is a valid tip for a charter is 15-20 percent, thats what you should leave.

A valid tip for a server at a restaraunt is 15 percent, if over a party of 5, you should leave 18 to 20 percent.

You want to leave more, and more is deserved do it, you want to leave less, and the job sucked do it. Just put yourself in the other persons shoes, and do what you think is deserved using the above as a guideline. Its that easy!

[ 04-04-2006, 11:03 PM: Message edited by: Stalker Charters ]

RAY-RCO

04-05-2006, 12:55 AM

Adam and all, well said. Someone mentioned (sorry it all became a blur) that when he was asked what a fair tip is he replied, "whatever you think is fair." I have always said the same or similiar and will continue to do so. But of course we all remember "what was fair"

[ 04-04-2006, 11:06 PM: Message edited by: RAY-RCO ]

Stalker Charters

04-05-2006, 01:07 AM

Originally posted by Hightides:
Bomb, good stuff and an interesting read into what goes down in the life of a charter cappy. I can't believe this is even a hotly contested issue, the career you chose might seem like a dream job, but there is a hell of alot of responsibility for customer safety and pressure everyday to produce. I appreciate the good times that I have on the Bomb and Stalker and that is why my buisness and TIP will keep coming back everytime. And we appreciate it Dave!

freedom

04-05-2006, 01:37 AM

no problems tiping yes a hunderd on top a inshore trip fee isn;t bad,

interresting point about cleaning fish.

have the people ever helped clean the boat?

"Yeah but does it happen 7 days a week with 12 different guys on your boat per day???"

and yes thats a very good point,i'm sure any boater could add to the list: like someone cutting bait or line on your teak,crazy stuff happens.had a guy smashs a beer can with his foot,on my deck! he don't do that on his hardwood floors don't do it on my deck!

i think one reason the tip/mates pay isn't rolled in, is it dose drive away the every day joe, all the bill boards read in large print "8 hr trip X dollars" tips in small print.

over all i;m sure it's only a few that stiff ya on the tip department, and those i'm sure know about it after they leave the boat that day.

now you think charter boaters work hard, what about them boys in the deadly catch game :D

i got some quiters i work with, they got out alive,most of them pal gray skinned, & still are paying uncle sam back taxes! yeah theres a good job :D still it beats makeing the cogs & wheels

TheProf

04-05-2006, 01:54 AM

I had a charter with the Stalker this winter. Now if I didn't tip Skip I would have been a complete jacka$$, not because of a moral thing, but for the simple fact that he was working hard the entire time. Hell, my fish barely broke surface before he was pulling it up, unhooking it, kissing it on the head and tossing it back....not to mention cleaning the keepers when we got back to the dock. Bottom line in my book when it comes to tipping is work=cash. Thanks Skip, awesome job.

sjb saxatilis

04-05-2006, 02:20 AM

I seen that, yep, he kisses da fish, wanted me to but no way

kick down for the cappy's, they deserve it

Stalker Charters

04-05-2006, 04:16 AM

Originally posted by outfished:
I can maybe see why someone who pays $85. for a 4-5 hour trip may think thats enough. $85. times 6 guys is a pretty good take for a 4-5 hour trip for a captain without a mate. Oh, just thought of this, what about all the days where we run an open boat with less than 6 like days with 4 or 3, some day with even just one guy, thats not even enough for gas and bait.

Stalker Charters

04-05-2006, 04:17 AM

Originally posted by sjb saxatilis:
I seen that, yep, he kisses da fish, wanted me to but no way

kick down for the cappy's, they deserve it Your kissin one this Thursday afternoon Steve! tongue.gif

VDAWG

04-05-2006, 11:41 AM

Originally posted by TheAdamBomb:
Wow! This thread has some pretty amazing and in some cases perturbing information!

I wasn?t going to post a response, but being in the industry, I thought, ?What the heck?!?

Besides being a full time charter operator, I have also fished on numerous charter boats up and down the east coast and over to the west coast. Even before becoming a charter captain myself, WHENEVER I fished on a charter, if there was a captain and mate I always made sure my party took care of the mate with a nice gratuity. If the captain is on deck with the mate during a hot bite and helping out, throw him a bone, too! Now, if you?re on a trip and it is the captain on his own working double duty as mate and captain?doing all the prep work associated with the trip such as rigging rods/getting bait/developing fishing strategies/etc., navigating to the fishing grounds, setting the boat up, cutting bait, baiting hooks, unhooking fish, giving instruction, netting fish, measuring fish, untangling lines, rigging rods, and doing all the other chores associated with being a mate and then returning to the dock and filleting and bagging fish for the customers(I do it for our customers!), cleaning the boat, and getting ready for the next trip/day, then DARN RIGHT he deserves a tip! I?ve fished on a few charters where the captain worked without a mate and worked his tail off to run the boat and do the job of the mate, too! Our crew took good care of those captains!

Now, probably the most gut wrenching of all the posts made so far was the gentleman who wrote about six fares at $85 each being a ?good take.? Tread carefully when making a bold statement like that! Sure, some charter operations are part time and just out to do it on the weekends and help defray the cost of owning their boat and upkeeping it. However, there are several(myself included) who do this for a living and are trying to support their families(in my case a wife and daughter). Believe me, you have to work your tail off to make a living in this business with operating expenses increasing every year! Make sure you?re aware of all the operating costs involved in running a charter business before stating that $85 per person yields a good take. Heck, just to name a few expenses that come out of that ?good take??

1. Fuel
2. Oil
3. Ice
4. Bait
5. Tackle
6. Maintenance on boat
7. Maintenance on motors
8. Slip
9. Winter storage
10. Insurance
11. Permits
12. Registration
13. Oops, I dropped your $200 rod/reel combo in the water here?s $50 to replace it
14. Oops, I hit your boat with an 8oz. Weight and put a big chip in the gel coat. I just don?t tell you and hope you don?t notice until after we are on our way home and you?re stuck paying to get that fixed.
15. Another sinker ding in the gel coat
16. Another sinker ding?
17. Oops, I broke your toilet in the head and don?t say anything to you and let you figure that one out when you open the head compartment and see the broken toilet
18. I wrapped up about 20 yards of braided line in your prop and broke it off when you weren?t looking. I don?t say anything to you, and now you?re stuck paying to have a gearcase resealed because the braided line ate through the seals and water entered the gearcase.
19. We were jigging and I sunk a hook deep into the coaming bolsters, call the canvas guy!
20. Another jig hook in the coaming bolsters, give the canvas guy another ring
21. Yet another
22. I was trying to hold my balance by holding on to the lid to your live well while it was up and I cracked it, call the glass guy
23. Your integrated cooler seat on the front of the console opens forward, and someone wedged their cooler under the lip on the front and someone tries to open it and breaks the hinge on the seat, next stop?West Marine
24. Countless jigs and bucktails of $3 to $8 that get lost during the course of a trip
25. The captain says don?t reel the swivel thru the tip of the rod and the guides, yet it happens quite often and guides and tips are constantly getting broken

The list goes on and on, and most of these items get fixed out of our pocket with little or no compensation from the person doing the damage. Most charter boats have policies that state you?re responsible for damage, but most isn?t mentioned by the person doing the damage and you?re left to find it after the group leaves the dock. After all the daily and yearly expenses that go into running a charter operation and this endless list of details that have to be paid for, that ?good take? isn?t so good after all, especially when trying to provide for your family!

Thanks for listening to my rant! Great post Adam,But out of all of thatThe only thing that i would have to point out is when you said this
"some charter operations are part time and just out to do it on the weekends and help defray the cost of owning their boat and upkeeping it. "

That may be the case for some part time boats !
BUT There are others That do it part time as a building block stepping stone if you will !
Making a foundation towards a future in a full time charter operation,Not just trying to defer any boat payments or costs of owning their boat,But building a client base,and solid reputation,Before being able to do it full time..

Thanks for listening to my rant as well !!

TheAdamBomb

04-05-2006, 11:45 AM

Hey guys, thanks for the positive responses.

Freedom, sure it happens on all boats, but it happens way more frequently on a charter boat due to how frequently you're out and the number of people fishing aboard the boat...plus, the point about the list is that all of that comes out of the expenses of the trip. That's just the tip of the iceberg!

Jer - great point!

TheAdamBomb

04-05-2006, 11:50 AM

Vinny, I understand and have no problem with guys who do it part time. I was just making the point to the person who thought it was such a good take that after all the expenses are tallied and you lose days due to bad weather(and there are lots of them that many wouldn't even think of), it's not easy like that person earlier in thread might think!

DaisyMaySportfishing

04-05-2006, 12:08 PM

To all the charter guys(John, Adam, Skip, Jer, Vinny, and Kobey...sorry if i missed some): well said, all of you!! We only do it on the weekends and my azz is dragging at my regular 9-5 until Wed of the following week. Some(not all) people don't realize all of the "behind the scenes" stuff we do to make sure that everyone is safe and that they have a good chance of getting some fish. I don't have as many of the "every day" problems that the full time guys have, but we do get our share!! The tips are definitely appreciated!!

Dave

HookinUp

04-05-2006, 12:17 PM

I may ruffle some feathers with this, but if the captain is the owner operator of the charter business, there is no tip for him. It's their job to charge for the service accordingly. If he isn't the owner and he has a mate, he still doesn't get a tip. He is paid to run the boat for the company.

The mate is the only one that automatically gets a tip. If the mate charges you extra to clean fish, you adjust your tip accordingly.

In fla when you do a guide service owner/operator you pay for the service, there is no tip. If they clean your fish for you, then you tip them.

I understand these guys have to make a living, but they have to charge for their service without any hidden costs. The captains that put their customers on the fish get paid back by filling their charters everyday. The captains that aren't so good, have their boat in the slip at the marina

striper2278

04-05-2006, 12:31 PM

Originally posted by HookinUp:
I may ruffle some feathers with this, but if the captain is the owner operator of the charter business, there is no tip for him. It's their job to charge for the service accordingly. If he isn't the owner and he has a mate, he still doesn't get a tip. He is paid to run the boat for the company.

The mate is the only one that automatically gets a tip. If the mate charges you extra to clean fish, you adjust your tip accordingly.

In fla when you do a guide service owner/operator you pay for the service, there is no tip. If they clean your fish for you, then you tip them.

I understand these guys have to make a living, but they have to charge for their service without any hidden costs. The captains that put their customers on the fish get paid back by filling their charters everyday. The captains that aren't so good, have their boat in the slip at the marina Back to square 1!

TWIN D'S

04-05-2006, 12:33 PM

This is a great thread!!

offshoreone

04-05-2006, 01:01 PM

Hookinup, I dont know where you fished in Florida, but in Islamorada its customary to tip your backcountry guide.

TheAdamBomb

04-05-2006, 01:03 PM

I've fished with several backcountry guides and tipped them all at the end of the day.

snichols

04-05-2006, 01:03 PM

Phil....you're right, interesting reading.

I have been on numerous open boats/charters with some of these hardworking Captains within this thread.

When I charter the boat, I tell the guys with me that the price is X for the boat and Y for the tip. (Y=20%)

On an open boat, the going rate is $85 and I tip $15+ as does everyone I have ever brought with me.

As far as I'm concerned, a tip is a no brainer and is figured in as an added cost. I can't believe you guys would get stiffed, regardless if you catch or not. :confused:

Stalker Charters

04-05-2006, 01:14 PM

Originally posted by HookinUp:
I may ruffle some feathers with this, but if the captain is the owner operator of the charter business, there is no tip for him.How do you know, do you ask the Captain if he is the owner? Do you check and see if the mate is a partner, or gets a percent, or owns any shares of the business...because then his tip should be adjusted, right???

Do you tip you waiter/waitress at dinner, and a small restaurant if they are the owner of the place?

In addition to having all of the behind the scenes (owner) responsibilities, they are performing another job, the job of a captain, or server, mate etc...it is no ones business if they own the place or not.

I have another job at a restaurant, if you came in would you tip me, or stiff me because I own a charter boat??

Its really just common sense and morals, if the person is doing their job, and a job that depends on gratuity and has in the past, you tip them...easy!

[ 04-05-2006, 11:17 AM: Message edited by: Stalker Charters ]

Captain's John & Diana

04-05-2006, 01:19 PM

Very interesting reading on a semi touchy subject tips (money) Do not know if has been addressed in the past that I can remember on any of the sites I follow. Adam: Great post and I support you 100% on what you mentioned. I could add that we have had over at least 5 thousand dollars worth of equipment stollen or dropped overboard over the last 6 or 7 years. Had one charter steal a few custom offshore rods off the boat when I went down to the local pizza shop to pick up a few pies for the guys that were starving after a long day of offshore fishing. My mate had went to bathroom at our marina and they took the gear when we were not at the boat. A couple of the guys were drinking hard liquor in the cabin and I told them to quit because for their own safety and they probably were pissed and were the ones that stole the equipment. I blame myself for being stupid and leaving the boat and learned a very expensive lesson on that trip. I contacted middle Township police but never heard back from them. This group was NY city cops and when I called them naturally they never got back to me. We also had a group put stop payment on a $15000.00 charter payment check payment check because they did not catch as many fish as they thought they should have. In this situation we were booked and the trip was run on another fine charter boat that I had suggested to them and I ended up paying the money to the other boat out of my pocket. Again the local authories and district attorney's office said they could do nothing even with all the bank record. These are worse case situations and 99% of our customers are fine people and have made many good friends thru the years from our charter customers. Like any business it is not all roses but overall we love it but there are lots of hidden costs that later this week we will have to pay thousands for a rebuilt diesel engine on our present boat that Volvo is just finishing up the job down in VA. Tips help the mate or captain and their families
with all the rising expensed involved with boat ownership and running a charte boat business regardless if you are full time or part time. Most people that fish with us are more than generous and we thank them.
Capt John

TheAdamBomb

04-05-2006, 01:27 PM

Well said, John, and I agree. Most of our customers are exceptional people who we look forward to having out time and time again, and in many cases have become close friends. Cheers!

Stalker Charters

04-05-2006, 01:33 PM

Originally posted by TheAdamBomb:
Well said, John, and I agree. Most of our customers are exceptional people who we look forward to having out time and time again, and in many cases have become close friends. Cheers! Thats right!!! but like anything when dealing with so many different people you are always going to run into a bad apple, we appreciate everyone's business, and really enjoy fishing with all of you...We have made some really good friends along the road...wouldn't trade that either!

[ 04-05-2006, 11:34 AM: Message edited by: Stalker Charters ]

The Hard Way

04-05-2006, 01:55 PM

Capt. Jeremy

STALKER SPORT FISHING
609-231-9611
Snug Harbor Marina
CAPE MAY,NJ

I have to say I carried this very far out. A person has to tip what he or she can afford and what they think the service is worth. I have been in restaurants where I left a penny in a glass of water upside down to show how I was treated.
This question has been asked so many times and I was just trying to show how ridicules it can get.
I do Not tip the Capt. Around the holidays I will bring him a gift.
The Mates I tip when I pay my fare so they know that I am thankful for them being on the job. TIP ?To Insure Prompt Service? That would mean tip first.
It also lets them know that I am a nice guy and may need help.
Best of Health

George

HookinUp

04-05-2006, 02:05 PM

Stolen properties are covered under liability insurance if it doesn't belong to you, so I don't see where it applies unless you don't have insurance that covers these things?

As far a "stopped payment check" you can take them to small claims court and get your money if you wish to. If you completed the service they have to pay even if is over state lines. The signed check is proof. A warrant can be issued for failure to appear, if the party doesn't show up.

You also collect a deposit for the charter before hand so you don't end up with nothing.

Open boat they pay before you leave the dock.

[ 04-05-2006, 12:06 PM: Message edited by: HookinUp ]

VDAWG

04-05-2006, 02:07 PM

Originally posted by Stalker Charters:
<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by TheAdamBomb:
Well said, John, and I agree. Most of our customers are exceptional people who we look forward to having out time and time again, and in many cases have become close friends. Cheers! Thats right!!! but like anything when dealing with so many different people you are always going to run into a bad apple, we appreciate everyone's business, and really enjoy fishing with all of you...We have made some really good friends along the road...wouldn't trade that either! [/QUOTE]Amen to that,alot of the people that have started out fishing with us,Have not only become clients,But have become FRIENDS,and im thankfull for each and everyone of them,You can never have enough friends smile.gif

And I fun fish with,Bs,and try and help out by giving up to date weather conditions and fresh fishing reports,or in any other way i can,wether they have a charter booked or not ....

Most everyone that has fished with us has been very generious(Close) AND I THANK THEM FOR THAT !!!!!!

striper2278

04-05-2006, 02:07 PM

Originally posted by HookinUp:
Stolen properties are covered under liability insurance if it doesn't belong to you, so I don't see where it applies unless you don't have insurance that covers these things?

As far a "stopped payment check" you can take them to small claims court and get your money if you wish to. If you completed the service they have to pay even if is over state lines. The signed check is proof. A warranty can be issued for failure to appear, if the party doesn't show up.

You also collect a deposit for the charter before hand so you don't end up with nothing.

Open boat they pay before you leave the dock. Boy, you got all the anwsers!

The point is...this is stuff you deal with! And about ten thousand other things!

VDAWG

04-05-2006, 02:16 PM

HookinUp

04-05-2006, 02:39 PM

I fish sw fla pine island sound and it is common practice for the guides to include their service into the cost. They have different packages and charge accordingly.

A tip is for people that work at a reduced rate for their wages. Bartenders/barmaids, waiter/waitresses and so on work at lower then minimum wage, so the tip is part of their hourly wage. You don't tip the cook or the cashier.

Hey, look at it this way. If you get a tip as a guide/capt., your ahead of the game. You already figured in your labor in the cost of the charter.

Mates are like bartenders/waiters. They don't make near of what the capt. does and work their arse off.

HookinUp

04-05-2006, 02:59 PM

VDawg,
What do you mean by unbelievable??

It's the truth and part of the business. You guys that are capts. think that you should get a tip for services that you are already getting paid for. If you don't like the pay, ask for a raise or raise your rates, or wait for your bonus check at the end of the season. Your labor is already included as part of the fee of the charter.

If I pay $650-700.00 for a 4-5 hr striper trip, I paid for my fishing day. If there is a mate that worked his butt off then he's going to get the nice tip.

offshoreone

04-05-2006, 03:08 PM

$650-700 for a 4-5 hour trip. That would be nice!
Bonus at the end of the year. Thats just funny!

VDAWG

04-05-2006, 03:15 PM

Originally posted by HookinUp:
VDawg,
What do you mean by unbelievable??

It's the truth and part of the business. You guys that are capts. think that you should get a tip for services that you are already getting paid for. If you don't like the pay, ask for a raise or raise your rates, or wait for your bonus check at the end of the season. Your labor is already included as part of the fee of the charter.

If I pay $650-700.00 for a 4-5 hr striper trip, I paid for my fishing day. If there is a mate that worked his butt off then he's going to get the nice tip. what i ment by unbelievable is that after capt.John had those miss fortunes and said he went to the athorities and they told him they couldnt do anything about it,you come up with That answer,Im sure if he had time to pursue all the avenues available ,he might have gotten some wher's BUt where does he find the time ?

and i dint see not one single captain come on here and say they expected a tip ....

your telling me that if the captain performed both jobs Capt./mate and worked his ass off for you all day,you wouldnt tip him/
Why /just because he ran the boat besides mated for you as well???

i dont know anyone getting 650-700 for a 4-5 hr.striper trip .......

[ 04-05-2006, 01:19 PM: Message edited by: VDAWG ]

Stalker Charters

04-05-2006, 03:23 PM

Originally posted by HookinUp:
Stolen properties are covered under liability insurance if it doesn't belong to you, so I don't see where it applies unless you don't have insurance that covers these things?

As far a "stopped payment check" you can take them to small claims court and get your money if you wish to. If you completed the service they have to pay even if is over state lines. The signed check is proof. A warrant can be issued for failure to appear, if the party doesn't show up.

You also collect a deposit for the charter before hand so you don't end up with nothing.

Open boat they pay before you leave the dock. Mannnnnnnn, hope you never have any misfortunes, of course there is something you can do for everything that goes wrong, a tree falls on your house, you call insurance, someone steals your car radio you call the police, someone owes you money you take them to court. But as you know in the real world its not that easy. Every job, and every business has its problems that you have to deal with.

Stalker Charters

04-05-2006, 03:25 PM

Originally posted by HookinUp:

If I pay $650-700.00 for a 4-5 hr striper trip, I paid for my fishing day. If there is a mate that worked his butt off then he's going to get the nice tip. If you pay $650 to $700 for a 4-5 hour trip, an darn good tip is already included in your fare!

[ 04-05-2006, 01:26 PM: Message edited by: Stalker Charters ]

HookinUp

04-05-2006, 03:27 PM

INSHORE BOTTOM FISHING
FLUKE, SEA BASS, BLUEFISH, CROAKERS, WEAKFISH, STRIPERS, TOG, AND DRUM
6 hours 700.00 & 8 Hours 850.00

4-5 hours fishing

There are capts. that get a bonus check

Stalker Charters

04-05-2006, 03:29 PM

Originally posted by HookinUp:
INSHORE BOTTOM FISHING
FLUKE, SEA BASS, BLUEFISH, CROAKERS, WEAKFISH, STRIPERS, TOG, AND DRUM
6 hours 700.00 & 8 Hours 850.00

4-5 hours fishing

There are capts. that get a bonus check Thats 6 and 8 hours on a charter boat, not 4-5!

Yes there are capts. that get a bonus check, you better find out who, because I guess they don't deserve that great of a tip.

HookinUp

04-05-2006, 03:35 PM

how many of the six hours do you have your line in the water? 6?

striper2278

04-05-2006, 03:36 PM

I hate cheap people!!!!!!!

striper2278

04-05-2006, 03:38 PM

Originally posted by HookinUp:
how many of the six hours do you have your line in the water? 6? Dude, your an idiot! Get a life and go fishing or something!

We must do something right!

[ 04-05-2006, 01:38 PM: Message edited by: striper2278 ]

Stalker Charters

04-05-2006, 03:39 PM

Originally posted by HookinUp:
how many of the six hours do you have your line in the water? 6? depends, the other day on our 5 hour trip, we had lines in the water for about 8 hours!

plus for the most part it only takes about 10-15 minutes to the fishing grounds.

What do you do for a living by the way?

TheAdamBomb

04-05-2006, 03:41 PM

99% of charters run their trips from slip to slip. Most everyone who charters and fishes regularly is aware of that. I can't tell you how many 6-hr. trips I've had out have turned into 8-hr. plus trips to keep the boat on hot fishing or to find more good fishing. You ought to jump on an open boat with one of the boats who advertises on the Barn and see how great a deal it is and how much fun the customers have!

striper2278

04-05-2006, 03:43 PM

Originally posted by TheAdamBomb:
99% of charters run their trips from slip to slip. Most everyone who charters and fishes regularly is aware of that. I can't tell you how many 6-hr. trips I've had out have turned into 8-hr. plus trips to keep the boat on hot fishing or to find more good fishing. You ought to jump on an open boat with one of the boats who advertises on the Barn and see how great a deal it is and how much fun the customers have! Just make sure you tip! tongue.gif

TheAdamBomb

04-05-2006, 03:44 PM

TheAdamBomb

04-05-2006, 03:45 PM

I wonder if the poor guy who started this thread envisioned it turning into an eight page, 100 plus response debate. :confused:

LOST A ROD

04-05-2006, 03:52 PM

ADAM YOUR RIGHT SOME CAPTAINS WILL KEEP YOU ON FISH OR WILLL TAVEL TO FIND MORE FISH. THEY HAVE A REPUTATION OF GOOD NAME TO KEEP!!!!!!

HookinUp

04-05-2006, 03:55 PM

Look I'm not trying to bash you young guys trying to make a living, but dock to dock is a trip. If a capt. spent more time out trying to get me on some fish, I wouldn't think twice about squaring up with them for the extra time!

But that isn't a tip, that's paying for the time of the charter. 15 mins out 15 in, if that's where the fish are plus moves on a drift or to locate fish, your lines are in for 4-5 hours.

85 bucks + 20% mate fee is a great deal. It cost more then that to go fishing in your own boat!

sjb saxatilis

04-05-2006, 04:02 PM

From a paying customers point of view - It seems like different captains/boats have their own way of doing things, some include the cost of tip in the trip, some don't. It's a business, better yet, it is their business, that means they have the right to include the tip or not include it. Simple question to any captain that I'm sure he would be glad to answer "does this cost include the tip?"

I mean to me it's a no brainer. If you are on a charter and the guy driving the vessel is also the one baitin your hook, untanglin the tangles, re-riggin your stuff, ect, ect, then hell yes, kick down and give the guy a tip.

I've had nothing but positive experiences with the guys out of the snug. And I'd like to think I've made a friend or two along the way also. It's all about havin fun and catchin fish.

So, see ya at the snug tomorrow but I aint kissin no fish!!! :D

Darrin G. DGREENEMACHINE

04-05-2006, 04:14 PM

Simple for planning purposes, when planning, be ready to give 25%. That way everyone has enough money in the budget to reward an exceptional crew. If they work their arse off and really deserve it they can get 25% from me. If they do an average job 20%, since I know they live on tips whether they are superstars or not. If they suck they suck and they get a sucky tip. I reward purely for hard work and professionalism since it is fishing after all and the fish don't get a tip.

Captain's John & Diana

04-05-2006, 04:26 PM

Just a quick note: At the time I had no insurance that covered fishing tackle only equipment attached to the boat and even then it was a $1000.00 deductible. I learned quick and changed my marine insurance right after that. On other issue we tried the small court thing but the party was a relative from another state that wrote and stopped payment and were told there really was no chance to collect any money. End of a bad story and we survived and learned a good lesson. Never had a charter other than that not make good on a check and we have run lots of charters over the years. There is always a few badk apples but again 99% of our customers are great folks. Because I use a mate all the time any tip that I get as a captain goes to the mate as a little bonus money for the days we get blown out and they get no payday. Just alittle common sense on tipping should prevail and everyone has the right to make that call with what they consider appropiate. I always remind our mates that they are on board to serve the customers and if they get shorted on a tip I usually reach in my pocket to help out some. I value a hard working mate and as I said in an early post our charter business would be nothing without good mates.
Capt John

bass ackwards

04-05-2006, 04:48 PM

Cap John, Adam Bomb, Stalker Charter, and everyone else thanks for answering and giving me and many others info on this gray area. Your info was well appreciated. I hope this helps with you guys getting the tips that you deserve. Vdawg and Stripper2278 I know this is your livelihood and you are passionate about it and from what I?ve read on hear you guys are some of the best at it and I always like reading your reports but jumping down people's throats and calling them names because they disagree isn?t the way to get your point across. Thanks again

VDAWG

04-05-2006, 04:50 PM

Originally posted by HookinUp:
Look I'm not trying to bash you young guys trying to make a living, but dock to dock is a trip. If a capt. spent more time out trying to get me on some fish, I wouldn't think twice about squaring up with them for the extra time!

But that isn't a tip, that's paying for the time of the charter. 15 mins out 15 in, if that's where the fish are plus moves on a drift or to locate fish, your lines are in for 4-5 hours.
85 bucks + 20% mate fee is a great deal. It cost more then that to go fishing in your own boat! Now your talking ;) ,and sounds like you came accross Like a true gentleman !Thanks for this post smile.gif

TheAdamBomb

04-05-2006, 04:55 PM

bass ackwards, I hope you got some productive information out of your thread. Good luck on your trip!

HookinUp, thanks for that last post. Many folks are finding out that it is more cost effective to just go on open boat trips, and several of my customers have parted with their boats in favor of jumping on the AB3. No muss, no fuss, and you don't have to worry about finding fish. smile.gif Have a great day!

VDAWG

04-05-2006, 04:56 PM

striper2278

04-05-2006, 04:58 PM

Originally posted by bass ackwards:
Vdawg and Stripper2278 I know this is your livelihood and you are passionate about it and from what I?ve read on hear you guys are some of the best at it and I always like reading your reports but jumping down people's throats and calling them names because they disagree isn?t the way to get your point across. Thanks again Originally posted by HookinUp:
how many of the six hours do you have your line in the water? 6? You have to understand..this is always a very sore subject with me in particular. I can't speak for anyone else...but I know that I give 200% everytime I'm out there...so when I see stuff like this..it will hit a nerve! Especially since I just got stiffed on a 6hr trip!

[ 04-05-2006, 03:02 PM: Message edited by: striper2278 ]

VDAWG

04-05-2006, 04:59 PM

Originally posted by Darrin G. DGREENEMACHINE:
Simple for planning purposes, when planning, be ready to give 25%. That way everyone has enough money in the budget to reward an exceptional crew. If they work their arse off and really deserve it they can get 25% from me. If they do an average job 20%, since I know they live on tips whether they are superstars or not. If they suck they suck and they get a sucky tip. I reward purely for hard work and professionalism since it is fishing after all and the fish don't get a tip. Spoken like someone that truely knows whats involved !! Thanks you for you post....

VDAWG

04-05-2006, 05:03 PM

Originally posted by Captain's John & Diana:
Just a quick note: At the time I had no insurance that covered fishing tackle only equipment attached to the boat and even then it was a $1000.00 deductible. I learned quick and changed my marine insurance right after that. On other issue we tried the small court thing but the party was a relative from another state that wrote and stopped payment and were told there really was no chance to collect any money. End of a bad story and we survived and learned a good lesson. Never had a charter other than that not make good on a check and we have run lots of charters over the years. There is always a few badk apples but again 99% of our customers are great folks. Because I use a mate all the time any tip that I get as a captain goes to the mate as a little bonus money for the days we get blown out and they get no payday. Just alittle common sense on tipping should prevail and everyone has the right to make that call with what they consider appropiate. I always remind our mates that they are on board to serve the customers and if they get shorted on a tip I usually reach in my pocket to help out some. I value a hard working mate and as I said in an early post our charter business would be nothing without good mates.
Capt John Capt John thanks for the kind words and acknowledgement of us lowley mates,It really helps out knowing that some do appreciate,and not take for granit all that we do ,Vinny

Stalker Charters

04-05-2006, 05:07 PM

Originally posted by bass ackwards:
Cap John, Adam Bomb, Stalker Charter, and everyone else thanks for answering and giving me and many others info on this gray area. Your info was well appreciated. I hope this helps with you guys getting the tips that you deserve. Vdawg and Stripper2278 I know this is your livelihood and you are passionate about it and from what I?ve read on hear you guys are some of the best at it and I always like reading your reports but jumping down people's throats and calling them names because they disagree isn?t the way to get your point across. Thanks again Thank you, I just figured this would be a good chance to get the point and the gray areas about tipping to some who are not sure.

Also it is a good time to let everyone know everything that we all put into our jobs, after all it is our livelihood, it's not just fun and games believe me...we do it because we love every aspect of our job, not just because we think its fun, or a game, or easy!

Besides after Skip got stiffed, I had to hear how pissed he was and remember who they are for the next time.

[ 04-05-2006, 03:09 PM: Message edited by: Stalker Charters ]

captainbadfinger

04-05-2006, 05:13 PM

Originally posted by striper2278:
<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by bass ackwards:
Vdawg and Stripper2278 I know this is your livelihood and you are passionate about it and from what I?ve read on hear you guys are some of the best at it and I always like reading your reports but jumping down people's throats and calling them names because they disagree isn?t the way to get your point across. Thanks again Originally posted by HookinUp:
how many of the six hours do you have your line in the water? 6? You have to understand..this is always a very sore subject with me in particular. I can't speak for anyone else...but I know that I give 200% everytime I'm out there...so when I see stuff like this..it will hit a nerve! Especially since I just got stiffed on a 6hr trip! [/QUOTE]Skip you better be nice to him,he just booked 7 trips tongue.gif :D

fishintimeshere

04-05-2006, 05:15 PM

it seems to me that the issue here is the charter caps want- feel they deserve more money but dont desire to raise their rates. is not normal in society to tip owners ofbusinesses. for fishers, if you dont like the trip you had you switch chater cappys. nuthin to do with tips!

striper2278

04-05-2006, 05:28 PM

Originally posted by fishintimeshere:
it seems to me that the issue here is the charter caps want- feel they deserve more money but dont desire to raise their rates. is not normal in society to tip owners ofbusinesses. for fishers, if you dont like the trip you had you switch chater cappys. nuthin to do with tips! Not all the Charter Caps own the boats they run!

VDAWG

04-05-2006, 05:34 PM

Originally posted by striper2278:
<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by fishintimeshere:
it seems to me that the issue here is the charter caps want- feel they deserve more money but dont desire to raise their rates. is not normal in society to tip owners ofbusinesses. for fishers, if you dont like the trip you had you switch chater cappys. nuthin to do with tips! Not all the Charter Caps own the boats they run! [/QUOTE]And some run without a mate doing double duties,I just dont understand :confused:

If you went out on a charter that had both a captain and a mate ,and you would tip the mate at the end of a trip for a job well done,Then why wouldnt you tip the Captain That was also your mate on the same trip :(

Freshwatergirl

04-05-2006, 06:01 PM

The Charter I'll be going on the Capt and mate both own it. The mate will still be doing all the work (3 ladies with no experience)). This should be interesting!

VDAWG

04-05-2006, 06:06 PM

Originally posted by Freshwatergirl:
The Charter I'll be going on the Capt and mate both own it. The mate will still be doing all the work (3 ladies with no experience)). This should be interesting! Lucky them,and i dont mean that in a bad way,it sounds like a fun trip !!!!
I love seeing people get hooked on fishing :D

sjb saxatilis

04-05-2006, 06:13 PM

One lucky captain! :D

Captain's John & Diana

04-05-2006, 06:56 PM

It sometimes is hard to figure. When my wife and I would run lots of trips and she actually was the official mate we often did not get a tip. It had nothing to do with her abilities or work effort and as many of you that have fished with Capt Diana know she is darn good. Our mistake was we did not clarify before with our charter that Diana would be responsible for the cockpit and more than just the owner of the boat and would be considered your mate for the day. After that it problem solved and it was a standing joke on how well she got tipped. One trip we were getting ready to leave the dock and one of the charters customers said to me he was not going if a woman is the mate. He was dead sure that with a woman they would not catch any fish. That evening he got a 47 lb striper and the biggest of the night which Capt Diana netted for him. Diana no longer goes on as many trips as in previous years because of her busy work schedule and I always try to make sure our charters do not mind a woman coming working the pits because it's hard sometimes for guys to be guys with a lady on board. I personally really enjoy when she can be the mate and she still does overnight trips as the second captain and mate but she always gives the tip to the regular mate on these 24 hour trips. I am very lucky to be married to a first class mate but she still cannot dock the boat.
Capt John

captainbadfinger

04-05-2006, 06:58 PM

Originally posted by Stalker Charters:
<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by HookinUp:

If I pay $650-700.00 for a 4-5 hr striper trip, I paid for my fishing day. If there is a mate that worked his butt off then he's going to get the nice tip. If you pay $650 to $700 for a 4-5 hour trip, an darn good tip is already included in your fare! [/QUOTE]Pay me 700 for a 5hr striper trip and I will tip You 15percent tongue.gif :D :D

fishintimeshere

04-05-2006, 06:58 PM

Originally posted by striper2278:
Not all the Charter Caps own the boats they run! ok maybe ture, but why would owner/operator argue for tips? as owner of the business YOU set the charter rates. so you saying your charter rates are too low? why can't you get more for your wallet if your think the trip is worth more? why underprice your charter rate if youre worth more? why hope for a days pay from tiups?

does a plumber underbid the job and hope for "a little extra" to make money?

VDAWG

04-05-2006, 07:05 PM

Originally posted by fishintimeshere:
<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by striper2278:
Not all the Charter Caps own the boats they run! ok maybe ture, but why would owner/operator argue for tips? as owner of the business YOU set the charter rates. so you saying your charter rates are too low? why can't you get more for your wallet if your think the trip is worth more? why underprice your charter rate if youre worth more? why hope for a days pay from tiups?

does a plumber underbid the job and hope for "a little extra" to make money? [/QUOTE]where did an owner operator argue for tips ??
show me !!!

where did anyone argue for tips ??

there were questions asked and answers givin ....

TheAdamBomb

04-05-2006, 07:05 PM

I don't reacall any owner/operators saying they should be tipped, but if you're going to use the plumber analogy...

A plumber/contractor comes to your house and does what he's contracted to do...fix or build something. He cleans up his work when he's done, gets paid, and goes on his way.

Let's say an owner/operator of a charter boat operated this way. He gets his material ready in the morning, operates the boat to his chosen fishing ground, leaves the duties of cutting bait, tying rigs, baiting hooks, unhooking fish, cleaning fish, etc. to his customers, navigates the boat back to port, cleans up the boat, and leaves the customers to deal with the fish.

In the real world, owner/operators or paid captains operating without a mate serve the job of navigating(the plumber in your analogy) and ON TOP OF THAT they also do the job of a mate such as bait hooks, rig rods, unhook fish, measure fish, clean fish, bag fish, untangle lines, give instruction, etc., etc. The act of serving the people is what merits a tip. If a plumber came to your house and fulfilled his contract and ON TOP OF THAT cleaned your house and made breakfast, then darn right he'd get a tip!

[ 04-05-2006, 05:06 PM: Message edited by: TheAdamBomb ]

snichols

04-05-2006, 07:38 PM

I guess some people will never understand, unless they work a job where they rely on tips for a good portion of their income.

By the way, since I tie my own rigs, untangle my own line, bait my own hook, land my own fish and don't keep/clean any fish....can I stop tipping? :confused: :D ;)

TheAdamBomb

04-05-2006, 07:39 PM

Originally posted by snichols:
I guess some people will never understand, unless they work a job where they rely on tips for a good portion of their income.

By the way, since I tie my own rigs, untangle my own line, bait my own hook, land my own fish and don't keep/clean any fish....can I stop tipping? :confused: :D ;) That's between you and Skip. :D

snichols

04-05-2006, 07:46 PM

Adam,

With my new schedule, don't be surprised if you need to make that decision too.

I've been meaning to take a ride on the Bomb for the past couple of years. I'm looking forward to it.

TheAdamBomb

04-05-2006, 07:50 PM

Steve, can't wait. I need a slack tide catchin' machine, too! :D ;)

HookinUp

04-05-2006, 08:18 PM

Adam,
If you're an owner/operator, the charter includes the bait, fishing equipment, and service to your clients. It's your job to figure out how much you want to charge for your services and to tell your clients up front.

If a charter owner/operator did what you said they wouldn't be in business long!

TheAdamBomb

04-05-2006, 08:22 PM

HookinUp, my wife owns the boat. :D I bust my butt to serve my clients as anyone on here who's fished with me can attest, and strive to make sure everyone onboard is well taken care of. If someone offers a tip, that's great and extremely appreciated. I've never asked for tips or made a point to people about giving them. That's at the discretion of the group.

As for me, I'm signing off of this thread!

Bluewater sportfishing

04-05-2006, 08:38 PM

I think somthing ios being lost here,

two jobs are performed an a charter boat, one the capts. Job and two the mates job.
If the capt. does both jobs then he should get a tip.period.
explain to me why if the capt. owns the boat but does both jobs as capt and mate he doesnt desreve a tip.
that brings up somthing I said a long time ago.
if the owner of a resturant serves your food gets your drinks brings the bill do you tip him? or her?

HookinUp

04-05-2006, 08:38 PM

If someone offers a tip, that's great and extremely appreciated. I've never asked for tips or made a point to people about giving them. That's at the discretion of the group.Very well said, Capt. Adam!

A tip is just that! not expected, but very much appreciated if given!

BIGGESTJACK

04-05-2006, 09:56 PM

SKIP--YOUR RECORD SPEAKS FOR IT'S SELF.

FINGER--GLAD YOU CAME OUT OF THE CLOSET.

fishintimeshere

04-08-2006, 10:09 PM

Originally posted by TheAdamBomb:
. If a plumber came to your house and fulfilled his contract and ON TOP OF THAT cleaned your house and made breakfast, then darn right he'd get a tip! Im talking about that. The plumb man would darn sure include all tat in his price, he knows what he would be done on the job, Im wondring why youguys dont include tht in your price if you think you dseerve it/?

esquired

04-27-2006, 12:26 PM

Keep this post going. Most mates work for tips and little else but the joy of taking you fishing. I did a charter trip with an ex-buddy who whined and whined about having to tip the mate. He went so far as to tell me that because I do all the same stuff on my boat when I go out, we should tell the Capt. that we do not need a mate to save the money. What an idiot. I explained to him how the charter Capt. relies on his mate(s) for more then just cutting bait and preparing rigs. What if there was a problem - that experienced mate could save his life.

I will not invite this idiot back again - on my boat or any charter.

Oh yeah, this is the same guy who saw the Captains license in the cabin and asked "How Capt. how did you like being in the Merchant Marines? Did you see any combat?" Additionally, despite our request that he not bring beer he snuck a six pack in his bag.

And the Capt. said that he was not the worst A**hole he ever took out. WOW.

Always tip at least 20%

wizzwitt

04-27-2006, 12:49 PM

why is this even a topic...I know for a fact that Bomb, Skip and Finger all bust their asses and make the trips I have been on very enjoyable. Thus , I come back and I have no quarrels whatsoever tipping these MEN for a job done over and beyond the charter they run. These men have never once left a rod undone, unbaited and fish always cleaned!! Class acts and I am a repeat customer as are my family and friends b/c of the extra hardwork they put forth!! BOTTOM LINE:
THEY CARE!!!
I for one will say thanks for making my trips with you enjoyable.I we always tip 20% or better>>ALWAYS!They deserve it.They earn it!!

fishonmike

04-27-2006, 01:24 PM

I always tip at least 20% Mates in new jersey clean your fish so i always tip them more than 20%Go on a charter in delaware or maryland they don't usually clean your fish for you so they get 20% std tip If you have a captain that takes no mate should you still tip him 20% ????

Munchman

04-27-2006, 01:58 PM

So on an $85 open boat trip, is $20 a normal tip, OK tip or very good tip? What do guys normally tip at this rate?

If it were a Capt. with no mate, I would tip him as long as he performed mate duties. If I bait my own hook, untangle my own line, tie my own rig, net and clean my fish because he did not offer, no tip.

[ 04-27-2006, 12:00 PM: Message edited by: Munchman ]

offshoreone

04-27-2006, 02:24 PM

You cant take it out on the mates for not cleaning your fish in some marinas. In South Jersey Marina we are just not allowed too.

Munchman

04-27-2006, 03:35 PM

Originally posted by offshoreone:
You cant take it out on the mates for not cleaning your fish in some marinas. In South Jersey Marina we are just not allowed too. I know that. But their are more duties than just cleaning fish. I was mostly referring to duties while on board.

Personally, I think the South Jersey Marina thing is BS. They rape you at that truck for cleaning fish...

Jim Mac

04-27-2006, 04:10 PM

When I go on a charter I usually ask the captian the day before if I can bring him a cup of coffee, if he would like a particular sandwich/hoagie? Sometimes it's the little things you do for them upfront, without any expectations other than he is going to work hard to put you on the fish. These guys work hard, and Mother Nature doesn't allways give them much to work with, but as long as they keep trying, they deserve a tip.
Now if the Captain/mate just kick back and don't do squat, well that attitudes deserves squat. Fortunatly, I have never been subjected to that kind of service on a charter, head boats are an entirely different category. Mostly good experiences, but also some poor excuses for work ethics. In those cases,"Nothing from nothing, gets nothing."

BIGGESTJACK

04-27-2006, 06:23 PM

JIM--LG ITAL MAYO AND OIL ON SIDE DELIVER TO NO BONER AT 6:30 AM TOMORROW FORGOT SWEET LITE ONION.
SM CHIP.THIS GUY IS ALRIGHT.

rjf3

04-27-2006, 08:27 PM

I do my best to be a good customer by behaving properly, respecting the equiptment, and the folks that operate it.
I show up on time, or early, pay in "CASH" and tip the hard working help.

On a $85.00 trip , I tip $20.00 or better.

Russ

wizzwitt

04-27-2006, 09:02 PM

17.00 is 20% at an $85 trip. My trips run $85 usually and I give a 20 plus I give out snacks and always some gatorade. Every year I treat the boys down there to some pies and adult beverages also.They have become friends also.

Bill Kline

04-27-2006, 09:54 PM

Originally posted by esquired:
Keep this post going. Most mates work for tips and little else but the joy of taking you fishing. I did a charter trip with an ex-buddy who whined and whined about having to tip the mate. He went so far as to tell me that because I do all the same stuff on my boat when I go out, we should tell the Capt. that we do not need a mate to save the money. What an idiot. I explained to him how the charter Capt. relies on his mate(s) for more then just cutting bait and preparing rigs. What if there was a problem - that experienced mate could save his life.

I will not invite this idiot back again - on my boat or any charter.

Oh yeah, this is the same guy who saw the Captains license in the cabin and asked "How Capt. how did you like being in the Merchant Marines? Did you see any combat?" Additionally, despite our request that he not bring beer he snuck a six pack in his bag.

And the Capt. said that he was not the worst A**hole he ever took out. WOW.

Always tip at least 20% We had a guy who was a member of the GFA (Gay Fishermen of America) who went out on several charters we booked up an down the entire Atlantic Coast. On several trips there was a zero alcohol
policy. Which no one else had a problem with except this idiot who always snuck beer aboard.

He'd ask the captain all kinds of idiotic questions and critique the capatain's boat. And always at the end of the day he'd whine about tipping the mate. His reasoning is he never asked for mate and he shouldn't be forced to pay a hidden charge.

The GFA is a tolerant organization that has no desire turn away anyone or refuse membership however we canceled this guy's membership. This happened because he and I were invited on someone's boat for a day of fishing. At the end of the day he barely participated in the post trip cleanup and during the trip despite catching fish all day he complained about where we were fishing. The guy who owned the boat was polite and said nothing.

Then later that night a bunch of GFA members met at a local Cape May resteraunt/bar. He kept insisting the barmaid there was a transexual and hit on her to no end. We tried to explain to him that she really was a she. He then stopped hitting on her and turned his attention to a male/female couple who were across the bar and obviously very much in love. He kept telling us the guy wanted him and he could tell and that girl was just a cover. We told him this wasn't the case to which he replied you guys are alright but some guys just have "it" and I have "it" and that is why the guy wanted him and even if the guy really wasn't gay he'd still want him because he had "it". Needless to say at the next meeting we blackballed this guy . After he was informed of this he told us he had a "constitutional right" to be a member of the GFA and informed us he had bought an assault weapon.

To sum it up, the guy you described sounds a bit like our former member. His name woulldn't be Vinny by any chance?