Tipping Etiquette for Fishing Guide

[MickinMO]

Is there a general rule of thumb for this? I have gone on three guided fishing trips in the last ten years.  All half day saltwater trips with one in Texas and two in Florida. If I recall, they were between $300-$400. I found all three guides to be very competent and worked hard (plus boat, bait, etc, ready to go when we got to the dock). I typically give the guides a $50 tip when we get back. One of the trips the guide stayed out longer than we had booked trying to get us on some fish as the morning was slow action wise. I gave him a $100 extra because he didn't have to do that. My brother is going with me in February and seems to think the cost of a guided trip is expensive enough already. If the guide is a dud and lazy then no tip, but otherwise going to flip him $50-$100 for a good time (catching fish not required). Is that too much or not enough?

[fishinwrench]

A Benjamin is a fine gesture, and if that hurts then you probably shouldn't be pissing money away on guided fishing trips.

[nomolites]

That is the same approach I have taken.  It’s not about fish count at all(although I like to catch fish);  I am with a guide to observe, ask questions, and learn.

Mike

[duckydoty]

I never expect a tip. Any tip is greatly appreciated and when given, I shake their hand, look them in the eye, and tell them that I truly appreciate it.  Guiding is a people service industry.  Most people start in the 10% range for a standard tip and 20% usually means that the client was extremely happy with the service provided.  Over the years, I have received tips ranging from deer sausage and steaks to 100% tips. Everyone of them I have been thankful for.

[Quillback]

I've always given about a 15% tip myself and I think giving $50 to $100 for your trips is a nice tip.  

[Al Agnew]

I've gone on lots of guided trips as well.  Not only day trips with fishing guides, but also multi-day river trips.  It starts to get expensive when you're with the guide for 5 or more days and the cost of the trip is getting up into several thousand dollar range...then it's kinda tough to give a good tip.  On the Salmon River trip I took this summer, 17 days, the total cost was up around $6000, and the guides were pretty good, so we gave them 15% tip, $900...but that was shared among several guides.  I think $50 a day tip for a fishing guide is adequate if the guide is okay but doesn't go above and beyond, $100 a day is for the guide that does more than you expected.  And I've had a couple of guides over the years that didn't earn a darned thing extra and didn't get it...I don't tip bad service, whether it be in restaurants or on the river.

[Gavin]

Depends on the level of service and the price of the trip. Usually in the $50-100 per day range. Have stiffed a few for stupidity. One kept calling my gf “honey”. She told him her name again and asked him to use it, but he did not comply. $0 tip. Another, asked him to stop flipping his ciggy butts in the water. It didn’t happen. $0 tip. Will usually tip if a guide gives good service and works at it regardless of numbers of fish caught. Capt Ciggy Butt was seriously fishy that day. Have fished with him again, and he stopped pitching his Ciggy butts.

[duckydoty]

15 minutes ago, Al Agnew said:

I've gone on lots of guided trips as well.  Not only day trips with fishing guides, but also multi-day river trips.  It starts to get expensive when you're with the guide for 5 or more days and the cost of the trip is getting up into several thousand dollar range...then it's kinda tough to give a good tip.  On the Salmon River trip I took this summer, 17 days, the total cost was up around $6000, and the guides were pretty good, so we gave them 15% tip, $900...but that was shared among several guides.  I think $50 a day tip for a fishing guide is adequate if the guide is okay but doesn't go above and beyond, $100 a day is for the guide that does more than you expected.  And I've had a couple of guides over the years that didn't earn a darned thing extra and didn't get it...I don't tip bad service, whether it be in restaurants or on the river.

Where I guided in Alaska for six seasons, it was $11,000 per person per week to stay and fish with the guides at that lodge.  Top of the line on everything and unmatched service.  Several times the tip was 40% and larger.  I still did not expect to get a tip there and was very grateful when they were received.

[tjm]

This came up on another forum years back and pertained both fishing and hunting guides/outfitters-  the guides and out fitters on the forum included grizzly bear to southern ducks and AK to FL; salmon to trout to bonefish and the consensus was what you pay the outfitter or salt Captain was his and the guide that did the work was often dependent on tips-in the case of pack in hunts that included tips for cook and tips for wrangler separate and in addition to guide-  The suggestions were $100-$300 per day per man involved- I have zero experience on either side of the  deal, but I said that if you pay an outfitter for a service that the service was inclusive of all and I got all kinds of flak. I asked if those guides tipped the plumber $100 above the cost of a repair or if they tipped the doctor $100 when they got a shot and they all said guiding depended on tips- they seemed to agree that if you did not tip them on the first day you would get poor service on subsequent days.  In the case of shared hunts or fishing trips they expected the $100/day from each in addition to the contracted price.

I guess that if you can't toss out tips equal to the trip cost, you should not be pissin money away on guided trips.

[Terrierman]

I've had two bad guides who got zero tip.  Every other one 20% or more if there was something exceptional.