How Much to Tip a Fishing Guide: Learn the proper tipping etiquette
Last Updated on June 19, 2024 by Boatsetter Team
When you go on a guided fishing trip there’s an advertised price, but there are other costs of a fishing charter and one that shouldn’t be overlooked is tipping the captain and/or mate. Just what an appropriate tip is will change with the situation, too, because some guides work alone, others work with a mate, and you may want to tip more or less depending on the level of service.
It’s important to differentiate between charters and guides at this point, because although there’s no set definition for either, most charter boats have mates who often work for tips and tips alone. Some larger charters that take out more people than the standard “six pack” crew of six may even have multiple mates. But captains who work alone and take out smaller parties, on the other hand, are usually referred to as guides.
Tipping a small boat fishing guide
As a general rule of thumb, the standard tipping etiquette you’d use in a restaurant applies to fishing guides. Anything under 15 percent of the cost of the trip would be thought of as a penalty for a poor experience, 20 percent would be for meeting expectations, and 25 percent would be a bonus.
Remember that if you rent a fishing boat with a captain, as far as tipping goes that still counts as hiring a guide or booking a charter. Although the terminology and the booking process may be a bit different, they’ll still be working to make sure you have a great day on the water and catch as many fish as possible.
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Tipping on charters
On charter boats working with a mate, the mate is usually (though not always) working just for the tip. The same rates apply, except that instead of handing the tip to the captain you’d give it to the mate or mates. When there are multiple mates it’s okay to hand the tip to one of them, as tips are generally pooled and split, but if you want to tip a specific mate extra because they worked particularly hard or were especially pleasant, be sure to tell them that and tip them separately from the rest of the crew.
The same goes for captains who do an especially good job; tip the mates separately, and then approach the captain. Also, know that in some cases the captain will still share their tips with the mate(s) or ask you to pass it on to them, but either way they’ll still appreciate the gesture.
When you’re planning a group charter where the cost of the trip will be shared, be sure to give everyone a heads-up about tipping ahead of time. People who don’t regularly fish on charter boats may not realize that tipping is expected, and many people don’t carry much cash these days in case they’re caught unaware.
Tipping guides and charters for the experience
It’s always important to remember that a guide or captain, no matter how good he or she may be at their job, can’t control the weather or whether the fish will bite. Either factor can contribute to having a disappointing trip, but that isn’t necessarily a reflection of how the person is doing their job. More important is attitude, how hard he or she works to try to make the trip a success, and honesty.
Did the captain and/or mate greet you with a smile, and stay positive no matter what? Did they race around the boat all day keeping the baits fresh and the lines set, even if the fish weren’t biting? If they’re a pleasure to be around and they give it their all, you can’t blame them for rough seas or slow fishing.
The very best captains may even give you a heads-up if the fishing is particularly slow or it will be uncomfortably windy and rough, and may suggest rescheduling. When this happens, remember that they’ve willingly given up their income for that day to help ensure your experience is a positive one — and when you do eventually go, you should bear that in mind when it’s time to tip them.
The bottom line? Tipping fishing guides and charter boat crew isn’t any different from tipping in other venues. If someone has done their best and you’ve had fun, tip them accordingly.
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With over three decades of experience in marine journalism, Lenny Rudow has contributed to dozens of boating and fishing publications and websites ranging from BoatU.S. Magazine to BDOutdoors.com. Rudow is currently the Angler in Chief at Rudow’s FishTalk, he is a past president of Boating Writers International (BWI), a graduate of the Westlawn School of Yacht Design, and has won numerous BWI and OWAA writing awards.
