SC jack Loc: Myrtle Beach

Hi all. About a hear ago I bid on a fishing trip near shore for 4 people at a silent auction. I ended up getting the trip. My question is I never did this before and wonder what I should do as far as tipping. Any help would be appreciated.

Jeremy Loc: America

Depends on how much you liked the manners...professionalism....entertainment...assistance...educating you...respect the captain and crew show you. I will usually tip a deckhand a 20 or so maybe less if broke or they did poor job. I will many times even tip the Captain too. I usually tell the captain what I liked about their job for the day as well as the Dhands. I also tell the Captain I know the boat doesn't run on Thanks it runs on fuel( even though whatever I paid for trip paid for it).

Jeremy Loc: America

Everyone in party should tip them....or hopefully which ever one in your group is rich :)

sun bum Loc: Sarasota, FL

need more info. How far is the ride? Hours on the water? Mates? Size of boat? # of fishermen? Then there's how hard did the crew work? Did the capt put you on the fish? Were the crew helpful AND knowledgeable? The capt in all likelihood donated the trip to the cause. He did not get a penny of you money...so far. Jeremy is right, tips by everyone or if it's family or BFF, the charter master (you) might want to kick it in. Research what the trip costs if you booked it directly, not what your winning bid was. Maybe you stole it. Tip as a percentage, not $20 as was somewhere suggested. An epic trip, 20-25+%, remember it's charity. Hope this helps.

Joecat Loc: Florida / Rhode Island

20 % of the actual cost of the charter as long as the effort was there to catch fish and not a boat ride the captain is over and above but appreciated, retired mate of over 20 years experience

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

Welcome to the Forum, SCjack. Well,,,,,,,, it would depend on whether it is party boat, a privet charter, or member of the organition that put the benefit on. If it is a member of the organization just doing a favor to the organization by taking four guys out fishing for a while, then it would depend on what you paid for the trip. If you over paid, maybe 15%, if you got a good deal on the trip, maybe 25%. Try to find out if the captain/owner of the boat, is donating all of the expenses or a part of the expenses. I think I would talk to the head of the organization and try to find out what the deal is, then go from there. If your friends offer to pay the tip, fine, if not, you pick up the tip, you invited them.

You can find out if you got a good deal or not by checking out the prices of a party boat or a private party charter boat in that area. But, my first phone call would be to the head or board member of the organization.

Joecat Loc: Florida / Rhode Island

If there’s a mate on this charter he needs to be tipped, no one works for nothing he will be there before the charter gets on and long after they return a very long day

Jeremy Loc: America

Yes I agree with all the posts. I suggested 20 because my trips are usually 100 or 110. I tip the Deck hands and the captain if they are worthy. Been on some Bogus trips too. Captain shakes the boat rails and tells me it was a bite. Thinks I am stupid. Also tells fresh squid doesn't help get bites on rubber lures.....then I help tagout the whole boat. So it works....everytime but they are afraid of stinky drips on their precious boat. Well I am there to do everything I can to catch fish. Adding a little real meat to your hook always helps.

striking viking Loc: Brockport ny

$100 for every $500 mate only makes tips if captain put you on good fish and you feel he did great job tip him to

striking viking Loc: Brockport ny

Of course mate has to do a good job to get good tip

PierRat904 Loc: St. Augustine

On a party boat I give the deckhand a twenty before we even start out. From there he may get up to another twenty. Amazing how well a pre-tip is rewarded!

Joecat Loc: Florida / Rhode Island

I worked on a 6 man charter boat normally always around 20% of cost of trip 90 % were all repeat customers we were fishermen no boat rides if there wasn’t a bite you fish as a team captain mate and crew and hopefully produce

SC jack Loc: Myrtle Beach

Thanks for the suggestions on tipping. Hope I can post some pictures after the trip.

Joecat Loc: Florida / Rhode Island

Where might you be fishing and what type of fish are you targeting

Cubsfan Loc: Destin Florida

I took 3 kids fishing on a charter in key west . We trolled for dolphin on a 40 rampage . Old boat , dirty . The mate was was rude after I suggested we troll with small mahi . I think he had been out all night too . But he insulted my intelligence by telling me that doesn’t work . Well I told him he should learn to read , because I just read in your local fishing paper and it was the method of the tourny winner last week . MORON MATE! We caught two chickens , small dolphin and a barracuda. The Capt showed me a thin strip of plastic about two feet long and said there’s your floatsum . Like I never fished before another Moron . So we come in and the mate is cleaning the two fish . I hand him a twenty walk away . The Capt comes over and says you know the mates get 20% of the total cost . But if your not happy ? I looked at this guy in the eye , just to let him
Know he sucked . Pulled out another 20 and said here . Yes I was pissed off . They didn’t work . It was a boat ride with a hung over mate serving tourists . The irony here is , I could of taken my 54 Ocean Super Sport out and showed the kids a much better trip . But I thought it was best to use a local Capt . Boy was I wrong . So be carful of these Capt who feed off of tourists . Now I live on the water and see at 3 boats fishing in the back yard around my dock . Some are ok , but a few are not respectful of the owners property or privacey. Good Luck , your answer is 20% to the mate . Captain rates are $600 a trip