woodguru Loc: El Dorado Ca

My wife and I were doing a trade show in Tampa so we stayed another day and had a guide take us out for some fishing. He went out early in the morning by the bridge pilings and caught a couple hundred bait fish, and we met him at a boat launch. We started with Redfish and Snook and caught some really nice ones, and some Sea Trout. We kept one of each of the nicer sized ones. I was annoyed that the guide didn't have a filet knife so he didn't clean these. We took them to the Radisson where we were staying and I asked to talk to the chef to see if he would fix us some fish. This was a great big black man, at least 6'5" if not bigger. I apologized for them not being cleaned, and told him if he cooked us up something he could take the rest home since he'd been saying how much he loved to eat these fish.

This guy went all out, he cooked the different fish in many different ways, like seven or eight ways, it was brought out on a really big platter with the different fish dishes in a circle around a big heap of risotto in the middle. As the waiter brought this through the room it looked like every head in the room turned to watch this magnificent platter come through. We were laughing as we heard people asking their waiters what that was, and saying I'd like that. The chef came out and told us what each type of fish was and how he'd cooked it.

Then after when I went to give the chef a C note, he said all the fish he was taking home was plenty, we told him that this was one of the most memorable trips and meals we'd ever had, bar nothing, please, and he accepted it...and it was a really special memory, we fish partially because we love to eat what we catch.

Ben Bragg Loc: Dayton Ohio

Excellent story.
What kind of guide don’t have a fillet knife?

woodguru Loc: El Dorado Ca

Exactly, and then he bitched at me because I didn't leave him a tip with the $350 we paid him, I told him there would have been a fifty on top had he cleaned the frigging fish

PapaJ Loc: South of Greenville, TX. Near Lake Tawakoni

Exactly! I haven't been out with a guide very many times but each time I have been I left with a bag of fillets.

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

Well at least he went out early and caught plenty of bait and then was able to put them on fish.
Still would think he would have a fillet knife.

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

I think I would have handed him mine. and told him that I won't charge him for using it.

FinFisherman Loc: Born in Ohio - 40 yrs Florida- Clearwater,Fl

You are LUCKY as Trout, Red fish and Snook are catch and release only in western Florida south of Hernando county. I wouldn't post the guides name! Feb 2, 2020 Fl fish and game nailed me for 1 trout legal size and it cost me $350.00 and I couldn't even keep the fish!!! All due to the Red tide we had 2 years ago.

woodguru Loc: El Dorado Ca

This was about 15 years ago, I should have dated the time frame...sorry

crystalbeachbum Loc: Crystal Beach, TX (on the Bolivar Pennisula)

Have been on many, many guided trips, mostly in Texas and NEVER had a guide that didn’t have a filet knife, cleaned our fish and bagged them up in zip locks. Must be a Fla. thing.

woodguru Loc: El Dorado Ca

But how about him having the nerve to cop an attitude about not tipping him over and above the $350 he'd been paid?