Fishing Charter Tipping

[724wd]

In July we're visiting Curacao and have chartered a fishing trip.  $900 for the full day, up to 8 people.  I believe we'll have a full boat.  6 are confirmed with 2 fence-sitters who are likely.  Would $100 for a tip be appropriate?  An even $1000?

[Wetwoodshunter]

I used to be a guide up in Ak I typically got about $20 per person. If you have the means I would suggest going $180. But that being said, tips varied significantly day by day. I did a fly in rafting trip that cost the clients over $1000 for two people and got a $7 tip one day.

Last year I helped out a buddy who is a charter in Neah Bay and it was about the same averaging $120-150 for 6 people per day. His deckhand took a knife to the hand and needed a week off so I just took some vacation time from work to help a buddy.

Lastly, do they charge to clean your fish? If they don't I would personally tip less because they are charging you for something they SHOULD do for free.

Have  a great trip!

[sumpnz]

No idea what tipping expectations are for Curacao, but for the USA, it kind of depends on the service.  Also if they fillet for "free" or if that is an extra charge.  If the captain and deck hands are hustling big time, and they don't charge extra to fillet I'd tip $200 or even a little more if they really rock it.  Nominal effort on their part I'd go 15-20% including any fillet fees.  If the captain sucks, but the deck hands are trying hard tip them at least $100 (but I'd try to avoid the captain getting any tip in that case).  If the deck hands suck too go less as appropriate to the level of suckage.

Note that in there I said nothing at all about number of fish caught.  It's called fishing, not catching for a reason.  Even the best crew that busts ass all day gets skunked sometimes.

For Curacao I'd look up restaurant tipping practices as a proxy.  If it's recommended to tip 15% at restaurants there, go with the above.  If tipping is restaurants is not normally done there (that's the case in much of Europe, New Zealand, etc) then you might need to consider not tipping at all.  In some cultures it's considered insulting to offer a tip.  Though, even in those areas, they've come to expect Americans to tip and will be offended if you don't.   

[Westside88]

$20 per person is usually about right on a charter. I've tipped more when they were really working hard to give us a good trip. Earlier this year I was on a 4 man boat in the gulf out of Florida that only had three of us on there so our price per head was higher ($450/boat). The young guy guiding us did such a great job we each tipped him $50, worth every a penny though

[j_h_nimrod]

I have seen boats where there is a bulk tip that the captain doles out to the crew typically and others where you slip the hands their tip and the captain his depending on the suckage   not sure about Curaçao custom but Americans are typically expected to from what I have seen. A lot of it has to do with the trip, a good 20% for a great trip to - for a failure. On my guiding trips ~10% of the trip cost for me is usual. I have ranged from 10% to 50% of my guiding wage in tips.

[plugger]

So do you just tip the deck hand? 

[ASHQUACK]

I deckhand for a river guide. I have been the recipient of as little as $0.00 and as much as $100.00 per person on the boat. I will say that I never hold judgment on who tips and who doesn't. So tip what you can afford to and maybe make someone's day. As far as tipping the skipper some do some don't. I know not much help.

[Skillet]

I would call the charter and just ask. Tell them you plan on tipping, but would like to know the standard range and how it is done (who to pay, etc).  If that makes you uncomfortable or you doubt you'll get a straight answer, ask for some references to call, and ask those folks how much/who  they tipped for their excellent service (you're not going to get any poor references). 

Or call a competing charter under the guise of "I'm looking to book a trip, but need to know how much atip is going to cost me."   They will likely tell you a low, but acceptable, number, since they charter office most likely sees no benefit from the tips and wants to secure your business by.presenting the lowest price, "tip included."

 

[fishngamereaper]

Well if you tip a waitress 15-20% for asking you if you want more water for 40 minutes....

I say at least 20%...