Tipping charter boat deck hands

[black hog]

Going out Monday its been years! Whats the going rate for tips??

[mboyle0828]

My dad went out of Westport for a salmon trip a few weeks ago. He mentioned the guys were happy with $40 but other folks were tipping $20-$50 (filleting is not included, but they gut the fish).

[millerwheeler]

No different than anything else, depends on the fishing how quick they are at getting rigs in water and keeping lines in the water be fair and thankful
No way I can put a number on it. A good deck hand is worth a tip
Some are trash if there no good well there ya go

[Wetwoodshunter]

$20-$40 is good based on service. Depends on the boat too, on a 6-pac I would tip more towards the high end.

[Gentrys]

How many guys will be fishing on the boat?

[Fidelk]

As an example: California has (or had) an extensive charter (party boat) scene. Back in the 1980's, a limit on a bottom fishing trip was 15 rockfish and 5 lingcod. On the way back in, the deckhands would start filleting the catch......$5 for a rockfish limit and $1 each for lingcod. You could round that up if you wanted. Everyone seemed happy with the arrangement.

[follow maggie]

I’ve only been on smaller 6 passenger trips. I tipped the deckhand $50

[jackelope]

6 people on one of the big boats out of Westport. Kid did a fantastic job. We tipped her $50 a piece.

[BNAElkhntr]

50.00

[2MANY]

As an example: California has (or had) an extensive charter (party boat) scene. Back in the 1980's, a limit on a bottom fishing trip was 15 rockfish and 5 lingcod. On the way back in, the deckhands would start filleting the catch......$5 for a rockfish limit and $1 each for lingcod. You could round that up if you wanted. Everyone seemed happy with the arrangement.

Spent a summer deckhanding in the 80's out of westport. Bottom fish trips were the worst. Stand back by the bait well fileting the entire run back in and then some. Ours was a 50' that fished 20 people. Lead weights and hooks flying.
It was horrible.
Tip the kids or stay home and count your extra money.

[C-Money]

Deck hands do work hard, especially on bottom trips. I think $30 is a minimum these days...if you have 15 fishermen, everyone tips an average of $30, $450 for a day of hard work on the boat sounds like pretty good money to me...

[addicted]

I worked deck hand in seward for a summer. If the fishing wasnt very good we expected about 10%, if we kicked ass and had people laughing all day we saw 25%. 

On our boats we pooled everything between the captain and decks and split it. Not the same for other companies.

[cohoho]

When I was previously running charters, deck hands cut fish for a set price and tips typically should be about 15-20% of your cost for the trip.  Granted you have those days where fish aren't cooperating and that is when the deck hand really works the hardest.  I know of no charters (6 Pac) out of Westport that don't bust their butts to get you on the fish.  But the days when fish aren't there, the deck hand gets zero for cutting fish, so the tip really helps them as they work for cut fees and tips only.   

[DeerThug]

This is aways a tough one for me.
Im the $20 tipping guy in Westport.  By the time I pay for the charter, fuel to get there etc.  I sleep in the back of my truck in a parking lot and camp/cook dinner on a bbq and scrounge free ice from the restaurants in the evening -  and clean fillet my fish on the tailgate of my truck to save $. Im barley scraping by for a 2 or 3 day trip.

I get they work their butts off but my $ are limited and got to figure it out.  I will thank  the deck hand on the way in and tell him to put my fish in the bag whole so he has no work into it. and give him the tip direct.
So no right or wrong for what ever your situation is

BUT if you want a less expensive charter look at Depot Bay or Newport.  Little longer of a drive but way less $

[storyteller]

Cohoho mentions that deckhands work for tips and cut fees.    This should  be in Bold print so everyone doesnt miss it, the captain told us before we went out, deckhands dont get paid a wage, it is tips that they live on, so yes, everyone has a  threshold but keep this in  mind.

[blackpowderhunter]

id say it also depends on what you're fishing for.
salmon vs tuna is much different. 

[throttlejocky20]

You will notice the deck hand does most of the work he is there early getting the boat ready, making sure clients are fishing and having a good time during the day, taking care of the fish, and washing the boat down long after everyone is gone. The only money most make is in tips so if you have a good deck hand tip them accordingly

[Skillet]

Just here to say that tipping culture is out of control.  There is no legitimate reason why the deckhand pay shouldn't be priced into the charter fee, except to make the trip appear cheaper than it is and get the charter operator off the hook for associated labor expenses.

That said, don't punish the kids for this business practice.  Chartering is a luxury service. If you choose to charter, accept all costs involved (no matter how ridiculous) and don't try to get off cheap at the deckhand's expense.

That is all.

[HntnFsh]

Agreed! 👍

[blackpowderhunter]

Just here to say that tipping culture is out of control.  There is no legitimate reason why the deckhand pay shouldn't be priced into the charter fee, except to make the trip appear cheaper than it is and get the charter operator off the hook for associated labor expenses.

That said, don't punish the kids for this business practice.  Chartering is a luxury service. If you choose to charter, accept all costs involved (no matter how ridiculous) and don't try to get off cheap at the deckhand's expense.

That is all.

agreed.  same at restaurants, id rather pay higher prices and not have to tip.
but if you are going to only tip 20 bucks on a 500 dollar tuna trip because you had to pay for gas and lodging and ice to go?  don't go.  i think tipping is out of control as well, but will tip when it's warranted.  Ordering take out fried chicken or teriyaki?  definitely no; tipping is for service provided, not goods provided.