How much should you tip a fishing guide?
He had a truly incredible Sturgeon fishing trip(several 200 – 300 lb fish). Near the end of the trip he took off his sweaty ‘tropical flower patterned’ shirt and offered it to me. I was befuddled and didn’t know what to say but I found a polite response that conveyed the message of no thanks.
When you book a trip with us, you’ll see the difference in our service and we guarantee you’ll have a great time whether you’re a first-time angler or someone who has been fishing their whole life. I have often been asked about tipping fishing guides and the other service providers who make up the sportfishing industry—Captains, deckhands, chefs, hospitality staff, etc. Many folks tip based on the level of service offered, and tipping is certainly a personal choice, but these are some of the things I consider when I go to reach in my wallet for some bills. Many lodges also include tip guidelines for lodge staff, whose tips are likely to be pooled and split among everyone.
Be sure to know the customs so that you can avoid double-tipping. I tip between $50 and $100 depending upon either it’s a half-day or full-day trip. Attitude can go a long way, and many guides have a toolbox for keeping things light. It does take the cooperation of everyone involved to have a good day. If your guide is working their butt to make the most of the day, kick it up a notch yourself and meet them halfway with a positive attitude. Visit any of our retail locations for outdoor apparel and gear, dog beds and accessories, and to test out a new fly rod at our in-store, full-service fly shops.
When heading to the boat ramp, caught up in the excitement of fishing new water, don’t forget the tip. Some Alaska fishing lodges provide their suggested tip structure, but many of them leave it up to you to decide. I like to tip about 20% of the trip cost total split among the various staff.
It’s hard to know what to tip independent foreign guides because in many cases their rates are considerably lower than independent guides in the U.S. As a rule, you should plan on tipping $40-50 to a bonefish guide for day of work in the Bahamas or around the Caribbean and Central and South America. In Iceland, on the other hand, you should plan to tip a salmon guide $ per day. A guide is a hero when fishing is easy but making it look easy takes a lot of hard work and preparation. The truth is, there is a lot more to a day-in-the-life of a fly fishing guide, and all of that happens long before you set your first hook and reel in the big one.
Some of these folks are the superstars of the fishing lodge, and for good reason. In small outfits they are the ones sometimes starting the generator, starting the coffee and then getting everyone’s breakfast and lunch together early for anglers anxious to get to the fishing grounds. Some bigger lodges have a team of these folks who plug away each morning to accomplish the goal.
Dion Liriano is a 51-year-old American zookeeper who has retired from the business. He was once a highly successful director of the Zoo and Aquarium, but he has since hung up his gloves and moved on to other ventures. Dion's passion for animals began at a young age, when he would help his father care for their family pets. This love grew exponentially when he started working at the zoo; Dion quickly became one of the most experienced keepers in the business. He credits his success to the relationships he built with both staff and animals over the years.