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I have been asked so many times, what is customary when hiring a guide? So I decided to put up a list of the things I can think of that you should know. Many of the things are from stories my clients or other guides have told me about bad experiences they have had. If you see something missing, please feel free to send me your questions or comments. doug@indianriver.cc
What to expect from your guide
What your guide expects
1) Prompt
Your guide should be waiting for you at the dock with everything ready for your trip. If you are going to be fishing the area that you meet, your guide should have the boat in the water and ready to go.
Ice, drinks and whatever else your guide provides or is needed for your trip should be ready.
If you are going to fishing with bait your guide should have already caught or bought the bait for your trip.
All rods and reels should be of good quality and in good working order and ready for use.
Just as you expect your guide to be on time, your guide expects the same from you. If possible, you too should try to show up 5 or 10 minutes prior to your trip. This gives you time to put you stuff in the boat or car and take care of any last minute items that need to be taken care of prior to heading out on the water.
2) Courteous
Your guide should be patient, friendly and treat you with respect.
Your guide should be willing to work with you to help you master the skills needed to do the type of fishing you are going to be doing. In most cases this only takes a few minutes.
Your guide should never rise their voice to you. We all make mistakes from time to time. You hired a guide to help you catch fish and have a great time on the water and yelling doesn't help you do either.
Many boats do not have a bathroom on them. If during the cores of your trip you need to answer natures call, your guide should be willing to help you find someplace you can go without getting upset.
If you do not understand what a guide is trying to get you to do, ask.
Treat your guides equipment with care. Don't throw it around, drop it on the deck or try and poke stingrays with their rods. (I still get that one from time to time).
Don't ware black soled shoes unless they are non-skidding soles. If you do you are going to mark up your guides deck and create a lot of work for them when they get back home.
Don't try and hide your trash in the guides
boat. Ask them where they would like you to put it.
3) Personable
In addition to not yelling and screaming at you, your guide should be easy to talk to. They should be approachable, and open to questions.
Your guide should be friendly, honest and do everything they can to help you have a great day on the water.
Your guide doesn't have to become your best friend, but it is helpful if a client is easy to talk to.
Don't be afraid to ask questions.
Be open to what you guide says about what you need to do to catch fish. If you don't understand what they are trying to get you to do, ask.
4) Knowledgeable
Your guide should know their area and were the fish are. They should know what they are feeding on that day, and what retrieve they are going to most likely strike.
Your guide should know their tackle and provide you with the best equipment to catch the fish you are targeting.
You are not expected to know how to do the type of fishing you are doing on your trip, but your guide is.
Remember, you may have fished all your life, but, how many times have you fished the area and style you are fishing with your guide. Your guide will help you if you are willing, but you have to be open to what they have to say.
5) Environmentally Conscious
Many of us have a saying, leave only your wake. Your guide should not only abide by this themselves but should enforce this rule.
Your guide should have a place on their boat for trash. If you don't know where it is, ask.
Fishing license questions
Saltwater
All saltwater guides should provide a fishing license. If they do not there is a chance they do not have a Captain's License. In Florida a guide can not buy a blanket fishing license for their boat with out being a US Coast Guard licensed Captain. Without this license this means that they are running trips illegally and not only can they be fined but you will also be subject to a $63 fine.
Freshwater
Fishing with a guide on freshwater is a different story. They can not buy a blanket license. You will be responsible for purchasing your own.
Don't be afraid to ask your guide to show you their license. Law enforcement isn't. If your saltwater guide does not have a blanket fishing license, finding another guide is in your best interest.
Because a freshwater guide can not buy this license does not mean they are not a Licensed Captain. It does mean that you will be responsible for buying your own license though.
Fishing Licenses can now be bought over the internet by clicking here.
