No limit!

[Gerry Zagorski]

Originally Posted by bunker dunker

and here in lies the problem.if that person has enough to go and wants to go,there going period.that person could care less what people think as he is getting his and thats what matters to them.i do not agree as i believe in tipping
and having been on that side,it s*&%s when you work a trip and have to split 86.00 at the end of the day.lets face it,the for hire fishing business is changing
at a crazy rate.

Yes a very difficult business, a lot easier ways to make a dollar for sure and a lot of things we don't see are the most difficult part of running these businesses. Repairs, maintenance, staffing not to mention all the drama on the docks

Not sure why these guys do what they do but I'm glad they do.

[Broad Bill]

I think everyone has valid points. Some people can afford 20%, some can barely afford the fare. That shouldn't preclude them from going fishing for a day and patronizing sponsors and small businesses and it certainly doesn't make them bad people. If tips weren't intended to be a voluntary thank you for a job well done and mandatory as some have implied, I suggest party and charter boat owners stop calling them tips, include it in the cost of the fare and the problem is solved. Customers pay the owner, owners pay the employees just like most businesses operate. The reason they don't is fares would go up and business would suffer. Well why should customers be judged any differently. It's a tough world for many people, the decision should be theirs individually based on the experience and no one else's.

Being that's not the way it is and probably never will be, the problem I have is a tip has always been a voluntary gesture and by default needs to be earned, in my opinion. Someone works hard regardless of catch results they get a tip commensurate with their level of service. 20% is usually the floor but I've paid as much as 100% and also zero when warranted when the crew has been abysmal. One trip I'll never forget years ago the crew was stoned or coked up. I complained to the captain at the dock and his answer, they do the best they can. Wrong answer!

While we're on the subject, the whole issue of tips has gotten way out of control in my opinion. Sick of someone heating up a slice of pizza or making me a bagel in the morning and turning the screen around when paying to guilt me into a tip ranging from 15% - 35%. I'm not suggesting the fishing industry is the same, just that tipping, in general, has taken on a whole new meaning in society and in my opinion not for the better. Mating is a tough and grueling job but when exactly did tips become a given? Good mates are hard to find and deserve whatever you can afford tipping them BUT there's mates as people mentioned who treat it as an entitlement. I won a pool years ago and the mate gave me the proceeds, literally stood in front of me with his hand out and before I had a chance to give him anything which I fully intended to do he said to me "You know it's customary for whoever wins the pool to give a good portion of it to the mates". Wrong answer again and last time I every patronized that boat.

Like everything in life, how much a fare pays a mate should be commensurate with the service they provide and what the fare can afford as a general rule. Some will tip well for a great experience, some won't tip at all for the same experience, it is what it is. Keep in mind people receiving tip income just received a big raise now that tip income is non taxable so should that be factored in? It won't be for me but guaranteed some will. If you work hard most people will appreciate your effort, compensate you accordingly and you'll do better no matter what your occupation. If you try to skate by, well you'll be lucky to have a job at all. And if you don't like the overall level of compensation, find another form of employment just like anyone else.