Replies

• Lostconch Posts: 1,111 Officer

  November 2022 #2

  Always tip the mate. Often that is their only pay.

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• Crkr23 Posts: 785 Officer

  November 2022 #3

  Yes you tip depending on how good the service, not on how good the fishing is.

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• cortr Posts: 536 Officer

  November 2022 #4

  10% minimum, 20%+ if outstanding service and/or great fishing 

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• chico Posts: 567 Officer

  December 2022 #5

  If the Captain is the owner/operator the fee is his pay, the mate gets 15% to 20% tip.  If the Captain works for a charter fishing company, then the 20% tip is divided between he and the mate.  that's how I do it. 
  
  

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• FIT_Hockey Posts: 45 Deckhand

  December 2022 #6

  I paid my way through school as a mate on offshore boats.  *Always* tip your mate.  As Lostconch pointed out, it usually is the only source of pay for a mate.  A few ways to separate the good from great:
  
  - Consider how much the mate seems to "care".  IE - is there effort and hustle in what they do.  Are they energetic and engaged?
  - Consider how well prepared they are. IE - was everything rigged and ready to go when you arrived?  Was that pitch bait ready for the big one? A great mate ensures you got the most out of every fishing minute you paid for
  - Level of professionalism. This is a hard one but look for the details. Is the deck kept clean and were your fish well looked after? Does the mate seem proficient at the tasks or fumbling around? Is the mate making an extra effort for your comfort or enjoyment?
  
  On the fishing - you should absolutely reward a mate for an exceptional catch. What they bring home matters to them more than you know.  And getting stiffed for a banner day sucks.  If it really is special, tip the captain too, but don't steal from the mate's tip unless the mate wasn't good.
  
  Tip generously, a good mate's work begins well before you arrive and continues well after. I never worked as hard as I did when I worked the deck. It was very rewarding and fun, but also exhausting.

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