Charter Fishing Question - NDR

[Mark W]

In a couple of weeks we have chartered an inland half day fishing trip in Florida. Price is $600 and includes everything. I have not done this before and am not in charge of this time either. Is tipping standard? How much typically? What kind of fish can we expect to be catching. Charter is located between Tampa and Hernando Beach?

Thanks

 

[Carl]

Inshore, expect sheepshead, speckled trout and redfish. Possible grunts and Black Sea bass if in deeper water. Sheepshead are schooled up to spawn and the bite should be hot.
Tipping depends, if just your crew and the guide, I view tips as optional. if you had a really good time and he/she cleans the fish, give a tip.
Deckhands usually work for tips and fish cleaning, so 15-20% is usual for them.
Good luck! Hopefully it warms up and the winds calm. The fish pic I posted the other days was on Double Eagle all day out of Clearwater marina. Great boat and crew. But rental gear is too heavy, and don’t catch as many fish. I was using my own gear and bait.

 

[Dani]

By inland fishing trip do you mean freshwater? Or do you mean inshore saltwater? I assume saltwater but just checking...

If inshore, like Carl said...redfish, trout, sheepshead. Down there, maaaaaaybe some snook but it has been pretty cold down here so the snook may have been hit hard.

Are you planning on keeping the fish? All of my fishing charters I ever went on, we were just fishing to fish and learn new locations or techniques. We seldom kept fish. All the fishing charters we ever went on though, the only deckhand was the captain. We usually tipped about 15% if we had a good captain.

 

[Carl]

Unfortunately, snook just took a hit with this cold snap, i've seen photos and video from north of here of a lot of dead snook, especially in the shallow canals..
Not saying it was catastrophic, but, combined with our abnormally low water temps, may impact snook fishing.
Redfish, sheepshead and trout should be OK.

 

[Mark W]

By inland fishing trip do you mean freshwater? Or do you mean inshore saltwater? I assume saltwater but just checking...

If inshore, like Carl said...redfish, trout, sheepshead. Down there, maaaaaaybe some snook but it has been pretty cold down here so the snook may have been hit hard.

Are you planning on keeping the fish? All of my fishing charters I ever went on, we were just fishing to fish and learn new locations or techniques. We seldom kept fish. All the fishing charters we ever went on though, the only deckhand was the captain. We usually tipped about 15% if we had a good captain.

Thanks. It is inland fishing but I don't know if in salt or fresh water. We are over in Hernando Beach and meeting the Captain not far from here. We saw lots of dead snook in this area. Someone said maybe redfish, speckled trout and something else i can't recall. Doesnt matter to me if we keep them or throw them back. Lots of very nice old style seafood places around here where the food is beeter than i could cook at the rental.