Life of a guide

That's awesome! You obviously work your tail off and have many happy clients because of it.

That smile says it all.

You can feel the excitement in that picture. You look just as happy as those boys do. It's got to be awesome to be able to give people experiences like that daily

Well done Ronnie.

JLadner said:

You can feel the excitement in that picture. You look just as happy as those boys do. It's got to be awesome to be able to give people experiences like that daily

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I was it is so much more fun for me now when someone else catches that fish. I enjoy that more than me catching it. Now if it would have been a state record I might have been showing a little jealousy! Lol

Your personality comes out in your guiding bud. I believe you first have to be a great person to be a great guide and great guide doesn't just mean that person can put clients on fish every trip.

Nice pics. Of course, you are showing the up side of being a guide.

If you really wanted to give someone the true picture of life as a guide there would also be pics of the hours cleaning the boat, the pain of forking over big bucks to mechanics, etc. Then, of course, there would be pics of the days when either the weather is too bad to go or when you don't have a charter.

There are times when I think you have the greatest job in the world. Then, I remind myself of the hard work you have to do to keep customers happy and the frustration you must feel when something prevents you from being on the water earning money. That certainly earns my respect.

Wonderful pic and story. As to the hardwork, I would trade this desk for that front deck in a second. I feel like I die a little each day. The thought of going belly up financially while trying to learn the craft has always kept me chained to this desk. Enough of my personal demons.[tongue] Another great post!! Hats off to all you guides, respect and a big scoop of envy!![cool][cool]

Very cool. Having recently got to experience that exact same thing with you and our Granddaughter I know how much his family appreciated the trip.

I have said for years that this what I want to do when I get older. Well I'm turning 42 this month and my wife still says NO! I love being on the water, love to fish, love to meet new people, and love to make them smile. Should I get rid of the wife of 20 years [wink] or just give up on my dream?[confused]

For you guides out there, How hard is it to make a decent living guiding? Is it a part time thing or a full time job for you? I would imagine it would be difficult for a new guy to come in and get the gigs over the established guides out there. I don't want to get rich I just want to enjoy what I do a make a living.

How hard is it to make a decent living guiding?

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I can only tell you about what I know from FL. I became friends with a guide down there that works the south side of Tampa Bay. He has a really nice boat worth about $50k that he would pull into my back yard whenever a hurricane threatened. I know he stays pretty busy but the only thing that allows him the flexability to handle the ups and downs of the business is the fact that his wife has an executive-level position with a big company.

I am a full time guide, I will tell you without a doubt it takes a lot of sacrifice by myself and my wife in order for me to do it. My day start at 3:45 and a lot of times it doesn't end until 8:30 or 9:30 at night. Most of my days off from May-November are spent doing maintenance on the boat, restocking gear, or working on stuff around the dock. It's a 7 day a week job for most of the year.

Fisher-ManGuide said:

I am a full time guide, I will tell you without a doubt it takes a lot of sacrifice by myself and my wife in order for me to do it. My day start at 3:45 and a lot of times it doesn't end until 8:30 or 9:30 at night. Most of my days off from May-November are spent doing maintenance on the boat, restocking gear, or working on stuff around the dock. It's a 7 day a week job for most of the year.

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I have dreamed of being a guide since I was a little kid, except without a boat and on a crystal clear trout stream up in the mountains. Then again I haven't had the excitement of watching a tripletail take a shrimp.

InshoreSpecial said:

I have said for years that this what I want to do whguidingget older. Well I'm turning 42 this month and my wife still says NO! I love being on the water, love to fish, love to meet new people, and love to make them smile. Should I get rid of the wife of 20 years [wink] or just give up on my dream?[confused]

For you guides out there, How hard is it to make a decent living guiding? Is it a part time thing or a full time job for you? I would imagine it would be difficult for a new guy to come in and get the gigs over the established guides out there. I don't want to get rich I just want to enjoy what I do a make a living.

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I have guided part time in the past and have several good friends that have been chartering along this coast for 25 years.. I will offer a little advice. You don't see many grey haired charter captains running open boats in the elements..i have run three 10 hour trips in a row in my 30's and was glad we didn't have 4. Most of the older ones run larger boats and sit in a captains chair and have young deckhands. Alot of people are getting into it now...but the business seems to be ok for now. But your in a business where a blip in the stock market , a katrina, or a 9/11 can cripple you. I was in it part time for all three of those. All of the captains I know were not doing well at all until the BP money and vessels of opportunity windfall. It propped up most of the charter businesses . The ones I'm close friends with call 80 trips a year a good year. 600 dollars a trip.. take out the expenses and do the math.

I always said if I won the lottery I would be a fishing guide, who never took anyone fishing. I love fishing and wish I could do it for a living somehow. But until I win the lottery I guess I just get to be a weekend warrior

Anyone thinking of getting their feet wet needs to understand that every client isn't smiling, understanding, kind and thoughtful, fun and peachy person to spend all day in a boat with. My business is a hunting consultant business (aka hunting booking agency). In the 11 years I have been doing this I have found out that you cannot and will not make every one of them happy no matter what. And I am fairly confident most guides will agree with that.

sj said:

Anyone thinking of getting their feet wet needs to understand that every client isn't smiling, understanding, kind and thoughtful, fun and peachy person to spend all day in a boat with. My business is a hunting consultant business (aka hunting booking agency). In the 11 years I have been doing this I have found out that you cannot and will not make every one of them happy no matter what. And I am fairly confident most guides will agree with that.

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So far, only 1 1/3 bad experiences (fingers crossed). But, this is an "entertainment business." If you talk to and get to know the client; throw in a few jokes and sea-stories; just keep them engaged, odds are pretty good that they will come away happy.

sj said:

Anyone thinking of getting their feet wet needs to understand that every client isn't smiling, understanding, kind and thoughtful, fun and peachy person to spend all day in a boat with. My business is a hunting consultant business (aka hunting booking agency). In the 11 years I have been doing this I have found out that you cannot and will not make every one of them happy no matter what. And I am fairly confident most guides will agree with that.

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Only had one last year that I considered potential to do the breast stroke to the harbor. Bit my lip did the best I could to let him catch fish for the last two hours. His buddies were great. Never knew a six pack of beer could change a man that much.