The Carolinas - Offshore charter "tips"

Wife has booked an offshore charter early May as a gift for my 50th birthday :thumbsup:. Out of Teach's/Hatteras with a group of 6 with only one person that has any offshore experience.

What is the customary tip and to whom on the charter? How about fish cleaning (if any ha ha) does the per lb price include tips?

What should/could we be catching then and what type of fishing should we expect?

Some concern about sea sickness; Dramamine night before, morning of, and every 4 hrs thereafter?

Any other tips or advice?

I'm so psyched for this :grin:. thanks.

15-20% is usually standard. You can pay it to either the captain or the mate, doesn't really matter who's hand you put it in, it will go to the right place based on whatever captain and crew have agreed on. Most mates work completely for tips so it is important to make sure to tip. It is common for the crew to clean your fish and have it ready to package. Tip usually covers cleaning of fish. You are responsible for ziplocs or however you want to package and transport the catch. That time of year, I would assume you should be catching tuna, mahi, wahoo and maybe some billfish. Not my home waters so don't hold me to that. I would assume you will be trolling pulling artificle bait or ballyhoo. As far as sea sickness, that varies person to person and conditions. My advice is to not go heavy on dramamine. It will make you groggy and sleepy. Take one the night before and have fun. The boats out of hatteras are large comfortable boats. Enjoy the charter, you are fishing great water and should catch some awesome fish.

It is common for the crew to clean your fish and have it ready to package. Tip usually covers cleaning of fish.

Thanks for the info, Capt. As far as crew cleaining fish, they'd take it and have it done then we'd pay the crew per lb I assume? We don't deal with the guys doing the cleaning?

Just want to be sure I (she) has everything covered and we're not shorting anyone. Want to have all our ducks in a row.

Dont take Dramamine, it will make you very groggy and sleepy, take Bonine the night before then again when you board the boat. Better than dramamine and no sleepiness.You can find it right next to the dramamine in the stores.

Depending on the boat, some mates will work out cleaning your fish for you. There are fish cleaners separate from the boat at each marina down there too. They charge by the pound dependent upon the species. The guys fishing daily are on the tuna and wahoo right now. The bull dolphin are starting to show up this time of year. Usually May-June is prime blue marlin too.

Here's a different opinion, if you're worried about seasickness get a scoplamaine (sp?) patch, which need to be prescribed by a doctor. Downside is it gives you cottonmouth, but it is very effective against seasickness.

You should be on dolphin/wahoo/tuna that time of year. I always tip 20% to a good mate, and that covers cleaning the fish. If you end up in a school of slingers then you might end up with a large number of fish -- then it would be appropriate to pay the mate extra. In my experience, the guys at the dock that clean fish off the boats don't do a very good job, they are trying to get through fish as fast as they can and leave a lot of meat on the bones.

The Mates usually do not clean the fish out of Tech's or Hatteras Harbor unless arranged before leaving the dock. If you have a real skinny catch they will usually clean them for you. These marina's have a separate fish cleaning service. Tip's for the mate are 15 to 20%. Fish cleaning is by the pound whole. Usually about .35 a lb for large fish and .50 a lb for small fish. Early May you have a good shot at a hefty catch, Gaffer dolphin, YFT, wahoo and maybe a few cobia. That time of year there could be a good run of cobia running over the shoal's on the inshore side and a lot of captains will offer a couple hours in the afternoon looking for them if they are in a good position and conditions are right. Cobia are excellent fighters, great eating and may be the biggest fish of the day.

Great info guys. Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks!

ive seen reports of dolphin, wahoo, tuna, and a sailfish caught off wrightsville beach yesterday. by the time you go, there will be plenty out there. :) id recommend the patch as well. im prone to seasickness and i think thats your best bet. better to have a dry mouth and enjoy the day then get sick. put on the patch before bed, forget about it and enjoy fishing. stay hydrated and remember you are out there to have fun. :) take patch off 2 hours after you get home.

Take the dramamine or put the patch on the night before the trip. Eat a bland dinner and no greasy breakfast, just some light toast or biscuits and do not get trashed the night before even if it's tempting, a hangover on a rough day isn't very much fun, do your partying after the trip.

Listen to the captains advice, if he says it may to rough, LISTEN! He doesn't want to have to reschedule and lose the days wages but I've had a lot of cowboys tell me they could handle it when I knew they wouldn't enjoy it.

Ask the captain what he would go for and don't try and tell him what you want to catch instead, he knows what's biting and where much better than anyone else.

If you really want to increase your chances,hand the mate a generous tip when you step on the boat, or at least 1/2 of it and tell him the rest is coming after you dock. I can promise you he will rig his best baits and be at the top of his game knowing he's rewarded instead of wondering if the new guys are good tippers or not and he will be encouraging the captain to put him on some fish all day.

If you really want to increase your chances,hand the mate a generous tip when you step on the boat, or at least 1/2 of it and tell him the rest is coming after you dock. I can promise you he will rig his best baits and be at the top of his game knowing he's rewarded instead of wondering if the new guys are good tippers or not and he will be encouraging the captain to put him on some fish all day.


No disrespect intended Bills106, but be careful with this. Don't say anything about getting more $ at the dock. Some guys might take offense to this. I know I always did as mate and do as captain. But then again, it depends on the mates desire to catch fish.

Take the dramamine or put the patch on the night before the trip. Eat a bland dinner and no greasy breakfast, just some light toast or biscuits and do not get trashed the night before even if it's tempting, a hangover on a rough day isn't very much fun, do your partying after the trip.

Listen to the captains advice, if he says it may to rough, LISTEN! He doesn't want to have to reschedule and lose the days wages but I've had a lot of cowboys tell me they could handle it when I knew they wouldn't enjoy it.

Ask the captain what he would go for and don't try and tell him what you want to catch instead, he knows what's biting and where much better than anyone else.

If you really want to increase your chances,hand the mate a generous tip when you step on the boat, or at least 1/2 of it and tell him the rest is coming after you dock. I can promise you he will rig his best baits and be at the top of his game knowing he's rewarded instead of wondering if the new guys are good tippers or not and he will be encouraging the captain to put him on some fish all day.

Excellent info. Thanks much.

No disrespect intended Bills106, but be careful with this. Don't say anything about getting more $ at the dock. Some guys might take offense to this. I know I always did as mate and do as captain. But then again, it depends on the mates desire to catch fish.

Two interesting viewpoints. I can see how saying that might suggest to a mate that he doesn't give his best all the time.

My wife ("The Treasurer") is handling everything and I can assure you she's not shy ;)

No disrespect intended Bills106, but be careful with this. Don't say anything about getting more $ at the dock. Some guys might take offense to this. I know I always did as mate and do as captain. But then again, it depends on the mates desire to catch fish.

No offense taken at all! I was only saying if you gave him 1/2 of a good tip up front, you don't want him thinking it's all he was going to get or he may not try quite as hard. Letting him know there was more coming would help that.

It is a "risk" tipping up front, you may have a greenhorn or one that's just having a bad day and everyone does now and then. 99% of the crews want to do better than their dockmates anyway so they're going to be trying anyway but I can tell you from 25 years of experience in the pit and on the bridge, handing a mate a good tip in the morning will get you 5 star service all day 99.9% of the time!

Just because you have a slow day fishing doesn't mean the mate didn't work very hard. Tip accordingly (15-20%).

Some days they just don't bite well.


May is an excellent time to be fishing in Hatteras!

Just because you have a slow day fishing doesn't mean the mate didn't work very hard. Tip accordingly (15-20%).

Some days they just don't bite well.

Understood :thumbsup:

I've never had anyone hand me a tip up front in all the years I've been fishing. . .I don't think it would influence me to do anything differently for the day.

Even if you don't catch fish.....as long as that mate is keeping his eye on the spread, changing out baits, checking baits, switching things up, etc. You should definately tip in the 20% range.

If the mate sits in the cabin and plays on the Wii all day and misses short strikes and such....don't tip (ask me how I know this happens:roll)

Most of your charter boats and mates will want to catch fish too...AS LONG AS YOU LISTEN TO THEM WHEN YOU ARE FISHING.

With that many guys having never been offshore, you really need to listen to the mate and follow instructions like winding line properly, clearing rods, clearing the cockpit, etc. It is tough on mates to have alot of inexperienced folks trying to "lend a hand" or to tell them what they should be doing differently....they want to catch fish...let them do there job and put you on them. They don't come to your work and tell you how to do your job...vice versa.

Just remember....you will know if the mate was worth a tip by the attention to the spread for the day and the attitude he coveys. Tip good....like has been said...alot work mostly for the tips. Especially with the price of fuel, baits, etc. these days...the majority of your charter expense will go to covering overhead.

GOOD LUCK! You should catch'em up that time of year.

Just an FYI.... Scopolamine is the best med for sea sickness but you can save a lot of money with an arguably more effective drug if you get generic scopolamine pills (in lieu of the patch). They cost about $10 for 30-40 tabs. The patches are abut $12 each and insurance usually doesnt cover. I'm an MD if that helps on the advice.

Most of all enjoy and have fun.

ninetoes,
Your comment about generic Scopoline pills is very interestiing. I was just speaking with someone about using the "patch" and have heard it is effective, but this person said they have had trouble in using patches - something about their skin reacting to any patches?? Would it likely be a reaction to the Scopoline, or more likely sensitive skin just reacting. I was not aware of the "patch" active ingredient (Scopoline) being available as a pill, but sounds like a very good idea, as it is much cheaper, and hopefully just as effective.

Scopolamine pills work great. Most pharmacist haven't heard of it and dont have it in stock. It may take a few days to get it but the pills are great. A friend's wife can hardly ride in the ditch but when she hits the deck now, she pops a pill and she is in the stream several times a year feeling great. I keep it on the boat for family members.

Thank God for my wife she is a skillful negotiator (professional one too at work), on charters she gives me two envolopes one marked Captain the other marked Mate. It the mate was exceptional or terrible I might look inside but havent so far. Knowing my wife I expect the mate's are probably quite satisfied.

Scopolamine pills work great. Most pharmacist haven't heard of it and dont have it in stock. It may take a few days to get it but the pills are great. A friend's wife can hardly ride in the ditch but when she hits the deck now, she pops a pill and she is in the stream several times a year feeling great. I keep it on the boat for family members.

Jim,
Does it work "after the fact" or should someone take it shortly before getting into a potential situation?

If they know they will get sick, take it when you get on the boat.. if it is questionable, they take it as soon as they start feeling sick. It will get them back and ready in a few minutes.. Great stuff!

fwiw 5 of the 6 in our group used the patch and none got seasick on a fairly rough day. We all put the patch on before bed the night before and one person awoke very dizzy so she took hers off before heading out but managed the trip unharmed. The one person who didn't take anything earned the Chum Champion t-shirt we gave them the next day.

As for other things, we didn't make it out on the Big Tahuna due to "factors" :roll beyond our control - we instead went on the Runaway and we couldn't be happier we did! We had a big day and owe it all to Capt Daniels and mate for the day "Amp". They earned our future business to say the least.

Oh, and The Treasurer took care of all the cash just fine.:thumbsup:

It was a GREAT 50th birthday gift :thumbsup::grin:

I will have to check with our local Rx, as this sounds good. We also fish the great lakes alot (Lake Erie is shallow and can get rough), and quite often if we take someone new along they may get sick, and if these pills would work after your on the water could be good. I did not expect them to work that fast.
Too many times if someone starts laying down, or worse goes down below, then many of them seem to get sick...

Just as an FYI... they stopped manufacturing scopace, the generic oral scopolamine pill. You have to get a prescription to have it compounded and find a pharmacy that will do that for you. Scopace is .4 mg, you can get the compounded stuff in .125 and .25 mg, so you have to take two pills. If you are in Wilmington, Medical Center Pharmacy on 16th street near the red cross building can compound it and usually has some in inventory read to go.

the pill has had far fewer side effects on me than the patch, which severely messed up my night vision and my reading vision.

WW, was the vision loss temporary, or long term.

WW, was the vision loss temporary, or long term.

all short term....

I also checked with 2 pharmacies and neither one was able to get the generic Scopolamine tablets. One of the pharmacies did say they could get meth-Scopolamine, but it cost THE pharmacy $170 for 100 tablets, so they did not want to order and be stuck with pills they would never use. I am also not shure (did not check with my Doc) if this is even a similar product, but at that price, I am not even going to check.
So if I understand this correctly, you have to purchase 2 seperate tablets and the pharmacy has to "mix" or compound this?