Reliable boat, some good spinning reels, and a lot of patience. Maybe some guides will chime in, good luck going forward, it's a tough business to get in these days, just so much competition. But for a guy like you with another job, you probably can make a go of it, not relying on this income to pay the bills.

 

I'm working on my 6 pack now and the require seatime takes a while. Not sure what youre amount is but look at the uscg website on the requirements. That's what's taking me the most time.

 

OUPV (6-pack) should be 360 documented days

 

A good insurance policy is a must. Not to mention being able to take all kinds of customers fishing and actually show them a good time. This is not a career for everyone.

Good luck

Shallow

 

Lots of guide are struggling......it ain't all fun and grins. Better do your research and have a plan.

 

You will be surprised that Guide Insurance is not much more than a regular policy ...

But so few do it - and it amazes me how few guides don't carry it ....In reality why should they .... most of them don't have much for someone to go after ... so its on the customer to ask ...

Second - how are you going to get clients? - they don't magically call - so budget a good amount the 1st year to get you name out there ... the fishing show can't be your only way...too many already doing it

Third- What do you offer that others don't?- distinguish yourself differently

Last - Partnering with a small group of guides will help all of you.... you will not be getting rich guiding... I am sure you know that... but you need help and they will too when they want to keep clients from going to other guides...

 

I work in the oilfield clients are already coming in just need to get the proper paper work lined up. But I will for sure be getting the insurance.

 

Too many guides out there, these days. Guys retired who don't even need the money, the boat is a tax write-off. Firemen who work three days a week and have four off. Guiding is also hazardous work, hard on your health, especially if you wadefish. Even the sun can eventually become a killer.

This reminds me of the big black woman, when Forrest Gump told her he was buying a shrimpboat. She said, "Are you crazy, or are you stupid?" :headknock

Only a few years ago you could guide with a fairly inexpensive boat, even a 30 year old boat, get by with crappy tackle, etc. These days, wow. I've seen guides with 31-foot Fountains...

 

Guiding with respect and production

Guiding, believe it or not, is an entertainment industry where clients expect to be treated with dignity and respect, be taught something about fishing and bring home something for the family. If you have the patience and personality to entertain, teach and put clients on fish, you should attract clients. You will need a boat that is big enough to accommodate your clients in safety and relative comfort; be prepared for minor emergencies such as fish hook accidents, sun stress or sun stroke, or even heart attack with some of your clients. Think this through on how you will handle such events on the water; take a CPR course if you need to and basic first aid. Keep your boat uncluttered to avoid accidents on board; learn your client's names, they will like that; don't curse or treat people with disrespect and don't rush through the day; keep your cool in the midst of stress and confusion when that happens. Be prepared for bad weather and cancellations or disappointed clients and how you will handle the situation. Make sure your significant other is O.K. with this lifestyle of service and the accompanying fatigue on yourself. There are other issues not mentioned; but if you are prepared and love what you are doing, and treat others with dignity and respect you should do O.K. Best of luck to you!!

 

Its a lot of paperwork, application, sea service form oupv requires 360 days on the water but 90 days in the last 3yrs, coast guard definetly has to see these days documented, they take your word for it for the total 360. Have to get a physical, drug test, cerification that you completed a coast guard approved course for your 6pack, sign a oath that has to be notarized, receipt of application fee, and once you do all this then you go to TPWD, present your license so they can issue you an allwater guide license. Hopes this helps, goodluck.

 

You have to be quick on your feet, realize that people will do the most unexpected things, like pull up your anchor while your back is turned, just because you were talking out loud about moving to another spot. Whoops, the jetty rocks are 20 feet away. Lots of big people these days, the boat will sink lower as each customer climbs in the boat. Bad weather approaching: Run or hide from the lightning? Customer drinking too much: when to close the bar? Customer spitting tobacco juice all day on the side of your boat: grin and bear it. Customers who wear their bad politics on their sleeve: grin and bear it. Non tippers: grin and bear it. Cigarette smokers directly upwind: grin and bear it. Days when the fish won't bite at all, and you run out of jokes and stories by 3 pm. Doc says you have skin cancer again, time to carve off a little meat.

Benefits: tarpon rolling all around the boat, and hungry, and your client gets his tarpon for the bucket list. Babes who want to catch a few fish, and then maybe swim for a while, and want you to haul them back in the boat without a ladder, and hand you imported beers with zippered koozies. Days the fish cooperate. Generous tippers who realize the fish don't always bite. Days you rescue people adrift off the inlet without life jackets who would have drowned within the hour. Double charter days that end in triumph. Monday charters when the surf turns flat and dark green and your guys land about 50 trout or reds on spoons and plugs, and you don't see another boat.

 

Thanks for making my day, too funny!

 

I also forgot to mention certified cpr and first aid training, have to present this card also.

 

Good info above from some old salts.

There are a lot of guides out there who are nothing more than boat drivers with a couple of fishing holes. Anchoring up and tossing cut mullet in the same old holes is not guiding.
Like someone said above, if you want to survive and grow your business, distinguish yourself, build a skill set that can give you flexibility, understand season changes, fish movements, salinity levels, etc. it's a tough business, but there are a few guides that do well, mostly because they study their trade and improve every day.

 

Never minded dealing with people and showing people what I know about the sport that I have grown to love. Also I have first aid and Cpr training as I roughneck on a rig in west Texas. I've delt with my people who shouldn't fish or own a boat then I care to explain. But I was brought up from the days of old. And plan to teach that as well.

 

Sounds like you have a good work ethic, that will take you far in guiding and life.

 

Thanks. I hope it does. Thanks again for all of the tips. And concerns.

 

I don't weigh in her much anymore, but I'll toss you a few suggestions:

1. Trouthappy already mentioned that there are people guiding full time, out of Fountains and other luxury boats. Unless you can compete at the very top end, find a niche. Become known for it, and don't apologize. You can't be all things, and you'll kill yourself trying. Failure to focus dooms more small businesses than practically anything, second to being under-capitalized.

There are a lot of people who have figured out how much owning a boat actually costs on a per-trip basis, especially when they only make 5-6 trips a year. They decide it would be a LOT cheaper to hire a guide 5-6 times, and they sell their boat... but then they don't follow through with the guided trips. If I were a young guy looking to guide part-time, I would have to consider marketing to that niche. You'll get more-experienced fishermen, and if you do your part you'll develop a group of regulars.

2. If you don't know tax law, learn it or find someone who does. A part-time business can provide you with some write-offs. But if you don't run it like a for-profit business (the way the IRS defines it) you'll get yourself in trouble. Dot your I's and cross your T's and keep perfect records. When they assess back taxes, they throw in interest, and penalties, and interest on the penalties, and....

3. I always struggled to convince my employees that the busy times aren't what make or break you. It's making yourself work hard in the slow times to prepare for the busy times. Keep your boat in top shape. Keep it looking good. Make yourself a maintenance list, and follow it religiously. Let yourself start slacking, and you're lost.

 

There are a lot of people who have figured out how much owning a boat actually costs on a per-trip basis, especially when they only make 5-6 trips a year. They decide it would be a LOT cheaper to hire a guide 5-6 times, and they sell their boat...

Tom Gibson of Clear Lake always told me, he'd much rather hire guides than ever own a boat. He caught the Texas state record tarpon at South Padre and held it for many years. Fished Africa, and caught several all-tackle world record tarpon, like 270 pounds. Vera Cruz, all sorts of places. Today he only fishes with guides in Trinidad, because the tarpon are thick and easy to catch close to land. He still won't own a boat. Here's a story, he caught the world record barracuda in Africa while he was tarpon fishing.

http://weeklyworldnews.com/headlines/55641/monster-barracuda/

 

Have the opportunity to buy the boat that if fished off of for 6 years now. 20 foot flats boat with a Yamaha 150 four stroke. But I'm leaning more towards buying a majek illusions. Still haven't decided. Seeing as I don't plan to start till next year. I have a while till I get that lined out.

 

Guiding won't be like taking your buddies. You are going to have days where you have 3 goobers show up without a clue and you have to figure out how to put them on fish while keeping your composure as they complain, get tangled and hung up while pounding beers all morning. Try taking some random people from this board and see how it goes.

 

My first charter was three young guys who worked at the Walmart distribution center in San Marcos. They took pills and claimed they would work for 24 hours at a time, or some such. They showed up with two 5 gallon buckets of beef lung and blood, they wanted to catch a shark. Also had a .357 magnum pistol. All day they wore European swim suits, pretty skimpy. Lots of tattoos. Dumping gore over the side in Pass Cavallo. The lung chunks floated and seagulls showed up by the hundreds. Never did get a shark, it was a chilly but sunny day in early April. We pulled into Clark's near the restaurant door and a bunch of old ladies were just walking out. They were impressed by all the bare skin and tattoos...Ye Gods, what a day.

 

Guiding is tough these days. I'll be the first one to tell you this. I just took a offer to work at Shallow Sport earlier this year and very glad I did. I see alot of veteran guides sitting around the dock this summer. I still guide 2 or 3 days a week. Still love it and still get on snook every chance I get. Planning to sell my boat now and down size in a new boat built for fun and not guiding so much. Plan for taking credit cards over the phone for deposits and on the boat for the end of the day. Get with a good rod and reel supplier you will be buying 3 or 4 a month. Always Remember K.I.S.S Keep it simple stupid.... Some times corks and shrimp work better than fancy lures.

 

Im not trying to be a downer here, just trying to help, you also need your TWIC, to legally be able to charter clients. All the other bs bout oil field and dealing with people means nothing if your not legal. I could sound real arrogant, Im a business owner and always have been Im only 38 but don't let that fool you, I took a tough road and Im still here.
"The world will beat you to your knees and leave you there permanent if you let it"
Once again goodluck.

 

Don't forget to get a LLC for your business.
And if you run a motor that is in warranty, when you get licensed the warranty is no good on commercial use.
Have been guiding full time 16 + years, love it and it is a tough racket to get into and stay in making a living. Glad I do it and proud to be doing it.

 

In the process of getting all the paper work done I know I need a twic and the six pack and that once I get the six pack I also have to pay for a state yearly license. And I've never been intimidated by any man that wakes up in the morning and puts his pants on one leg at a time just like I. Been wanting to do this for a long time and there's not much any one can say that will stop me. Just trying to make sure all of my ducks are in a row. Didn't know about the warranty thanks for that. And will be getting Llc.