5 minutes ago, JHoss said:

Apologies if I mistook you're sentiment on tournament fishing. I get your point on the arms race, it's even made it down to my local Jon Boat trail. Guys in 16 ft tin rigs with $40k in graphs and ducers fishing for $200. 

 

It’s spawned some of the most ridiculous stuff I’ve ever seen. There’s an older 17’ tin boat that shows up to some of the tournaments around here that has no less than $8000 worth of electronics on it, with a $7.98 Force outboard running on 1.5 cylinders pushing it around. 

To steal a slur from Ish Monroe, there’s too many “Facebook Pros” out there that have taken a big chunk of the fun out of tournaments. Spending $20,000 preparing for a shot at winning $40 and a Waffle House coupon in a Wednesday Nighter doesn’t make you a pro, neither does quitting your job to practice for it.

There’s a bunch of us now doing our own little “outlaw”, winner takes all derbies for $50-$100 a boat that have brought the fun back into it.

3 hours ago, ElGuapo928 said:

There’s a bunch of us now doing our own little “outlaw”, winner takes all derbies for $50-$100 a boat that have brought the fun back into it.

I could get behind that.

 

And although I don’t participate in any “organized” tournaments, twice a year (August and September), I organize a small derby with 2 or 3 teams. We fish for 4 hours, have a weigh in, and then the losing team has to buy lunch and beers afterwards. It’s something we’ve done for 6 years now.

18 minutes ago, gim said:

I could get behind that.

 

And although I don’t participate in any “organized” tournaments, twice a year (August and September), I organize a small derby with 2 or 3 teams. We fish for 4 hours, have a weigh in, and then the losing team has to buy lunch and beers afterwards. It’s something we’ve done for 6 years now.

We had to quit doing the “who buys lunch” series - it got too cut throat.
 

Somebody came up with drawing for where we went, and some of the establishments in the jar were going to get us lynched when we got home, especially if some well meaning busy body reported our whereabouts to our spouses. 

@gim is every northern caught minus an ounce at weigh in 😂

@FloridaFishinFool sure we can play the what if game forever, but under most normal circumstances like I’m referring to and to be fair I didn’t specify, in the early stages of the season, middle of the season, my scenario comes into play. Your scenario comes into play at the end of the season. At that point it’s like golf, it’s a gentleman’s agreement. Again, an unwritten rule. We can play the what if game all we want. These are unwritten rules and comes down to who is the better gentleman at this point. There are no written rules. 

What are the other unwritten rules?

44 minutes ago, Bazoo said:

What are the other unwritten rules?

Give the guy catching fish a minimum 50 yards of space

 

Backseater buys the gas….period

 

Be at the ramp and ready early.

 

From the console forward belongs to the boater, non boater is console back.

 

There’s thousands more, with slight regional/individual variations.

1 hour ago, Bazoo said:

What are the other unwritten rules

They’re unwritten…😂

 

Seriously though, for me personally, it doesn’t matter if I were fishing a tournament or not (which I don’t) it’s about the golden rule. Treat others the way you’d want to be treated. If you give respect, you get respect. A little respect goes a long way. This doesn’t go just for fishing, but in life in general. 

If the backseater buys the gas, and they meet at the ramp, how does he know how much to buy? How does that work? Do you just ask, how much do do I owe for gas? Or do you literally go to the gas station and fill up and backseater pays for it?

Here's over a dozen articles about tournament etiquette:

 

https://www.bassresource.com/search?search_api_fulltext=etiquette&page=0

Thanks Glenn! I forget about using the search feature sometimes.

3 hours ago, Bazoo said:

If the backseater buys the gas, and they meet at the ramp, how does he know how much to buy? How does that work? Do you just ask, how much do do I owe for gas? Or do you literally go to the gas station and fill up and backseater pays for it?

What I’ve always done is just ask how much to cover gas/oil for the day. A lot of times they say don’t worry about it, but I’ll still give him $50 and tell him to get dinner on the way home. 

 

When we fish out of my boat (which is AWFUL on gas), I’ll refuse it unless we finished fairly well into the money. 
 

Another one that I forgot to mention is to ALWAYS offer to help wipe the boat down and put stuff away. I’ve had a couple of draw partners leave their trash in the boat and go wandering off instead of helping clean up - that’s always stuck with me as the definition of disrespect.

 

 

I must live in a different world.

 

I own a boat. I have to assume the costs of owning that boat. At 61 it is not safe for me to be traveling around Florida all by myself fishing in remote locations alone. I prefer to have a fishing buddy with me.

 

I do not ask nor do I expect an invited guest to have to pay me or share in the costs just to go fishing. If I invite a guest, they are a guest. It would be nice if they volunteered to help cover costs, but it is not required nor is it even expected.

 

I bought the boat so I can go fishing. I assume all costs of it. It is a benefit to me to have an invited guest go with me. Like paying for a safety precaution. I appreciate that they are there with me and give me peace of mind that I won't be alone if I fall overboard.

 

If I went alone as I have done for decades, then all costs are mine anyways. By having an invited guest along my costs really have not changed, but now I have worry free fishing, and someone to have friendly competition with and talk smack with.

 

Those benefits far outweigh expectations of money and boat cleaning. I'd rather do it myself anyways. If I started putting all those types of demands or expectations on an invited guest they may choose to not go.

 

I guess I should clarify that my outboard is only a 35HP and does not take much fuel. So my expenses are really quite low as compared to the guy with a $100,000.00 off shore saltwater boat with twin engines and a long drive to the coast and miles of ocean to travel before arriving 10 or 15 miles off the coast at some reef fishing spot. Those guys spend hundreds per fishing trip. I don't. Mine is just fuel to get there and a little bit of running around a lake or river. Very minimal costs.

 

So this might play a larger role as to why I am completely unconcerned about shifting the costs of what I chose to do onto others who are invited guests. I do not do that to them.

 

Another reason I do not do that is because like I said I am 61 now. It is tough to find fishing buddies at my age to go fishing. Most of the guys I fish with are either my sons who are teenagers and perpetually broke, or in their 20's and also perpetually broke. I have even paid to help provide them with tackle like rods and reels and tackle boxes, etc. just to help them fish with decent tackle.

 

I am glad if they want to go fishing with me to some remote places that are not safe for me to be alone like Lake Sampson in Starke, Florida. If you look at that lake from google satellite, and look at the western shoreline there is nothing there. Swamp and lake. If a person falls overboard there it could be all over. There is no shore to swim to. One would have to swim for miles if the boat drifts away. And good luck swimming past all the gators.

 

Having a guest on a boat with you can be priceless. No amount of money can pay for the worry free peace of mind that can come from having an invited guest on the boat to fish with.

 

So to read comments where it all boils down to $$$$$$$$$$$$$ and this is expected and that is expected is just something I don't get.

 

If a person chooses to buy a boat for fishing they are the one assuming full responsibility for the costs.

 

I would never think in terms of can I afford a boat? Well maybe if I shift the costs of it over to invited guests I can. I don't see much difference between expecting to be paid to fish and a for hire guide. Only difference is price.

 

No, if I invite a guest to go fishing with me it is free for them. And I am glad to have the free company and extra safety of it and peace of mind is more than worth it. Besides I'd be going anyways at my expense, might as well help a buddy or my sons fish more as well. I place no expectations on anyone to fish with me and certainly not boil it down to $$$$$$$$$$$$ and oh hey, clean the boat too. I am the one who bought it and I am the one took on that responsibility.

 

Now if they offer is a different story. But it is not expected. Do I live in a different world?

They’re talking about the co angler offering and being prepared to help cover fuel costs when fishing a 2 man tournament. 
Along with lunch, water and ice for that matter.

Most times it’s not wanted or expected. 

(it’s just what I have always done and many others I know especially in open draw National and Regional trails

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks Mike! I missed that "tournament" part. Scratch what I said. I AM in another world.

I've always been taught to offer to cover gas and beverages/snacks. When I fished as a co in a 10hp league, I always covered the entry fee since gas was so nominal. 

On 9/12/2025 at 7:38 AM, gim said:

I am not a fan of Iconelli. Honestly could care less what kind of person he is off the camera. His behavior on camera and in tournaments is obnoxious, loud, and rude. Not helpful to the sport IMO.

 

Hard to argue.

 

Unfortunately he's raising his kids the same way.

 

I saw a video the other day where his kid caught a nice fish. His son of course started screaming and JUMPED INTO THE LAKE to celebrate.

 

Ike is an overacting dbag.

I guess i can put you down as a non fan.. 😂

What level of screaming is acceptable when one catches a good'un?

--------

Okay, here's an etiquette question: If I was to hire a local fishing guide to take me out, what is expected of me? Nothing?

Once you pay your guide fee, and an appropriate tip based on how the outing went, you don’t need to do anything else.

 

I haven’t ever used a guide for freshwater fishing, but I have a few times now in Florida while saltwater fishing, including last March. I paid my fee with a credit card and then paid the tip in cash. I think the guides prefer receiving a tip with cash.

 

Disclaimer: never had a negative experience using a guide.

Thanks @gim. I didn't even think about a tip, what would be an appropriate tip? I looked at a local guide that was $250 for 6 hours on a local lake.

I'm not going to run out and hire a guide next week, but I am considering it as I have almost no experience on the water. It would help me to learn a lot of boat stuff I am clueless about.

I paid 650 bucks for about 6.5 hours of saltwater fishing in Tampa Bay last March and handed my guide a $100 bill as a tip.

 

I caught a mix of redfish, sea trout, and jacks totaling about 40 fish that day.

 

I’m not saying that my experience or opinion should be used as an outline. Tips should vary based on how well you think the guide did, and the results.

 

 

15 hours ago, Bazoo said:

What level of screaming is acceptable when one catches a good'un?

 

 

I'll take ZERO for $500 Alex.