Fishing Tour Guide – becoming a fishing tour guide

Fishing Guide – Are you known for your fishing skills? Do you know the best places to go for the big fish or the large catch? Do you not only understand the equipment, but also just have a keen sense of what it takes to get the fish to bite? And do you live where people come to vacation?

If you say yes to most of these, then launching a career as a Fishing Guide might just be the thing that lets you turn what you enjoy into a moneymaker. Fishing guides are well paid experts who offer their talents to others who have little fishing experience or at least little experience in the area.

How much money can I make?

What you can charge has a lot to do with where you live, how big your boat is, what kinds of packages you can offer, and how successful you are. If you start getting bad reviews because you are more focused on the money than on the success of your customers, business can die quickly. That said, fishing guides can easily pull out $600 a day. That might come easier during the height of the season and off-season means you don’t make a dime. If you can stay busy 6 days a week during prime season, that’s $15,000 a month. Out of that, you will also have to take your boat expenses and other costs, so it’s not all net income. You might also have to include the costs of bait and license fees for your clients. All said, fishing guides could make $10,000-$12,000 per month per boat.

Fishing guides in a boom economy

Few people make more money on an hourly basis than a professional and well known fishing guide. If you can take a boat of 6-8 people out for a day of fishing at $100 each, that’s a pretty decent deal for them and great money for you.

Fishing guides in a bust economy

When times are harder, people still travel and perhaps even more on a local basis. But they travel differently and often shorter distances. They generally try to do it cheaper and so the travel planner must focus their marketing on who can get the best deals and getting the most bang for the buck.

Geographical limitations/differences

People tend to travel no matter where they live. Vacation planners must be intimately aware of those places around them to attract the largest market. Obviously you still need to be around enough water support your business enterprise. If you are on waters large enough such as the coasts, the Great Lakes, upper Minnesota, or even areas where there is plentiful stream fishing and lots of stock, you might have a business opportunity, though perhaps somewhat scaled back in inland areas.

Competitors

Aside from other local fishing guides, consider all other tourist activities in your area to be your competitors. To compete, you must be seen by your potential clients before they book something else. A potential customer might have been interested in a day on your boat, but if they book a day at a local museum, a concert, or a spa, you won’t get the business.

Advertising your vacation planning business

Target your advertising to upper middle and upper income families. People who have hectic lives and have the money to spend on expensive vacations will often prefer to do something a little extravagant, and that’s where you come in. Determine what people want when they book a fishing trip and make sure you offer that and more. While excitement of the catch is important, make sure that you also offer services that complete the package and take your entire target customer base into account. You might do well with heading towards a few trees on shore when it comes time to pee, but your female passengers are going to want more convenience and privacy. Come up with a plan or plan to lose the clients.

The Internet is the primary tool of the person planning their vacation. Some people might look for fishing trips, and therefore your business might be seen. But if they are just looking for things to do in your area, they will visit more general information sites like Tripadvisor.com. Advertise or otherwise get your information seen on these websites.

Like any business, you need to target your market. In this case, it means aiming for people that travel in groups or can afford your rates as an individual. This of course would not be the average person in the middle income brackets for the most part unless perhaps they are retired. Your primary target would be those of well to superb income and those who like to and have the ability to recreate when they get there.

Target these groups, but concentrate your advertising on time savings, expertise, and making the most out of a precious vacation. Using such words as “local expert guide” will give that feeling of exclusivity and service. For many businesses, it's a bad idea to advertise fees. This is not the case in the tour/guide business. If you don't disclose your fees on your website and advertising, you will probably throw away an awful lot of fishing guide business.

License Requirements

Obviously, there are license requirements for fishing and boating in all states. Not only you must be licensed, your clients must also be licensed. Rules vary from state to state, so check with your local and state government to determine how fishing licenses work and if there are special licenses to be a tour guide and if you would fall under those requirements.

Fishing Guide Supplies

Remember that this isn’t just about getting your customers out to the fish. It also means making it comfortable for them and making sure they have adequate supplies to do what they want to do. You can charge extra to supply them with fishing equipment, but you must have it available. Keep it durable but simple. Nobody wants to spend half their day trying to learn to operate the gear. Also remember that you have greater chances of loss with equipment. Good equipment is important, but expensive top of the line stuff isn’t required. Most of your clients won’t know much less care that you provide a $700 Shimano reel instead of a $100 Shimano reel, so long as it does the job.

Safety and convenience are also important. Your clients should see that their safety and convenience is important. Invest in quality equipment and provide incidentals and backups, even if the client is responsible for them. A $4 case of water and bottle of sunscreen are cheap compared to a dehydrated or miserable client.

Financial Requirements

Being a fishing guide means more than just being a nice guy and knowing where the fish are. You must have the means to get your clients to where they need to go, and this will mean an investment. Maybe that means trading in your boat for a bigger better one, and it certainly means investing in more and better gear. The upside to all this though, is that unlike a hobby, your investment in gear for your business is tax deductible and the fact that you also enjoy it doesn’t matter. Life is great when people pay you to do what you enjoy the most and the majority of the expenses are legitimate business deductions.

What to do next

Do research as to the viability of starting a business in the fishing guide business. What does your area look like for tourism and drawing those who would pay you for your services? Investigate all license requirements with your city, county and state. Also check insurance requirements. Commercial property used for a profit is not covered by an individual use policy. Aside from property insurance, you should also investigate liability insurance. You may need a separate business liability policy beyond that which is provided by your business boat policy.

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