What is a Fishing Guide?

Simply put, a fishing guide is someone you pay to take you fishing. They could take you fishing on a boat, kayak, canoe, on foot, or by other means. You can find guides for just about any type of fishing and it will vary by fishery and locale.

What a fishing guide specializes in will also vary. A fishing guide could specialize in a specific water body, a specific species, or even just trophy-size fish. A fishing guide could focus on a specific technique or teach you general fishing knowledge. A fishing guide could be for catch and release or help you catch your limit and filet your fish for you.

Guiding overlaps with fishing charters. The main difference being a charter guarantees you a spot on a boat for a given trip, while a guided trip guarantees you a personalized experience. Some charters offer the same level of personalized mentorship as a guide would but it depends on the business. Typically the larger a charter is, the less personalized the service will be.

If this all sounds a bit too vague don't worry. Good guides will explain what you need to bring and the expectations for the trip in advance. Good guides will also be available to chat about what their customer experience is like before you book.

For-hire Fishing