Tournament crew pay scale?

[birdhunter]

I mate on a 60' charter boat in Morehead City and would like to get your input on pay for tournaments. To set the stage, I have been doing this only a year, but feel that I am very professional and very detailed. I also won money in last years Big Rock for releasing 3 blues, won the tuna award in the Barta tournament, and won a daily in the Ducks Unlimted. All these were last year while with a different boat.

My delima is that my current owner has not paid the mate or captian for fishing tournaments that he has entered in the past. This has been a real thorn in the side of my captain and I and I am try it resolve this professionaly before tournament time comes.

So, what do you think about mate and captian pay in a tournament that the owner enters? Also, how would you handle my current dilema?

[scattered_grass]

I'd start missing fish in Tournys!

[hunt4fish]

I'm not gonna have alot of input in this,but the couple of boats I fished on in tourneys(I haven't fished a chitload,but have fished a good many) either I was 1st.mate/2nd.mate and we charged 5-6% of winnings for each of us,and a daily fee,wasn't alot but considering I wasn't paying chit and fished alot of great tournies it really didn't mater to me.But I'm not doing it for a living either.I know this doesn't help but that is my only input I can give you. BTW I'll get in touch with ya when I'm coming down. And TURKEY SEASON is right around the corner......

[Capt_John]

I mate on a 60' charter boat in Morehead City and would like to get your input on pay for tournaments. To set the stage, I have been doing this only a year, but feel that I am very professional and very detailed. I also won money in last years Big Rock for releasing 3 blues, won the tuna award in the Barta tournament, and won a daily in the Ducks Unlimted. All these were last year while with a different boat.

My delima is that my current owner has not paid the mate or captian for fishing tournaments that he has entered in the past. This has been a real thorn in the side of my captain and I and I am try it resolve this professionaly before tournament time comes.

So, what do you think about mate and captian pay in a tournament that the owner enters? Also, how would you handle my current dilema?

In all honesty, percentages differ from boat to boat. What I would suggest for you and your captain to do is to sit down with the owner at some point and talk this out face to face. Tournament time is only a month or so away and this needs to be done soon. If and when you settle on a percentage,etc., make sure you get it in writing. This a business deal whether you like it or not. There are a lot of horror stories, broken friendships, and jobs lost because of miscommunication when it comes to tourny winnings.

[birdhunter]

Thanks so far, again, this is my job and only source of income. A week in June is worth a lot to a man in my position.

[SNAKE EYES SPORTFISHING]

TIM, WHEN YOU DOCK, GRAB YOUR GRAR, LET THE OWNER WASH EVERYTHING DOWN, GO HAVE A COLD ONE AND SEE IF HIS TUNE CHANGES. JUST KIDDING, YOU ARE WAY TO PROFESSIONAL NOT TO HAVE A SIT DOWN WITH THE OWNER. BE HONEST, WITH HIM AND ALSO YOURSELF.
BEST OF LUCK.....DAVE

[Big Fish Billy]

There's a lot of factors here but here was my experience, years ago now. I mated on a boat, 65' that the owner shipped all around the world, and flew us to the location or we motored on our own, guy owned a shipping company. Captain made a $100,000 a year and us four mates got $65,000, that was salary. He never took any winnings from any tournys we fished, it was all split amongst us guys equally. Most times we fished the tournys, the owner was never even there. Boats like you see in Deadliest Catch making a haul, take expenses out of the earnings first, (fuel, food, mechanical fitups) the owner/captain takes 50% of what's left, then the mates get their share, usually percented out by experience. In the end, you have to make what you need to be happy. Good mates move around with owners until they find something that works for them. And when an owner/captain finds someone they want to keep, they tend to find the dough. Hope it helps.

Bill

[Deep C]

Freelancing I always worked daily rate and percentage... As captain 15% as mate 10%. Sometimes I had to negotiate in the bigger buck deals where the owners diidn't want to pay the big numbers. Have worked as little as daily plus 15% for mate an myself (9+6% split)...

[reel fool]

You get what you agree to.
If the boss says you get nothing, then if you stay & work the tourney, you get nothing.
I think that 10% is the "norm" for the deckhand. That's what I ask for.
But, if he says no, then you either do the job for that, or you walk.....before the tourney. Be upfront. professional. don't miss fish, walk off the boat after fishing expecting the boss to wash the boat because you get nothing of the winnings, etc....does the CEO of a company mop the floors because the janitor did not get his bonus this year? you will be the one to get the bad rep for it, not the boss. you will lose work, job opportunities because people will say you are difficult to work with, a hot shot, etc....and in a sense, they will be right. you get what you agree to. and get it in writing. a contract.

[rarhomes]

However you approach it, be careful jobs right now are hard to come by. Now may not be the best time to be asking for more money. Boss could be stressed too.


Capt. Rick