We split tips and 15-20% is customary. Just because fishing is tough and you dont catch doesnt mean you should tip less as long as the mate was helpful and did his job. If not then yes full power to tip less but base it on service not fish caught. We work hard fish or no fish and trust me we want to catch em just as bad if not worse then the customers I like full coolers and bloody decks it gets the blood flowing
. And if you have a problem with one of the mates take it up with the captain. And 20 bucks out of the pool is fine but when I net or gaff the pool winner for someone that I may have also rigged up and instructed and they dont give us a dime it hurts more then my wallet its happened more then once and it really does hurt. 1/4 to 1/3 of the pool is customary but 20 is fine. Trust me when fishing is slow this business is tough.
