[Bluefish]

Im reading this tipping thread in amazement. I started working a deck back in 1955, it was a family business and I was slave labor even at 7 yrs old. We sold beer and soda and hotdogs and burgers hooks and sinkers , some guys would say keep the change for bringing them what they wanted as opposed to them walking to the box to get it, we cleaned fish, no set fee, when asked our answer was ‘whatever you can spare, we appreciate it, never thought about charging by the fish, and yes there were some freebies too if we knew someone was up against it, when we could fish we did sell the fish we caught and if someone left their fish for the boat but we also made sure that anyone who wanted to go home with fish for the table did, not for a fee but to get him hooked as a customer. Did we get some gratuity for it? sometimes yes. , we did get tips from the pool, we did get tips from some customers, usually regulars who wanted the “freshest” clams or the biggest worms , or butterfish instead of bunker, when using greencrabs guys would tip u to cut the legs and in general some guys would tip because they wanted you to net or gaff them first or make sure they were rerigged or untangled first, or because they had a newbie with them and didn’t want to be bothered so they paid you for it, and yes some guys just tipped you for being there, it sure had nothing to do with entitlement or 15% or too little pay from the captain. It was easier back then, no catch or size limits, if I wanted more money it was actually pretty easy, fish harder and longer. Today Im a customer I have my own rules for tipping and doing what I think is fair for the mates and I can tell you that last thing it has to do with is a % of any number. And I am a low maintenance customer when I fish; rig myself, unhook my own fish untangle myself, There have been days I have left over $500 on the deck and days where its been $0. Each day is different. Being on the deck is a tough physical grind , always was and always will be. But there is no entitlement just because a customer is on the boat.