tarentaal10
New member
We thought that the services of a Guide will enhance our fishing experience, show us the some detail that we don't know and will result in an altogether fabulous day! Wrong!! I went to meet a highly recommended Guide, and discussed our requirements with him. We will be 4 Youngsters plus myself. What can be offered? A Good explanation was given, and the fact that large sharks are mostly targeted was stressed. Ok Thanks but we are mostly interested in edibles, we want to have fun and size does not matter ( I mean the size of the fish). Ok no problem can do that and a fun day guaranteed. And the price? R2000.00. That will be four "active fisherman" and myself mostly observing but will join in if the moment present itself. OK. What shall we bring with? Only yourselves, food and drink. Wonderful do you think our chances are good to catch edibles, enough for the 4 "strangers" to have a fish bbq. "Oh yes should not be a problem". What about transport. I have a sedan that is very low and I am very hesitant to drive unless the road is in very good condition.? Transport is no problem we come together at an agreed point and we will depart from there. Your price of R2000.00 for us sounds very reasonable, I will contact you for final arrangements. Thank you sir.
I then contacted 2 other Guides in the area and both quoted me R600.00 per person actively fishing. Myself being an observer there is no charge. We want to target edibles? No problem that we can do but an occasional shark might be caught in between. Thank you sir.
After a week I contacted the first Guide again, discussed our needs and possible dates and after more fisherman talk during which again I heard of massive sharks and the quantity being caught, and yes they are released. Ok, and I just want to make sure of the price? R2000.00. Thank you the deal is done. We will go on Sunday morning early. Thank you sir.
Pitched up on the agreed spot on Sunday, waited for about 5 minutes, and yes everything seems fine. The guides double cab was loaded with rods etc. I enquired about the condition of the road because my sedan loaded with 5 person now was very low. No problem the road is very good. OK. Now please pay, will it be altogether or everyone for himself? Thanks but we will pay everyone for himself. OK, first one R2500.00. ??????? No we wish to pay everyone for himself please. Yes you can do that it is R2500.00 per person. ???????? "But that amount was never mentioned"! Yes normally it is R2500.00 per person. "I am sorry but I was under the impression it was R2000.00 for the group". His response. "Never! I have never said it was for the group", "that will not even cover the cost of the bait".
OH dear what now, here I stand red faced with 4 youngsters to whom I have said R2000.00 for the group and now it turns out to be per person!!!! And it must be and it is all my fault for not enquiring properly and I should know prices quote are always per person. ???????
End of story: I paid R2000.00 out of my pocket, additional to the "contribution" the 4 youngsters made. I drove my overloaded sedan on acceptable gravel roads but with small storm water ridges. On everyone of these my sedan "bellyscraped". At the first stop we targeted Sharks, and my mention (again) of edibles and smaller size fish was met and reacted upon with the content it deserves!!!!. After a blanked morning we moved to another location and again rigged for sharks. 4 Very small ones were caught. Please remember not touch a rod unless being told to. The fish will be hooked and the rod passed to you. You can sit and watch the rods while the "youngsters" sit in the car, or play games on their cell phones while we wait for the sharks. How boring for them! We would have preferred to catch kolstert or anything else, even strepies. At least some action and fun could be had. But no, sharks it will be!! Maybe Would I have reacted differently if a proper shark had been caught? NO! That was not our aim or request.
At about 5ish we called it a day. I must say that the guide tried his best and did everything he could to set us up for a shark! It was just not the day. He also presented us with some fresh fish that his friend caught that day on a boat.
Will I ever make use of a Guide again? !!!!!! You be the judge of that.
I then contacted 2 other Guides in the area and both quoted me R600.00 per person actively fishing. Myself being an observer there is no charge. We want to target edibles? No problem that we can do but an occasional shark might be caught in between. Thank you sir.
After a week I contacted the first Guide again, discussed our needs and possible dates and after more fisherman talk during which again I heard of massive sharks and the quantity being caught, and yes they are released. Ok, and I just want to make sure of the price? R2000.00. Thank you the deal is done. We will go on Sunday morning early. Thank you sir.
Pitched up on the agreed spot on Sunday, waited for about 5 minutes, and yes everything seems fine. The guides double cab was loaded with rods etc. I enquired about the condition of the road because my sedan loaded with 5 person now was very low. No problem the road is very good. OK. Now please pay, will it be altogether or everyone for himself? Thanks but we will pay everyone for himself. OK, first one R2500.00. ??????? No we wish to pay everyone for himself please. Yes you can do that it is R2500.00 per person. ???????? "But that amount was never mentioned"! Yes normally it is R2500.00 per person. "I am sorry but I was under the impression it was R2000.00 for the group". His response. "Never! I have never said it was for the group", "that will not even cover the cost of the bait".
OH dear what now, here I stand red faced with 4 youngsters to whom I have said R2000.00 for the group and now it turns out to be per person!!!! And it must be and it is all my fault for not enquiring properly and I should know prices quote are always per person. ???????
End of story: I paid R2000.00 out of my pocket, additional to the "contribution" the 4 youngsters made. I drove my overloaded sedan on acceptable gravel roads but with small storm water ridges. On everyone of these my sedan "bellyscraped". At the first stop we targeted Sharks, and my mention (again) of edibles and smaller size fish was met and reacted upon with the content it deserves!!!!. After a blanked morning we moved to another location and again rigged for sharks. 4 Very small ones were caught. Please remember not touch a rod unless being told to. The fish will be hooked and the rod passed to you. You can sit and watch the rods while the "youngsters" sit in the car, or play games on their cell phones while we wait for the sharks. How boring for them! We would have preferred to catch kolstert or anything else, even strepies. At least some action and fun could be had. But no, sharks it will be!! Maybe Would I have reacted differently if a proper shark had been caught? NO! That was not our aim or request.
At about 5ish we called it a day. I must say that the guide tried his best and did everything he could to set us up for a shark! It was just not the day. He also presented us with some fresh fish that his friend caught that day on a boat.
Will I ever make use of a Guide again? !!!!!! You be the judge of that.