Professional Guide???

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.
 

plugger

Senior Member
R2000.00 plus bait ? I would have told him where to put his bait and his shark tackle. Name and shame, if someone doesn't provide the service you expect you have the right to express your dissatisfaction with his company.
 

tarentaal10

New member
In fact it was R2000.00 "contribution" from the 4 youngsters + R2000.00 from myself making it R4000.00 for the day. A "bargain" as the normal price would be R2500.00 per person per day making it R10000.00 for the day.
 

SimpleSimon

New member
I wonder how many other unsuspecting people this "guide" has conned.
R10K for the day (or in your case R4K) and you are not even allowed to touch a rod unless he has hooked the fish for you!!!
I agree - NAME AND SHAME - you would not want someone else to have the same bad experience you had with this poephol...
 

mrcricket

Member
Gee whizz man...talk about a kick in the teeth. Although no guide in the world can make fish bite,I do agree with Tarentaal that the pricing issue should've been stated clearly....at that price he could've taken the kids on a boat and catch all sorts of edibles.it's quite obvious the guide makes his cash with shark fishing and obviously specialises in that.But the price is nothinh short of insane! Very glad that this was brought to the attention of many anglers on this forum.
 

toli

Senior Member
This def calls for name and shame, this is clearly a crook !!!

But you should have told him to screw himself on the spot as that was not the agreed price, I mean if my business runs on 10k a day, but i will accept 4k cause thats what is all they willing to offer,must surely set of alarm bells.

most charters I use takes a deposit to book, and I only pay after the days fishing,day by day.

what a pity, as this kids will properly never want to do this again.
 

plugger

Senior Member
For R10K you could all go to Mapelane or Vidal and stay in the Chalets for 4 days with food drink bait and petrol !
 

Noweeds

Sealiner
That is shocking and gives all of us who guide a bad rep....I would love to know who it was as there are times I pass clients on to other guides and would die if that scenario played out to clients of mine!
Furthermore the services of a guide should always enhance the experience .......fish or no fish......any guide worth his salt will make very sure that the clients leave either with memories of good fish or at the very least get their moneys worth in tips, tricks, and skills enhancement.....
 

kennylau

Senior Member
Come on Tarentaal....add a name to your story!!

:fswim::gas:

Blow the whistle and help to prevent this in the future.
 

toli

Senior Member
any guide worth his salt will make very sure that the clients leave either with memories of good fish or at the very least get their moneys worth in tips, tricks, and skills enhancement.....
[/quote]((goodp_
 

neilg

Sealiner
Here's the really sad part, the most experienced anglers will guide you for free when they go fishing

We call it "come join, make new friends, help someone, safety in numbers", you just need to have your own tackle
 

surfboy

New member
I have been fishing for 48 years and this is a first. I don't deny a guide covering his expenses and making a profit.....if that's what his business is....depreciation on vehicle and tackle, direct costs of fuel, bait and some tackle etc......but I think he was thinking in overseas tourist and Euros.

Apart from the expense.....one just wants the kids to experience the excitement of the sport and get hooked on a very healthy recreational sport.....which could serve them well for the rest of their lives. I to this day still love my fishing.....and most of the time its not really the fish that we are after.
 

Haroldg

New member
neilg wrote:
Here's the really sad part, the most experienced anglers will guide you for free when they go fishing

We call it "come join, make new friends, help someone, safety in numbers", you just need to have your own tackle

Well now that I have it in writing Neil when can I "come join, make new friends, help someone, safety in numbers" ??
Very little is happening in my neck of the woods and for a while now I've been considering the estuary stuff you do - stomping in the mud etc etc. seems like fun stuff. Let me know the best time to visit and some places to stay close by - will make a serious attempt to get some sick leave...
 

SPARRABOS

Sealiner
dit klink vreeslik......kan amper nie glo......het die ou nie n gewete........ja hy moet geld maak......maar dit is darm te erg..........as ek eendag weer daar kom in daai wereld en ek leef en is gesond.......dan vat ek daai lities..........kry so paar bokse 5 kg pillies........versamel paar mosselwurms......maak lokplek......paar dipstokke en klein rivierstokkies........dan speel hulle lekker met dasse en strepies en harders....gratis.....n kind geniet dit meer as daai episode van wag vir n haaitjie..........baie meer:)
 
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