On Guides

Inevitably, if you fish the four corners of the earth, you'll need a guide because you are not familiar with their waters, but they are-hopefully!


Although anglers do not have to pay attention to being the greatest, they should expect their guide to want to be the very best they can be. In addition, you are paying them, and you should learn on your dollar, not the other way around. There are characteristics you should look for in a guide not just as a fish hunter, but as the provider of an experience.

When I got started in the sixties, I had two guides, who were to become my mentors and friends. They were Captain Bill Curtis of Miami for flats fishing and Captain Buck Starck of
Islamorada for reef and offshore. I never had a bad day with either of them-ever! I had fun, adventure, laughs, great stories, and lots of exciting fishing. Above all, I learned alot.

I have fished with guides all over the world, and I feel they ideally shoud have the following characteristics:
1. A feel for safety
2.Attention to details on boat, tackle, etc.
3.A love of fishing and the outdoors
4.Ambition to be the best they can be, but no ego.
5.A hunter's soul
6.Mastery of fishing techniques
7.Patience
8.A source of knowledge of their land and waters
9.Lots of experience
10.A hunter's skills
11.A sense of humor, please!
12.Prompt, courteous and efficient
13.Quiet dignity in the sense of not being overly or overtly full of bravado
14.Maturity
15.Optimism and adventure for what lies around the bend
16. Absolute respect and responsiveness for you the customer.
17.Totally weather-attuned

Maybe you can think of others, but for those that haven't given this much thought, or are just getting started, maybe this will help.

Jan