When we used to take charters (10+ yrs ago), if the mate worked his butt off we gave 20% (wether we caught fish or not). If the mate worked his butt off but was rude/nasty he got 10%. If he just did his job or was so nasty it made the trip no fun, he got no tip. Never tipped the captain (never went on a charter where he was also the first mate, if we had we would have tipped him).
As far as LOC, you're the customer you do what you want. If the captain says he won't get in the loc, you dont want that captain. Ask him to verify his LOC number as well. We had a captain lie to us once in Mexico and when my uncle boated what would have been the first place salmon that year, the captain said "i never thought we'd actually catch one that big".
A few port recos I can give are Yankee Troller and SalmoSalar at the Oak, Dandy Eyes out of Pultneyville, Fishin Magician out of Sodus, Cold Steel out of Oswego. Lots of other great charter captains on this board...
Nick
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