This might be a dumb question, but going to ask it anyway. I know there are some guides out there who will read this, and I need your input. Is it unethical to use a guide service one day, then fish the same locations the next day without him. I'm taking the family to the coast in a few weeks, don't know the area, and would like the kids and grandson to catch a few but can't afford to hire a guide for the week. What do yo think?

i feel that this is not right! i had a friend ask me too take a handheld gps offshore with me on another friends boat,and i think he was pretty bold too ask me to do this.i would never sell out like that on my friend! do what you think is right. i understand your deal, but is it worth it? think about it! what do you do for a living? how would you feel about someone you showed the ropes,sitting in your desk the next morning?
fish on!

iridered,
I'm a building contractor and have had several project managers go in business for themselves after showing them the ropes. I just wanted honest replies to the question, not an assault on my integrity. Seems strange that people don't have a problem pulling right up next to a obvious guide boat and fishing... what's the diffrence. By the way, I've never done that either.

hey caughtacouple don't ever let any guides bully you or feel that you have to defend yourself. Everybody has the same right to fish. If you were taking everyone and their moms to this secrete guide spot then that would be unethical. However you seem like a family man that is just trying to show his kids a good time. There is not one thing wrong with that. Guides steal spots from other people all the time. Several of my secrete wade fishing spots have been recently overrun by guides that were watching my dad, uncle, and me limmit out from a distance. By the way I have no problem with guides.

I used guides until I bought my boat.I have fished places they have taken me but never have followed them.If I arrive at a spot and they or anyone is there first,I move on.

I have always thought that they have based their price on that. I have talked to a guide about it before which was a friend. He said that he gets new spots from other guides and from going out and watching people. So why not? Not like you are going to tell the world....right? It is a different story offshore.

I agree with lucky and topdog; the thing is (at least in the lower laguna madre) most fish move quite a bit and its hard to find them (especially in an unfamiliar bay). Let me reiterate what lucky said though. Offshore is completely different because you are dealing with fish that are even more structurally oriented. I fish out of Port Mansfield and we have seen fishing holes go dry because of the numbers getting out to everyone.

If this really weighs on your conscience try asking the guide if he could suggest some spots for you to fish; its worth a try and itll keep you from feeling guilty.

on the same note as suferdude, bay fishing holes go dry because of this too. My secrete hole on Azalan bay is right infront of my aunt's house. For a couple of days straight, we nailed limits of trout, most of which were in the 20 inch range. After that the guides tore up the shoreline in front of the house. The weeks following have produced nothing but schoolies.

Its a big bay, as long as you arent using a gps i say if you can get back there and reproduce the results go for it...
odds are definetly against you though...

hey bro? my reply was NOT an assault! it is my feelings on this matter! you asked for it, you got it! sorry if you took it the wrong way.you can go with a guide and fish his secret spots, no big deal. show me a spot on any bay and it in my head till i die and i may fish it till it goes dry. just the way you asked the ??? didn't sound right to me.hope you can find it in your heart too FORGIVE me?fish on!

iridered,
no problem. I may have been a "touchy" with my reply. I'm actually more concerned with how to get there than where to go. Water can go from 60' deep to 6" real quick. Not having fished on the coast for 30 plus years, I'm just a little uneasy with blasting out across the bay without having been there previously with someone that knows the area. Most likely will tell the guy what my plan is to start with. If he's got a problem with it, I'll try someone else. Thanks for the responses.

There are guides that will be happy to share some spots with you, just be up front with them.

I use guides on occasion for this and other reasons, the education on whats working when, techniques, etc. I'm not stealing anything, I paid close to $500 for it.

They know I'm not going to be there every day, and the odds of them seeing me on a spot are slim.

So just let them know: "I want to be up front, I own a boat and am looking for a couple of spots to take the kids, I only get down here maybe X times a year so I doubt I'll fish it dry, if you have a problem in any way with this I understand, and will seek someone else"

Honesty is key, and I applaud that you ask here, I hope some of the salt guides do chime in.

Hi Cauhgtacouple.

In resonse to your question about hiring a guide for the day and then taking your family out the next day to fish the same locales. The term Guide is exactly as it says. I have had many clients hire me to learn certain bays and ways to fish. Some of these clients live in my backyard and once in awhile our paths meet. When you share information that is this important not to mention fun you will create a bond with your clients and even if they become good anglers you shouldn't be suprised that they hire you many more times.
Respectfully.
Capt Chris Fortin.

Caughtacouple you should call Captain Fortin.

http://www.playnhooky.com/

No it is not unethical to fish spots that you have learned from guides. Part of the rationale for hiring a guide is to learn the techniques and areas that hold fish. Guides have no more rights to fish an area than you or anyone else. Go for it.