Florida has an abundance of inshore fishing guides to choose from. They all have their own intriguing blend of knowledge, determination and enthusiasm. A day at the office for an inshore fishing guide involves loading customers into their specially designed fishing boats and transporting them into the pristine back country waters for a fun day of fishing.  But, like everything else in life, not all guides are the same.

Finding the right one may mean the difference between your fishing trip being the highlight of your vacation or never wanting to go fishing again. A knowledgeable guide will be "in tune" to the conditions around him or her. It is not enough to know which tide to fish for a given species. Good guides will know which hour of the tide to fish as well as the effects of the water temperature, wind, speed and direction, cloud cover, moon phase, barometric changes, and a wide variety of other variables. Your guide should not only be highly proficient at finding fish, but must also be able to implement his or her knowledge of how to catch them (in the form of a clear non-intimidating approach) to you.

However there is a lot more to the charter fishing experience besides just the fishing. The best of Florida fishing guides will combine teacher and entertainer (and diplomat) in the right proportion to not only catch you some fish, but to make you want to come back and fish with them again in the future. This is the key to your success as a fishing guide -- having the repeat business not the amount of fish you catch.

The following tips should help you to find the right guide for you: First do your homework. With the popularity of the Internet, there is no reason a person with access to an on-line computer cannot locate a fishing guide through a keyword search. Entering keyword combinations such as" Florida backcountry inshore fishing guide" will give you a host of web addresses belonging to guides with their own web sites. Whether you have found this guide on your own, or used a booking agency it is imperative that you communicate with your guide directly. It is important that your guide knows what you are looking for in a charter. For example you may want an action fishing for a youngster with one or two big fish for photos. However, you might only be interested in a stress-free trip through the scenic backcountry, with fishing playing only a minor role. Your guide definitely needs to know these things in advance and you need to find out if your guide is willing and able to run the kind of trip you are looking for.

There have been stories about European visitors who wanted to target catfish - something that most guides would find abhorrent and unprofessional. On the other hand there are also stories about clients who, after the fact, would have been happy with mackerel or jacks and had an unpleasant trip because they did not communicate that wish and spent the day looking for trophy snook instead. You have to communicate with the guide and be sure that this professional will be able to accommodate what you want to fish for.

It is also important that you give your guide some idea of your angling ability. Be honest as well. There are some types of fishing that just are not suited for newcomers, so to avoid frustration for both angler and guide alike, it is best to let your guide know about your angling skill level before boarding the boat.

By the way feel free to ask about your guides' level of experience too. Although this is rarely asked, it certainly would not be inappropriate to inquire about seeing the Coast Guard-issued captain's license and proof of insurance as well. There is no crime in being a conscientious consumer.

Try to develop a rapport with your guide before you go fishing. Doing this before you even book the trip is better. If you do not feel comfortable talking with a guide on the phone or at the dock, chances are things are not going to get any better on the water in a confined area aboard the boat. Make sure the guide has the patience to work with youngsters, if you plan to bring them along. You have a right to expect a guide to please you, rather that a case where the guide is expecting the client to look good in front of their peers.

Usually, unless it is a spur of the moment booking, expect to give a deposit to secure your trip (varying from $50 to half the charter price). Although many inshore guides will take up to four anglers it would be in your best interest to keep your fishing party to three at tops not including the captain. By doing so it will extend individual fishing time while at the same time extending your fishing comfort.

What to bring: Remember you are not spending the day in the comfort of an air-conditioned cabin cruiser. You will be exposed to the elements, so it is best to be prepared. Bring along a hat, a pair of polarized sunglasses, to enable you to see the fish you are casting to. Do not wear dark clothing or bright clothing. Dark colors absorb heat. Gaudy dress may mean the fish will see you, which will mean less fish caught. Light blue, white, and khaki colors are good to wear as they will not only keep you cool in the sun, but they will blend against the background of the sky. Do not forget sunscreen as well as bug repellent. Both will be items you will be glad you had along.

Most boats are already equipped with a cooler and ice. All the angler needs to bring is food and drinks. Bring more water than you can expect to drink because you can never have enough water aboard. Meanwhile, it is customary for clients to provide food and drinks for the guide. And don't just bring beer. You may be relaxing but the guide is on duty and won't be imbibing.

Because Mother Nature is very unpredictable it would be a good idea to bring along some foul-weather gear as well. Better to have it and not use it then to not have it when it is needed. There are times when rain clouds build up and you just can't outrun them.

Fishing tackle is usually provided by the guide. The guide will have everything you need. If you have your own piece of gear, that you would like to bring along, let the guide know in advance so they ca make room to carry your gear as well. Guides get understandably aggravated when they put an angler on a nice school of fish and lose them because of a tackle failure so be sure your personal tackle is in tip top shape before getting caught in this mess of a tackle failure. Be flexible if weather forces you to alter the original game plan for the day.

Most guides are very good at fishing the conditions. Cancellation policies differ with each guide. Have your guide explain their policy with you before booking a trip. Prices also vary with each guide so be sure to discuss prices of the charter before booking as well. Tipping, is optional, but if your guide did all they could do to make your trip an enjoyable one, it is customary to reward your guide by leaving them a tip. Tips are absolutely called for in the case of a deck hand or a captain who is running a boat that is not their own. In these cases the captain and crew are usually working for tips alone.

You can avoid boat traffic as well as fishing pressure by booking your trip on a weekday instead of a weekend. (Especially a holiday weekend.) Or during "off season" versus "in season." The only thing that is "off" about the off season is the amount of people visiting that particular area; it does not at all mean fish are not biting.

Remember to communicate with your fishing guide from the get go. Take the time to do some research on a particular guide before choosing one. It will be well worth your efforts in the long run. So many beautiful memories can be captured in just one single fishing outing so be sure nothing comes in between all the wonderful memories, make sure you do everything in your power to make your fishing charter an enjoyable one. Anglers often allow the fishing guide to hold too much of the reins. Fishing guides are an independent lot and they do have responsibilities that make them the master of their vessel. However, that does not mean they can't cater to the wishes of their customers. But they aren't mind readers and you have to let them know what you want.

Do not make the fishing guide guess what makes you happy, tell him from the start and I promise you the trip will be one to remember. Some of my most enjoyable fishing trips produced zero fish. Not a successful day from the guides' point of view but it is what the customer views as success that matters.

It is not always how many fish we catch that counts. What does matter is whether the trip was a fun experience for everyone aboard. Smiling faces are contagious!