Alaskan Crab Fishing?

Question

Im 16, and have recently taken interest in this. I realize its a tough job, and dangerous. But for some reason it interest me alot. I think im pretty hardworking, dnt quit till I get the job done. Work fairly well under pressure. Do whatever Im told to and dont ask questions. Very mentally strong. Can go a really long time, and can work with little sleep. I usually only get about 2-3 hours of sleep, and can go for about 2, 3 days at a good pace. How do I go along getting a job like this? I know im not old enough, but just for reference. Thanks.

8 hours ago - 3 days left to answer.

Additional Details

8 hours ago

Also, anything I can do now to prepare myself for this? Should I go to college first? Or try to do a season or 2 first, etc?

Im Very ambitious, and need to know these things, for personal reasons.

Answer 1

My man, Crabbin' be very hard work (sure ya' could handle it though after readin' your resume ;)) but, it is extremely dangerous! I both lived and worked commercial boats (my old man/Dad owned some and it was a family type deal) in AK., but, they were for Salmon ie., Seiners, Trollers and on occasion Gill Netters (friends).

My advice to ya' is start with the Salmon vessels. Get to know what's it's like on a little less crucial embarkment. Then after gettin' some deck hand experience in open waters and if ya' still have the inclin' (at least you'll have some sea knowledge which is sometimes a must when it comes to Crab Boat Skippers), at that time you can decide on a "Greenlight" for the Crabbin'...

For a job on a Salmon vessel I always recomend that one knows a resident of AK., this way you'll have a roof over your head, they can offer advice/guidelines and might just know of someone lookin' for a deck hand. Also a lotta' times just by hangin' around the harbors and chewin' the fat with local fisherman can sometimes help get one's foot in the door. One more suggestion would be ta' get on at a Salmon Cannery, this way you'll always be around vessels comin' in with their catch and you can check with them on the availability of jobs.

Bein' out on a boat for sometimes weeks without seein' nothin' but, other deck hands and miles and miles of sea is a whole different world ~ trust me ;).  

Brian, if you really have it inside ya', that this is somethin' your wantin', then I wish good luck to ya' ;)... < ' ( (( > <

Answer 2

if you really want to be a alaskan crab fishing man then i suggest you watch deadliest catch on the discovery channel. its showing right now

Answer 3

Go to Alaska, go down to the docks in the town you go to. Look for a crab boat and ask the Capt. if he needs deck hands.

Or you could place an ad in Alaska News Papers, but usually a Capt. will prefer to hire someone he can meet and see if the person is up to being a deck hand.

Answer 4

Oh my god your going to give your mother a heart attack. I lived in AK. and Hun that is hard work not to mention very dangours your talkin about the Bering Sea cold very very very cold. And a way to get a job like that go to one of the harbors in alaska like seward, homer, bristol bay etc.. there alway looking for green horns good luck in what ever u do.

Answer 5

Dude, I don't know where you live, but go to a coastal town and get you a job on a small fishing boat for the summer.See how you fare and go from there.I've worked on fishing boats, and let me tell ya,its nothing like what you see on t.v.You live , eat, work,on that boat from about 4am to midnight,grab 4 hours of sleep and do it again,everyday, day in and day out.It's something you have to like very much because you're not going to make a bundle of money, I can tell you that 1st hand.You'll run across a lot of very displaced people, some wanted by the law, some for child support non-payment,some for stuff you don't want to mention out loud.Its a very tight-nit bunch of guys,you have to pay you dues before you can even think about sleeping and eating halfway decent.But, if you do get in the circle, you have friends for a lifetime.Some of the people you will meet will be very respectable, you will learn things and push yourself further than you could have ever imagined.One other thing, the wonderful sea is very unforgiving.You really have to respect it.After you've been to sea for awhile and seen some of the things mother nature throws at ya, you really start to understand just how small the sea can make a man feel. You're just a speck, no matter who you are, where you come from , what color you are,you will realize you're just a microscopic piece of flesh in a vast ocean. Good Luck, and God Speed!!!