Fishing- Deckhand Job (Anchorage, Juneau and, Sitka and: apartments, jobs, sick)

[Simplycomplicated87]

Hey there,
I'm sure someone has posted something like this, so if you know of a thread that answers my questions, that would be appreciated too.
I'm looking to move up to Alaska and find a job as a deckhand, I've done a good bit of research, and what I've come up with is, the best way to really find a job is to walk the streets, ask around, and just do it face to face. The other thing is for the best chance I should have all my gear ready to go, rain suit, boots, etc... So, any suggestions??

A few questions I have would be, do you know of any resources where I could learn some about the fishing and being a deckhand before I actually get there?
What city/area would be best to look for a job in?
I've read various numbers as far as how much you would make, anywhere from 5-15,000 a month, anyone have any input on that?
How much higher is the cost of living? Or does it depend on which area of AK your living in?

If there is anyone connected with that market I'd be happy to give you my e-mail or number, I just wouldn't want to post it on here.
So any help, tips, leads you could give me, would be awesome!
Thanks all!

[Marty Van Diest]

I have been a deckhand for 18 summers...but I haven't been on a boat for awhile so some of my advice might be out of date.

Get real good rain gear. Usually you can only get this stuff from someplace that sells commercial fishing gear. B&J Commercial in Anchorage has some good stuff. Get extra-tuff boots.

The best way to get a job is to know someone currently working on a boat. The next best way is to walk the docks. What kind of a fishing job do you want? Some of them are really dangerous and you better make sure you get on a good boat.

[earls]

Like all jobs the first question you are going to be asked is - What experience do you have? So what is the answer? - Do you live in Alaska? Fishing here is a lot different then Kansas! The easiest waters to fish is the 'Inside Passage' and the calmest waters would be around Ketichakan which is a small town and thus few jobs available! Sitka and Juneau and Anchourage may have more jobs but they need someone with experience and not someone that can't handle the Alaskan waters. Read the post from Mr. Diest several times! You may want to try talking to a recreational salmon boat to let you help so you can get experience. You can get a job at canneries or the like but these jobs are not easy!

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by earls

Fishing here is a lot different then Kansas!

They have fish in Kansas?!?!?!? I never would have suspected. Like earls said, the most placid waters are along the Alaskan panhandle, in the Inside Passage. The waters in the Gulf of Alaska are extremely treacherous and dangerous. Even the waters around Kachemak Bay can get rough at times. Then there are the waters in the Bering Sea, which I personally think you have to be crazy to fish.

[Simplycomplicated87]

Thank you all for your advice. I have a possible contact who runs a fishing guide service, not sure exactly where its at yet. But I'll see if he can give me some leads. How expensive is it up there? Would it be more economical to buy my gear here, and take up there with me?

[Hawkeye48]

I don't know if it's worth a shot or not but you might want to check out craigslist for Alaska. They advertise everything there from apartments to jobs.

[Marty Van Diest]

I think you should buy your gear here. It will cost you more but you will get the right stuff. Believe me, any thing short of the very best will be destroyed the first day of hard fishing.

Even if you are a total greenhorn you have a good chance of getting a job if you are in good shape and present yourself well. Get yourself out to Naknek or Egegik around the first of June with enough money to support yourself for a little bit and start talking to people. Introduce yourself and ask to help for free.

You need to be willing and eager to work. Good crewmen work HARD. The run, not walk to the next chore. They work before breakfast and after supper. If it's light they work...and it's light a long time in June. Often they work for a couple days straight without ANY sleep and very little to eat. All they while they are often seasick, often hurt, often disgusted with themselves for volunteering for this job.

Sometimes they make very good money...well over $15,000 per month. But sometimes they make almost nothing and they work just as hard for the little pittance, sometimes harder.

If you get on a bad boat with a bad crew and a bad skipper...once you leave the dock you are stuck, you CAN'T quit. Talk around the docks and ask which boats to avoid. It can be a matter of life or death...literally.

[Marty Van Diest]

go down to Dutch Harbor and walk the docks for a crab job.

My brother worked those boats for 6 years. You have to be young, tough, coordinated, and a little crazy to work on those boats.

He was making over $100k per year when he was 18.

I'm not sure how high those boats are, but I think their radar towers are more than 50 feet above the water. If two are running side by side in rough water they will often completely disappear behind a wave. They fish in that stuff for weeks on end. Oh, the water is often about 30 degrees or so when they are fishing in mid winter. Click here to see a map of current Bering Sea water temps. Sea water freezes at 28 degrees F.

[Rance]

Now is really not the time to look. You should be here more in the spring. Might be something in Dutch harbor coming up...but it's gonna be a 50 50 chance.

[Simplycomplicated87]

Thank so much! This is really helping me out...
A few more questions I thought of.
If I were to drive out there, where would I leave my truck? Do they have garage's or garage's for rent for fishermen out at sea?
Would it be better to fly out there? If I'm planning on staying a minimum of 6 months, take a few weeks off, and head back to AK.
What if a buddy came with me, how hard would it be for both of us to find a job on the same boat??