ALASKA OFFSHORE FISHING JOB STRATEGY: LOOKING IN ALASKA |
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While some jobs on smaller fishing vessels can be found with skippers based in Seattle, many fishing boats do their hiring in person in Alaska. Many fishing boats are small, independently owned vessels with limited crew
openings, so we don't attempt to list them all here. Unless they have connections, aspiring fishermen and women almost always have to meet a skipper face-to-face before getting hired. This requires either going to Seattle's Fishermen's Terminal or to a port town in Alaska and walking the docks, or "dock stomping," until encountering a skipper who needs a hand. Dock stomping When looking for work, make the rounds several times a day—including once in the early morning—and talk to as many people as possible. When you talk with a skipper, try to make an impression of seriousness, as they generally don't have much patience for immature people. Ask questions and show a genuine interest in the business. Fishermen will remember your perseverance
and your interest when they find themselves short a worker. Mention any skills or experience you have with fishing, engine mechanics, knots, or cooking. It's true that most of the skills required on a fishing boat can be learned in a short period; captains are looking to hire quick learners and those who are well-rounded. If you've never worked on a fishing boat but you have put in time as an auto mechanic, a chef, and a house-painter, a skipper may hire you over another greenhorn.
When a skipper meets you he or she will evaluate you on the following: • Can you handle the work? • Will you work hard? • Are you fast on your feet? • Can you follow instructions? • Will you be able to work as a team with the other crew members? • Will you complete your commitment and not quit before the season ends?
Don't walk aboard anyone's boat uninvited. Fishermen are a notoriously
independent bunch, and they usually regard their boats as very private property. No one who knows the first thing about boats would come aboard uninvited, and anyone who does so will likely be greeted by a string of curses from a very angry captain. Become aware of local opening and closing periods by checking at the local fisherman's supplies store or by calling the Fish and Game telephone numbers
listed in JobMonkey. This way you'll know when fishermen will be looking for crew members. The best time to pound the docks is during closures, when many boats return to port to off-load fish and get fuel and supplies. If a boat is short on crew, its captain will be desperate to hire someone before the next opening begins. Someone who operates a longliner told us this about getting a job by being in
the right place at the right time: "We do almost all of our hiring in Seattle, but a lot of times someone will quit in Dutch Harbor and we'll pick up just about anyone we can get our hands on. Last trip we hired a guy in Dutch Harbor who had never been on a boat, but he worked out just fine."
Networking
One of the best ways to land a job once you get to town is by networking. Ask around. Fishermen tend to know what's going on among their brethren. One captain may not have an opening, but he may know of someone who does. Probably the most common job lead is through contacts made during a season spent working in a different branch of the fishing industry, such as offshore
processing. In addition to talking to captains, you might also try to get friendly with the locals. In fishing towns like Dutch Harbor and Kodiak almost everyone knows someone who operates a boat. If a captain is looking for crew members it's likely his friends and family will help keep an eye out. Some inbreakers also try posting note cards on local bulletin boards advertising their availability and any relevant skills. Be sure to include your full name, the date of
the posting, and where you can be reached. Previous experience at sea can really give you a boost in the hiring game. Here's what the owner of a longliner told us about who he likes to hire for his crew: "We like to hire someone who's already worked on a boat, like
those big processing hogs at Tyson Seafoods or Trident, so they know what they're getting into. It's important that they have some experience on a boat because work on a longliner is harder than on a processor. We work eighteen to twenty hours a day, but someone who's worked on a big boat has probably worked sixteen hours in a day, so we know they can deal with it. Also, we have a hand bait operation so they really have to know what they're doing. Some
operations have autobaiters so deckhands can learn pretty quickly."
Be courteous. Newcomers should always keep in mind that they are in a fishing town, and it is important to show a genuine interest in and respect for the fishing industry. The townspeople, including your future employer, have made fishing their lives and will resent anyone from the Lower Forty-eight who rolls
into town solely to make a quick buck and proclaims that the town is a dump. Always be respectful of the local people, their homes, and their culture. Do your homework. Equally scorned is the outsider who doesn't know a humpy from a herring. Don't pretend like you know more than you do, and avoid using too much fisherman slang or you'll end up sounding like a
fool—and being dismissed as one. Review our descriptions of the various fishing techniques and, if you have time, do a bit more research on the areas that interest you.
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