How do I go about getting a job working on an Alaskan fishing boat?

Question

I would like to work on an Alaskan fishing boat but don't know how to go about getting into the business. I'm a hard worker and have worked in an industry where i was on call 24hrs a day for 6-7 days a week for the past 7 years. I would like to know if there is a way to get information or contacts to get into the commercial fishing industry in Alaska.

The 24hr 6 day a week job i was speaking of was working in the towing industry in the Mojave desert. There aren't a lot of people that can work 36 hrs straight in temperatures that hit 125 F + every summer. It's not so much that as it is that I have a lot of heart. I don't want to do this for the money(i would be lying if i said that the money wouldn't be nice) but I want to do it to challenge myself. To be able to step off of one of those boats and say that I did something that not many people can do or would even try to do. I have always pushed myself and this seems like a good opportunity.

Answer 1

Try this site out, often they post job for fishing boats, and sometimes for onshore help, but those people tend to work their way on to the boats. Good Luck...BTW its cold as hell here in AK. but the summers are awesome.

http://www.alaskajobfinder.com/

Answer 2

The state of Alaska has a page dedicated to seafood jobs in the state. The URL is:

http://www.labor.state.ak.us/esd_alaska_...

In that page, there is a section on fishing jobs. Read this to learn about the industry and how to avoid getting scammed.

They have some job listings on the web page. The State of Alaska also has regional job centers and seafood contacts at each center (on the bottom of the fishing page if I recall). They only have addresses, but I think if you look up the job center phone numbers on the state of Alaska page, you can probably find these people. Call each of these people up and see what they can do for you!

If you are a gambling type person, you can get a job at a seafood processing plant and see if you can talk to the incoming captains and try to get on a boat. The seafood processing jobs tend to be about the crappiest job you can get from what I hear.

Fishing jobs tend to be hard to come by. Since the Discovery Channel started the Deadliest Catch, a lot of people have been drawn by the potential for riches.

Working on a fishing boat isn't like it is on TV. It is extremely taxing both mentally and physically. Being on call for 24 hours a day for 6 or 7 days a week isn't the same as working for 20 hours a day for a week straight (to be fair to you, it depends on what you do for a living). When you get out on that open ocean and you realize that there is no one else out there and if something goes wrong, you are on your own, it is very tough mentally.

If you do get a job or decide to go to Alaska, make sure you have a way back home. Alaska is an expensive place to live and there are not many good paying jobs. Chances are you won't make it there. Save some money to get back home or have a willing family member be ready to bail you out.

Good luck!!

Answer 3

Go there, meet people and ask questions on how/where to get a job on a fishing boat.

Answer 4

look in yahoo yellow pages
first look up zip codes for cities,towns on the coast

then put that zip in the yellow pages of yahoo and type in fishing or boats you may have to look around

it will give you #'s and addy

you can also google alaska newspapers
and look in the classified ads

Answer 5

Fishing is great hobby