Lobster Fishing Jobs?

[Watson]

Hi.I was wondering how to get into the lobster fishing business?Im not looking for any of the big multi crew operations,but instead a 2-3 man operation on a smaller boat.Anyone out there know how one could go about getting a job?
Im 31 and live on the west coast,but would relocate for work.Thanks

 

[lobstercatcher]

I'm pretty sure you have the wrong idea what the majority of lobsterboats can pay. Where the boats do well, the help is probably family or very close friends.

 

[soldsoul4foos]

And if the boat doesn't do well, I wouldn't move to the cold climate for it.

 

[wildcard]

Hate to sound like a kill-joy but let me give you some solid advice as someone who has been there. don't do it.

I worked for some great boats during some real boom years and had a hard time supporting myself at 23, never mind 31 and I didn't have to worry about health insurance, car paymets, mortgage or anything really. Better off picking it up as a hobby if you have to scratch that itch.

 

[soldsoul4foos]

You mean every boat isn't like on 'Lobster Wars' ?

 

[Watson]

Hate to sound like a kill-joy but let me give you some solid advice as someone who is been there. don't do it.

I worked for some great boats during some real boom years and had a hard time supporting myself at 23, never mind 31 and I didn't have to worry about health insurance, car paymets, mortgage or anything really. Better off picking it up as a hobby if you have to scratch that itch.

Thanks.Appreciate the advice.Honestly I dont really have an "itch" for it.Its just the job market in all areas is so bad,that Im simply trying to think outside the box.So Ill scratch this one off my "out of the box" list.Thanks again

 

[wildcard]

hahaha... i know right? The best part was the crew settlement part at the end of the segments " .... each crew man earned ~$4500". They paint it like every week's paycheck is that big.

What they don't account for are the trips that were complete brokers, weeks spent on gear work for no cash, weeks in the boat yard for no cash, weeks tied at the dock because of bad weather for no cash, and the fact that 90% of the guys still haven't paid off the IRS from the past season (or the one before that or the one before that), because the spent every nickle they made.

 

[soldsoul4foos]

Right. The tv viewers must be thinking as the episodes ending...'why are these guys driving 16 year old pick up trucks?'. Because the skipper just gave them 5k, and they only have 2 days off, to make another 5k the next week. LOL.

 

[steveinak]

head up to Seattle and see if you can get on a Alaskan boat or there are a couple of websites listing ak fishing jobs. I used to lobster/gillnet back east, owned my own rig and did good but i went to Fish Expo in Seattle back in '81 or so, liked what i saw & found a job on a Bristol Bay gillnetter in ''83 and never looked back, Alaska has been VERY good to me.

 

[El Mar]

Hey Steve, at the risk of sounding like a star struck teen, do you ever see any of the Deadliest Catch boats around your way or are they fishing a totally different area??

 

[RKrough]

Thanks.Appreciate the advice.Honestly I dont really have an "itch" for it.Its just the job market in all areas is so bad,that Im simply trying to think outside the box.So Ill scratch this one off my "out of the box" list.Thanks again

If you are young and can relocate look at the upper plains states (montana Nebraska, both Dakotas) I'm told there is a lot of gas and oil drilling going on. Hard-ass work but it pays better than most anything else short of a law degree. I know of two people who have gone out there in the past year and found good paying work.

BTW; If you are single I hear those midwest farmer's daughters will make you feel alright

 

[steveinak]

Hey Steve, at the risk of sounding like a star struck teen, do you ever see any of the Deadliest Catch boats around your way or are they fishing a totally different area??

Over the years i've unloaded fish on some of them when they were working as salmon tenders. Usually the crew that crabs isn't on the boat in the summer. Those boats have to work all year to earn their keep. You wouldn't want their shipyard bills !!
These guys were tending one fall in Prince William Sound where i fished.



this one belongs to a friends brother

 

[steveinak]

If you are young and can relocate look at the upper plains states (montana Nebraska, both Dakotas) I'm told there is a lot of gas and oil drilling going on. Hard-ass work but it pays better than most anything else short of a law degree. I know of two people who have gone out there in the past year and found good paying work.

BTW; If you are single I hear those midwest farmer's daughters will make you feel alright

They are paying 15 bucks a hour for McDonald's help in North Dakota !! and can't get anyone to fill the openings. They had a piece on the news here about the oil boom down there, truck drivers were making 70-80K a year.

 

[duxbait]

They had a piece on the news here about the oil boom down there, truck drivers were making 70-80K a year.

You know your far north when N Dakota is "Down There".

 

[CaptDave]

I agree with Steve, consider Alaksa fishing in the summer for salmon or longlining for halibut and sablefish. Then depending on your marital situation, pull stakes and head down South to HI or FL and either commercial fish or get on a boat as a mate. Earn your Captain's license adn open a few more doors. The fishing business is tough in New England and right now not many people are even aware of it but we have a guy here named Mad Max a whale nut who is trying to get it on the fall ballot to eliminate all fixed fishing gear in Massachusetts including lobster gear to protect the whales.

Someone out in western Mass will read it as remove all fixwd fishing gear to protect whales, yeah I'll vote for that. Look in the AK area and be RELENTLESS.

Good Luck,

Dave