Alaskan Camper Rentals

Have you ever worked on a fishing boat in Alaska?

If so, what was it like and do you have any good stories to tell? Would you do it again? Why or why not?

Public Comments

1. I didn't, but my cousin did a few years back. He worked in the kitchen and made about $18,000 in 2 months.

2. Worked on my Dads boats in AK., sorry but don't have any real good stories, mainly because at the time I was in my teens, so a lot of it be somewhat vague (hittin' 61 years now). I can tell ya' it was quite a bit of work. Deck handed on Seiners mostly, however worked smaller vessels ie., Gillnetters and Trollers (these be all for Salmon). Would I do it again? You bet ;) ;)! Only thing bout' it now is, "The old bones don't bend like they use ta' ~ they just break" (an old man's favorite sayin ~ my own ;) ). Loved workin' them but, at times it could get hectic what with the old man and all. A family indirectly asks just a bit more than say they would with a hired hand.

If your tossin' the idea around bout' tryin' your hand ~ the monies are good providin' your with a good Skipper, he knows what he be doin' (not enough knowledge = no catch), along with the sea, weather and the catch cooperatin' it'll be worth it!! It can be unpredictable as H _ _ L at times but personally I enjoyed it. Again it'll put workin' skills to the test but, if one really has it in their mind, then the body will follow suit ;) ;)... < ' ( (( > <

Note: I do have a story for ya', however it ain't a funny one and it wasn't on one of the Commercial boats. Old man and I were fishin' Salmon on a small 20' Cabin Cruiser in Gastineau Channel (Juneau AK.) and I hung about a 20' Halibut (was bottom jiggin' at the time), got the "puppy-dog" (Halibut) up to the side of the vessel, old man grabbed the sawed off "Baseball Bat Gaff", gaffed him and pulled it up into the hull of the boat. So with that thing slappin' ALL over the place, I decided to be a show off (complete A _ _ was more like it !X!%!!), snatched up some heavy duty pliers and proceded ta' yank the hook out ~ WRONG (think it was a 6/0 hook?)!!! Somehow that hook went through my right thumb and out the nail. Needless ta' say ~ I PASSED OUT!! When I came to the old man had cut the Barb off and pulled it out.

By the way, did NOT hear the end of that D _ _ n fishin' trip!! Might add that when I came to my thumb was multi-bandged and all the old man did was laugh his you know what off! Oh' yes, while he was headin' us back to Douglas Island he pointed out ta' me, "Make sure you add direct pressure to that thumb of yours ~ don't want ya' bleedin' to death on me"! True story but, ennnnnnd of it ;)...

3. I live in Alaska's Panhandle and know lots of fishermen here that fish for a living. And Fishsteelhead gave you a very good answer. And he has lots of experiance here in that area.

4. Watch Deadlist Catch on the Discovery Channel.