Alaskan Crab Fishing

[Shibby]

I've been watching a show on the dicovery channel called "The Deadliest Catch". The show deems it as the most dangerous job. Depending on how much crab they took in for the King Crab season (that just finished on the show), the deck hands made between 7K and 16K, for about 72 hours of work. Anyone have an first hand expierience or known someone who has? What is there take on the job?

[hlcn8]

i know several people who've done it, they took in over 10K for it. there are stories of ships having huge catches and the crew members taking in 100K in a season, but that's like one every 10 years, for only 1 crew that happens to be in the right place at the right time. still, it's a powerful emotional draw for everyone who risks doing this. i saw part of one episode where the guy walks out on the crab-trap to retrieve one last one hanging on to the edge, which is indicative of the lure of the money simply because that is such an incredibly risky and dumb thing to do. they do wear special suits that supposedly allow them to survive longer if they're thrown overboard, but can you imagine finding and retrieving someone in that choppy water, at night? a lot of people die doing that job... and king crab are some UGLY motherfuckers :)

[Shibby]

The money is very tempting. It makes me think about buying a plane ticket and going out there for the seasons.

[bad14u]

Originally posted by hlcn8
they do wear special suits that supposedly allow them to survive longer if they're thrown overboard,

They don't wear the suits all the time! The suits are on board in case the boat starts to sink or is capsized and they have to be able to put it on in like 11 seconds. If they are taken overboard by a wave when crabbing they are SOL! Very dangerous job, IMO, you have to be very alert at all times and when you are sleep deprived that is hard to do!

[beefcake]

You'd be better off welding on the pipeline instead.

[Shibby]

Originally posted by beefcake
You'd be better off welding on the pipeline instead.

Ok, for the manual labor uninclined, what is that?

[Scrumhalf]

There is a great book that talks about this. It is called "Working on the Edge : Surviving In the World's Most Dangerous Profession: King Crab Fishing on Alaska's HighSeas" by Spike Walker.

You should be able to find it in your school/city library, or order from Amazon - see link below.

http://tinyurl.com/72fox


This is a great book that deals with all the aspects of commercial fishing in the Bering Sea. You get a percentage of the catch, so if you have a poor trip, you get very little for your trouble. Also, it is backbreaking dangerous work, but if you strike the mother lode, you can make a lot of money.

To work in the industry as a deck hand (not skipper), you have to be young and strong (which you are), and be willing to take a nontrivial chance of not making it back alive (only you know if you are in that camp or not).

[beefcake]

Originally posted by Shibby
Ok, for the manual labor uninclined, what is that?

If you're a certified metal welder, you can apply to work on the alaskan oil pipeline. I heard it's like $50-$60 an hour. Not as much as the crab fishing, but much safer. Not sure if it justifies moving to alaska though either.

[Bouncer]

Me and sana watch it too. Good show.

[Shibby]

"Sana and I" :P

[Bouncer]

Originally posted by Shibby
"Sana and I" :P

I list me first because im the king. :D

[beefcake]

Originally posted by THE BOUNCER
Me and sana watch it too. Good show.

I notice she hasn't been on here lately.

[Shibby]

Originally posted by THE BOUNCER
I list me first because im the king. :D

George Bush pretty much is too, so was Bill Clinton, what's your point :)

[phatchopper]

Moving to alaska might not be that bad for while, could really clear your head out there. Or lose your mind depending on how you take it

[BBAddict]

I suppose a salary of 50-60/hr goes a lot further in Alaska than here. That really isn't that great a salary in most cities.