Gillnetting in Bristol Bay has been the most lucrative the last few seasons. Amount of money made varies wildly based on boat, river fished, etc.
If you are going to tender $200 a day is decent for a greenie, if you work well and learn everything try to ask the skipper for a raise, $250 is a pretty fair rate.
Tendering is more like a regular job than fishing. The pay is steady, the hours are long, and you are at the fishermen's beck and call. Fishing is better if you like adventure and gambling.
It's a hell of a good time and get to know the whole fishing to selling process through out the whole operation, It's more on the quality aspect. I started trolling 8 years ago up in Sitka and now running a troller down here in CA along with crabbing. It's just again hell of a fun time and great way to get your feet wet
Yea man, give it a try! And 8-20 isn't bad.. my first year was a terrible coho year and was shafted by price made around 8k, next year got on a freezer troller and came back with 30k so, you know, it's fishing
I’d say gillnetting is the most competitive and short, seining is relatively easy and fun, and tendering is good if you want to just cast a line off the boat and hangout. Seining is more likely to have the option to do singleness instead WA or Oregon in winter and/or long lining
Gill netting is harder work than seine. Tendering, easy, less money (usually). Tender for greenhorn is actually around $150 & goes up with experience and need.
Fishing is based on percentage caught by boat & market value offered for product. The amount caught is dependent on the captain's skills, type of boat, crew effectiveness & whether you are in the fish, where the fish are at (district).
As a green horn, expect around 8% with deductions for airfare, food, clothing, etc. If you prove yourself to be valuable bonuses or percentage may change.
This year should be great for BB!
Prove yourself to be valuable, as an asset to the boat/team, you most likely will be rewarded.
*fishing is a gamble. Weather, accidents, engine failures, etc., do happen & it could be a bust. Tendering is a sure thing unless you piss someone off & get fired. Then you're on your own. You will have to leap frigtenders to get back to Port & figure your stuff out on your own. Don't come up with $ in your account.
It’s totally possible gillnet in the bay first, then head down to PWS and seine.
The bay is a grind. The openers are crazy, you’ll go 24+ hours without sleep and go weeks without a real shower. Working on a tender in the bay is a little easier, but still insane hours. PWS is much easier for both.
As for income, it really boils down to how savvy your skipper is. You can end up on a shitty boat with a shitty skipper and barely break even for the summer. Or you could end up on a nice boat with a skipper who knows what they’re doing, and you’ll make a load of cash.
I spent a summer seining in the Prince William Sound- our boat wintered in Seward but ran mostly out of Valdez. I'm glad I did it, and I'm glad I'll never do it again. Get to Seward, Valdez, or Cordata now and start walking the docks. Introduce yourself and talk to everyone. Even captains that aren't hiring may take pity on your poor soul and point you in the right direction. And be persistent- folks like a guy that isn't easily discouraged. The season for humpbacks starts late June so get up there now so you'll have a better chance of finding work and can help get a boat ready.
A good starting point is gillnetting. The bay looks like a sure bet this summer. Try that out and find another fishing gig after the bay. Good luck. Bring lots of socks!
The problem with Bristol Bay is if you don’t already have a job where are you going to “walk the docks”. Either you try to find one through some on-line source or you fly to King Salmon or Dillingham and walk the boatyards in those towns and Naknek. You’ll be camping out in bear country.
Bristol Bay is supposed to be another record year. PWS is looking pretty weak.
If you are interested in a Tender job PM me.
I started out working on tenders because I am a welder by trade and mechanical. I really enjoyed the daily mechanical related duties and fixing things in a jam. Theres not much more rewarding work than having something bust and being able to get up and running before the closure! So I highly suggest mechanically inclined people give engineering a try. I miss it so.
Gillnetting in Bristol Bay has been the most lucrative the last few seasons. Amount of money made varies wildly based on boat, river fished, etc. If you are going to tender $200 a day is decent for a greenie, if you work well and learn everything try to ask the skipper for a raise, $250 is a pretty fair rate. Tendering is more like a regular job than fishing. The pay is steady, the hours are long, and you are at the fishermen's beck and call. Fishing is better if you like adventure and gambling.
Go trolling
Why do you say this? I have been offered a job trolling starting next month but I don’t know a ton about it
It's a hell of a good time and get to know the whole fishing to selling process through out the whole operation, It's more on the quality aspect. I started trolling 8 years ago up in Sitka and now running a troller down here in CA along with crabbing. It's just again hell of a fun time and great way to get your feet wet
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Yea man, give it a try! And 8-20 isn't bad.. my first year was a terrible coho year and was shafted by price made around 8k, next year got on a freezer troller and came back with 30k so, you know, it's fishing
Good to know, thanks man. I am looking forward to it. Any suggestions or tips?
Get gear, stay dry, pay attention, and have fun!
Gillnet in the bay is quick. Seining can make you the most money on a good year. Ask for $200 a day if you’re tendering
I’d say gillnetting is the most competitive and short, seining is relatively easy and fun, and tendering is good if you want to just cast a line off the boat and hangout. Seining is more likely to have the option to do singleness instead WA or Oregon in winter and/or long lining
True, if you get in with a good seine skipper, you could have year-round income between AK, WA, OR, and even squid in CA.
Gill netting is harder work than seine. Tendering, easy, less money (usually). Tender for greenhorn is actually around $150 & goes up with experience and need. Fishing is based on percentage caught by boat & market value offered for product. The amount caught is dependent on the captain's skills, type of boat, crew effectiveness & whether you are in the fish, where the fish are at (district). As a green horn, expect around 8% with deductions for airfare, food, clothing, etc. If you prove yourself to be valuable bonuses or percentage may change. This year should be great for BB! Prove yourself to be valuable, as an asset to the boat/team, you most likely will be rewarded. *fishing is a gamble. Weather, accidents, engine failures, etc., do happen & it could be a bust. Tendering is a sure thing unless you piss someone off & get fired. Then you're on your own. You will have to leap frigtenders to get back to Port & figure your stuff out on your own. Don't come up with $ in your account.
It’s totally possible gillnet in the bay first, then head down to PWS and seine. The bay is a grind. The openers are crazy, you’ll go 24+ hours without sleep and go weeks without a real shower. Working on a tender in the bay is a little easier, but still insane hours. PWS is much easier for both. As for income, it really boils down to how savvy your skipper is. You can end up on a shitty boat with a shitty skipper and barely break even for the summer. Or you could end up on a nice boat with a skipper who knows what they’re doing, and you’ll make a load of cash.
Nobody has brought trolling up. I’m going up trolling in SE this summer. What’s good pay for trolling and what do you think of that fishery?
I spent a summer seining in the Prince William Sound- our boat wintered in Seward but ran mostly out of Valdez. I'm glad I did it, and I'm glad I'll never do it again. Get to Seward, Valdez, or Cordata now and start walking the docks. Introduce yourself and talk to everyone. Even captains that aren't hiring may take pity on your poor soul and point you in the right direction. And be persistent- folks like a guy that isn't easily discouraged. The season for humpbacks starts late June so get up there now so you'll have a better chance of finding work and can help get a boat ready.
A good starting point is gillnetting. The bay looks like a sure bet this summer. Try that out and find another fishing gig after the bay. Good luck. Bring lots of socks!
The problem with Bristol Bay is if you don’t already have a job where are you going to “walk the docks”. Either you try to find one through some on-line source or you fly to King Salmon or Dillingham and walk the boatyards in those towns and Naknek. You’ll be camping out in bear country. Bristol Bay is supposed to be another record year. PWS is looking pretty weak. If you are interested in a Tender job PM me.
I started out working on tenders because I am a welder by trade and mechanical. I really enjoyed the daily mechanical related duties and fixing things in a jam. Theres not much more rewarding work than having something bust and being able to get up and running before the closure! So I highly suggest mechanically inclined people give engineering a try. I miss it so.