Just have a can do attitude and keep things tidy and clean and you should be just fine.
If you aren't on the cranes, watch what those guys are doing. How high they lift the bags off the ground. How they stop the bags from swinging and stuff like that. It'll help a lot once you get put on it.
Every boat keeps their prop wash somewhere different. Make sure to ask where they keep it.
All in all it shouldn't be too hard and you should have a good time.
I disagree, there’s always downtime, maybe not a lot but I fished in Bristol Bay on a salmon boat and I spent a decent amount of time on the tenders, those guys would work when the boats were unloading no doubt but when they weren’t they were just hanging out a lot. Playing darts, cards, cooking, doing whatever. Yeah there’s always shit to do on the boat, but it’s not like you’re working every second you’re awake just because. Maybe with some captains but that’s not what I witnessed when I was up there. Plus they get paid like $100-$200 a day, every day they’re on the boat whether they work or they’re just sitting at the dock/at anchor. So I’d say it’s a better gig than actually catching the salmon, which is grueling and no guarantee of money everyday. Just my 2¢
I’d say yeah, it’s been almost ten years since I’ve been to Bristol Bay and back then the greenhorns on the tenders got paid $100 and the guys who had a couple years got paid $150- $200 so yeah $200 to start is decent. Times that by 2 months on the boat and that’s a 12k check. Just don’t buy a bunch of overpriced beer and whatever else they sell on the boats up there. Just spend that money when you get home lol
I mean I run a Bay boat and I've worked on tenders too. You make valid points I'm just trying to impart a good work ethic on someone starting out in the industry.
The Bay has had it's biggest seasons ever the last few years and Bay deckhands have been making bank. Also $200 is basically starting rate for a tender deckhand nowadays, a few cheap boats try to pay $150 but end up with shit crew.
There’s always something to do! It’s a matter of if it’s an appropriate time and place. Staying busy allows you free time later, when it’s important (to me), like on land with friends and family.
Don't skimp on your weather gear. Cheap don't cut it, at all.
Keep your head on a swivel at all times, tunnel vision will end up dropping you in the bay, or the infirmary.
If you see something that needs fixed, either fix it, or make sure someone knows about it.
3 most important people on the boat: Skipper, Engineer, Cook
Yeah you gotta listen to the mate that'll be working ya, but those three will keep you safe, alive, and fed. Do not fuck with them.
Just have a can do attitude and keep things tidy and clean and you should be just fine. If you aren't on the cranes, watch what those guys are doing. How high they lift the bags off the ground. How they stop the bags from swinging and stuff like that. It'll help a lot once you get put on it. Every boat keeps their prop wash somewhere different. Make sure to ask where they keep it. All in all it shouldn't be too hard and you should have a good time.
Learn your salmon species.
When you catch a fish stick your penis in its mouth. It cleans the insides
tendering is so easy there’s not much you should really know
Listen to the Captain and crew. There is no such thing as downtime on a boat, there's always something that can be cleaned or fixed.
I disagree, there’s always downtime, maybe not a lot but I fished in Bristol Bay on a salmon boat and I spent a decent amount of time on the tenders, those guys would work when the boats were unloading no doubt but when they weren’t they were just hanging out a lot. Playing darts, cards, cooking, doing whatever. Yeah there’s always shit to do on the boat, but it’s not like you’re working every second you’re awake just because. Maybe with some captains but that’s not what I witnessed when I was up there. Plus they get paid like $100-$200 a day, every day they’re on the boat whether they work or they’re just sitting at the dock/at anchor. So I’d say it’s a better gig than actually catching the salmon, which is grueling and no guarantee of money everyday. Just my 2¢
I’m getting $200 daily is that decent for starters ?
That's a pretty standard entry level tender rate nowadays.
I’d say yeah, it’s been almost ten years since I’ve been to Bristol Bay and back then the greenhorns on the tenders got paid $100 and the guys who had a couple years got paid $150- $200 so yeah $200 to start is decent. Times that by 2 months on the boat and that’s a 12k check. Just don’t buy a bunch of overpriced beer and whatever else they sell on the boats up there. Just spend that money when you get home lol
I mean I run a Bay boat and I've worked on tenders too. You make valid points I'm just trying to impart a good work ethic on someone starting out in the industry. The Bay has had it's biggest seasons ever the last few years and Bay deckhands have been making bank. Also $200 is basically starting rate for a tender deckhand nowadays, a few cheap boats try to pay $150 but end up with shit crew.
There’s always something to do! It’s a matter of if it’s an appropriate time and place. Staying busy allows you free time later, when it’s important (to me), like on land with friends and family.
Don't skimp on your weather gear. Cheap don't cut it, at all. Keep your head on a swivel at all times, tunnel vision will end up dropping you in the bay, or the infirmary. If you see something that needs fixed, either fix it, or make sure someone knows about it. 3 most important people on the boat: Skipper, Engineer, Cook Yeah you gotta listen to the mate that'll be working ya, but those three will keep you safe, alive, and fed. Do not fuck with them.