Posted on 01/14/2017 12:13:03 PM PST by PROCON
Anyone here ever work in the Alaskan Fisheries in one capacity or another?
My 20 year old son, in his 2nd year of College, has been happy working as an Asst. Produce Mgr. in a local grocery store during school summer breaks, but it doesn't pay much for a poor college student.
I've had old friends over the years work in these fisheries for 2-3 months during the late Spring/Summer and bring home a slew of money.
They'd work 12-14 hours a day, 6-7 days a week gutting and cleaning salmon on the "slime lines". Room and board is provided so you don't spend a lot of money.
This was 30+ years ago and I've lost contact with them.
I've been googling Alaskan fisheries jobs and there's a lot of info to go thru.
So I'm asking if anyone has some inside information or recommendations for a job up there to give to my son, it would be appreciated.
Heading out for awhile, be back later to respond.
Thanks again!
Probably should speak spanish.
My son worked on a small individually own fishing boat for two summers. Lesson don’t work on large commercial ships. His friend last his life
Hard work. Many lessons learned not a big income when you subtract transportation and cost of living.
Its not worth it honestly, cold, wet, on a ship in the Bering Sea, long hours, not that high paying, its basically a dreamer job. “Oh i want to work in Alaska!”
I’ve lived in Alaska for 25 years, you want a good paying job?
Be a dental assistant.
Or drive a concrete mixer.
Direct your question to Hillary Clinton. She learned to gut fish in a cannery in Alaska.
Did a couple seasons in the mid 80’s. Everything depends entirely on what type of boat he’s on. Processors suck, but you know what you will make based on hours worked. Catcher/processors are better as you get a percentage of product caught. Most people start on processors as the better boats used to be be hard to get on. Type of people you meet are hard working regardless of where they are from. I respect any of them more than a house full of Fratboys. looking back, I’m glad I did it. Gives you a certain backbone and perspective. it wasn’t easy and neither is life.
Que huebonaso es ud.
ck private reply
He should work for one of the Alaska Trail Breakers, it likely is going to be a better experience for him
Gets him out in nature and he will save all his money and not be subjected to the temptations present in the fish industry processing centers.
my 2 cents
My younger brother is a chef (he went to culinary school). If your son can cook, have him try and get a job as a cook. If he’s a good one, he’ll always have a job. Jess has been doing it for years, and they love him. Plus, you get to stay in your warm, comfy kitchen all day, instead of freezing his butt off on the line. He worked/works for Blue North Fisheries based in Seattle. Always got a percentage of the catch, and would sometimes walk off the boat after 3 months with anywhere from 20-30 grand. The catch, tho, with being the cook is that you cook EVERYDAY, even when heading out of Seattle to Alaska and back, when the rest of the crew isn’t doing much. However, if you can do more than just hamburgers and hotdogs, and can handle 20 foot waves, you’re good to go. You need to know some tricks, tho, like duct-taping the oven door shut so your turkey doesn’t go shooting across the room because of a wave!
Westward Seafoods. Dutch Harbor. Saw it on Craigslist.
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