I've heard that Alaska has excellent paying jobs for seasonal work in the fishing business. Apparently, lots of people go up there for the summer, make like $20k+ in a few months then come back home. Has anybody done this before of know of anybody that has?

I've looked around at some of the jobs that are available and while most of them talk about the great money opportunities during the fishing seasons, I've seen pay starting at just over $7 an hour. That's not really an opportunity. Of course, I assume the greater risk jobs pay the most, but I don't know how to go about looking for them. Anyhow, input would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

Yea a buddy of mine went up for about 4 months. He came back with roughy 34k and doubled in size. I guess from what he said you are on the boat...a big f'n boat for about 15hours a day. The water is cold and the swells ridiculous. Also the place they roomed at was nothing close to special.

 

I'm guessing you mean he doubled in size as far as muscle right? Or did he eat a lot of fish?

I'm pretty sure most of the time it's very cold and uncomfortable. Did he think it was worth it?

 

Dude, that is the most dangerous job in the world, something like 1 in 20 die.

Ya the monies good, but at what risk? Hell rob a bank for millions, at least then you'll live, That seems like a better risk-reward to me.

 

robbing banks seems like less than 1/20 chance of living to me.

maybe I watch too much "Cops" on Fox?

 

Well, the crab guys have it the worst. That's what all the shows get made about. Salmon season is during the summer and a lot of college kids go up there. Having the deck job is obviously the most dangerous one, but there are tons of other jobs onboard and onshore that can pay just as much.

 

I'm not trying to come across as preachy, just wanted to point out that it's no paper route.

 

These are extremely dangerous and uncontrolled jobs. You income will likely change based on the seasons productivity as well.

These are often jobs where if you screw up, you die. If you have a family and career this doesnt seem like a very prudent option.

 

Commercial fishing pay is based solely on the catch, you get shares based on experience. Salmon season is very limited (limited by tonnage for the whole fishing fleet) the same goes for crab fishing, and a lot of times people won't hire someone without experience. I commercial fished off the Carolinas in the late seventies for two years, in that time I knew of at least one boat sinking, losing the crew, another boat taken by piracy. A friend of mine lost a leg in an instant on a shrimp boat, another almost died from fish poisoning.

 

I know a guy who back in the 80's hired on out of Vancouver for fishing. Great stories about hells angles parties on vacant islands, anchors and people just ... missing.