King Crab Fishing Jobs

Fishing is carried out throughout the year in Alaska. There are many job opportunities available, one can apply to work either on the fishing boats or in the canneries. There are employers who even provide the employees with lodging, boarding and travel allowance to Alaska.

King crab fishing is one of the most lucrative jobs in Alaska. There are three kinds of crabs that are commercially fished, namely, Alaskan king, tanner and Dungeness. King crab is one of the most favorite seafood. The king crab fishing season is short, during which many people earn large paychecks in just a few weeks.

It is not easy to find employment in the areas, where Alaskan crab fishing takes place. There are many dangers involved such as terrible weather, and a cut-throat competition among the fishers to get the highest number of crabs. The waters are icy cold and the fishermen have to brave hypothermia and rough sea conditions. Inexperienced or freshmen in this field rarely get a chance to work as a crab catcher. The jobs available for such candidates are as a deckhand or a salmon fisher in the trawls. Once a newcomer gains ample experience as a salmon catcher, he can go crab fishing in the winter months. During the winter, the catches are small and there is less competition in the water. This helps the freshmen gain experience and confidence as a king crab fisher.

If one has successfully fished for crabs in winter, he becomes eligible for king crab fishing jobs. The fishing boats are 100 feet to 150 feet long. Crabs are caught using the large steel pots, which are 7' x 7' x 3' in size and weigh around 700 pounds. They are baited with a combination of herring, cod or salmon. The baits are lowered to the ocean floor with the help of hydraulic launchers and retrieved back with the help of hydraulic winches.

Legally one can only fish male king crabs. The females and juveniles have to be tossed back into the sea. The working hours are long as the king crab season is just two to four weeks long.

The newcomers on the ship are called deckhands or greenhorns. The deckhand is supposed to load and unload the supplies and the fishing equipment. They prepare and set the nets and equipment needed for fishing. They also have to remove the catch from the baits, measure and sort them and toss the crabs which do not meet the regulations. They also need to pack the catch on ice and salt. The cleaning of the boat and the fishing equipment is also done by the deck hands.

In order to get a job as king crab fisher, you need to be physically and mentally strong. You need to have strength to endure rough weather. You also need to remain alert at all times. This job involves working for the whole day, when there is a good catch or if the season is very short.

The payment for king crab fishing jobs is based on the share or percentage of the harvest earnings. The operating expenses, the owner's and captain's share is deducted and the remainder is divided among the crab fisherman and deck hands. In a good season, you can earn around thousands of dollars a month.

King crab fishing is not like an ordinary fishing. It involves a great deal of patience and nerves of steel. If you think that you have the guts to face the extreme weather and long working hours, then king crab fishing is the perfect job for you.