For regular readers of Pontoonopedia you will know how fascinated I am with the Deadliest Catch TV series based in Alaska. I love the show and have always wondered how the greenhorns and crew get the jobs on the crab boats in the first place. Is there an interview process, what qualifications do you need, is experience necessary and so on?
How to get a job on a crab boat in Alaska
Crab fishing in Alaska is one of the most dangerous jobs in America and the fatalities surrounding crab fishing is quite staggering; statistics showing that there are about 300 deaths per 100,000. It’s a scary job for sure.
Most of these fatalities are due to hypothermia or drowning! This made me wonder, if being a greenhorn is so dangerous, you would probably make a killing salary-wise.
If that hasn’t put you off, and you would like to know how to get a job on a North-western or Alaska crab boat then I’ve done the research for you.
Getting a job on a crab boat can be lucrative, but dangerous!
Surprisingly, you don’t need much experience to get a job on a crab boat. If you already have some deck experience, love sea fishing and have a spirit of adventure, then you could become a greenhorn.
In most cases though it’s all about who you know more than what you know.
Many crab boats are family-run so the captains will tend to hire people that they already know or who have been recommended.
The reason being is that crab fishing can be really dangerous. Captains need to know that whoever it is that they hire, will not freak out when the seas get rough.
Deck experience is also a plus because the captain will know that you can handle being out at sea and all the dangers that go along with it. Most greenhorns learn their experience on the job, though, as there is no official training to become a greenhorn.
How to find a job on a crab boat a greenhorn
Finding a job as a crab boat greenhorn isn’t as hard as it might seem. Captains hire greenhorns all the time. But as suggested by job centers in Alaska, you could visit bars or the docks where captains and deckhands hang out. You could ask around and find out if anyone is looking for a greenhorn.
Another option is to have a look online to see if you can find any jobs available.
If you are not keen on going halfway across the world to Alaska, perhaps have a look at the docks near where you stay and ask around if people know of anyone who is hiring greenhorns.
What does a greenhorn do exactly?
A greenhorn is basically the newbie when it comes to crab fishing. Greenhorns are at the bottom of the work scale on a crab ship. They are basically the “apprentices” who will have to work their way up to deckhand. The word greenhorn is even used to describe someone who doesn’t really have experience in a new trade.
The word greenhorn use to refer to an animal with “green” or young horns. Therefore a greenhorn on a crab boat could have little to no experience whilst working onboard a crab boat. They could still be learning the ropes as it were.
Many greenhorns apparently quit after the first trip, as crab fishing is really dangerous as well as stressful. Greenhorns work 15 hour days, 7 days a week for sometimes 3 months or more. A greenhorn will stay out at sea until the crab quota has been caught.
A greenhorn’s duties could be anything really, from stacking the corks when they haul gear to set up the deck for fishing. They might also be responsible for preseason work, that means getting everything ready to go out at sea.
If you decide to get a job on a crab boat as a greenhorn, you will probably have the worst jobs on deck, for example preparing the bait.
Life on board a crab boat will be tough for a greenhorn, and how much money they make will depend on multiple factors. Do you still want to get a job on a crab boat given what you now know?
This job isn’t for those who have weak stomachs as it compromises of cutting up hundreds of dead fish. You can imagine the smell. You will also be required to chop ice off the boat rails. This is important as ice could weigh the boat down.
You would have to perform all of these tasks while the boat is see-sawing up and down through the waves in freezing weather.
Remember you work 15 or more hours in a day, the amount of sleep you get is very little, therefore you need to be able to be mentally prepared and alert to perform dangerous tasks on lack of sleep.
Also, be prepared for good-natured hazing. You might have to bite a dead herring’s head off to make sure that you have a successful season, which is all part of the fun and tradition of being a greenhorn!
What salaries do greenhorns make?
A crab boat greenhorn doesn’t make as much money as a deckhand (see deckhand salaries from the Deadliest Catch) or as a captain, but they can still make a lot of money. For example, a greenhorn makes between 6 and 8% of the crab haul. So on smaller crab boats, you might not bring in a big haul.
Therefore you salary might be about $6,000 US dollars on a trip or maybe even less depending on the haul. Sometimes though, on the most successful crab fishing boats, your haul could amount to millions of dollars, so you can imagine 6 or 8 percent of that.
A greenhorn will have to pay though for his gear, food and fishing license in advance, so this will reduce the amount of money that you will make.
For more information on greenhorn salaries check out this blog post on how much greenhorns can make crab fishing.
What type of person would suit a job o a crab boat as a greenhorn?
If you love adventure, danger and being out at sea, being a greenhorn might just be for you. People who enjoy being greenhorns are usually fearless. They love being away for months at sea and revel in danger.
A lot of the time though, people are drawn to crab boat fishing for the money, not necessarily the adventure.
You would also need a positive attitude. So when things get tough, you will be able to keep your wits about you.
As mentioned earlier, many greenhorns quit after their first trip. Being a greenhorn is not the easiest of jobs. You can imagine being out at sea for months can’t be easy. You are also constantly with your crew members, so the amount of privacy you will have will be minimum.
Can only men be greenhorns?
Women have also been used as greenhorns on board. So if you are a woman looking for a new challenge and love the sea, you could also apply to be a greenhorn. Many skippers have been known to hire women in recent years.
What happens if a greenhorn can’t handle the job?
What happens though if you are out at sea and you realize that you can’t handle the job? Maybe the seasickness is unbearable, or you realise that the job is too dangerous? If this is the case, unfortunately, you can’t just walk off the boat, because you are stuck out in the middle of the sea.
If things are really bad, the captain might have to then return to the harbor for the greenhorn to get off the ship.
Remember severe seasickness can cause rapid dehydration (can you die from seasickness?) and you might need medical assistance. A ship will only return to dock though if the situation is dire.
So if you would like to become a greenhorn, you have to really think things through.
What other positives are there to being a greenhorn?
Besides the money, you will also get to experience nature at its best. Imagine being able to be out in the Berian sea, all the marine life you will be able to see. Alaska is also incredibly beautiful. On your time off, you could look forward to kayaking or hiking in Alaska.
One greenhorn I saw interviewed on YouTube spoke about the camaraderie on board being amazing. He has made friends for life.
Why not start your own crab fishing business?
If you can’t get a job as a greenhorn on a crab boat in Alaska, then you could start up your own crab fishing business. It won’t be cheap, and you will need to get a decent boat with all the gear and crew – plus insurance and licenses.
I’ve put together a guide which tells you how much a crab boat costs so you know what to expect should this be the route you wish to take.
The last word…
In conclusion, being a greenhorn isn’t for everyone, but if your soul craves adventure and danger this job could be for you. Anyone could become a greenhorn. If your willing to learn, work hard and never give up, then this adventurous job could be yours.
Now you know how to get a job on a crab boat, think very carefully about whether it’s going to be the right type of career for you.
Recommended reading
I love Deadliest Catch and when not trying to figure out how you can get a job on a crab boat with no experience, I also regularly blog about other aspects to this awesome topic. You can read some of the best pieces of content below.
