How to Become an Alaskan King Crab Fisherman

dennis and aimee jonez on Flickr

Even before reality shows like Discovery Channel's "Deadliest Catch" popularized the industry, Alaskan king crab fishing was the ultimate commercial fishing job. No other deep sea fishing job in the world offers as much earning revenue as being an Alaskan king crab fisherman. However, because of its sub-Arctic location in the Bering Sea, it is also one of the most dangerous occupations in the world. Becoming an Alaskan king crab fisherman will take time, hard work, resilience, and possibly luck.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Step 1

Move up to Bristol Bay, Alaska, which many Alaskan king crab fishing operations call home. Most fishing jobs on these boats are not advertised, meaning you need to be local, available on a dime's notice, and within earshot of the fishing boats.

Step 2

Try to get a job working as a salmon fisherman or on another type of fishing boat. This will provide income while you wait for a job opening (they can be hard to find) and give you experience fishing the waters of the Bering Sea, which could be a difference-maker when you apply for a king crab fishing job.

Step 3

Apply for a commercial crewmember's license. These cost $60 annually for Alaska residents and $165 annually for non-residents.

Step 4

Apply for a greenhorn position on an Alaskan king crab fishing boat. While experience on another boat will help you get on a crab fishing boat, once you're on the deck, you're a rookie again. Common practice on these boats is that greenhorns work without pay the first fishing trip. If you meet the captain's standards, you will be asked to return and will receive a set percentage of the boat's earnings.

Article Written By Jonathan Croswell

Jonathan Croswell has spent more than five years writing and editing for a number of newspapers and online publications, including the "Omaha World-Herald" and "New York Newsday." Croswell received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Nebraska and is currently pursuing a Master's of Health and Exercise Science at Portland State University.

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