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Just curious...
When someone is interested in working on a boat during the spring/summer/fall fishing season, how do you recommend they go about looking for it? Being on the docks, shaking hands and asking questions? Craigslist? Forums (like this)?
Unlike the high school and college worker out there, I am in a different zone. In my mid-30's and sticking with teaching as my career. Got all this time off on my weekends and all summer, though, and I always hope to spend every waking moment on the water if possible. I just love being on the water and fishing, in spite of my personal frustration as I learn. My life on my own boat and fishing is still new, though (2nd season), and I am still deep in that learning curve. I often think that linking up with a boat and learning on the job would be one of the best ways to learn more. For me, gaining the knowledge, experience, and just enough extra money to buy a couple new reels would be plenty as payment... not in it for the paycheck as much as I am for the other benefits.
Asking more out of curiosity than "need" right now.
With lots of people looking for work out of need, and me being high on work ethic and desire to learn, but lighter in concrete experience... I do not have an expectation set. Just thought I would satisfy my questioning... even if it was just on an "as needed" basis.
I live in Pembroke, MA and my boat's in Buzzards Bay, so there are multiple docks I can get to. Just got bored wondering about it, I guess, so I thought I would invite others to the discussion.
Thanks!
I will have my river of questions on the stripers and bluefish once I get out on the water again.... and with a tuna license for my boat now, I will be asking about that, too! Hopefully I have learned enough to answer plenty of questions, too.
I did the exact same thing last summer looking for work on the water. I went around the docks looking for charter work. I found that unless you've been working on charters or know some one your unlikely to get a job. I ended up on a boat lobstering and it was the worst summer of my life. If you get a job offer on a commercial boat run away, trust me
Thanks for that tip. An old friend of mine warned me of certain jobs before, too. He is a mate on a very successful charter boat now but spent a summer on a commercial tuna boat back in college. Said it was great in terms of the knowledge and experience he took away from it for his own career, but a brutal, back breaking season of work for him... and he loves life on the water as much as I do. And yes, I could look him up again as a contact for summer work, but wanted to explore the idea and options on my own a bit first. As I said, it is a curiosity and a hope that I wanted to explore... never knowing if an opportunity might pop up. I know there are others with more documented experience, some even needing the work for mortgage and family, and many who have been "paying their dues" waiting for something better.... so I am content exploring the idea and hope of it, grateful if something is available to me, but not expecting or feeling "due" anything. I would love to use my sea legs to work my tail off for greater experience and knowledge as a fisherman, even at minimal pay, but will be perfectly happy as a struggling learner on my own boat with a cold drink and good music, too.
Mako, the problem with teachers and students (high school and college) is that they leave before the season is really over and leave whoever the captain is scrambling for fill in work in the fall, especially if the boat tuna fishes. Also, many captains are reluctant to pour out info to someone they don't know or trust really. There are plenty of people that play the game, just to learn, and then burn the captain in a year or two. I'm not sure if I want someone to work with me this summer or not, if I did, it would just be for a few charters and commercial bass season, but with that it's not steady work and I would rather take someone that never has an intention of fishing on their own, it's like the game of telephone, you show one person, they show three, they all show three, before you know it everyone is doing the same thing you are. There are a lot of good fisherman out there these days, lots of tools to use to become better instead of time on the water, including the internet. That said, it's really tough to keep an edge, as slight as they might be. I've been burned before, so I am having a hard time trusting that someone doesn't have an ulterior motive, which is definitely my own issue, not yours.
Honestly, someone in your situation is the worst possible hire for a serious captain.
You don't have any experience, don't "need" the job, won't stay once you learn enough to be useful, and probably have no idea just how tough fishing for a living really is.
I don't say that to be patronizing. As a matter of fact it described me pretty well when I first hit the dock looking for work. (Long story short, after a few years taking random gigs I landed a real mate job, and within a year I realized that these guys worked harder for a buck than I ever had in my life.)
If you're serious about seeing how the professionals do it, and aren't up for the abuse and punishment that comes with a greenhorn job on commercial boat, I'd look for a gig on a charter boat of some sort. Best way to do that might be to befriend some of the mates, and offer to help them, for free, if they'll help you learn something to be useful. At first, you'll probably vacuum floors, scrub transoms, empty garbage and bleach heads. Then maybe they'll let you cut bait and tie rigs. After a while hopefully someone will teach you to cut fish.
Maybe eventually they'll actually let you on board while fishing. In one season, you might never touch a rod, or a gaff. (Definitely Offshore. Inshore might be different.) You certainly won't be buddy buddy with the captain, having him explain how to be a fisherman. Its bad enough to have the fares chatting your ear off on the way out. Sorry, but that's how it is.
One added thought, if you don't have it already, get your OUPV or Masters license. Might make you useful to a capt who needs someone else with a ticket for extended trips.
It would be pretty hard for you to break in on a charterboat. You would be better off aiming for a head boat to get started. You won't make much $$$ but it will get your foot in the door and once you are known around the docks you could probably fill in on a charter boat occasionally.
All good points and all completely understood. Nothing here I really didn't know or sense already, just from growing up around Marshfield and Gloucester for a bit. I think the reality of it that I already understand is why I view this as a "curiosity" or inquiry, rather than a desperate mission. Trust me, if I were a captain making a living this way, I wouldn't hire myself... not when I can find someone with more experience. I'd have too much on the line to take that chance. Still, I figured no harm in asking, just in case that 1% chance of the right situation coming up actually does occur. Many thanks for taking the time to reply, at least!
If you don't care about money, just look for recreational guys who fish alone and see if you can hitch a ride. Just becuase they do it for fun doesn't mean they don't know anything. 50% of the guys I fish beside are recs. The other 50% are commercial. We all seem to be fishing in the same areas. If the rec you are fishing with is striking out while the guys around him are catching, just watch what the other guys are doing. I know two guys who charter and/or commercial fish now who started out as recs.
If you don't care about money, just look for recreational guys who fish alone and see if you can hitch a ride. Just becuase they do it for fun doesn't mean they don't know anything. 50% of the guys I fish beside are recs. The other 50% are commercial. We all seem to be fishing in the same areas. If the rec you are fishing with is striking out while the guys around him are catching, just watch what the other guys are doing. I know two guys who charter and/or commercial fish now who started out as recs.
Yep. If you have gas money and don't mind chumming, you'll probably find invites, especially on weekdays.
While I never worked on a boat, I was offered a job on a charter. On a 24 hr open boat tuna trip I decided to stay up and help the mates out by setting lines and chumming during the overnight chunk. They liked my enthusiasm and work ethic and offered me a job.
You're never going to really learn anything asking a bunch of questions on a forum. You've got to figure it out yourself by trial and error and putting time in. That's the only way you'll understand anything. Otherwise you're just going through the motions.
Not trying to sound like an asshole, but I would never hire you. The only guys that fish with me are guys I've known for a long time and are hardcore workers. If I was bringing a noob on board, it would probably be a younger kid. Think about the situation:
Hi, I know nothing but have my own boat and job. I want to learn all your secrets and techniques just for the summer, then bounce and use what you've worked hard to figure out for yourself on my own boat.
As I said... all understood and it all makes sense to me. Just figured I would ask how people go about it when they do look for the work. Was just curious, that's all. As I sit here on my third night of researching the difference between lead core and wire for trolling and how to jig for stripers or catch fluke in the summer, I have no realistic of expectation of learning it on the job since I have no realistic expectation of finding such work. Just figured I'd ask rather than keep wondering "if" I should have asked... that's all. I'm typically a "no harm in asking" person. No need for apologies on responses, as it is the precise response I assumed I would get.
And, just as an aside, if I ever did find such work, I can't imagine doing it just one summer. As long as the captain was willing to provide work, I don't see why I would leave. The few times I have been taken on tuna boats years back, the only time I got near the fish was for a photo after all was done... just did the chum and clean-up the rest of the time... still loved it. That was when I was a kid and a guest, though, because an extra hand was needed apparently and I never wanted any pay for it. Just did it for fun. The fact that I can't smell was a bonus, too, I think. =)
You have the best profession for enjoying fishing. Discovering and learning is the most rewarding piece of this adventure . . . it's not rocket science. Just practice what you've read online. To save you a LOT of time from learning the hard way . . . BB is great in April, May, early June, but sucks through July and August until maybe mid Sept. Not sure what you want to target, but it's not the area where you want to be fishing during "summer vacation". Lots of variables to understand when and where fish feed . . . water temp, tides, currents, structure, bait .
Yeah, it has been like a catch-22 for me with BB. Going through the canal into Cape Cod Bay, I find I use more fuel, thus add to my cost, and it becomes a longer day... more time just cruising, less time fishing. Going into BB saves me some time and money, but I found my fishing options seem much more limited. I thought I'd at least escape the dogfish in BB... quickly learned that is not true. Also, being a rookie captain, there seems to be a lot more things that go bump in the night in BB. Far more hazards and little navigation challenges and quirks... just adds more stress since I am only in my 2nd season. The "open" nature of CCB brings a lot more freedom and comfort to me in driving the boat. One of the other captains are the marina told me early on that they are two totally different worlds for him. He said if he is going fishing, he goes into CCB. But if he wants to just go out for a nice cruise with his wife, have some dinner, a cold drink... then he goes into BB. Then again, I meet some who swear by BB for both. Never total agreement. =)
Summer fishing work? 
Hopefully I have learned enough to answer plenty of questions, too. 
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