The Toughest Year, Greenhorn Hell
Part One

I vividly remember my first year in fishing, my first boat, captain, crab season, even the first day…

Sitting on a beach in Jamaica in 1984, I stared out over the ocean into a sunset, and told myself. “I’m going to Alaska to fish.” Looking back many times during my first season in Alaska, I reminded myself that sometimes the effects of rum can seriously affect ones ability for rational thought.
Back then, the internet didn’t exist. With only a little info from the library and the Kodiak Chamber of Commerce, I proceeded to coerce my best friend Kurt into another adventure. Lofty tales of big paydays, beautiful Eskimo women, and whatever else I concocted actually weren’t necessary. Kurt and I had been pretty much inseparable for the previous ten years. This was particularly true if an adventure, mischief, or trouble were involved. Kodiak seemed to have a large and diverse fleet of boats, and March seemed to be the month when guys started gearing up for the salmon and herring seasons, so off we went.

$50 dollars, a tent, and no plan.

Five months later with the ski season winding down, we left the Lake (Tahoe) for Alaska. I don’t think most of the people back home gave us much of a chance for success. We had both left good jobs, and to be honest, we were ill prepared. With backpacks, a tent, and almost no money we boarded a twin prop freight plane in Anchorage bound for Kodiak. Back then there were great deals flying into the bush in Alaska if you didn’t mind not having a seat, and we were jammed in with a bunch of supplies. You could fly for almost nothing.

I can remember the flight vividly. Kurt and I huddled on the floor, cold, barely able to hear each other with the prop noise, laughing our way into another adventure. You have to realize that the two of us had dodged a multitude of bullets through our adolescence, and had always seemed to come out relatively unscathed. Our bankroll down to $50 dollars, we had blown most of our money at the Bush Co, a legendary strip club in Anchorage, and at Chilcoot Charlies. We just figured “hey we’ve always been lucky we’ll find some jobs”. It quickly came clear that we needed to work on our images. A number of times when we were drinking at Coots, the girls we were striking out with would say “You’re from Califorinia, aren’t you?” Each time we would look at each other, and try to figure out what the give away was. It wasn’t like we were speaking an alien language, but then again maybe we were. The jeans, and plaid shirt disguises were definitely not working. We’d have to work on disguises and mannerisms before we started looking for jobs.

Reality never had a chance to set in. The weather the day when we landed in Kodiak was sunny, clear, and brisk. It was the middle of March, and snow still covered the ground. This day spring was definitely in the air. We dropped off our gear at the harbormasters office, and acting like we had it all figured out, split up and proceeded to pound the docks. We were just looking for anything that would float with absolutely no plan. With a spring in our step and smiles on our faces, we began looking at all the boats in the harbor. Some looked pretty sharp and well maintained. Others looked like they were one good gust of wind away from sinking at the dock. One in particular reeked of rotten fish and was a complete disaster. We looked at each other and silently took note. God help us that’s not the only boat looking for a crew.

Pounding the Docks.

Pounding the docks is the ageold method of going boat to boat in the harbor asking for work. It has both advantages and disadvantages.
Twenty-three years into the fishery, I feel the need to educate any future fisherman.

There are some important aspects and strategies to “Pounding The Docks”.
Etiquette and common courtesy go a long way. There is a lot of attitude, machismo, and ego in the fishing industry. The best fishermen rarely show any of these traits. They only exude them.

1. Be honest!!! There isn’t a seasoned captain on the entire planet that can’t read a bullshitter a mile away. If you can BS your way onto a boat, or if you think you’ve fooled the captain into believing you are something you’re not, you’re either dealing with an idiot that you don’t want to work for, or a captain that is desperate to fill out his crew and get out of town. BS your way into a job and believe me, 9 times out of 10, the boat you’re signing on with is taking you for a ride that you’ll remember, but want to forget.
2. Always act professional. Ask to come onboard. Don’t take for granted the grungy looking guy, the kid, the old haggard looking fellow, or anybody working onboard. The guy you’re meeting may very well be the captain. Captains rarely look like the guys portrayed in the movies.
3. Jump in and help. It’s common courtesy to catch a boat’s tie up lines, or help grab something that’s being passed to the dock. You have no idea how many times I have been looking for a crewman, and instantly wrote off the slacker standing on the dock watching my guys bust ass. Lend a hand or at least ask if you can help.
4. Post notes around town on billboards. The harbormasters office is always a good home base, start there. Anywhere that crews may frequent. The grocery store, ship stores, fish packing plants, even the local library. Hotels, or bunkhouses, and even the local tavern.
5. Many green horns have found their first job at the local watering hole, but even more have lost great opportunities at the bar. If you’re in the bar to drink, don’t look for work. If you’re in the bar to find work, don’t drink.
6. Ask permission to board the vessel. A boat is also somebody’s home away from home. Board the vessel after asking for permission. Don’t just wander onboard. Think of it this way: what would be your first impression of somebody that just walked into your home without ringing the door bell first?
7. Follow up on leads. If someone gives you a lead chase it immediately. Many times during a season a boat will be in town for a short period. If a boat needs another guy it may be on very short notice.
8. Be persistent. Prior to the season, crews may spend weeks gearing up and getting the boat ready. There are times when a boat won’t let on that they’re looking for another deckhand, assessing the guys pounding the docks for a few days before deciding which guy looks like he has the most potential. Follow up on potential jobs.
9. Survey the harbor. Look at the boats, and start with the boats that look appealing, or professional. Looks can be deceiving. The top boat in the fleet doesn’t necessarily have the prettiest paint job. A disorderly deck may be a warning sign. If the crew is working hard, there will probably be some clutter. If the deck is a mess, and nobody seems to be working it could be an indication of a sloppy operation.
10. Listen. There’s a good possibility the guy you’re talking to is the captain, and if he needs another hand he’s interviewing you from the first moment he starts talking to you. A mouthy know it all, or the kid that doesn’t know when to shut up won’t get hired.
11. Learn as you go. Talk to anyone who seems to be knowledgeable. Ask for leads, or something that someone needs. The captain on the next boat may need a deckhand/cook. If you can cook you need to let people know
12. Job experience. If you can weld, cook, pound nails, or turn a wrench, it definitely helps. If you have worked in super intensive jobs for long hours it helps. Let people know what you can offer. Remember, be honest if you can’t cook don’t even think about saying you can. The quickest way to having the crew abuse you is to lie about your ability. On a boat, the crew has two things to look forward to beyond fishing: sleep and food. Bad food, bad news.
13. Seasickness. This has brought down some of the best prospects. Very few are chronically sick. About 60% of people will get seasick in varying degrees. Most get over it after a few days, but some never do. Some people lose the will to fight it. Seasickness, and getting past it is as much mental as it is physical.
14. Hustle. First impressions are important. Somebody that’s moving and hustling is a good indication that they have potential. The Sloth onshore is usually the sloth on deck. If you do get hired, don’t wipe yourself out on day one. I always wait until day 2-3 to really form an opinion of a new crewman. A new crewman shows his true ability after he has been without sleep and his body aches. Stay steady, and dig deep when reality sets in.
15. Have a backup plan. Sometimes there just aren’t any jobs available. There are usually shore based jobs available in a fishing port. Whether it’s working at the fish plant, scrubbing dishes, or working at one of the local businesses, keep your eyes and options open. Finding something temporary till a good fishing job opens up keeps you in the hunt, and keeps you from starving.
16. Lower your expectations. Finding a crew position during the best seasons on the best boats is rare. Most crabbers work during the summer as tenders. It doesn’t pay nearly what a fishing job does, but it gets your foot in the door. The kid that works out well during the off season or in the shipyard will be the new green horn come crabbing season.