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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ OT: Why I changed careers

Posted by: Rhodes71/914 Jan 16 2005, 11:55 PM

I am posting a link to a story in the Anchorage Daily News because it hits close to home for me.

I used to be a commercial fisherman and when I started a family I made the decision to stop. This story is exactly why. I was involved in this crab fishery and it sucked but the money could be great.

For those of you that have seen the Discovery Channel show on Bering Sea crab fishing you have a bit of an idea of what it's like out there.

http://www.adn.com/front/story/6029960p-5919427c.html

Sean

Posted by: rick 918-S Jan 17 2005, 12:24 AM

Heard about that tonight. I find it amazing they ever find anyone from those boats. The risk verses the reward is a tempting lure.

Posted by: Rhodes71/914 Jan 17 2005, 10:28 AM

QUOTE
The risk verses the reward is a tempting lure.

It's sure not as good as it used to be.

late 80's early 90's one could expect to possibly make $50,000+ in a couple of months.

Posted by: morphenspectra Jan 17 2005, 10:36 AM

I've watched the show on the Discovery channel a couple of times. My thoughts go out to their families. Very dangerous job.

HIEDI

Posted by: Travis Neff Jan 17 2005, 11:46 AM

I had a friend while growing up who's family lived up in juneau with a fishing boat. Whole family aboard and a wicked storm, big wave crashed on top of the boat and sunk it immediately, father never found and the kids made it out with survival suits - they got lucky, but the aftermath of having your father die before their eyes did rotten things to them throughout life.

Posted by: Toast Jan 17 2005, 01:15 PM

That is really sad. IPB Image

I'm glad that you and your family are still with us thoe.

Posted by: rhodyguy Jan 17 2005, 01:16 PM

happens every year. you don't hear aboud the folks that get killed just working the decks. getting crushed by a ice incrusted cage. i know lots of guys that worked in the industry in the boom years of the 70s and early 80s. they made big dough alright and it seemed by the next season they were broke. they spent money like there was no tomorrow. sometimes there was no tormorrow in the next season.

k

Posted by: Rhodes71/914 Jan 17 2005, 08:08 PM

QUOTE (rhodyguy @ Jan 17 2005, 11:16 AM)
happens every year. you don't hear aboud the folks that get killed just working the decks. getting crushed by a ice incrusted cage. i know lots of guys that worked in the industry in the boom years of the 70s and early 80s. they made big dough alright and it seemed by the next season they were broke. they spent money like there was no tomorrow. sometimes there was no tormorrow in the next season.

k

Yes definitely dangerous on deck as well. People working on little or no sleep, operating heavy equipment in horrible conditions.

It's a vicious cycle, make it quick, spend it quick. Very addictive too. Living on the fringe of society, large amounts of time off, not a normal life. There is something about working on the ocean though, that I miss.

Posted by: bare 1 Jan 17 2005, 08:46 PM

I've built crabbers,done alot of repair work on them,had friends that crewed and skippered, and spent a little time in Dutch. This is sad. It's always sad when a boat goes down. Some one lost a friend, a loved one.
Sad but not unusual at all. Goes with the territory. To some it's a life, to others it''s the money,or just the adventure. Up here it's almost a right of passage to go to Alaska to fish. The dangers are known but that does'nt stop them from going and going back. I think the risk is part of the draw.
My heart goes out to those who suffered loss.