What makes a good deckhand?

atomicitalian · 05-15-2009, 09:13 PM

Hey everyone,

I'm out in San Diego, and I've got an interview aboard one of the sport fishing boats out here, and a potential second interview coming up.

So, being green (the captains know this), are there are qualities that are generally universal to being a good deck hand? What would you guys who are obviously more experienced suggest for a new guy?

Thanks a lot. Any and all comments are helpful!

54bullwinkle · 05-15-2009, 09:31 PM

Be professional and respectful. Show up with a clean shave and a haircut, white golf shirt, Khaki's and boat shoes. If you smoke, chew or drink........dont. Never ask about work hours, days off or vacation. Dont use foul language.

Remember........The boss spends millions of dollars on his boat. He works hard so he can enjoy it the little time he has to spare. He brings his family, friends and business associates on board. 90% of crew are 100% capable of doing their job. Crew that I know that have gotten fired were for actions unrelated to their boating or fishing skills.

scarecrow86 · 05-15-2009, 11:05 PM

Realize that being green you are better off to always keep your mouth shut and your eyes open and alert to help any of the other of your crewmates whenever possible. You will get shit from the other guys on the boat until you prove yourself worthy that is a reality. Just take it with a grain of salt and one day it will be you doin the hazing.

atomicitalian · 05-15-2009, 11:25 PM

thanks a lot for the tips thus far guys, I really appreciate it.

Keep it comin, whoever else sees this!

tom s · 05-16-2009, 12:24 AM

sportboat or charter boat?The needs of them are diff.Tom

atomicitalian · 05-16-2009, 01:03 AM

Well, it's a charter, though to be honest I'm not totally sure what the difference is.

I'll tell you this though, it runs chartered trips, so I'm assuming it's a charter.

ahicapt · 05-16-2009, 02:34 AM

If it's a cattle boat that charters then the work will be the same as an open party boat. Get ready for very long hours with little to no sleep. Looks like it will be a good albacore year so with that you will probably be seeing some snotty weather which usually goes hand in hand with this fishery. If your working on a 6 pack then it will be a little different. They don't have the range that the bigger ones do so you will end up fishing a little closer or some of the local islands. The advice you have already received is the same I would tell you. Just remember to keep your energy up since your going to need it. Good luck...

CR Bound · 05-16-2009, 09:03 AM

First off, I try to be clean cut. haircut, clean shirt everyday. Shorts and pants just need to look some what clean, no rips. think about it if you were the owner have would you like your crew to look. Dress like that. I find its best when doing something to ask questions about it. get all the information you can if may come to save you one day. After that basically live the life man. Learn what you can.

54bullwinkle · 05-16-2009, 09:53 AM

The fact that you care enough to get this advice says a lot about your dedication. I hope you get the job!

bigfish4me · 05-16-2009, 10:12 AM

Take pride in what you do....if its scrub the boat ...and it will be....scrub the hell out of that thing and make it look good, be a sponge....the more eager you are to learn....the more the guys that know how to do it will be willing to show you. If you want to impress the capt...be the first to show and the last to go, you can have the best work ethics out there, and could be a dynamo in the pit....if your not a people person it will show. Being on the deck puts you into much more contact with the charters...they are there to not only catch fish...but to have a good time, some of the most fun we have ever had was on those slow days where we joked around and shot the shit with the mate...bring your sense of humor and treat people with respect and you should do fine...good luck

05-15-2009, 09:31 PM	#2
54bullwinkle Salon puppy Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 115 Credits: 522.9	Qualities of a good mate Be professional and respectful. Show up with a clean shave and a haircut, white golf shirt, Khaki's and boat shoes. If you smoke, chew or drink........dont. Never ask about work hours, days off or vacation. Dont use foul language. Remember........The boss spends millions of dollars on his boat. He works hard so he can enjoy it the little time he has to spare. He brings his family, friends and business associates on board. 90% of crew are 100% capable of doing their job. Crew that I know that have gotten fired were for actions unrelated to their boating or fishing skills.

05-16-2009, 09:53 AM	#9
54bullwinkle Salon puppy Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 115 Credits: 522.9	P.S. The fact that you care enough to get this advice says a lot about your dedication. I hope you get the job!

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05-15-2009, 11:05 PM	#3
scarecrow86 Guppy Breeder Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 34 Credits: 400.2	Realize that being green you are better off to always keep your mouth shut and your eyes open and alert to help any of the other of your crewmates whenever possible. You will get shit from the other guys on the boat until you prove yourself worthy that is a reality. Just take it with a grain of salt and one day it will be you doin the hazing.

05-15-2009, 11:25 PM	#4
atomicitalian Sail boats suck Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 6 Credits: 286.1	thanks a lot for the tips thus far guys, I really appreciate it. Keep it comin, whoever else sees this!

05-16-2009, 12:24 AM	#5
tom s Hide- My Wifes Logged On Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: long beach,ca Posts: 148 Credits: 1,564.6 Occupation: spt gds VP	sportboat or charter boat?The needs of them are diff.Tom

05-16-2009, 01:03 AM	#6
atomicitalian Sail boats suck Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 6 Credits: 286.1	Well, it's a charter, though to be honest I'm not totally sure what the difference is. I'll tell you this though, it runs chartered trips, so I'm assuming it's a charter.

05-16-2009, 02:34 AM	#7
ahicapt Pit Monkey First Class Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: San Diego Posts: 20 Credits: 420.0 Boat: Why own when you can be paid to drive someone elses Home Port: San Diego Best Catch: To many to list Occupation: Captain	If it's a cattle boat that charters then the work will be the same as an open party boat. Get ready for very long hours with little to no sleep. Looks like it will be a good albacore year so with that you will probably be seeing some snotty weather which usually goes hand in hand with this fishery. If your working on a 6 pack then it will be a little different. They don't have the range that the bigger ones do so you will end up fishing a little closer or some of the local islands. The advice you have already received is the same I would tell you. Just remember to keep your energy up since your going to need it. Good luck...

05-16-2009, 09:03 AM	#8
CR Bound I just got squirted with ballyhoo poop Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Point Pleasant Posts: 42 Credits: 409.1	First off, I try to be clean cut. haircut, clean shirt everyday. Shorts and pants just need to look some what clean, no rips. think about it if you were the owner have would you like your crew to look. Dress like that. I find its best when doing something to ask questions about it. get all the information you can if may come to save you one day. After that basically live the life man. Learn what you can.

05-16-2009, 10:12 AM	#10
bigfish4me I think Admin is going to let me have this space Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Conshohocken pa Posts: 1,158 Credits: 8,410.4 Boat: 17' mckee craft Home Port: Townsends inlet nj Best Catch: 320# bluefin in jersey waters Occupation: machinist	Take pride in what you do....if its scrub the boat ...and it will be....scrub the hell out of that thing and make it look good, be a sponge....the more eager you are to learn....the more the guys that know how to do it will be willing to show you. If you want to impress the capt...be the first to show and the last to go, you can have the best work ethics out there, and could be a dynamo in the pit....if your not a people person it will show. Being on the deck puts you into much more contact with the charters...they are there to not only catch fish...but to have a good time, some of the most fun we have ever had was on those slow days where we joked around and shot the shit with the mate...bring your sense of humor and treat people with respect and you should do fine...good luck