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 How are crabs caught in Alaska?
Large steel crab pots are baited with a combination of chopped herring and cod or salmon. The pots typically used are 7' x 7' x 3', and weigh 700 pounds
. The pots are set from the crab boats using hydraulic launchers, and are retrieved with hydraulic winches.
How big are the boats that you work on?
They have all been around 150 feet in length, although there are many boats which participate in the fishery which are closer to 100 feet.
I hear that crab fishing pays good money. Is this true?
Sometimes. When the fishing is good, I have earned over $1,000 a day. However, I have also participated in seasons where the fishing was very
scratchy, and I didn't make enough money to cover my expenses, making my fishing trip a net loss. Due to severely reduced quotas, there are lean
times ahead for crab fishermen, and I wouldn't recommend to anybody that they search for a deck job at this time.
I hear that crab fishing is extremely hard work. Is this true?
Crab fishing is the hardest work I know of. On a good boat, the crew will put-in 20 or 21-hour days. When
fishing is good, or when the boat is in a storm with heavy icing conditions, the crew will work round-the-clock.
What is the difference between snow crab and king crab?
Snow crab are also known as "tanner" or "opilio" crab. Opilio crab are the smallest variety, with an
average weight of 1 to 1 1/2 lbs. Tanner crab are larger, weighing 2 or 3 pounds when mature. Both of
these varieties of snow crab lack the spines which cover king crab. King crab are the crab that Alaska is famous for. I have seen king crab as large as 18 pounds, and with a leg-span of more than 6 feet!
Where are king crab caught in Alaska?
King crab are predominantly caught in the Bering Sea. The Kodiak Island area became famous for king
crab in the late 1970s, but has since been closed to commercial fishing for many years. Southeast Alaska also has king crab fisheries, although these are relatively minor compared to the Bering Sea
fishery. For more information on king crab, please visit my page King Crab 101 - lessons from a crab
fisherman.
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