i was doing some readings from the past messages on the board, and i was wondering if you would be able to tell me what the diff. is between a pinhead and a deckhand if there is one, and how was the pay..im 19 now and i was offered a job to work the boats back when i was 16. im just thinkin if i should try to work the boats this summer for some extra cash. i just think it would be a good experience.. thanx

hook up (jay)

basically a pinhead is one who is still learning the ropes, and basically gets paid tips. and then a deckhand is an all out deckhand that works regularly and gets paid.

Pin heads are the guys that fish for free on the boat, but they have to clean the boat on the way in, and sometimes they can collect tips. Deckhands are the guys that do the work: throw bait, gaff fish, pull the anchor, etc. They get a pay check.
-Brian

how do you start off as a deckhand..i guess you would have to know the basics starting from a pin head? im guessing..and know the captains pretty well? thanx

hook up

The way I know it, as a former pinhead, deadhead and deckhand, is that the pinheads are the younger guys who fish for free, and do a lot of the work on the boat. (scrubbing, emptying, filling, cleaning....)

Deadheads are generally older, lets say 16 on up, who also fish for free, and help scrub and clean. They are more likely to be called upon to help the deckhands should the need arise (wide open tuna bite! GAFF ON THE BOW!!!!!) Or they might throw you up on the bait tank to chum and fill baitwells during a hot bite.

Both of these are basically interns. You get to go out and watch the deckhands do what they do, and begin to do it yourself. There is no book on how to work on a boat, as each boat is different.

It is pretty hard to go out on day one and start deckhanding.

I can say this, because the first day (2nd time out on a party boat) I was to be a pinhead, on a windy twilight, it was the day of the big fire in Santa Barbara. So without any instruction, I went from first-time-outpinhead, to first deck and galley when neither of the crew showed up.

I will find an essay I wrote in school and post it if you want. It was a unique experience, fishing while Santa Barbara burned. That summer, instead of spending the whole summer as a pinhead, I worked as a deckhand, after my, shall we say, Baptism by fire.

(sorry I had to do it) : )

Marco

Sorry, been really busy this week. Heck I've only fished an hour all week, maybe that's why I can't stop shaking.

Anyways, pinheads do a lot of different things to "pay" for their fishing. They are usually harassed pretty intensely too. They either take it like a little brother, and gain respect. Or, they can't hack it and will give up. It's a good way to find out if they might make it as deckhands. Back in the day, they had it rough. I've heard many stories of skulpin spines in the boots, and things like that. The worst I heard was from the captain I work for. He brought a new TLD 15/30 on the boat one day. The deckhand grabbed it and went into the wheelhouse. The DH then covered it in WD-40 and lit it on fire, new line and all.

Now where I work (in the summers) the pinheads have it good. We do give them a hard time, but they usually only get it bad after being a major pain in the butt. This of course can be often, as 15 and 16yr olds can be major smart asses. But, it's all in good fun, and in the process learn something new. They fish for free (if there's room), they eat for free, get to fish the docks afterw/ any bait that's left (the docks are private), get tips on occasion, and the ones that stick it out can find work. The last one is limited now by the enforcement of labor laws, which is both good and bad. It's bad because it's a good way to keep the kids out of trouble, yet they can't do it. It's good because if there is laws, they should be enforced. The owner of the landing is also worried about lawsuits, so pinheads are hard to come by now.

Now being a deckhand, that's a whole nother ball of bait. We work 70-90hrs a week in the summer, destroy our bodies, put up w/ way too many jerks who think that because they fish once a month they know better than all the crew, we often make less than $3 an hour, don't see family or friends all summer (even working on a 1/2 day boat) and miss most of the good bites. In fact, the last one can be the hardest part. It took me 3 summers to get used to standing on the tank during WFO fishing, to not get depressed. Though to be fair, I've also seen some of the sickest fishing because I am out there all the time.

Though many guys end up quitting w/ in a month, most will quit after one season. It is extremely hard work, both for the body and the mind. And, perhaps most important, you have to work well w/ others. When you spend so much time together you have to get a long. The best crews are friends at the very least while on the water, and often off the water.

The benefits are obvious. Free fishing (sometimes while getting paid), save money on food (you eat at least 2 meals a day on the water), you learn volumes of info about fishing and the ocean, you're outside all day, you at least are helping others fish even if you aren't, many good connections can be made, and your angling skills will grow exponentialy if you work at.

So, how do you get such a glorious job? I got on by fishing a couple times on the boat, they needed someone, and my friend ( already working on the boat) recomended me. I worked 4 days for free while I trained ( and I knew almost nothing), then it was full speed from there. I still had a lot to learn, but it's a steep curve. So, you don't have to know anything, you just have to find a boat willing to give you a chance. If you are willing to train for free, and then only do fill-ins when they are short handed, you'll probably have a full time job before you know it. Just be there every morning, fish if there's no work, work when ever asked. If you're eager to learn, show up on time, and do as you're told you'll get a job and keep it.

Hope this is enough info to help you make up your mind. If you live down in South Orange County, I can help you out. At least get you out and trained, the rest is up to you.

Amish Ed

This is an edit, since I don't know how to do it to my previous post. I realized too late a mistake I made. The jerk customer to which I refer, are the guys who fish once a month, only during the summer, don't listen to advice (even from the captain), and then complain when they don't catch fish. Jay, these will also be the ones who won't listen to you because of your age. You can stand next to them and out fish them 5:1, and they'll still ignore any advice you give. That's the reality though, so you'll encounter these people all the time.

You'll either end up loving life as a deckhand, or know it's not your thing very quickly. Good luck.

Amish Ed

thanks for the info man..i think this summer ill try to give it a shot..i pretty much know the difference, thanks to how specific you have made it..i pretty much was a pinhead a couple times on the SOUTHERN CAL down here in LONG BEACH, since i was a regular. tight lines

hook up(jay)