Fishing jobs in Ireland?

badabinbadaboom

Hi
Im hoping to get a deckhand job if I can.
I have done my three day mandatory I'm just waiting for BIM to send me the card and I have a small fishing vessel engineering course done as well.
I have no real experience apart from the fact that I would know my way around a boat(if i was told to go to the starboard side i'd know) and some experience with hydraulics
I can splice three strand rope and I know a few useful knots, but I dont have a clue about net mending:o (Could I go potting?)
I really want to get back to work but Im really sick of all the usual jobs and this is about all im qualified for and I really want to get out to sea while Im still young.
would I have any hope of getting a berth? And how do I go about getting a job at this anyway? do I go down to the pier and just ask or is that just being silly?
Thanks.
PS
I know theres a thread on fishing jobs in Alaska but I thought this was different enough to warrant its own thread

sonners

I'm not sure which port your near or looking for work in but in my experience your best bet is to go down to the quay and ask around. Alot of berths on fishing boats in my area are filled through word of mouth, friend of a friend type stuff.

murphym7

sonners wrote: »

I'm not sure which port your near or looking for work in but in my experience your best bet is to go down to the quay and ask around. Alot of berths on fishing boats in my area are filled through word of mouth, friend of a friend type stuff.

+1 for that. The best way to get a start is to go along to your local fishing port. Even if you have to go away on a short trip for nothing to get experience. Not sure there would be plenty of births though.

badabinbadaboom

Thanks very much. I'm going to head down monday evening and see what the story is.
Im in cork city so I'll probably be looking at boats out of Kinsale, Cobh, Crosshaven and maybe Ballycotton at a push.
Thanks.

budge

badabinbadaboom wrote: »

Thanks very much. I'm going to head down monday evening and see what the story is.
Im in cork city so I'll probably be looking at boats out of Kinsale, Cobh, Crosshaven and maybe Ballycotton at a push.
Thanks.

Did you manage to find fishing job?Could you write about the courses you participated in?I would like to change my career and get a job on as fishing vessel,but I dunno where to start.Any advice?

sumyunglad

budge wrote: »

Did you manage to find fishing job?Could you write about the courses you participated in?I would like to change my career and get a job on as fishing vessel,but I dunno where to start.Any advice?

hi there if you are looking at fishing courses go to b.i.m website they have a list of courses in greencastle in donegal they are very good iv been there myself

budge

thanx for the advice,i checked the BIM website,and i decided to apply for the commercial fishing course in september.I have thousand questions,like the costs of the course,chance to find work after graduating,etc.I tried to contact with them,but it seems to be hopeless at the moment.
Could u write about your experience?

mynameisgraeme

I also just emailed BIM, i hope they get back to me asap!!!!

budge

mynameisgraeme wrote: »

I also just emailed BIM, i hope they get back to me asap!!!!

Did u get any info?as far as i know the course is cancelled due to low numbers:(

MalcolmM

I'm a fisherman with nearly 20 yrs experience .
And any of you that have questions or looking advice about getting jobs in the industry just ask and I will try and point you in the right direction.
I'm glad to see some of you are thinking of doing the fishery course in Greencastle (also run in Cork as far as I am aware) as some training is always an advantage ,and the fishery college will also help place you on a boat.

budge

Hi there,
thank you for the helping hand,we need it badly here.About me:im 31,currently doing Agricultural Science course at WIT,Waterford.I wanted to have a gap year to do the Commercial Fishing course in Donegal,but they did not run the course this year.I have zero experience ,I dont know what to do next.Any advice is appreciated.

MalcolmM

budge wrote: »

Hi there,
thank you for the helping hand,we need it badly here.About me:im 31,currently doing Agricultural Science course at WIT,Waterford.I wanted to have a gap year to do the Commercial Fishing course in Donegal,but they did not run the course this year.I have zero experience ,I dont know what to do next.Any advice is appreciated.

As far as I am aware they also run the fishery course in Cork too,I think it is been run in castletown bear I will find out for sure tomorrow.

First thing to do is get yourself down to a fishing port and get speaking to some skippers of the boats ,explain to them you want to goto sea and would like to do a trip just to see what you think (fishing is not for everyone).
You should find no problem getting someone to take you out so you can get the feel of it .
If you like it you can then go and do the course or you can look about getting a job on a boat ,hands on is the only way to learn how to be a fisherman ,the deckhand course is no harm to have but in all honesty not really a big advantage .
I have a mate in Wicklow who I'm sure would be more than willing to take you out on a small whelk boat for a day so you can see what potting is like.
Or if you want to get some time done on a trawler I could speak to some people and possibly get you a trip on a prawn trawler and a white fish trawler .

budge

That would be great!!!I am available at the weekends,please inform me about the details.email: <snip>@yahoo.com Thank you!

CJhaughey

They run a Deckhand course in both Castletownbere and in Greencastle, Depending on numbers they run throughout the year.
You will also need to do a sea survival, first aid and firefighting course this is mandatory but is probably part of the deckhand course AFAIK.
If you do the course and spend a bit of time in CTB or Greencastle you will probably meet a good few local fishermen and this is where you can look for a berth.
Fishing is a tough game, make no mistake. But it can also be a very rewarding career.

glaw2010

MalcolmM wrote: »

As far as I am aware they also run the fishery course in Cork too,I think it is been run in castletown bear I will find out for sure tomorrow.

First thing to do is get yourself down to a fishing port and get speaking to some skippers of the boats ,explain to them you want to goto sea and would like to do a trip just to see what you think (fishing is not for everyone).
You should find no problem getting someone to take you out so you can get the feel of it .
If you like it you can then go and do the course or you can look about getting a job on a boat ,hands on is the only way to learn how to be a fisherman ,the deckhand course is no harm to have but in all honesty not really a big advantage .
I have a mate in Wicklow who I'm sure would be more than willing to take you out on a small whelk boat for a day so you can see what potting is like.
Or if you want to get some time done on a trawler I could speak to some people and possibly get you a trip on a prawn trawler and a white fish trawler .

hey u said u have friends in wicklow that have boats,,im beside bray and wanted to get experence on a boat,could u tell me the best place to go? cheers

tony..L

Hi there, im a male of 52 and a printer by trade. Printing trade on its knees so id like to give lobster and crab potting a go. I actually helped on a boat as a 12 yr old and loved it. I see from your post that you know people who skipper their own boats. Id like to give it a go and just go for the trip to see if i still have it..
Thanking you in advance.. If you want ill mail my email to you.