Tour Guide - El Questro
Discovery Holiday Parks Kununurra, Broome
Published: 10th May 2022
About UsSet over an incredible 700,000 acres of untamed natural beauty, El Questro is truly at the heart of WA’s... Read more
Discovery Holiday Parks Kununurra, Broome
Published: 10th May 2022
About UsSet over an incredible 700,000 acres of untamed natural beauty, El Questro is truly at the heart of WA’s... Read more
Willis Seafood point turton south australia yorke peninsula, South Australia
Published: 1st May 2022
working on boat handline fishing sheltered waters processing packing cooking live in accomadation and food etc... Read more
Whitsunday Catamarans Airlie Beach, Airlie Beach & Whitsundays
Published: 1st April 2022
Whitsunday Catamarans are expanding and looking for a new Boat Hostie/ Deckhand to join our team. You will be working... Read more
Woody lsland Eco Tours Esperance, Western Australia
Published: 18th March 2022
EMPOLYMENT OPPORTUNITYLooking for a deckhand to be apart of the Woody Island team. You must have some experience... Read more
Charnley Fisheries Darwin, Northern Territory
Published: 17th March 2022
Deckhand required for Commercial Barramundi fishing boat. Must be fit and healthy. Marine experience preferred.... Read more
Discovery Holiday Parks Kununurra, Broome
Published: 9th February 2022
About Us:Set over an incredible 700,000 acres of untamed natural beauty, El Questro is truly at the heart of WA’s... Read more
Ld Fishing Francis Bay Darwin, Darwin
Published: 24th January 2022
WORKERS WANTEDFor Commercial Barramundi boat in Darwin. Must be fit to pull net , deckhand work .Call 0402442850 Read more
Zolezzi Fisheries Cairns Queensland, Cairns
Published: 20th January 2022
Professional 19m Tuna Longliner working out of Cairns . 5-7 Day trips.Paid on a percent of Catch. Long hours and... Read more
Direct Sports Tours & Promotion Pty Ltd Paynesville, Victoria
Published: 29th December 2021
We are seeking a casual travel coordinator for our yacht charters located on the Gippsland Lakes operating out of... Read more
UAT Sydney Harbour/Lavender Bay, Sydney
Published: 8th December 2021
Rockfish Catamaran Charters offer fun 3 – 6 hour boat cruises on Sydney Harbour. We currently have three Seawind... Read more
Tony's Tuna International Pty Ltd Port Lincoln, South Australia
Published: 7th June 2021
CASUAL DECKHAND POSITIONSApplications are now open for interested persons seeking Casual Deckhand positions located... Read more
Big Dolphin Organic Farming and Fishing Charters Tin Can Bay, Sunshine Coast
Published: 20th May 2021
Deck Hand Line Fishing,depart from port of Tin Can Bay,commercial offshore deep sea line fishing.Consider any... Read more
JOHNSON Sydney
Published: 21st October 2019
Sydney couple requires 1 or 2 fun & enthusiastic people to cruise the water ways of Sydney & possibly beyond, for a... Read more
Melbourne Boat Hire Docklands, Melbourne
Published: 5th October 2019
Our family-owned and operated Melbourne company consists of fun, energetic professionals who are motivated to provide... Read more
Melbourne Boat Hire Docklands, Melbourne
Published: 3rd October 2019
Are we looking for the perfect Summer job in Melbourne?Great, because we are hiring!Our family-owned and... Read more
Brendan Farley Cairns/Gulf/Qld, Cairns
Published: 11th June 2017
Female accommodation onlysecond year visa, $400 pw food accommodation includedBased around Cairnsph.... Read more
City River Cruises P/L Central CBD location on the Yarra River adjacent to..., Melbourne
Published: 23rd November 2015
Established leading Yarra River cruise company seeks to employ a number of vibrant people for an immediate start to... Read more
Seawalker @ Green Island Cairns City, Queensland
Published: 12th January 2015
Cairns- Instructors for busy Helmet Diving OperationsSeawalker @ Green Island is now accepting applications for... Read more
Whenever you speak to backpackers in Australia and ask how they plan to earn money over the 12 months they are there, the most common answer is farm work. The reason for this is that they want to earn a second-year visa. The Australian working holiday visa is fairly simple to obtain, and it starts when you enter the country (so don't wait until the last minute to apply). The second-year visa, however, is more difficult.
To be eligible for that second year, a working holiday-maker in Australia must complete at least three months of farm work. Most backpackers head straight to agricultural locations as there is plenty of fruit picking to be done throughout the country. However, there is a little-known fact about this 'farm work' requirement:
Commercial fishing also fulfils that eligibility, and it can be far more lucrative than working on a farm. For this reason, it can be a fantastic job for backpackers in Australia on a working holiday visa.
Why are fishing jobs great for backpackers?
Fishing is not for the faint-hearted. It involves long hours of physically demanding work, and you may be at sea for as much as 4 months (depending on the season), but the challenges are vastly outweighed by the rewards. An adventurous traveller will get a fantastic experience of Australia whilst trawling for prawns, and they will make good money doing it.
Read on if you want to learn more about what to expect if you want to pursue work in commercial fishing to fulfil your Australian working holiday visa.
How much money can I earn commercial fishing in Australia?
There is lots of money to make, but there is some risk. A cook or crew member usually makes around 10% of the overall catch, though this varies between companies and boats. The work is hard but extremely rewarding (and not just financially), but there are a few complexities to the money situation you should be aware of.
You get your money at the end of the season (minus expenses). Lodging is provided on the boat, but you pay for your food, satellite phone calls and anything else you order whilst on the sea. Catching Tiger Prawns will usually earn you around $10,000 for the season (4 months). Banana Prawns are significantly more lucrative, earning you around $15,000-20,000 for a 10-week season.
What jobs are available and how do you find them?
The jobs involved in commercial fishing for the average backpacker are as a deckhand or perhaps a cook.
A deckhand's responsibilities include ensuring the general upkeep of the vessel, relaying important information to the crew and maintaining equipment.
Skippers tend to do their own hiring for each season, so you should head down to the wharves before the Tiger Prawn or Banana Prawn seasons commence and start asking about jobs.
Cairns is a good place to start. Bigger fishing companies include Austfish and Raptis, though you might have more luck with smaller companies as the larger ones may require some kind of experience.
When is the season for commercial fishing in Australia?
Tiger Prawn season in Australia comes around August to December, while Banana Prawn season is April to June. Most boats start preparations around a month before the commencement of a season. So start looking at the wharves around March or July to get in on the seasons.
Are fishing jobs hard?
Be under no illusion that working the trawlers is hard work. But there are tremendous benefits to be enjoyed, and it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to participate in a real brotherhood. You will be part of a tight-knit community that works hard and parties even harder, and you will have many unforgettable experiences to take home.
That said, you should not be put off - the fishing industry can be an incredibly lucrative earner even for unskilled workers. Put in a few months of hard labour and you could find yourself with the money to fund some spectacular adventures. This is an excellent solution for anyone who has big ideas about what they want to do in Australia but is a little short of funds.