Thursday, Jun 04, 2009 at 13:56
[quote]6.Im looking to start a career in the charter fishing industry,is there much work up north?[/quote]
I'm in the charter industry and have worked up north a fair bit.
Yes theres seasonal work available - mostly June July August September - sometimes into October - then the wet arrives and everyone heads south pretty much.
Thing is - most of the charter industry work / jobs advertised seek some "minimum requirements", like a coxswains certificate, which takes time at sea, study and $ to attain, so it would be best to obtain those before you go probably.
So many anglers want to be charter skippers or fishing guides etc - and dream that you can just take yourself up north with a 4wd and tinny and a few rods and your in business.
These days the industry is pretty much regulated, and you need a host of quals & licenses to get started..
Lets see, roughly you need:-
1. Charter Fishing Lic from Fisheries Dept for each state - (there are 5 zones each with their own license in WA alone).
2. License from DEC (Dept Env & Conserv) to access their land and water
3. Surveyed Vessel (Transport, marine Dept).
4. Coxswains Certificate as skipper (min) or Master 5 with MED (Marine Engine Driver) 2 qualification.
5. $10,000 000 Public Liability Insurance
6. Vessel Insurance
7. F class Drivers License to transport your paying pasengers
8. TC (tourist coach) plated vehicle to transport paying passengers
Then you can apply and get a job working with the charter ops, without them being legally liable if you don't have all that.
There are still pirate operators within the industry - the NT seems to be the nesting place for those who largely don't meet national industry standards, being a commonwealth territory - there seems to be no policing of the national standards in the NT if the TV shows showing guides operating in non surveyed boats with non qualified skippers, is anything to judge bye.
It's an admirable thing to aspire too - but not as easey as grabbing your fishing rods and heading north.
Theres a few charter businesses for sale - I saw one in the last weekends West where a charter license was for sale for $95K - grossing $110K a year in pre booked trips, and the 12 meter boat was thrown in for free - so desperate was the owner to sell the business!.
Incomes a little patchy at times, and ever more "restrictions" are being placed on Charter Operators by the respective "Fisheries Departments", who want to control the fishing effort on coastal demersal species.
If your really serious, contact me and I'll sell you my business, "walk in/walk out" basis with everything including multiple charter licenses covering most of the WA coastline, a tow vehicle, and surveyed boat, and tender with outboard, and all the diving and fishing gear, for a realistic price.
I''ll probably list it with a boat broker next week - then it's first come first served.
Cheers & good luck with whatever you end up doing.
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Follow Up By: Member - Tony & Julie (FNQ) - Thursday, Jun 04, 2009 at 16:40
Thursday, Jun 04, 2009 at 16:40
Flywest - Hold the business but I would like your boat :-), going cheap is it :-). Cheers Tony
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Follow Up By: Flywest - Friday, Jun 05, 2009 at 14:52
Friday, Jun 05, 2009 at 14:52
Could be Tony! ;o)
Cheers
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