Fishing Skipper Kaiurungi Hao Ika

Physical Requirements

Fishing skippers on inshore fishing boats need to be fit and healthy, as their role involves a lot of physical labour. Physical fitness is less important for deep-sea fishing skippers, as their role is usually confined to the wheelhouse.

Useful Experience

Useful experience for fishing skippers includes:

• work as a deckhand 
• work as a first or second mate on a fishing boat
• navigational work
• other commercial fishing experience.

Personal Qualities

Fishing skippers need to be:

• responsible, practical, and able to work well under pressure
• safety-conscious 
• able to think on their feet and remain calm in emergencies
• good at communicating and leading others
• good at making decisions.

Skills

Fishing skippers will learn or have:

• vessel-handling skills and an understanding of their vessel's capabilities and equipment
• good navigational skills
• knowledge of the habits and location of the fish species they're catching
• the ability to identify where fish are using radar and echo-sounders
• knowledge of tides, coastlines, marine hazards and the weather
• an understanding of health, safety and hygiene rules and regulations
• knowledge of the Fisheries Act, Maritime New Zealand requirements, and fishing quotas.

Conditions

Fishing skippers:

• usually work 12-hour days, including weekends, when they are at sea
• may work at sea for periods ranging from a day to many weeks
• work in all types of weather, and in conditions that may be cramped and hazardous.