Hmmm let's see, help launch and retrieve the boat. Take care of sea anchors and bait. Stow gear away at the end of the day.Help wash boat down and supply a few coldies.....

Firstly, don't catch more fish than the skipper. lol.
the decky is there generally to assist with anything that is needed like pulling the anchor and so forth along with the cleaning of the boat and fish if required. also to share the costs of the trip out as far as fuel , bait and food

Is it okay to catch more than the skipper if I allow him to hold them for the photos?

So basically a skipper is looking for a fishing partner for the day who is prepared to do his fair share of the work and split the costs - sounds fair to me.

and also not tell the skipper how their favourite river is shit and how your going to fix it for him :-)

Haha, noted Rob

1 if the decky has to pull the anchor from 30m plus more than 5 times he dosent have to pay for fuel

2 if he pulls the cray pots he only gets 33% of the catch , if pulling the pots from 30m plus you might make it 50%

3 Decky cleans the fish while you hose down your pride and joy

4 Decky has no imput into what radio station the skipper wants to listen to

5 make sure your decky is a mate or you might be the one swimming back

When you say pull the anchor, do you mean pull it up by hand or with a winch? You can see I'm very wet behind the ears!

Dont get hooks stuck in your arm and ask to come home early........a good deckie should man up, sit down an dwait till the skipper has finished fishing.

Well a good deckie is on time

helps launch and retrieve the boat

does the rubbish collection while I wash the boat down (Im fussy with hoseing)

offers fuel $$ or at least brings along some quality bait

dosnt look at his watch were going fishing and will be back when were back

keeps the decks clean and is quick with the deck wash

always makes sure the skipper has a cold drink (soft drink for me)

has a sense of humour and dosnt get sea sick

Has his own gear except sinkers that the skippers responsibility

respects the boat no banging sinkers

generally fish with mates so they know the routine without haveing to say anything so it all works out in the end

At the end of the day the deckie enjoys a day out on the water as catching a fish is a added bonus

 My regular deckie felt guilty watching me pull the anchor so went halves in anchor winch with me. 

The answer is it depends on the skipper and we all have our preferences so ask before heading out

Some want their boat washed down and others don't. Myself I enjoy washing my favourite toy

My General Rules:

- Where possible arrive at my house to help load the boat

- Help launch the boat (Just hold onto the ropes and dont let it smack into the jetty too hard)

- Deploy & Retreive the anchor/s

- Don't ever complain that a spot is "Too shallow and we have to go deeper" or Declare a spot shit after 10 minutes. If you have solid advice on a spot i'm willing to listen but don't try and skipper the boat because of impatience

- Offer to pay for some of the fuel

- Use the net or lip-grips, don't use the gaff on every marine animal including stingrays ffs

I'm usually pretty laid back and attitude is everything

got to have a good deckie, makes life alot easier on the skipper - less things to worry about so avoids accidents.

mines a guru so im lucky - he knows to get the rope ready for launch/retrieve, brings food/beers, check the motors up, look after the sea anchor and make sure i have a cold beer in my hand.

Working as a team is very important to on deck, land alot more fish working together.

Definately bring your own gear (unless its a one off thing and he's a mate showing you the good life)

I try to buy the bait and ice when possible, I also supply a few extra's like the witch doctor and gaff, small price to pay for getting on the boat!

and there's no questions asked that the deckie is on anchor duties and usually winding the boat back on the trailer.

I usually let the skipper have the catch anyways or only take a couple of fillets as the day on the water is the best part.

Strongly agree with the hooking yourself comment, pretty much an unwritten rule that if you make the boat come back in early its a carton!

but the biggest problem is the skipper always gets out fished, not normally by me but his Mrs!!! haha 

P.s I hope you read this Mason ;-p

Number one rule, don't bring hidden gps units on the boat (or as I see with phone pic data these days)

Throw the drift anchor - don't phuckarse about sorting out your rigs, bait, beers etc. if the skipper is holding the boat in position & calls out get it out then do so

Pull the drift anchor - as above, the drift is over the deckies have wound up & yarning on to each other like a CWA meeting with jam & scones as the skipper tries to stare the message through

Dropping turds with the cab door open declaring "but I can't stand the smell of it" & then flushing the hold with the drift anchor still out

Jokes aside just work as a team, no skipper will expect new or 'couple of trips in' deckies to be guns at it & if they do well that's their problem not yours. I'm spoilt with A grade deckies & as we fish more than two any new guys learn the ropes very quickly.

100% agree with Lamby... when its sea anchor out its sea anchor out. The Deckie should be smart enough to realise when the skipper is positioning the boat to be on the ready. Dont stand there holding your rod waiting to drop and make the skipper putt he anchor out. Sure way to make sure you dont get another gig.

and another + for a comment up above, dont sit there watching your watch wondering what time your going in because your on a promise with the Missus.

Treat the skippers boat like its your own, no skipper / boat owner will enjoy having anyone on board who does not respect and look after his pride a joy.

Dont have one! MY BOATS TO SMALL ,too many impatient deckies out their use it like its a charter boat,put in for fuel etc and just want to take home fish.

a "deckie" or up here someone to go fishing with, should go out and enjoy their day. dont let the skipper push them around or order them around like they are sig hansen!! split costs, and do their frair share of work. dont be a lap dog for the skipper!!! and when it comes time to drop lines, its fair game on the bottom!! fishing is suppose to be fun and extra ppl who want to go out on a boat should be able to enjoy the day and not feel that they have to do everything on the boat! might piss a few guys off with these comments but hey! no sugar coating the truth! go out have fun and eveyone on the boat regardless helps out! and if you get bigger better fish than the skipper stick it to em and dont let em forget it hehe!!

I'm pretty casual whith deckies, i will explain how thing go out there and what is expected . The catch gets divided between everyone that wants it ( some fisho's just like to catch and don't eat fish )

Share the cleaning of boat and fish ( i usualy fillet the catch ) You can have a brew or three but i don't like anyone getting drunk as its anoying and dangerous. As long as you have respect and get along with every one you will get invited again.

Things that will make sure you never get an invite are. Not turning up at the ramp ( i won't wait for anyone ) . Complaining that there are no fish ( thats why its called fishing ) . Getting blind drunk . Sending 20 text or pm's about what you should take ( you should be able to sort out a trip with one phone call or a couple messages ) and being loud , rude , aggressive or any other antisocial behaviour .

We all just like to have a fun day fishing and as long as you respect the rules of the Boat and chip in as much as you can , i'm sure you will get deckie invites.

Deckie Duties

Whateva the skipper tells them to do,end of story.

Tangles is a very good deckie, so take notice of what he is telling you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks guys, that's really useful. I'll be volunteering for deckie duty next year for sure, please just give me a bit of time to get used to the procedures. I reckon I'll go out once or twice without fishing gear just to get used to doing what's required.

Another question, and I know it differes from boat to boat and distance travelled etc., but what is the average days fuel bill?

 half as much as me..............it's all too hard to explain what I want doing sometimes

quicker and easier to do it myself!

 deckies bring bait, food and beer and help wash up. Making them pay for fuel  seems too much like business to me. I enjoy the company fishing so win win.

It seems only fair to at least pay my share of fuel, after all the skipper's forked out for and has to maintain an expensive boat.

Well it sounds like a lot of skippers out there are gay. Whining about deckies who must be a mate, bring beer, pull anchors

My perfect deckie is a

1.    Swedish female backpacker, blonde, 6 ft, no more than 70 kegs.

2.   Uniform must be worn, bikini is mandatory. In winter, she will be allowed to wear a beanie

3.   Swedish female backpacker, blonde, 6 ft, no more than 70 kegs

If the conditions above are met, I am happy to pay for fuel, bait and rigs, I will wash the boat, fillet the fish and pull the anchor

Willy

need to be observant of the surroundings ,willing to help when asked to , my number one pet hate is slowing me down when i want to re set up a drift , when i say we are moving! every body forward next to the cab , then thats what i expect , dont move from side to side while travelling .in general skippers will tell you before leaving the ramp on his expectaions , how the day turns out , and weather your going to get another invite is dependant on how closly you have listened .

Wilmy,

Fuel is hard to judge, boat dependant, but to give you an idea a normal trip for us out of Two rocks cost wise consists of the below

Fuel car $30

Fuel Boat $150 (average 50 mile a trip at 2ltr a mile) I have twin donks and actually run at less than 2ltr a mil usually 1.7 but again conditions dependant.

Bait $ 30

Total: $210

Boat fuel Will vary depending on time of year and where we head. (distance out)

Very new to this deckie lark

Been out a few of times (nearly a year now), gotta say I'm spoit with an electric winch.

but generally it goes like such,

General:

I bring the bait, Drinks and some munchies, along with my own tackle

I arrive 20 mins before departure at the skippers house

assist with the boat loading and checking of gear

Assit with the boat hook up

 with the launch and hold the boat while the skipper does car duty.

and the odd contribution for fuel (if required, normally if I supply the food, bait and drinks, he supplies the fuel)

Crabbing:

skippers steers to spot, while I prepare the nets, I throw out the first 10

we then take turns steering and pulling (twenty pulls each, then change)

I also bought my own rec licence and got a skippers licence before I bought my Ski. (so I don't stuff up his bag limit)

Fishing:

Generally I'm the second pair of hands, pull anchor, assist with landing a fish or steering the boat if required, cracking the odd ale etc. (but then he also does that)

I bring the berley (yea and some times it's involuntary!!), Been sick a few times, but never left early if they are on the bite.

General again

Assist with retieving the boat

help clean the boat and catch

Shoot back to his place

help park the boat

With the crabs, I'll do the boat and the skipper cooks the crabs (cos  he is damn good at that)

Catch a quick feed and an ale.

grab some fillets

book next trip

shake hands

piss off home to the missus as happy as a pig in shit.

fix blisters from pulling crab nets. (cos I'm a sissy, normally do about 100 pulls each in a session).

He has a crab spot and some unconventional bait, that consistantly produced full bags (10 each) of monster blues. (coke can width)

two of these babies and you're full.

Can't wait to get stuck in again this year.

Cheers

baitch, wear gloves now as pulled in sea anchor and a blue bottle was wrapped around rope, thank god there wasw brown vinegar in the boat, quickly washed hands.

1.  Good skipper will not baitch/swear/throw tantrums when decky gets the first dhuie/snapper on the deck.

2.  A good skipper will provide a loo/bucket for said decky

3.  A good skipper will not yell at decky if she gets a bit sea sick

3.  A good skipper will clean the fish caught while decky washes his pride and joy, not yell at deckie if cleaning takes longer

4.  A good skipper will not swear at decky if she f....ks up trying to put boat on trailer with southerly blowing here in Leeman, even with boat guide.

5.  A good skipper will have a wonderful time with his deckies and not swear hahahah, geezes that one is useless, bloody truckie taught me to swear.

Crew are there to enjoy the day as much as the skipper ,I don't even fish most times just drive the guys around ,and put them on fish . Don't be late,bring bait,and your own food. no smoking,and if you realy must up the bow..help clean up I fillet all the fish while boat is hosed down . All fish split evenly between crew I usually keep one fillet for dinner. Costs $50-$70 for fuel, AND i STILL HAVE A HARD TIME FINDING CREW.

 Be in the country when the skipper calls ;)

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm that too

it doesn't have to be a Nazi operation, but a good heads up please ask the Skipper if there is anything he needs a hand with or help doing all the time, a good skipper will tell you what he expects too, the more you go out with someone the more you will know, i have a bunch of crew who know exactly what i expect and i hate to use that word but it's stuff that has to be done, when i have a new crew i keep it all very simple. I only ask for some $ towards the fuel costs, usually no more than $50 but if i'm going wide with just 2 people that may come up but i like having 4 on board so everyone is a winner. Have a fishing licence. Bring enough beer for you and a few spares, you're not pinching mine. Don't bring your tackle box i have enough, bring a rod if you wih but if i say no don't pull it out of your car. be F&^KING gentle with my boat, don't let it bash against the jetty or sinkers etc it's my pride and joy. Bring me beer often, bring some food to share and help clean the boat afterwards.

I'm a little anal when it comes to my trips out, i pack everything myself so i can check off i have all we need for the day, a choch milk from the servo is a great bribe but most of it is common sense but please ask if youre not sure. I too struggle for deckies occasionally but i'll fly solo as needed. what you catch is yours, i'll clean your catch unless you're a gun filleter and always ask at the end of the day if everything is done, i hate people saying they have to be somewhere and shoot off asking me to drop off thier fillets to them tomorrow, no way thier mine!

I have two rules regarding fishing and drinking...

1. I don't drink when I fish

2. I don't fish when I drink

I take my fishing seriously, as does just about everyone else on here, and booze makes me lazy and affects my concentration; I'd much rather drink cold water than a cold beer whilst out on the water. It doesn't mean that I won't take a few cold ones out to say thanks for the ride to the skipper though and have a couple waiting in the car in a cooler box for afterwards too.

lets not get into the drinking vs non drinking debate, that's a WHOLE different topic and one that descends into chaos!