There are many different types of fishing boats in Alaska, and this is not a situation where one size fits all. A charter boat designed for halibut fishing is going to appear completely different from one of the crab boats made famous by "The Deadliest Catch," or even from a different type of commercial fishing vessel. While visiting Alaska, don't be surprised at the wide array of different fishing boat types you may see.
One type of fishing boat that is common in Alaska during season are the crab boats, also referred to as "crabbers." Many crab boats spend the off season in Seattle, but during the crabbing season there can be literally hundreds of large ships preparing to catch crab. Crab boats are a very distinctive type of fishing boat that will have heavy machinery on deck to help lift the large crab cages, which weigh hundreds of pounds. The inside of the ship is designed to be a live hold, where the crab from the cages are kept alive until market. These are normally the largest fishing boats in Alaska, although a few commercial fishing boats can compete.
Charter fishing boats are a very common sight in Alaska, especially in halibut fishing towns such as Seward or Homer. Charter fishing boats in Alaska can vary, but they tend to be smaller boats designed to carry a dozen anglers or fewer to favorite local fishing spots. Halibut is the most common target, but there are many other fish in the waters including sole, salmo, and rockfish. These will be the only fishing boats that have rod holders or use fishing rods as opposed to nets or cages.
Crabbers aren't the only commercial fishing boats in Alaska. There are multiple types of commercial fishing boats that concentrate on fish such as cod, halibut, rockfish, Dolly Vardens or several types of salmon during their saltwater cycle. Some of the most common commercial fishing boats will include trawlers, long liners, trollers, gillnetters, and occasionally you might still see a jig fisher or two. These fishing boats are generally named after the method they use to catch fish, and some of commercial boats are even designed to go after specific type of fish, such as Longliners, which generally catch "bottom fish" like halibut or black cod.
