Commercial fishing jobs in Canada: seasons, pay, and how to get on a boat
A working guide for lobster, crab, and other commercial fishing crews in Atlantic Canada and BC: when each season runs, how deckhand pay and shares actually work, the realistic way onto a boat with no experience, and what safety and the off-season really look like.
See the seasons hubKey facts
- Senior sternman share
- ~20%
- Source: estimate, not sourced
- Typical lobster season
- 6 months, varies by LFA
- Snow crab season
- 2-3 months (Apr-Jul, Gulf/NL)
- Fisherman/woman median wage
- $27.77/hour
- Source: Job Bank, November 19, 2025
Related guides
Pay snapshot
Fishing crews aren't paid an hourly wage -- almost every deckhand works for a share of the boat's catch, split by role and experience. That means pay swings a lot season to season with catch volume and shore price, and it is concentrated into a short, intense season rather than spread evenly across the year. The roughly 10-20% share figures below are an estimate, not a sourced figure -- no government or industry body publishes a typical crew-share range, since share deals are set boat by boat. See the pay hub for how share percentages break down by role.
- Senior sternman share
- ~20%
- estimate, not sourced
- Typical lobster season
- 6 mo
- varies by LFA
- Snow crab season
- 2-3 mo
- Apr-Jul, Gulf/NL
Seasons and safety
Season timing depends on the fishery and area -- Southwest Nova lobster (LFA 33/34) opens on Setting Day in late November, PEI lobster runs two shorter spring and fall seasons, and snow crab in the Gulf and off Newfoundland runs spring into summer. It is also physically demanding, weather-dependent work with a real injury and fatality rate -- see our seasons hub and safety hub for the specifics.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a deckhand make on a lobster boat?
Deckhands are almost always paid a share of the boat's catch, not an hourly wage -- roughly 10-20% of gross landings depending on experience and role (bait boy, junior sternman, senior sternman) is the commonly cited range, but this is an estimate, not a sourced figure: no government or industry body publishes a typical crew-share percentage (checked 2026-09-08 against DFO, Nova Scotia's Labour Standards Code, and FFAW-Unifor, none of which publish one). Share deals are set boat by boat. Government of Canada Job Bank's separate wage report for Fisherman/woman (Canada) shows an overall low of $18.10/hour, median $27.77/hour, and high $60.00/hour, updated November 19, 2025 -- a broader, sourced comparison, not a share-percentage figure. See our pay hub for how shares actually work.
Can I get on a fishing boat with no experience?
Yes -- most crews take on at least one green hand each season, usually as a bait boy or junior deckhand. The realistic way in is showing up at the wharf before the season starts, asking captains directly, and being ready to work physically hard, early hours in bad weather. See our crews hub for how hiring actually works.
When does lobster season run in Nova Scotia?
Southwest Nova (LFA 33/34) runs late November to late May, opening on "Setting Day" -- historically the last Monday of November (2025 estimate, unconfirmed; confirm the exact date with DFO each year). Other Maritime LFAs run different windows -- see our seasons hub for lobster, crab, and other fisheries by area.
What do fishing crews do in the off-season?
Between seasons, most crews spend time on boat and gear maintenance, trap repair or replacement, and licence/paperwork renewals, and many take on other seasonal work. Income is concentrated in a short season and can vary a lot year to year with catch and price, so most experienced crew plan finances around a lean stretch rather than steady year-round pay.
Is online gambling legal in Nova Scotia?
Yes, but only through the Atlantic Lottery Corporation's regulated platform (alc.ca / proline.ca) -- Nova Scotia does not license any private online operators. Anyone 19 or older can use ALC's platform; see our comparison page for how that works in your own province.
Off-season entertainment
Some crew members use off-season downtime for regulated online gambling. If you do, only use operators or platforms registered in your own province -- Nova Scotia, PEI, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador all run through Atlantic Lottery's platform, and BC runs through PlayNow; see our full comparison page for Nova Scotia, or pick your province below.
Regulated online gambling in Canada is province by province. Every one of this site's five primary provinces (NS, PE, NB, NL, BC) is a government-platform-only market -- there is no private-operator comparison to make there, only the one regulated government platform. Alberta and Ontario residents browsing this site can compare AGLC- or AGCO/iGaming Ontario-registered operators directly.
Off-shift only. Never gamble on company networks or devices. Please play responsibly. Gambling should be entertainment, not income.