Gutting/Fresh vs. Fillet/Trimming for a future deckhand?
Hey everyone,
I’m a greenhorn currently working my first week at a land-based salmon fish factory. My ultimate goal is to get a job on a deep-sea trawler (targeting cod/whitefish).
I have a choice to make right now and I need advice from people who actually work on boats. I’ve been on the filleting line for 4 days, but now I have the option to either:
Move to the "Fresh" section (Gutting & Cleaning): Learning how to gut the fish, clean the bloodline, and handle raw product at high speed.
Stay and learn Trimming: Focusing on precision, removing bones, and making the fillets look perfect.
From a trawler crew’s perspective: which skill is more valuable for someone looking to get hired on a boat? Does being a fast and efficient "gutter" give me a better edge than being a "trimmer"?
I want to spend my time on land learning the skills that will actually make me useful on a deck during a heavy haul.
Thanks for any advice!