Anyone have any contact info for fish spotting companies that operate around the Gulf of Mexico? I've heard pleanty of stories of lots of flying for low time pilots, but haven't been able to track down any companies that actually do this.

I was able to get a hold of someone at Omega Proteins, but they were not sure if they were hiring pilots, and just sent me a job-unspecific employment app.

 

Seems like you gotta know somebody.

 

I have been trying to get into that as well. I think the only problem is that Fish and Game have been cracking down on the use of aircraft for spotting because the fisheries have gone down so incredibly much. I have just been trying anything lately. Even in California they have cut it out.

 

The fish spotters I've met in the Northeast are all independent contractors, own and maintain their own aircraft and have deals cut with the boat captains to get a percentage of the catch when they're out spotting. They head south for the winter with their planes and spot for people through the southeast. One of the guys I knew had this Citabria all decked out with some heavy duty radios and extended range fuel tanks. If you can get on with a fishing company that owns the plane I guess it's a way to build time, sitting in a single-piston in a dry suit a few hundred miles off shore isn't very appealing to most.

 

I have a buddy that does fish spotting off the Gulf Coast. I also know alot of other spotter pilots. They rarely have an open spot. People don't leave often since they make decent money and are off for 6 months out of the year. Like someone said earlier, you have to know someone.

 

This pretty much sum sit up on the west coast. As the actual fishing opportunities have declined, the people I know have all shifted to mexico, game management/tracking contracts, or both.

I would think the best approach would be to try to get on with a company that tracks/surveys wildlife. This is similar flying and you might meet an off-season fish-spotter or two for networking. Wildlife tracking is more likely to be done by a company which employs pilots as opposed to owner-operators...they operate on a fixed-price contract.

Spotters are less likely to hire anyone else to fly their plane...they usually only get paid if they find fish (on a percentage-of-catch basis), and one big catch can make or break your whole year! Those guys are not going to be kicking back in the hanger while a low-time (or low-experience) pilot is out there missing the catch! They will fly16-20 hours if needed.

If you get into fishing keep your head on a swivel and buy a portable TCAS if the plane doesn't have one.

If I had a choice (and I do), I'd rather be a regional FO. Well I guess if my choice was mesa or fishing, I'd have to go fishing.

 

Exactly! The guys I know have 10 hour endurances on their planes with those extended tanks, they work their tails off to get paid.

There definitely has to be wildlife organizations tracking whales and the like I would guess, not sure how to go about getting a job at those places.

 

Well i know the Forrestry Department always has adds up looking for pilots but they are very big on hiring local pilots. I agree though 10 hours in a single piston over the ocean is not my thoughts of paradise also stuck in a dry suit? You'd have to fly with the windows open jsut so you don't boil.

 

Aren't those mesa guys fishing anyways? or at least I hope they know how.