How long does it take to become a kingcrab fisherman?

the $$ you quote is if you own your own fishing boat, not as a crew member. You start of as a crew member to examine and study the trade. You need to learn how to secure a contract with the crab wholesalers who will buy your catch, which pays by the ton. It takes tremendous investment in equipment to start your own crab fishing operation, not to mention the number of fishermen you're competing with. Factor-in the possibility that you come back to retrieve your cages, only to learn that some other fisherman had harvested and stolen your catches. I've watched "Deadliest Catch" on the Discovery Channel, and this thought had occurred to me, but the supposedly unscripted show never mentions this scenario, which leaves me to suspect they created the show to lure other people into buying a fishing boat, and getting into this trade. If you want to research this profession some more, as opposed to getting hired on as a crew member on a fishing boat, I'd suggest ordering the DVD links I've provided, or if you go on Ebay, you might find someone who's selling his/her copy of Deadliest Catch.