It must have been a fascinating trip. Imagine about 50-60 individuals, mostly all food industry professionals gathered up in Dutch Harbor, Alaska. Their purpose? To go where few such individuals have gone, to go crab fishing, to catch their own King crab, to watch the crab get hauled in, butchered, cleaned, and processed, then finally to eat their own ”Deadliest Catch“! How lucky for them! The team of people who make up the Crabbroker.com are on a life-mission to educate as many people as possible to the importance of Alaskan crab, it’s freshness, flavor, delicacy, and quality. It’s one thing to walk into a grocery store and purchase crab that’s labeled as “Alaskan“, quite another to catch your own dinner in the freezing cold waters of the Bering sea. And that’s why the Crabbroker sponsors an annual trip to Dutch Harbor and spends time with a small planeload of individuals. Now think about this: The Crabbroker is thinking about sponsoring a “fan” tour to Dutch Harbor next year–more on that as details become available…. (All photos are courtesy of the Crabbroker)
Russell Newberry of the F/V Timebandit (yes, he’s back) and look, it’s Eric Donaldson–elusive Crabbroker guy!
Jake Harris of the F/V Cornelia Marie
The F/V Cornelia Marie in port on one of her multiple offloads
Captain Johnathan and Andy Hillstrand of the F/V Time Bandit
opening up what appears to be a care package (from fans maybe?)
The F/V Time Bandit. She has a new paint job this season
The F/V Maverick pulling into port. She was captained by Blake Painter again this season
Someone’s terribly excited about leaving for Dutch Harbor, Alaska, today! His name is Jasper Mirabile, Jr., he’s a chef, and he’s headed North for a great tour today! This is part of his blog entry, you’ll have to visit his site to read the rest…
Tomorrow I leave for Dutch Harbor, Alaska and the Crab Tour! We will travel out to Dutch Harbor for the ‘07 Bristol Bay Red King Crab season. Dutch is about 800 miles Southwest of Anchorage in the Aleutian Islands. This is where the Discovery Channel films the Deadliest Catch every year. The boats fishing out of Dutch average 100-140 feet long, and bring in trips from 80,000 – 350,000#’s of live crab. We will observe crab offloaded, butchered, cooked and packaged for shipment.
I will be doing a LIVE! From Jasper’s Kitchen radio remote on Saturday morning. Darren Mark from KSHB 41 will be hosting my show at Regarding Kitchens and I will be calling in LIVE…
The Crabbroker has been in contact with the skippers we’ve come to know as the “Bad Boys of the Bering Sea”…The weather in the Bering sea started out as calm but is currently building up to 18-20 ft waves. The F/V Time Bandit will be fishing very late in the season this year and the F/V Cornelia Marie has a huge quota to fill. It seems as though Captains Johnathan and Andy Hillstrand have already received their share of bruises, there’s details of the incidents on the “Bad Boys” website and here as well. Not to worry though, they’re definitely fishing and havent slowed down at all!
The Crabbroker is headed to Dutch Harbor, Alaska this coming week and would like all “Deadliest Catch” fans to know that if there’s any possibility at all of arranging a surprise for us to see while there, they will do it! We’ll stay tuned for that!
(Photo at left is courtesy of the Crabbroker and is an example of their tasty crab)
As in previous years, the Crabbroker is sponsoring a trip to Dutch Harbor that will be filled with crab fishing, processing, and crab feasts. This year there are 63 people travelling with the Crabbroker. They consist of chefs, media, and restaurant industry insiders who are decision makers within their field. One person is coming all the way from Germany just to experience Alaskan King crab.
While there are many interesting reasons why people from outside of Alaska might want to travel to Dutch Harbor and fish for King crab, the Crabbroker wants to make sure that food industry insiders understand the tremendous care that the Alaska Fish & Game, the fishermen, and others involved in the fishing process take, to ensure that the Alaskan fisheries remain very sustainable–it’s an educational experience in addition to being an adventure for those who take the trip. Many food industry workers only have experience with purchasing Russian king crab. It is the Crabbroker’s hope that after an eye opening experience such as this, more and more will come to understand that sustainability is much more important then the bottom price of illegally caught Russian crab. Even Alaska publications have taken notice of The Crabbroker’s mission. Laine Welch from Fish Factor writes….
The Anchorage-based Crab Broker is famous for its fresh, never-frozen king crab. The Broker is also gaining fame for its annual “Connoisseur Tours” that bring chefs and upscale retailers right to the crab grounds.
Rob George and Eric Donaldson began organizing the tours two years ago during king crab fisheries at Nome and Dutch Harbor.
“We really wanted to get them in touch with their ingredients, and gain an appreciation of the Alaska industry,” said Rob George, as he prepared to set off to Dutch Harbor with the biggest group ever.
“We have more than 60 people coming from as far away as Germany. Others are from the Lower 48 — chefs, upscale retail buyers, some media,” he said.
The group will spend three days in Dutch as the season’s first king crab is offloaded next week.
The “Bad Boys of the Bering Sea” website, specifically their discussion forums are a hub of activity with all of the interesting photographs being posted. While they were touring the country this summer on their very popular “Bad Boy” tour, Captain Johnathan had his camera along and took pictures the whole time. And courtesy of both Johnathan Hillstrand and the Crabbroker, those images are being posted for all to see. Check out the Crabbroker forums and see all of them! Here are just a couple as a preview for you….
Captain Johnathan Hillstrand of the F/V Time Bandit (photos courtesy of the Crabbroker)
The skippers at the beginning of their summer tour (courtesy of the Crabbroker)
This is an interesting spontaneous off the cuff interview of Johnathan and Andy Hillstrand of the F/V Timebandit, joined by the Crabbroker. It’s a Tableside conversation podcast courtesy of the Tampa Tribune.
The Crabbroker along with his entourage of the very “deadly” Bad Boys of the Bering Sea, just spent the last two days in Tampa, Florida, spreading the word and raising awareness of Alaska fisheries, especially the crab fisheries. This could very well be their last pit stop before heading to Dutch Harbor for the October 15th King crab season. While in Tampa, the “Bad Boys”–specifically Captains Johnathan Hillstrand and Phil Harris–were interviewed on several radio shows. The first interview is from the MJ Morning Show 93.3 FLZ Tampa and it’s obvious that MJ himself, is a huge “Deadliest Catch” fan like the rest of us. On the youtube video clip, Jack Harris of Newsradio 970 WFLA and others interview the “Bad Boys of the Bering Sea”. Have a listen, and learn more about seafood, the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, and fishing in the Bering sea.
While in Tampa, Captains Andy and Johnathan Hillstrand pose with a couple of the guys who make up the team of individuals we’ve come to know as The Crabbrokers, who’ve sponsored the “Bad Boys of the Bering Sea” on a whirlwind cross-country tour in the latter part of this summer. No doubt they’re already planning events for next year.
Second interview:
In the last two days alone, Captains Phil Harris and Johnathan Hillstrand have attended meet and greet events, both to the public and VIP at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. They also attended a crab dinner in the Hard Rock’s new restaurant, they’ve given several interviews on radio, appeared on CNN’s Larry King Live show, and more. Between travelling, preseason filming for season 4 of “Deadliest Catch”, prepping their fishing vessels, and planning out their fishing strategy, they will somehow have to fit in a little rest!
Hail to the Crabbroker for consistently bringing us news and photos on the latest appearances made by the “Bad Boys of the Bering Sea”
Their latest stop was in the Dover, Delaware area where they made as many appearance as “humanly” possible in a five day period.
The Crabbroker described their agenda in Dover as aggressive but considering that time is very short to the October 15th opening of King Crab season for 2007 , these fishermen were determined to meet as many fans as possible on their quest to raise awareness of Alaskan fisheries and their importance.
If you get the chance, visit the Cornelia Marie and Time Bandit sites and wish them good luck up in the Bering Sea next month!
(More photos to come)
The latest Dover events were attended by none other then Captain Phil Harris, deckhands Jake and Josh Harris, Captain Johnathan Hillstrand, Neal Hillstrand, Captain Andy Hillstrand, and deckhand Russell Newberry. (All photos are courtesy of The Crabbroker, and to see more photos, please check out their website for the Bad Boys of the Bering Sea)
In Friday night’s race–September 21st–Jamerson Sports car #84
Yes, the “Bad Boys of the Bering Sea” were definitely “wanted” if the fans have anything to say about it!
A little happy moment of rest perhaps by Andy Hillstrand of the F/V Timebandit and Phil Harris of the F/V Cornelia Marie
Right on the track are Neal Hillstrand, Josh Harris, Russell Newberry, Jake Harris, and Andy Hillstrand
The good deeds of the “Bad Boys of the Bering Sea” have garnered the attention of Margaret Bauman of the Alaska Journal of Commerce. Bauman often covers events in the Alaskan crab fisheries, especially those connected to Discovery’s show, “Deadliest Catch.” Article is reprinted with written permission of Margaret Bauman…
Bering Sea boys promote Alaska king crab with fanfare
High-end purveyors of succulent wild Alaska king crab are incorporating everything from charity events to attire in a new campaign to promote the succulent shellfish.
Bering Sea Bad Boys, featuring some of the vessel captains who starred in the Discovery Channel’s “Deadliest Catch” series, helped a children’s hospital charity in Sarasota, Fla., raise more than $44,000 in mid-August.
Four Bering Sea crab boat captains showed up for the event, which included an auction of items including a crab boat life preserver and a connoisseurs’ trip to Dutch Harbor in October to watch the king crab harvest start to come in.
“It was a huge success, and these guys (the crab captains) did it on their own dime,” said Eric Donaldson, who heads the offices of the Crab Broker in Sarasota.
Donaldson and Rob George of the Crab Broker office in Las Vegas have collaborated with the crab boat captains for public appearances and Bering Sea Bad Boys merchandise to promote the attributes of wild Alaska crab over the competition, particularly Russian king crab.
“Everyone thinks when they go to the store it is Alaska king crab they are buying,” Donaldson said. As a processed product, king crab does not fall under the federal Country of Original Origin Labeling laws, so many shoppers purchase Russian crab, which does not come from a sustainable fishery. The Russian crab generally sells at a lower price.
Jasper Mirabile, Jr., he’s a chef, and he’s headed North for a great tour today! This is part of his blog entry, you’ll have to visit his 
The Crabbroker is headed to Dutch Harbor, Alaska this coming week and would like all “Deadliest Catch” fans to know that if there’s any possibility at all of arranging a surprise for us to see while there, they will do it! We’ll stay tuned for that! 
