Discovery’s Live Chat with Russell Newberry–Time Bandit 07/08/08

So who doesn’t love Russell Newberry, veteran deckhand on the F/V Time Bandit?  Since he joined the show, he’s been a prominent fisherman and speaker on both ‘Deadliest Catch’ and ‘After the Catch’.  And here’s what you may not know…Russell Newberry is a lifesaver and I’m not just referring to the dramatic rescue he and the Time Bandit crew executed in season 3 of ‘Deadliest Catch’.  Russell has also been instrumental in saving the life of Capt. Johnathan Hillstrand, as the skipper himself, explains in his book “Time Bandit”.  Haven’t read it yet?  you may want to consider doing so but in the meantime, check out one of discovery’s last livechats of the season, below:

Discovery: Welcome to our weekly Deadliest Catch chat series. Tonight’s guest is Russell Newberry, deck boss of the Time Bandit. Find out what he thought of Season 4 on the show and what life at sea with the Hillstrands is really like.

Russell Newberry: Yo ho ho, and a bottle of rum! I hope everyone’s maintaining an even keel!

Bandita TBM Erin: RUSS! Thanks for taking time from fishing to join us. What does your family, especially your daughter, think of your newfound fame of being on the show?

Russell Newberry: My daughter is just starting to watch TV and she realizes that it’s being a hit show and kids are asking her in school. I think overall she is enjoying the whole experience of watching me on TV.

Bandita Jackie: Hi Russell, Bandita Jax here. How has being on Deadliest Catch changed your life?

Russell Newberry: Ha! Well, you know, I can’t believe it took the Deadliest Catch 45 years to discover me! Why did I have to go through 20 years of crabbing to finally be discovered? LOL Jake and Josh, they’re 20 year old kids – why couldn’t I have been discovered when I was 20?

Erika: What was the hardest lesson you ever learned on any ship and why?

Russell Newberry: The first lesson you learn is you be quick or you be squished. Get the heck out of the way, and watch everything around you. There are so many bad situations that can happen, so the way the boat rolls or something comes loose on the boat, it can be a dangerous situation all around. The main thing we try to do is keep the water on the outside of the boat!

Stephanie: From a deckhand’s point of view, what is the most demanding job on a crab boat?

Russell Newberry: Everybody on the boat has to keep their eyes and ears open. The most dangerous job is just trying to keep the boat afloat, and it’s hard to relax when you’re on a boat. As Captain Andy likes to say, complacency will kill you. So it’s hard to stay on top of everything and keep aware. It’s very light sleeping.

Sigsgurl: Hi Russ! Thanks for joining us! I was wondering…is John as crazy off camera as he is on?

Russell Newberry: Johnathan is the same all the time. If you want to see something change, you’d better go to the weather. Johnathan is just a fun guy to be around all the time.

CorneliaStephanie: Hey Russell! What is your least/most favorite memory from the Bering Sea?

Russell Newberry: My least favorite is the year we didn’t catch any crab. My favorite is the year we caught more than anyone else.

Bandita Paris: Hey Russ, Bandita Paris here. How large was the biggest salmon you’ve ever caught?

Russell Newberry: Me personally, I caught a 67 pound king salmon but the world record is 97.2 pounds.

Slithinator: Russ, what is it like working with the Hillstrand brothers?

Russell Newberry: First of all, they get the job done collectively. It’s like Andy gets up in the morning and gets everyone going, does the paperwork, and then he bows out and goes and does skipper stuff. Then Neal gets up at 11 and takes over, and we work until 8 or so. It’s like passing the baton. When we’re finished with Neal, then Johnathan takes over and says we have to go to the bar. He says that he’ll hire you, but if you have to hang out with him, you’ll probably get fired.

Dawn: Evening Russ. You are in fish camp right now, correct? How long is that season, and is that regulated by government or nature?

Russell Newberry: Yes, we are in fish camp. We’re trying to catch Alaskan wild salmon and it lasts approximately the month of July. Unfortunately the government does step in the way a little much. The general rule is everything is done by nature, and we get regulated by the government and sometimes overregulated. But it’s overseen by how many fish we can catch collectively as a fleet.

Karen: What is the MAJOR responsibility of a deck boss?

Russell Newberry: First of all, you have to pay attention to everybody and what they’re doing. As an experienced deckhand on a boat, you can look around and it’s not only what you see, but also what you hear. There’s a lot of crane stuff with these big pots so you have to use your ears all the time too. Like I said, you have to keep on eye on everybody else at all times.

Abby19: Russ, do you watch the show each week if you are able to? How do you like seeing yourself on TV?

Russell Newberry: No, I don’t watch every week; it depends on how my salmon fishing is going. Sometimes I can pick up reruns. I don’t know how they’re going to edit the show, so it’s like I’m seeing it for the first time even though I’m the star of the show! I’ve taken lots of videos in the past, and I’ve always thought people would be interested in watching that kind of show.

Hollie: Hi Russ, thanks for taking time out to be here with us. I just wanted to know, apart from fishing…what’s your favorite pastime?

Russell Newberry: Hmmm….let’s see. I very much enjoy riding my motorcycle with my dad. I’m an avid snowmobiler in the winter. And I very much enjoy taking my daughter to fun things. She’s a good age to go to amusement parks like Disney World and Six Flags. She will be 8 in September, so I’m still the hero in her eyes. I really enjoy this age – when she started going to school and learning how to raise her hand, and whatnot.

Time Bandit Fan: Russell, what were you feeling during the rescue of Josh White last year?

Russell Newberry: I couldn’t believe it! I couldn’t believe there was a chance that I was going to have to get into the Bering Sea for the first time in my career. This went on in my mind about 20 seconds before I got on deck. There was a lot going through my mind as I got my survival suit on and prepared to actually get in the water. Fortunately he wasn’t in the water long enough, so he still had his faculties. So when we got to him, he was able to help get himself into the boat.

BeringQueen: Hey Russ, congrats on an awesome season, as far as we have seen any how. I am a new DC addict and was wondering what it means when y’all are talking about “new crab” moving in? Thanks for your time and God Bless the DC crew!!!

Russell Newberry: Crab are down there milling around, and they migrate. Some of the older crab stay in one spot, so we’re capable of catching all the crab in one spot. We have honey holes and highways that the crab like moving in, so “new crab” means there’s a band of crab down there and they’re moving through.

Chettas Mom: Hi Russ, how soaking wet do your clothes actually get underneath your outer gear and how warm are the rooms where you guys eat/sleep etc.? What is the temperature?

Russell Newberry: Inside the house it’s like living in a house. It’s as warm as I want to make it in my room, sometimes too warm. We have heaters and thermostats, so we live very comfortably. But I get pretty wet underneath depending on the weather and if the waves are coming over the bow. I always have to put my raincoat hood on, and I always wear a baseball hat so I can duck behind the bill of it, so to speak.

Bandita SeaSteph: Hey Russ! What is the name of the boat you fish on for salmon season? Do you own it and how long is it?

Russell Newberry: I own a 32 foot aluminum commercial Gillnetter in Cook Inlet, Alaska where we catch wild Alaskan salmon. It is called the Wildcat.

Jenn: How do you guys not get hypothermia working in below freezing temperatures with freezing spray?

Russell Newberry: First of all, we keep ourselves dry. We start out wearing layered clothing, and any time we get cold, we can go in and change our clothes. You fall down and get wet, you can go in and change any time you want. On the Time Bandit we have a 2 man sauna, and it just stays on all the time. It’s 100 degrees in there, so I can open the door and sit in there with my rain gear on. That’s why Johnathan named me Insauna Bin Russell. The in-sauna asylum!

Florida Cin: Hello Russell from sunny Florida…..Have you read the Time Bandit book? And if you did what did you think of it? Also aren’t you supposed to be fishing salmon now?

Russell Newberry: Yes I did read the book. I’m in the book! I enjoyed the book (of course, I’m biased). I liked it and these guys are friends of mine, so I was glad someone came up with the idea to write a book. And I am currently fishing salmon in Cook Inlet, Alaska.

Seattle Texan: Hi Russell. Neil retired from deckwork this year, but aren’t you and the Hillstrands about the same age? How long do you plan on continuing to work on deck?

Russell Newberry: Yeah, I am – Johnathan’s a year older than me, and I’m a year older than Andy. I feel pretty good physically. Of course, every time I’ve gone out on a boat, every single trip I’ve made since I was 20ish, I’ve said I’m never going to do this again. Then again at the end of every trip, I go to the bank all moneyed up with 2 months off, so I kind of like the lifestyle. As far as retiring, there’s a fine line between retiring and being unemployed.

Bencha68: Hi Russell, it’s an honor to be talking to you. I’ve noticed that when it comes to fishing on the Bering Sea, superstition plays a big role. What role does it play on the Time Bandit?

Russell Newberry: We try to pay attention to the superstitions, but we don’t practice them when there’s crab to be caught. We knock on wood and do the silly things, but when it’s time to go crabbing, it’s time to go crabbing.

Tabi: Hi Russ, greetings from Southern Ontario! You work in a unique situation where you have different captains for king crab and opilio. Who is your favourite boss and the one you prefer at the wheel, Andy or Johnathan?

Russell Newberry: First of all, they both can catch crab, and that’s the number one thing. I don’t care who’s up there- it can be King Kong, and if he can catch crab, I don’t care. Johnathan and Andy have different styles for catching crab. Andy’s way more methodical and scientific, whereas Johnathan tries to think like a crab and go on gut instinct.

Millicent: Hi Russell! Thank you for chatting with us this evening! I was just wondering if you all listen to music on the deck or just listen to the sound of the waves and each other talking?

Russell Newberry: We’ve listened to very loud classic rock’n'roll, but now that the Discovery Channel is involved, we’re not allowed to play music so they can capture all the little things we say for the camera. But yes, we would like to listen to more music.

Megan8291: What is it like to have so many people of the same family on the boat?

Russell Newberry: LOL Well there were 4 Hillstrands on the boat at one point, and it’s all right. They’re a family of fishermen from way back and they know what needs to be done. They’re good hard workers, and they’re fun to be around.

LauraC: Hi Russ! I love your sense of humor and you are my favorite deckhand! We hear over and over that being a deckhand is for guys in their 20’s. How are you able to keep up with all these deckhands that are half your age? Is it because you’ve been working on boats for a long time, or do you have an anti-aging secret

Russell Newberry: LOL Yes, I have found the Fountain of Youth. The difference between myself and a younger deckhand is I have enough experience to know when to sit down! I know when it’s time to take a nap. I’ve learned shortcuts, one of which being getting in and out of my gear as quick as possible. The new guys on the boat, it takes 15 minutes to get into their gear. Me, it takes 30 seconds. I have a routine I’ve had for years, and I can do it in my sleep now. A lot of guys need to get up, drink a pot of coffee, smoke a pack of cigarettes. For me, it’s kind of like Superman going through a phone booth – I put on my boots and just get out on the deck.

Cornelia Stephanie: Hey Russell! what is the brand of gear you guys wear, the orange bibs?

Russell Newberry: It’s called Grundens of Sweden. And it’s good. There are several different brands of rain gear out there, and I’ve tried them all. Each brand is a little different – how you like the sleeves, collar, snaps, etc. Grundens fit me comfortably. For me, I can tell when I’m not wearing Grundens and if I have something else on.

Kaylee: How long does it actually take for the pot to come up off the bottom? In the show, the time between is always edited out.

Russell Newberry: Right, you stand there. The time you turn the block on full bore to the time it hits the bottom of the boat is anywhere from a minute to a minute and a half. That’s depending on whether you’re king crabbing or opilio crabbing because the lines are longer for opies. That gives you enough time between pots to clear the table. So it takes us longer to catch the opies than it does the king crab.

Crowe Sean: Even among the various crews of the crab fleet, the Time Bandit crew seems to have a sort of “cowboy” mentality. Do you think your crew is that much more wild than your cohorts, or is that just a product of the show?

Russell Newberry: I wouldn’t say “wild” is the word, I’d say the camaraderie on our boat makes us look more wild because we go out in one great big group. You don’t see a whole lot of fighting going on on our vessel.

Therod: What is the purpose of those orange glasses you wear while working on deck and where did you get them?

Russell Newberry: Every time I wipe those glasses off with a rag, my eyeballs thank me because otherwise everything on them would be in my eyes. Safety first, safety always. Those are a safety product from the Prudhoe
Bay oil fields. A friend of mine supplies me with them.

Lhiiiz: Russ, what’s your favorite thing that you’ve gotten to do since you’re on DC?

Russell Newberry: My favorite thing, off the television? I got involved with a NASCAR team, Jamerson Motorsports. Go Number 84! They’ve taken me under their wing, and taken me to various NASCAR events. I’m looking forward to the fall so I can go to some more.

Aryli: Hi, Russell. Thanks for being here tonight. In the book Time Bandit, Johnathan tells us about how his boat, Fishing Fever, lost power and was drifting. You found his boat and towed him out of danger. How did you know something was wrong with Johnathan and what were you thinking when you found him?

Russell Newberry: First of all, we try to keep track of everyone. We had an opening that day, so there were 200 boats out. It was flat calm that day, so nobody was worried. Sometimes we lose contact phone wise and radio wise because everyone’s going out in different directions. When we came back to fish camp, normally since I’m the slowest, I’m the last one in. So when I came in and Johnathan wasn’t there, I started to get concerned. So I went looking for him, and ended up finding him. When I found him, I thought phew, he’s still floating! And then prepared myself for the long trip home.

NosyNora: So Russ, how has your social life changed since this time last year? Still have to introduce yourself to women?

Russell Newberry: I’m not one of the skippers, you know, the more popular faces on the show. I still have to bring up the subject of the Deadliest Catch and then they go, “Oh, that’s you? Oh, the Time Bandit is my favorite. Johnathan’s my favorite!” I tell people I’m the Ringo Starr of the Time Bandit crew.

Lauren: Hi! I was just wondering who is the messiest in the bunks? Or are all of you guys organized? Good luck fishing and be safe!!

Russell Newberry: All right, this is putting me on the spot – who’s the pig on the boat? I can’t say, because his last name starts with an H. So you can take your pick! I can’t disclose that information; someone would get mad at me.

Stargate: Hey Russell, how do they get the shots of the boats when they are out on sea? Is the Time Bandit trailed by other boats? Does that make you feel safer?

Russell Newberry: Yeah, I guess I can say there’s another boat comes out and films us to get a different viewing perspective. And yes, it’s comforting to know there’s another vessel over there floating. So it’s nice. And there’s lots of boats out crabbing, in the vast Bering Sea.

WI Dan: You sound like a very intelligent man. What’s your educational background?

Russell Newberry: LOL Well I have a high school diploma, but I went to college for 3 years. Growing up in Alaska, you went one of three ways in the late 70s – either the North Slope for the oil fields, or the Bering Sea, or you went to college. I took the third option, and went to college in Montana. Then I realized that I could make more money going crabbing than I could with the teaching degree I was enrolled in.

Discovery Livechat with Capt Phil Harris from 07/01/08

Phil Harris:  The man every one would like to hear about and from these days!  His health crisis continues for a few more months so read up on one of ‘Deadliest Catchs’ favorite skippers.  He’s forever thankful to his fans and continues to make appearances throughout the summer as he works on his health.  Discovery has set up a link for fans to send get well wishes to Capt Phil…You may want to hop over and say your piece!

Phil Harris: I would like to thank everybody that sent cards and presents, little gifts, get well cards, there was a pile of them. I’d like to thank each and every one of you for doing that, you didn’t need to do that. I looked at and read every one of them, and I appreciate it. I’d like to thank the individuals who did that.

eddie and diann: Hey Phil, my wife and I think you and the Cornelia Marie are the best part of the show, so are you getting better?
Phil Harris: It’s hard to say. I’m on a six month program as far as medicine, and I still have 2 months to go before they go back in and see if the blood clot dissolved or if we’re going to have problems. I look better than I did, I was pretty run down. I also have to go to the hospital every three or four days, even now.

Time Bandit fan: Phil what happened to you during the hurricane?
Phil Harris: Well, it was blowing easterly about 100 out, we were hit by a great big wave and it launched me from the bed into the wall.

paula2317: We love watching the show, but being a parent myself, how hard is it to be the dad with the boys on deck as part of the crew?
Phil Harris: Well, it’s kind of hard with those two because Ding and Dong know exactly how to push my buttons like nobody else can. It’s rewarding, being able to watch your kids, and hang out with them in a work environment. It’s sometimes nerve-wracking also because those guys can bring my blood to a boil.

Laura: Hello Captain Phil. How is it working with the film crew?
Phil Harris: The film crew’s great. You start out and you have a time where they’re getting to know you and you’re getting to know them. It’s about a two week thing where you get to know each other and come to some ground and start progressing to where they can get some work done and I respond more to their questions. It takes a little bit, though, a couple week deal before I get to know the guy. The two film crews I’ve had on the boat were great guys. The one was very instrumental in helping me when I was sick. He kind of took care of me, went way above and beyond being a cameraman.

Sarahlu03: Captain Phil, thank you for giving us your time tonight, I am happy to hear that everything is going to be ok with you! I was just wondering why doesn’t the Cornelia Marie have a sorting table like the other boats?
Phil Harris: Number one, I’m not okay yet. Like I said, I still have 2 months to go. We don’t know whether I’m going to be all right or not. I’m kind of in a zone where anything could happen, that blood clot could turn around and go to my heart again, I wouldn’t survive it a second time. I still have 2 months of medication and then we see what’s going.
As far as a sorting table, we have one that’s built into our launcher which we sort from, which is different than the rest of the guys. It works, it’s a lot faster. As time goes by, I might switch to a sorting table like the other guys have. For the time being, our sorting table works great and the guys don’t want to change it.

HeidiJJ: OK, the mullet thing. I’ve been watching since season one, and have never seen any of you guys with an “authentic” mullet. Tell your kids to go rent “Joe Dirt” – that’s a mullet! So is this an inside family joke that just hasn’t been explained well in editing, or are your kids really too young to know? BTW – Your hair? The longer the better!
Phil Harris: Well, thank you very, very much. And that’s exactly the way I feel. They get a kick out of claiming that I have a mullet. They think that’s funny, I try to remind them daily that they’re idiots. But, I just have a normal haircut, it’s the way I’ve worn my hair forever. So, thank you very much for saying something nice about the hairdo.

 

 Capt Phil signing the ‘Deadliest Catch’ book

 

Lhiiiz: Phil, you credit the camera man with watching over you during your illness, so do you think without him there things would have been…more dire?
Phil Harris: Yeah, they could have. He was there, kept an eye on me. I couldn’t lay down because my lungs were filling up with blood. When I was lying down, Todd made sure if I was falling asleep, that I could clear my lungs, they were filling with blood and you can drown on your own blood. He made sure I was up and okay so that I didn’t drown.

hrussell: Phil, how is your health going? What is going to happen if you can not be on the boat anymore?
Phil Harris: I don’t have an answer to that question, I don’t know what’s going to happen. I’m not ready to retire. I still love what I do. It’s going to be a bad day if they tell me I can’t go back. I don’t know what’s going to happen, I’d probably freak out. I don’t want to think about that. Crabbing’s the only thing I’ve ever done that I enjoy. I hope and pray that’s not the case.

Vickie: I read somewhere that you make bird feeders in your spare time. I was wondering if you sell them online? If so where can I buy one?
Phil Harris: Well, I don’t sell them online. I build them, custom build them. I built one for the president of Boeing. One for a memorial for a kid killed in Iraq. They’re a lot of money, like $1,000 apiece. They’re custom built and I make them especially for that person. I find out what that person likes, what his hobbies are – if he plays golf or whatever – and I build the birdfeeder to match what he does.

slushie000: What’s the rest of your family like?
Phil Harris: Well, there’s only my two boys, my dad and myself. I think everybody knows what my kids are like. And then my dad, He’s kind of the rock of all of us.

 

Laura: Was there any other career you wanted to do besides crab fishing?
Phil Harris: I had dreams like any kid, I still feel like I’m a kid in my mind. Sure, fly airplanes, build things. There’s all sorts of different things I’d like to do. We might be trying them out here shortly if things don’t go right.

Kris: On the show tonight your boys seemed composed at the news about your health. Tough guys; how were Jake and Josh really dealing with the news?
Phil Harris: Well, their maturity kind of showed, they kind of kept themselves together. Jacob is a very private man, he just shows his emotions, he holds that by himself. He worries just as much as Josh about me, he just does it in a different way. Where Joshua is a little more free-wheeling. I’m proud of them both. They knew what was going on with me but they were able to hold it together, keep going and do their jobs. That’s a big deal to me. I was worried about that; if those guys are not doing their job, someone’s going to get hurt and then we’d have a hell of a problem then.

Tiger: Phil, have you had any other major problems with your heart, lungs, etc., since your blood clot?
Phil Harris: No, I haven’t. In the hospital, they came and checked out my heart and my lungs. They told me the only reason I survived this thing in the first place was my heart was in real good shape. They said on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being best, my heart was a 10 if not an 11. And they looked at my lungs, they were kind of surprised, my lungs were clean for as bad as I abused my body. One person said they looked like the lungs of an older person’s who didn’t smoke.

hurrican47: How old were you when you first started crab fishing?
Phil Harris: I was 17 years old when I first went fishing.

Bandtia TBWench Lori: Hi Phil–Bandita Lori here. Is it your hope that one day your sons will take over the boat? Become the captain or co-captains of it? Thanks for chattin’ with us!
Phil Harris: That’s entirely up to them. It would be great for me, but that’s a big deal. That’s a major, major big deal. They have to go to school and get their licenses. They’d have to do so much stuff, put in a lot of time, they’d have to really want it. I don’t know if they’re prepared to put that kind of time in. Jacob maybe.
When I first started running boats it was a lot easier to go up in the wheelhouse and run a boat. There’s so many different licenses and regulations now, you have to really want it to run a boat. I probably would be more proud of the fact that they get the knowledge, and learn how to run a boat. In all honesty, you really have to have your stuff together to run a boat. Not only for the insurance but the Coast Guard. You have to be voted in by other fishermen to get insurance and be able to run the boat and get insured. You have to be voted in an insurance pool. So other fishermen decide whether I’m able to run a boat. If they made it even that far I’d be exceptionally proud of them.

Sheryl: Playing practical jokes between Captains makes it seem like you guys really like each other. Blake seemed to appreciate the attention you paid him when you welded his pot. What’s your most memorable practical joke that was played on you?
Phil Harris: Wow! There’s been so many. I’ve had a mannequin come up in the pot all dressed up in raingear, and it looked like someone got stuck and went over with it. They’ve turned the clocks ahead on me and made it appear we slept for 12 hours when we actually slept for 15 minutes and got me all in a tizzy. They’ve done stupid stuff, put something in my bunk or cellophane over the toilet, etc. The list goes on and on.

 

 Capt Phil & Crew, season 4. (photo courtesy of Discovery)

 

Slithinator: If you had to choose between having no Red Bull for a day, or having no cigarettes for a day, which one would you choose?
Phil Harris: Well, I’m trying to stop smoking, but I’d have to say I’d rather have the cigarettes than Red Bull. I’m really trying to quit, I really need to quit. I understand I’m not going to do it in a day, but I’ve cut back by extreme amounts, and trying to get myself in the mindset that you just can’t smoke anymore. So, I’d have to say cigarettes.

FVCM rocks my world: Hi Phil! Last week Josh mentioned the new clothing line added for the Cornelia Marie – and he credited you completely for the creation of the polka dot thong. Any plans to continue making CM stuff for women?
Phil Harris: Yeah. If you go to our website http://www.captainphilharris.com it just got started, but we’re coming up with new stuff all the time. If anyone has ideas, feel free to email me or send them through MySpace or the Wiki at http://www.deadliest-catch-wiki.discovery.com/?t=anon. We’re looking for suggestions all the time.

Discovery’s Livechat with Capt. Andy Hillstrand from 06/10/08

Discovery’s Livechat from June 19th, 2008 was held with Capt. Andy Hillstrand of the F/V Time Bandit.  When this skipper’s not out in the Bering sea, he’s on his horse ranch in Indiana–always maintaining a close relationship with Mother Nature!  Read up on what Capt. Andy has to say about crab, fishing, and family.  The Hillstrands have done alot throughout this last season–they created a new Time Bandit website, just completely over-hauled the Time Bandit this summer, and a few months ago–they visited their father’s grave for the first time in six years, and shared that visit with us on ‘Deadliest Catch’.  Check out being a part of livechat for next week as they’re interviewing Capt. Johnathan Hillstrand on July 10th!

Andy Hillstrand: Hey, this is Captain Andy of the Time Bandit. I’m glad to be here. Last year’s chat was awesome, and I can’t wait to hear the questions this year!

Jenn: First, I want to say that I had the pleasure of meeting you at the Philly Deadliest Catch party and you were so great with the fans, thank you! My question is how did you become interested in training horses?

Andy Hillstrand: My daughter got into horses around 7 years old, so I was sort of like the tack dad. I took her to events, and from there I just fell in love with horses: the way they move and look and act.

Shake And Bake: Hey Captain Andy! I read somewhere that you practice Natural Horsemanship – any particular clinician?
Andy Hillstrand: Probably a friend of mine named Barry Cox. Clinton Anderson’s good, and so are Cleve Wells and Craig Cameron – all the guys nowadays are really good.

The Galway Girl: Hi Andy! I have two questions really: I’m a Parelli student and was wondering what level are you on and how, if at all, you work the Parelli games and principles into your Quarter Horse training?

Andy Hillstrand: I’m working on Level 3. I just work the program by being as natural as I can, using my body language, psychology, and having fun. I play with my horses, instead of making it a task.

Mandy: Hi Captain Andy! Was your home in Indiana hit by the floods?

Andy Hillstrand: No, 40 miles north got hit, but we didn’t. Thank God. We’ve had enough rain lately!

Sandi: Other than your wife and family, what do you miss the most while you are at sea?

Andy Hillstrand: My horses And my dogs. I can’t forget my dogs. I have 2 miniature Australian Shepherds: Bait (because if he’s not good, that’s what he’ll be!) and Callie.

The Galway Girl: Which crab season is your favorite and why?

Andy Hillstrand: King crab is my favorite season because they’re just so big and beautiful and I don’t have to worry about being the captain, I can just have fun on deck. Horsing around, no worries.

Bwest: Captain Andy, thanks for chatting with us. Love your show. Could you tell me what caused the crab to die in the onboard tank? Thanks very much.

Andy Hillstrand: They can crack a leg and die in there, or they might be dead when they go in the tank and someone didn’t notice. When they’re dead, they excrete a poison, and that starts killing all the other crabs.

Llama: Hi Andy! I’d like to say thank you for signing the blue shoes my friends Freida brought to the Wiki party. How does living in Indiana compare to Alaska?

Andy Hillstrand: There’s no comparison really. Alaska is like a place out of a storybook. But Indiana has really nice people, and it’s a lot less extreme than Alaska in the weather. It seems to be easier on my horses in the summertime.

Capt Marlena: What’s with John being in the wheel house? Though we love him, we like to have you to ourselves. By the way, my friend Joanie thinks John is hot. Come warm up in Naples, FL.

Andy Hillstrand: (laughing) Well Johnathan will be going down on deck for guest appearances, so stay tuned! But since they downsized the whole fleet, there’s no other boats for us to run. That’s why I work on deck for king crab: he’s just too old to work on deck for king crab! (He won’t be back from Sweden for 10 days, so I’m OK saying that)

Chip2004: What is your favorite place that you have gone on tour?

Andy Hillstrand: I have to say New York City, because there are just so many different places you can go without ever seeing the same thing.

Chip2004: What is your favorite TV show besides Deadliest Catch?

Andy Hillstrand: There’s a horse channel on RFD, but I don’t get it, because it’s only available on satellite. I love Shark Week on Discovery. When we were in New York,I wanted a giant shark from the Discovery building, but they wouldn’t give it to me.

Aroostook: I read somewhere that Neal has 2 sons. Are they interested in fishing at all?

Andy Hillstrand: Yes, Neal has two sons, and no, they’re not.

Lhiiiz: Hi Andy! Whose idea was it to put the new bulbous bow on the Time Bandit, and what purpose does it serve?

Andy Hillstrand: I’ve wanted one ever since we built the boat, but my dad wasn’t going to help us put it on. It adds flotation to the bow, about 20,000 pounds of lift. So when we have our pots on and all of our tanks down, there will be less chance of sinking. It’s very good. We gain speed too, and save fuel. We’re going green!

Scfj654: While you are taking the helm, do you ever get tips from Johnathan on where to place pots?

Andy Hillstrand: Yes, even when I didn’t want ‘em! On the first episode of opilio, we went to where he did good last year. And this year, we went to Magoo and landed on the mother lode. So in 12 hours we were pulling 700 crabs per pot.

Rocket-6: Hey Andy! Will there be more dates added for your book tour?

Andy Hillstrand: Yes, they’re talking about it. If you go to www.timebandit.tv, you can keep informed on all our appearances.

Eraywt: Thank you Captain Andy for spending time with us tonight. Please let us know your best crab season ever. What makes it the best – the most crab or the most $$?

Andy Hillstrand: My best crab season ever was 1999; I caught 1.7 million pounds of opilio in two months and one week. The guys made $72,000. It was one of those years where you couldn’t do anything wrong. I could drop a pot where I wouldn’t normally drop one, and it would be full. I was thinking like a crab That was in open access days, before quotas.

LindaMae: Are you and your brother close the rest of the year too, or just on the boat?

Andy Hillstrand: We’re best friends as far as that goes, but we don’t get to hang out too much in the summertime because I have the horse ranch. And he’s the single ladies’ man.

Munchkin: So if you had no choice and had to do something else, what would it be?

Andy Hillstrand: I would work with horses. I love horses.

Cinarte: If either of your daughters were interested in becoming part of your family crab business, would you let them?

Andy Hillstrand: I’ve had my daughters go out cod fishing with me before, but they like doing other things. My younger daughter is a professional photographer.

Cat9: When Johnathan plays captain, you’re on the deck helping. When you’re driving the boat, he’s playing back seat driver. Why doesn’t he help?

Andy Hillstrand: He’s too old! Opilio is so demanding – they only weigh 1.2 pounds, so we need young guys to do it. That’s why I do king crab – because they’re big and I can still do that job. Russell’s our charity case – he’s 45, and normally we would try to have 25-35 year old guys because you can work them like dogs. (In a good way!) They have strong backs.

Crabluver: My husband and I were wondering why you didn’t use tempered aluminum pots to lighten the load. The only thing he can come up with is that it gets so cold that it might snap under the conditions you work in.

Andy Hillstrand: They need to be heavy because you have 40-60 foot seas that rip through the buoys that are connected to the pots. They would lift an aluminum pot right off the bottom.

McB: Hi Andy! I adore the Time Bandit! Your website rocks, by the way. What do the 3 buoys on the pot mean?

Andy Hillstrand: The 3 buoys is our way of being able to get the pot back in rough weather. We need to be able to grab the pots in 40-60 foot seas, so this just makes it easier.

Carnivalchica28: Hey Andy! Love you guys on the Time Bandit. On to my question – on an average, how long does it take to fill the boat?

Andy Hillstrand: Average for opilio, about 2 days if you’re on hot fishing. King crab is about the same, 2 days if you’re on hot fishing.

Jenn: The scene where you and your brothers and nephew visit your father’s grave was very touching. It was such a personal moment, and I was wondering if you guys are able to tell the cameramen that certain scenes or conversations are off limit, or is it up to the producers to decide what makes the cut?

Andy Hillstrand: That was really tough for us to do. They asked us if we could go to his gravesite and at first we said no. It was too tough for us, so we went back and did it in the most respectful way we could. That was so hard. I hadn’t been back to his grave for 6 years.

Jessiemay: I love to watch your boat in action. Is it difficult to get along sometimes during the season? Also, when are you coming to California for a book signing?

Andy Hillstrand: It can be difficult after a couple of months to get along, because everyone wants to get off the boat. Hopefully soon to California – check our website at www.timebandit.tv for a schedule.

BroncoTrav: Since your father was also a fisherman, did you and your brothers have to work on the boats or did you want to?

Andy Hillstrand: We wanted to ever since we were kids. We cried when he left and didn’t take us.

NHEMT: You guys are the kings at pranks. What’s the next one you’re gonna pull?

Andy Hillstrand: Johnathan has one figured out, but you’ll have to wait until next year. Don’t change that channel!

Tabi: Which job do you prefer, being captain or deck boss and why?

Andy Hillstrand: I guess I prefer being captain, just because I’m so damned good at it, I guess! That’s where I seem to fit in better, because my body’s getting old for the deck job. I can use my mind when I’m captain.

LAl57: Capt. Andy, just finished your book “Time Bandit” and loved it!!!!! Any plans for a sequel?

Andy Hillstrand: Well, a lot of people have been asking. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see how well the first book sells. But thank you! Maybe you can buy another copy, and we’ll get a request for a sequel

BroncoTrav: We saw last year how you guys saved that guy from the other boat. How many other times or opportunities have you been able to save lives?

Andy Hillstrand: Johnathan saved 3 other guys’ lives on a little boat, and later one of the men he saved had the name of our other boat, Arctic Nomad, tattooed on his arm. Then we pulled a guy from the water after another boat tried to rescue him. Two hours of CPR, but he took his last breath as we pulled him out of the water.

Raegan123: Hi Andy, my question is does anyone on the boat ever get sea sick and what do you do about it???

Andy Hillstrand: Yes, Johnathan gets seasick on the boat, just when we first go out, then he gets over it. If the other guys get sick, we just tell them to puke in a bait jar. No crybabies.

Turtle: Does your mom watch the show and has she read the book?

Andy Hillstrand: My mom can’t watch the show, because she worries about us too much. She has read the book though and she says now she knows why she woke up at midnight and prayed for us all those years. Those are her exact words.

Discovery’s Livechat with David Nes, F/V North American

David Nes, of the F/V North American was inteviewed by Discovery on their weekly livechat series on June 3rd, 2008.  David talks about the North American, King crab and Opilio, his family background, the recent loss of his brother’s life while season 4 of ‘Deadliest Catch’ was being filmed, and more.  Learn more about what it’s like to be a deckhand on the only Green boat in the Bering sea crabbing fleet…. 

Polaris: Davin, thanks so much for coming online with us. Your family has paid a dear price to the sea. What is your feelings towards the sea? Love her or hate her?
Davin Nes: You know, I still love the sea even though my brother was killed in a tragic accident. It’s because I’m a third generation fisherman, and that’s all I know. But I miss him dearly.

MissHalo: Davin, my condolences on the loss of your brother Jeffery…does this change your mind about what you do?
Davin Nes: You know, after it first happened, I hated Dutch Harbor and crab fishing, period. But time heals, and you get back to what you do. This is all I know, and I’m never going to get over it but I have to deal with it. It’s all I know.

 
(photo courtesy of Discovery’s ‘Deadliest Catch’ Wiki)

GreenL420: how long ago did you go on your very first king crab or opillio season?
Davin Nes: My very first king crab was the summer of my junior year of high school, in 1984 when I went out crab fishing with my dad. When my father told me it was time to go out and start hauling gear, I cried! I hated it so much. It’s the weirdest thing – I was 17 years old, and I would cry to myself. But the paycheck brought me around : -)

Erika: What was the scariest moment out on the Bering sea for you?
Davin Nes: I jumped in to retrieve one of the crew members who had fallen in the water. When you’re in the water, the boat looks very big and I thought it was going to come down on me. And that’s the truth – that was the scariest thing I’ve ever encountered. I witnessed my brother fall overboard too, so that was just as scary.

Polaris: What are your plans for the day you are done fishing? What would you like to do after that?
Davin Nes: My plans for the day after fishing are to go home and be the best father I can. I am going to parenting classes, and I want to be the best father I can to my girls. I looked into buying a boom truck, since I know about hydraulics, I thought it might be a good thing to get into. I’m still thinking about it, but when you’re home the time just goes by so fast. Before you know it, it’s time to go back fishing again.

WizetteMystic: Davin what is the most demanding aspect of Bering Sea crab fishing from the perspective of a deckhand?
Davin Nes: The most demanding aspect of Bering Sea crab fishing is to make it through the day even though you’re so tired, and it’s cold, it’s miserable. You go string by string. If you look at the whole big picture, oh my God, we’ve got 2 weeks of this. But if you go string by string, to me that helps out, looking forward to the last string so you have a ten-minute break.

Lhiiiz-2: Davin, I’m sorry to hear of your brother. As far as a question, how much harder was it fishing without your table and sodium lights, etc?
Davin Nes: For me the sodium lights didn’t bother the deckhands at all, it just gave us more time off. Sorting crab is easier with king crab because they’re bigger than opilio. You sure don’t want to sort opilio without a table.

Nght0661: What inspired you to join the deadliest catch?
Davin Nes: I was in Alaska, not making too much money at all and Sten called and asked if I wanted to go with him crab fishing. I was fishing pollock at the time, and not making any money, so I said absolutely.

GoGoGators: Where are you now?
Davin Nes: Right now I’m sitting down in the basement of my house, in the rec room. I’m in Edmonds, WA.

NorwegianMafia: Davin, thanks for chatting with us! In virtually every scene you’re in, you’re at the rail. Did Sten make you stay there the whole season?
Davin Nes: You know, I’ve gone on 8 different crab boats, and in every one of them, hauling and setting is a little different even though it looks the same on TV. That’s the way the North American does it, and to be honest, I really like being at the rail.

Tasha: what is the difference between opilio and king crab?
Davin Nes: The difference – for one, king crab has a richer flavor. With king crab, you can have one leg and it will fill you up a lot faster than opilio. Opilio is harder to shell, and it takes a lot more to fill you up. If I had a choice, I’d much rather eat king crab but everyone’s different. Some people like tanner or bairdi more than king crab. But for me, I like king crab much better. The bairdi doesn’t have as many spines as a king crab does, so you go through a lot of gloves sorting king crab. Opilio is just a lot more work. Even though they have fewer spines, they’re flatter and more compact, harder to grab. Opilio are just a lot more work than king crab, period.

bryan: Besides you and your brother, do you have any other family in the business?
Davin Nes: Yes, I have another brother, John. Jeffrey was between John and myself. My father started king crab fishing. He was one of the pioneers of king crab fishing in Dutch Harbor. He started in the Merchant Marines when he was 14. He started fishing in New Bedford for cod, and when the cod fishery crashed, he moved to Seattle, and they started fishing crab in Alaska. My father got his first skipper job when the skipper of the boat he was working rode off in a rowboat and was never seen again, so my father got his first skipper job. At one time, he owned 29 crab boats.

Brian_G: You guys have been on the quota system for a while now. Ever wish they would go back to rally style fishing?
Davin Nes: Yes you know, we do. All the crab boats out there have a big quota, but the North American has .8% of the quota. But that’s our very own quota, not leased. So it’s really not bad. A lot of guys lease their quota, and we may do that this year so we get a higher quota.

AlexisM: How can you tell which ones are male and which ones are female? Do you throw back the females?
Davin Nes: We throw back the females. You turn them over, and look at their abdomens. The belly flap on the underside on a female king crab looks like a fan and covers most of the underside. On a male, it looks more like a point. The female king crab has more spines, so you can see them off the bat. They’re also fatter and uglier.

 

KRABBY KAT: Hey Davin, this week was an awesome show, but it looks like the weather was really bad. Does it ever get so bad you can’t fish?
Davin Nes: Yes, it gets to the point you can’t fish because of the risk of someone getting injured on deck. But that’s a good point, because during nice weather we all like to fish but in really bad weather, we still like it because it’s exciting. But the in between weather, nobody likes it. Well, that’s me anyway. : -)

Michigan07: What do you like to do during the off-season?
Davin Nes: I like to work on my house, and I enjoy water sports. We go to the lake and I like to be with my family as much as I can.

Rendell: How dry does the rain gear really keep you?
Davin Nes: It doesn’t keep you dry at all! It depends on what you wear underneath. You may look soaking wet, but it’s the sweat and condensation. When I take my rain gear off, I’m soaking wet underneath.

GreenL420: Has a king crab ever clamped down on your fingers?
Davin Nes: Yes it has, and usually the only thing you can do is hang them up in the air and they fall off. A big mistake people make is to rip the claw off, but the muscle continues to contract and keep pinching. So you have to hang them up to make them let go.

Trishnay: What type of measures do you take to stay safe on the boat?
Davin Nes: Common sense. I always look behind my back. Before I tie a pot down, I look to see if a big wave is coming. Never trust the man running the hydraulics – stay out of the way until you’ve made eye contact with him. The hydraulic now will get you hurt more than anything else. When you’re tying a pot down, always look behind you.

Kayla222: Davin Nes, who do you think you get along with the best on the North American?
Davin Nes: I tell the guys what they want to hear, and I’m sure they tell me what I want to hear, so we all get along pretty well.

ChefDeMer: What’s your favorite way to cook (or eat) crab?
Davin Nes: You take the biggest pot you can find, and put in 3 inches of water right out of the crab tank. Bring it to a boil, toss the legs in, cover with tinfoil, and cook for 18 minutes typically. After it’s cooked, we take the pot and it’s almost like boiling an egg – you have to put the legs in cold water so the meat shrinks away from the leg. Otherwise, it’s too hard to get the meat out. So you have to immerse it in cold water right after it’s cooked. Then I eat it with butter and a sprinkle of garlic powder.

Xan: Do yall hang out when it isn’t fishing season?
Davin Nes: Before I was married, we used to hang out all the time but since I got married, it’s been few and far between.

Discovery Livechat with Keith Colburn–F/V Wizard

Captain Keith Colburn was interviewed in a livechat session on Discovery on May 27th and they’ve since posted the chat transcript!  Keith Colburn not only has the oldest and largest fishing vessel that is featured on ‘Deadliest Catch’, he is also a true adventurer who is a first generation Bering sea fisherman, having travelled to Alaska years ago and deciding to make a go of it as a commerical fisherman.  If you are someone interested in making your way into this industry and you don’t have relatives who are already fishermen, you may want to read up on this skipper and learn how he managed to do such a thing!

Keith Colburn: Good evening. This is Captain Keith from the Wizard welcoming everyone who’s online to tonight’s chat. It’s nice to have the king crab season over with.

 

WizetteMystic: Hi Capt. Keith. Who in the fishing industry do/did you look to as a mentor?
Keith Colburn: John Jorgensen, who was the owner and captain of the Wizard that I worked for for almost 20 years before I purchased the boat.

Cody C: Hey Keith! I am a huge fan! Do you like being the owner and the captain vs. just the captain?
Keith Colburn: Sometimes I wish I was just the captain! There are a lot more responsibilities and risks involved when you’re not only the captain, but the owner as well. So there are times it would be nice to be just the captain, but it’s nice to be the owner because my brother Monte can run the boat. So I’d definitely say I prefer being the owner and the captain.

Rob from IL: Hey Keith, love the show!!! I wish you and your crew all the best! Was wondering if the pots ever get lost from like a rope breaking or anything?
Keith Colburn: Yes. Sometimes you lose gear from the line chafing. Or other vessels may come through the area and drive over your pots and you can’t retrieve them. If somebody sets a pot right on top of your pot and the lines get tangled, when you pull your pot up, their line acts like a saw and chafes the line and you can lose it that way. So yes, we do lose gear periodically. We do everything we can to make sure the lines are up to snuff so we eliminate as many of the possibilities for lost pots as possible.

KY Deadliest: How much actual time do you get to spend at home with your family throughout the year?
Keith Colburn: In today’s fishery, I get about 6 months off at home. In the past, I would work anywhere from 9-10 months a year, but with today’s fishery and owning the boat, it’s about 6 months on, 6 months off.

Norskellunge: Keith, I understand the Wizard was once an oil carrier for the Navy – does she have any service stripes or did she serve in any conflicts? Thanks for spending your time with us.
Keith Colburn: The Wizard was built in 1945 and was never commissioned and never saw any service time for the Navy and she never served in WWII.

Cindysue: If you weren’t fishing for a living, what would you be doing to make a buck?
Keith Colburn: (laughing) Wow – as often as I get asked that question, I still struggle for an answer. I don’t know. There are so many incredible things to do on the planet, I’d be hard pressed to name that perfect job that would replace fishing. I can’t see myself doing anything except fishing So if I weren’t a fisherman, I’d be…a…I don’t know.

Lhiiiz: Capt. Keith! Wizette Liz here! Watching you guys cut loose and prank the North American was great! Are we going to get to see retribution? Also, what’s the best prank you’ve ever pulled?
Keith Colburn: I’m not the biggest prankster, but at times it kind of boosts morale and breaks the monotony for your guys and the guys on the other boats. I’d be hard pressed to say what the biggest prank is, and some of them probably aren’t PG – so I’ll leave it at that As for retribution, I don’t want to spoil the show for you.

(Photo courtesy of Discovery)

Bandita Jackie: What has been the best and the worst thing about being on “Deadliest Catch”?
Keith Colburn: You know, I’m spending more time away from my family now traveling, so that would probably be the worst thing. Best thing is the people, meeting all the incredible people that are out there. It’s really opened doors to people I wouldn’t have had any connection to, and now they’re coming up to me. This weekend I was in a baseball tournament with my son, and the opposing team had 5-6 fanatical “Deadliest Catch” boys on it. That was really cool.

Camcdx123: Hello! What is the amount of pounds of crab you need to unload at Dutch?
Keith Colburn: Trick question! That varies by the species of crab and the weather, so there is no perfect number. Obviously we’re trying to fill the boat as quickly as possible and get back to town. That’s a best-case scenario. But sometimes there are things beyond your control that dictate how much crab you will take to town to offload. Those things could be breakdowns, weather, medical – any number of things could cut a trip short. Sometimes you’re not trying to fill the boat either; you’re trying to get a set amount of crab depending on the fishery. So it can vary.

Sharon: Question from my son, Orion (3 1/2): “Does it hurt when a big crab pinches you?”
Keith Colburn: Absolutely A big crab, a king crab can break your finger. I’ve seen guys with huge bruises that they got even through the thick raingear. So it can really hurt. You don’t want to get pinched by a king crab. The good news is they’re really slow. The bad news is once you feel them start to grab you, it’s too late. So all you can do then is wait it out and hope he doesn’t latch onto you too hard.
ShirleyGirly: Hey, Capt. Keith! This is Shirley (from your Midwest contingent of Wizettes)! I’m really enjoying seeing you and your crew on the show A little off-topic question though: we know you’re a bit of a thrill seeker; is there any activity/adventure out there that you haven’t done yet, but want to do? Thanks for chatting with us!
Keith Colburn: I’m barely nibbling away at my “100 things to do before you die” list. I want to climb a mountain, a substantial one. I’d still like to travel, to places I haven’t been yet, like South America or Southeast Asia or Africa.

Goin Home: I think you were more than fair with Moi. How did you maintain your patience with him?
Keith Colburn: Good question. Sometimes you’re willing to tolerate a certain amount from a new crewman or greenhorn because you want to see them succeed ultimately. Every greenhorn is different. Some may get seasick and you may not see the best of what they have to offer until they’ve been on the boat for one or two weeks. Other may start off great, then falter once they start to experience how hard the work really is after a week or two. One thing that’s difficult is when you have attitude, and sometimes people have predisposed ideas and you can’t necessarily convince them that the way you’re doing it is the right way. Sometimes it takes a while to get to that point with some people, and if you’re patient you may have a really good crewman or you’ll find out it doesn’t work.

Etsy Bay: What do you do during the off-season? Do you spend time on your boat fishing for other things besides crab?
Keith Colburn: I used to fish halibut, salmon, herring, pretty much anything that was in the water in Alaska. Now about the only thing I fish in the off-season is I dive for fun for abalone in Northern California a couple of times a year. I don’t fish the Wizard for anything other than crab. Summertime is a bit of downtime: a lot of shipyard time, a lot of administrative work. And no, I don’t get six months off a year.

SoCA Redhed: Capt Keith…when the crab extend their range, does that mean that they all change their location as a whole, or does it mean an increase in crab population and the excess crab are spreading out? And if it does mean an increase in population, does Fish & Game also increase the amount you can fish?
Keith Colburn: Greetings Redhed. Generally when crab are starting to extend their range, it means the population is expanding. If that is proven during the summer survey, then Fish & Game will increase our quotas in the fall. I believe now the red king crab and snow crab (opilio) are both expanding not only their range but also their biomass significantly right now. So the crab fishery looks good and plentiful for the coming season.
Tonya: Hi Keith! So what’s it like working with your brother as you are both captains and have your own ideas?
Keith Colburn: It’s the best and the worst scenario all in one. My brother is very knowledgeable on the deck, in the wheel house, and in the engine room. So he is a jack-of-all-trades who can step in and do anything on the boat. But he’s also for the last 7-8 years been captain of his own boat, and at times there are conflicts between Monte and myself on how to get things done. He’s really good about stepping back and not pressing my buttons, but sometimes he does and we may have a flare up here and there.

Tmac: Keith, which do u prefer – king crab or opie season and why?
Keith Colburn: That’s like saying which do you prefer, a rib eye or a T-bone steak. I love fishing both. King crab is different in that there are fewer crab per pot, but they weigh so much more that a half full pot of king crab is just an amazing sight. They don’t hang around too long. You need to be constantly moving and checking and just fishing. You’re trying to chase crab, and with king crab, you’re really chasing crab. Snow crab tend to get in immense schools, so once you hit a school of them, it’s an amazing sight to see pots full of snow. When the fishing is hot, it’s hot. With king, you can hit a few hot pots, then it can fall right off. King crab is a lot shorter line – only two shots of line – so you’re hauling gear a lot faster. But either fishery, you still have to deal with the weather, and this year the weather wasn’t very nice.

Mandy: Hi Captain Keith! My question is, with the rising cost of fuel, has this affected the way you operate your boat? Are you more “fuel conscious”? Do you try to conserve as much fuel as possible? And how has the rising cost of fuel affected the fishing Industry as a whole? Thank you!
Keith Colburn: Fuel costs are a nightmare. Fuel at the dock in Seattle is almost $4 a gallon now. 2 years ago, I left town and filled the boat for $2.05. It is absolutely killing us when we’re going through 700-800 gallons a day. Are we changing our fishing patterns? I believe we’re trying to be more frugal. I’ve installed a fuel-monitoring device that tells me different fuel usage at different RPM so I can maximize my fuel efficiency. The best way to not burn a lot of fuel is to find a lot of crab! It’s becoming a very big issue not only for crab fishing, but for everything.

Crab Guys Rule: How long do you see yourself with the fishing industry and at sea? How long do you see yourself on the show?
Keith Colburn: I see myself in the industry for a lot longer than I see myself on the show. This show is different; it’s something that jumped into my life and is very cool and I think the guys on board like it. It’s a great way to document what I do for my family and maybe my grandkids in the future. But I’ll be fishing long after “Deadliest Catch” has been turned into reruns. I’ll be a fisherman for years to come, and if the fans like me on the show we’ll continue to do it.
527miles SE of DH: Do you watch your own show?
Keith Colburn: Yes. I watch very little TV, but I do watch “Deadliest Catch.” The main reason is I have no idea what they’re going to show. They take hundreds of thousands of hours of footage, and even though I can remember most of the big events that occur during the season, I can’t remember most of what I said. And I certainly can’t recall a lot of the day-to-day things that happen. So watching the show is as new and fresh for me as it is for your “Deadliest Catch” fan. I watch it very nervously to see how bad I’m going to look on the next segment.

Opie Bandit: How can you tell the difference between an opy and a bairdi?
Keith Colburn: The big thing is bairdis have red eyes, opilio have green eyes. Bairdi has a pronounced V for their teeth, and the opilio have a flat set of teeth. Those are the primary things. There are quite a few more ways to tell, but those are the key indicators.

Agacrisp: Capt Keith, my autistic 6 yr old loves you and watches the show every night it’s on. He has makeshift crab tanks, uses a measuring tape to pull in pots, and has his dad ring a bell to warn him of incoming seas. Could you please say hello to him? He is standing beside me and it would mean the world to him. His name is Aaron.
Keith Colburn: Hello Aaron – Good luck! I hope your pots are full of crab. Log onto www.crabwizard.com and send me a message, and I’ll send you something special.

Bwest: Thanks for the great show. What is the penalty for exceeding your quota?
Keith Colburn: You don’t want to do that. That can be harsh. It’s a very complicated process… let’s just say, don’t do it! Fines and penalties can run from seizure of the entire load of crab to fines of up to tens of thousands of dollars.

Guitar Hero Master: Hi Keith! Super fan here! Watching the Captain’s String competition, you seem seriously competitive! Do you guys ever take the game off the boat, like arm wrestling?
Keith Colburn: LOL Yes, thumb wrestling, arm wrestling, nose hair pulling…pretty much anything we can come up with. And I do have a competitive streak, and I think every captain in the Bering Sea has one.
Watermelon Bandit: Hi Keith, were you aware at all of how good the Time Bandit’s Captain’s String was?
Keith Colburn: I was aware that Jonathan was on some pretty amazing fishing at the end of the season, but I had no idea that it was one of the Captain’s Strings.

(Photo courtesy of Gloucester Daily Times)

 Redsox Jay: I know you get asked this all the time but as a long time fan of the show how do you apply for a position on a crab boat? I am coming from Boston Mass. and have spent some time on lobster boats. What can someone that has somewhat of time in the high water off the coast of Maine do to try to get a job in Alaska crab fishing? Thank you for what you do and for making “Deadliest Catch” the best show on T.V.
Keith Colburn: If you’re serious about whether or not you’re capable of doing the job, if you’re physically fit, if you’re young, and if you have a sense of adventure, all I could say is fly to Dutch Harbor Oct. 1, pack a sea bag, and start pounding the docks.

Discovery Livechat with Sig Hansen

Discovery held a livechat with Capt. Sig Hansen on May 20th.  It’s his third such interview and there’s great new information on Sig and the Northwestern we’ve yet to hear!  This Tuesday–06/10/08 at 10pm central–you can join the livechat and ask questions live to Capt. Andy Hillstrand of the Time Bandit which should prove to be another interesting interview.  For now, enjoy thoughts and opinions of Capt. Sig of the Northwestern!…

Sig Hansen: It’s been a while since I’ve talked to the fans, so I’m looking forward to getting started.

Sarahlu03: Hey Sig, Thank you for giving us some of your time… How did the Hansen family become Alaskan Crab Fishermen? Because your family is from Norway?
Sig Hansen: My father came from Norway in ‘58 and was a pioneer of the Alaskan crab fishery in the early ’60s.

(‘Deadliest Catch’ image courtesy of Discovery)

sissyann39: Who named your boat?
Sig Hansen: My father named the boat, and it was actually named after the Northwestern, which was battling in World War II in Dutch Harbor.

NWFan888: Hello Sig! Huge fan here! What do you enjoy doing in the off season?
Sig Hansen: Spending time with the family, these days we’re busy doing PR work with Discovery. Staying busy while we’re on and off the boat.

chip2004: Captain Sig, in an episode this year, you moved your pots from what appeared to be good fishing to an untested location. How productive were the grounds you left, and what contributed to your decision to leave them?
Sig Hansen: The decision to leave? I’m always looking for better and more. As far as how productive it was, I think in the end we made the right decision. We had a large quota to fill, and we’re always looking for better fishing.

coll: Does the Northwestern have a partner ship?
Sig Hansen: We pretty much fish alone. We do have contact with a couple friends of mine, but for the most part we try to fish by ourselves these days.

lhiiiz: Hi Sig, have you ever had to deal with fights on the boat, like Matt and Jake, before?
Sig Hansen: There have been fights and squabbles in the past. It’s not something we like to see, but it is Alaska. It is the wild frontier, and things can get out of hand.

angeleyes1962: Do you find it difficult to have a family life being out to sea so many months? I used to be a truck driver for a few years and it was very hard so I was just wondering…also, I think you are pretty good looking. *blush*
Sig Hansen: Sounds like we have something in common. Glad to hear you’re good looking! Being at sea for months is hard on the family. The reward is coming home. You renew your relationship with the family, and it seems to keep us stronger.

anon: Did you ever think that you, your brother and the rest of the captains would ever be this famous and popular?
Sig Hansen: Never. But I always knew what we did was unique. Every time we would travel somewhere, if you sat next to someone on an airplane for example, whether they were a doctor or lawyer, etc. the conversation was always about my occupation and what we did. It doesn’t surprise me that people take interest in our livelihoods.

(Image courtesy of Discovery) Northwestern crew from season 1.

King Crab: Sig, I assume since you count the crab to figure weight, there is an average weight you go by for your calculations. Who determines the average crab weight? Do you estimate it on board or is it set before you leave the dock? THANKS – YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST.
Sig Hansen: We get reports from the canaries in town, certain areas have different average crab weights, depending on the area. Most of it is a guessing game on board. Not a lot of room for error.

Laura: Do you have any Tattoos?
Sig Hansen: No, not yet. Edgar and Matt pretty much carry all of the tattoos for us. I suppose if I get a tattoo, it would have to be something nautical.

ducky: When you took over the captain’s job on the Northwestern, what did your dad do? Did he retire or did he work on deck with Edgar and Norman?
Sig Hansen: Dad was pretty much retired early on. I fished with a captain, Tom Christensen. He ran the boat for many years. We then shared responsibility when I started. The story goes, Dad was in Dutch Harbor, was going to take the first trip out to sea with me to show me the ropes. And ended up staying in Dutch Harbor, and I went out on my own and had to figure it out for myself. It’s called Norwegian love.

Asking4Trubble: Hey Captain Sig, if you had to pick one other captain on the show to captain your boat (not including your brothers or crew), who would it be and why? If you had to captain a boat other than your own Northwestern, which boat would you like to take out?
Sig Hansen: As far as captains on the show, I would pick Phil. No offense to any of the other captains, mind you. But I’ve known Phil for many years and I trust his judgment and character. If I had to choose a boat to run myself, oh boy, that’s a tough question. I’ve never really thought about it. I like it right where I’m at.

Norskelunge: Thanks for speaking with us Captain Sig. Are you treated differently by your fellow Bering Sea captains because of your involvement with the show? Also, do you actually like lutefisk?
Sig Hansen: Lutefisk is awful. I like salt fish and pickled herring, things like that. Lutefisk is something I could never get used to. It’s an acquired taste. As far as being treated differently, absolutely. You need to remember, it’s a very small fleet of boats and captains. And everyone is a little paranoid as far as how the show will effect our industry. So far, we’ve got a lot of praise from most of them.

Sig Hansen image from Foster Grant Advertisement

crab catchin: Hi Sig! Great to meet you in Newport! Hope you enjoyed your stay and thanks for signing my newspaper I’ve heard of engines breaking beyond repair and having to be cut out of the boat. Has the Northwestern ever experienced that?
Sig Hansen: We’ve changed our main engine once already. As far as cutting them out of the boat, a lot of times that’s necessary. I have never had to deal with that in Dutch Harbor. Knock on wood.

milkman: I do a lot of trapping, and it seems that your more trapping crab than fishing for them, do you agree?
Sig Hansen: I completely disagree. We are always searching, and we have to find averages to keep us productive. That’s why it’s fishing. It’s not always easy, but it’s what we know and we enjoy it.

laurieelaine-2: It seemed like all of the boats were having a hard time finding the crab and filling their tanks. Was this really the case or was the season longer due to an increase in quotas? Also, how many times do you need to fill the boat to reach your quota?
Sig Hansen: The crab seemed farther north this year, a lot of the places where they were historically gathering we didn’t find the amount needed. As far as filling your boat to catch your quota, it depends on the overall quota you have for yourself or what you leased. For example, if we have 200,000 pounds total capacity, and we have a million pound quota, we would like to try to fill the boat five times. But that’s not always the case.

Will3rdgrader: Hi Sig. What type of music do you like and do you dance?
Sig Hansen: I like everything from polka music to country music to rock music. And I’m a helluva dancer when my wife can talk me into it. A couple of beers never hurt anybody.

daniellea: I was just wondering when the video game was coming out.
Shane: Did any other captains have any influence on the new game you worked on?
Sig Hansen: The game was inspired by myself and my family. And the game should be out soon. X-Box is finalizing their reports now.

chase: What keeps you calm during trips?
Sig Hansen: Communication with home seems to help quite a bit. It’s comforting to know that everyone is safe at home. You would think that it would be the other way around. We worry more about our families than we do ourselves at times.

Laura: So what is the best time to send you and your crew packages and letters? I don’t want to send something too early or too late.
Sig Hansen: Well, the seasons are generally in the winter months. So, I would say after October. The fan mail is flooding through Dutch Harbor. Sometimes we get letters addressed Dutch Harbor, Northwestern, with a zip code. Even the fuel docks and other caneries are receiving our mail. It’s very flattering.

Michele: Have you ever had such a bad season that there was not enough money for the crew?
Sig Hansen: That’s happened more than once in the past. We fished out west in Adak for King Crab, spent over thirty days, and each man was $300 minus. No one complained.

jstanton: Good Evening Sig. You’ve had a real winner for a greenhorn this season, did he ever start getting along with the rest of the crew?
Sig Hansen: He’s getting along great with the crew. To be honest, we’re very proud of him. He is coming into his own. And I think that’s why there may have been a little trouble on deck. Even though it wasn’t what we wanted to see, it shows that he’s standing up for himself. That’s a good thing.

 (image courtesy of Discovery) Season 4 crew.

sea2see: Hiya Sig!! I was just wondering if your fishing seasons have lost any thrill, joy, or excitement by having the cameras on board?
Sig Hansen: It keeps us on edge, so it is a task when they’re on board. As far as losing the thrill, absolutely not. But I have to admit when they do get off the boat, it is somewhat of a relief. It’s like you got your house back.

alba: After the fight with Jake, Matt lost the measuring stick in this last episode. Though, he did end up saving the day later, on deck. What did you think of Matt’s overall performance this season?
Sig Hansen: Matt’s been with us for many years. And we’re used to his personality. I know that when it comes down to it, he will give us 110 percent when we need it. Remember, fishing is just like a sports team of sorts, everybody’s different with one goal. Matt is part of our crew and will be as long as he wants.

Discovery’s Livechat with Capt. Sten Skaar of the F/V North American

 As you know the Discovery Website has interviewed a featured fisherman from ‘Deadliest Catch’ every week for season 4.  The latest interview posted is the livechat held with Sten Skaar of the F/V North American on May 13th 2008, one of the most unique fishing vessels and crew from this season!  This crew was in a unique position this last fishing season as they hadn’t been crab fishing for some time so they were not “crabbing-ready” like the other crews.  For example, they had no crab pots, they borrowed theirs from the F/V Rollo, and for that reason, Alaska Fish & Game only allowed them a two week window of opportunity to catch their 90,000 pound quota! (Not the easiest task to accomplish).  Another hurdle they overcame this season is the lack of sodium lights. (All crabbing vessels have them so they may fish throughout the night).  Crab fishing in the dark is no easy task but the North American crew carried on and accomplished their task!  Learn more on this unique skipper and crew by reading what Sten Skaar has to say….

From Discovery….

Sten Skaar: Thanks for calling in everyone. It’s good to be a part of a great show like Deadliest Catch. I can’t wait to start watching it, so glad to be onboard.

(Photo courtesy of Discovery)

stormsbrew: I want to congratulate you on the comeback. Why did your family retire the boat in the first place??
Sten Skaar: Well, I think my father has been in the fishing business for so long, when they went to this rationalization you actually made more money by leasing the quotas out. Now that a couple years have passed the quotas have increased, so now it’s more feasible to take the boat back out fishing. There’s also less much risk when we were leasing, for liability reasons.

Brad: How long have you been fishing?
Sten Skaar: I’ve been fishing for 20 years. My first king crab season was in ‘87.

chip2004: Were you surprised when you were asked to be on Deadliest Catch?
Sten Skaar: Actually, Deadliest Catch had approached us four years ago to do the show. We turned it down. Then I talked to Sig Hansen about it. I wish we’d had the opportunity to be a part of it sooner, but I’m very glad to be a part of it now.

crabber girl: What was your reaction when the Wizard crew gagged you with the outhouse?
Sten Skaar: I was in total shock. I didn’t know what it was. I looked over the rail and I saw this big blue thing. I didn’t know what we hauled up. He totally punked me, I have to give him that.

metaldan485: Are you gonna get them back for playing that prank on you?
Sten Skaar: Well, anything’s possible, you know. We’ll just have to wait and see.

Michelle1976: Hey Captain! How do you feel about being the first “green” boat (eco-friendly), and what impact do you think it will have on the other boats following in your lead?
Sten Skaar: With the way the world’s going right now, everything we can do to make the world a better place is better for all of us. With the Gen-tech system onboard the North American, we save fuel and we reduce emissions in the air. We plan on also going more green, all green products. Just make it totally a green fishing machine.

mama nutmeg: Welcome back to the Bering Sea. It’s nice to see a fresh face! Curious, how do you tell the difference between the male and female crab? And did it take A LOT of convincing to get the boat back on the sea?
Sten Skaar: To tell the difference between a male and female crab, underneath the crab, the male is shaped like a V. And a female crab is more rounded, like a circle.

SGT Bradshaw: Just curious, why is the captain of the Rollo on your ship, and why did he loan you his pots? Was he not out there?
Sten Skaar: We were late arriving to Dutch and we had sold our pots, so we had no pots. I asked Eric if we could lease some pots, and at the same time I figured why not have him go onboard and make a little extra money. It worked out great for both of us.

Robbie from IL: I love the show. This is the best show on TV. Was wondering if seasickness is ever a factor for anyone on the ship?
Sten Skaar: That would be me, I still get seasick out there. It’s something hereditary. I was told it’s mind over matter. That’s not the case, though. It’s genetics.

Headin 2 Alaska: Who do you consider the top captain in the fleet? Excluding yourself, of course!
Sten Skaar: There are a lot of good captains, but I would have to say one of the top ones is another Norwegian, Sigmund Andreassen.

Jeffro: What are your expectations being back for the first time in three years?
Sten Skaar: My expectations are to obviously produce, keep everyone safe onboard, and go out and have some fun.

Koala: Do you throw everything back that isn’t a crab or save it all for bait?
Sten Skaar: We retain the cod fish for hanging bait for the pots, but the other fish we discard.

river captain: I am a pilot on a towboat on the Tennessee river. How hard is it to get a license on a crab boat, and do the rough seas make you nervous?
Sten Skaar: A license is a big process. It’s a lot more difficult today than it was before. Always respect the sea, because it can bend steel. There’s nothing more powerful than it, as we’ve seen with Thailand. Just have respect for it and know it’s more powerful than we are.

Novice: Any hair-raising stories that you could share with us as skipper?
Sten Skaar: Back in 2004, the king crab season, I was hauling a string and I took a rogue wave. The boat leaned over so far that I took water in the wheelhouse, and my crew was on deck. I thought I’d lost them all in the ocean. So, the boat came back and I just went to my knees and thanked God for saving us all.

sissyann39: How are you going to like the cameras onboard while fishing?
Sten Skaar: When we first got started, it was a little awkward. I was a little tight. After a while, it was as though they weren’t even there.

XanMan: My mom said that the really little crab and the really big crab you have to throw back. Is that true?
Sten Skaar: No, you just throw back the small crab, the undersized crab.

Mikkel5: Hello, I’m Mikkel and I’m 5 years old. How do the crab find the bait? Do they smell it?
Sten Skaar: They smell it. They follow their nose, just like Froot Loops!

Brandy: I was wondering … would you ever let a woman on your crew?
Sten Skaar: It’s been known to say it’s bad luck, but I would never rule out the possibility of it

Angelo: Must have been depressing those first three strings?
Sten Skaar: Yeah, I was a little nervous the first three, but in fishing that is fishing. They don’t call it catching. You just have to be patient and don’t give up; keep trying.

Shane: How much fuel does your boat hold?
Sten Skaar: Our boat holds 48,000 gallons of fuel. That is a lot of fuel. With today’s prices, multiply that by three; that’s a lot of money.

(Photo courtesty of North American website)

Catch Curious: Thanks for your time tonight. We’re curious why you can’t put transponders or other tracking devices on the too-small crabs and then find them again when they’re grown. Also, why do we never see you eating crab onboard?
Sten Skaar: That would be torture to put those devices on the crab. We wouldn’t want those things on our bodies. And we do eat crab onboard.
Emilie Lintner: What is the economic reward for leasing your quota versus actually fishing (on average)?
Sten Skaar: In the beginning, the lease rates were high. I believe it was a 70/30 split. So the harvester just retained 30 percent, while the leaser got 70. As time has gone by, the lease rates have gone down and the quotas have gone up, so it’s a 50/50 split now. So, we at least about break even.

Jean Marie: Have you ever been out in the North Atlantic rough seas? If so, which one is rougher, Bering or North Atlantic?
Sten Skaar: I have never been up in the North Atlantic.

Discovery Livechat with Johnathan and Scott Hillstrand

Discovery has posted their livechat with Johnathan and Scott Hillstrand from April 29th.  Learn a bit more about this skipper and his up and coming fisherman son!  Later, after tonight’s new ‘Deadliest Catch’ episode, you may want to make the jump over to the Discovery website and join in on the livechat taking place with Sten Skaar of the F/V North American!  From Discovery…

Johnathan Hillstrand: Hi everybody! Thanks for being fans. I’ve met some really great people, and I love you all.

chip2004: Were you happy with the results of your prank on Capt. Phil
Johnathan Hillstrand: Yes. It’s hard to do a prank out there because we can’t drive around forever, and Phil was the perfect one. It was a green truck – no engine, no transmission, no batteries, no axles. He was the first person I found and I wanted to find Phil, because he wanted that truck. It’s hard to do a prank because it’s a huge ocean; you don’t have time to look for a boat. I found him, and knew where he was fishing.

Lisa: I met you in Philly last week at the DC fan thingy, had a blast!! Were you this popular with the ladies before the show?
Johnathan Hillstrand: <laughing> Ladies always love sailors and pirates. I don’t know how long that’s been going on, but hundreds of years. Ladies always love seamen! I’ve always loved ladies too.

Turtlekins: John, I am currently reading your book and loving it! What made you and your brother decide that it was time to put it all down on paper?
Johnathan Hillstrand: We wanted to show the people the real, uncut version. The show is candy-coated, and we wanted to lay it down behind the scenes. When you watch the show, you just see crab fishing. It takes us a week to get out there, and a week to get back. That’s a whole story in itself.

sissyann39: Do you ever get scared?
Johnathan Hillstrand: Yes. When we have 80-100 knot winds, which we had two last year, you know how small you are in the universe. You’re smaller than a speck of sand. The thing I’m most afraid of is a boat fire. If you can’t put out the fire you have to get off the boat. If I’m in trouble on a 100 foot boat, the last thing I want to do is get in a little 10-foot rubber raft.

phoenix rising: Hello Johnathan! What do you like doing when you have some off time?
Johnathan Hillstrand: Hotel rooms, room service, ladies. I love horsepower. I have a Corvette with 540 horses, and a Fat Boy Harley with 296. I love jumping out of airplanes. I used to love diving. Anything that gives me a rush, and you forget about all of your worldly problems. Sort of like crab fishing.

sissyann39: If you could do it all over again, would you do another job?
Johnathan Hillstrand: <laughing> No. I would do the same thing again. I have no regrets.

Lisa: Did you get hurt falling off the boat?
Johnathan Hillstrand: Yes. I fell 13 or 14 feet and fell in the water sideways, like a sideways belly flop. I pulled every muscle in my arms, and I scraped about 8 feet. Just do a belly-flop of a high dive and you’ll know how it felt. I’ve just started getting back to doing pushups, and it was in October I did that.

Sandi: With all the great things that have come from your celebrity status, have there been any drawbacks?
Johnathan Hillstrand: No. I have good times everywhere I go. I have a lot of great fans. Haven’t really received a lot of money; we make more money crab fishing than we do off the show. And thank you for being a fan. We don’t think of ourselves as celebrities though.

Bandita Erin: What do you do on board during opies while Andy and Neal are captaining?
Johnathan Hillstrand: I do whatever I want. I can go on deck, work with the guys, help Andy with the boat. I have no weight on my shoulders like Andy – he has all the stress. Oh, and I can read Hugh Hefner’s novel. <laughing>

storms brew: When you have down time, do you go to a lot of Harley events?
Johnathan Hillstrand: No. I wish. I fish 8 months out of the year, and have 4 months off. So I’m usually traveling, promoting the show or the book, so I don’t have that much fun time.

Instigator Kate: Hey Captain Johnathan–I know Captain Andy has a horse farm, do you/did you ever ride?
Johnathan Hillstrand: No, I don’t ride horses. Superman died on a horse. I think my brother is crazy.

linzer: I’ve gotta say, the Time Bandit is tops when it comes to pulling pranks. Do you think you’ll ever be able to out do the pick-up truck?
Johnathan Hillstrand: That was a laugh. I’ve got a thousand tricks up my sleeve. In fact, there isn’t one day that goes by on the Time Bandit that someone doesn’t get Punked.

 phoenix rising: How often does the Coast Guard board the boats for inspection?
Johnathan Hillstrand: Way too much. <laughing> We get boarded by the Coast Guard before each season, and then we have to report to the Coast Guard when we sail. And then they board us out on the fishing grounds. But lately we’ve been working together, and it’s made things a lot nicer.Instigator

Kate: Hey Captain Johnathan. If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go? Would you bring anyone with you? PS-great meeting you last week!
Johnathan Hillstrand: I would come see you again! <laughing> I’ll have to think about that one.

chip2004: Of all the places you have gone to promote the show what is your favorite so far
Johnathan Hillstrand: New York. You can get lost there. You can go to a different restaurant every night for a year, but I have to go to the same ones. I think they spoiled me when they sent me to New York.

Mama nutmeg: Do you have a lot of people asking for jobs since the show has become so popular? And do you ever employ anyone that says they came because of the show? Lastly, my husband and I take every Tuesday off just so we can watch it together! We LOVE it!!
Johnathan Hillstrand: Thank you, but if you watched tonight’s show, look at that young kid that’s so physically fit, and with all the bruises on his body. A lot of people want this job, but don’t know what they’re getting into. I could probably take out Dennis Rodman, and he’d be crying for his mama, but his mama would be too far away. They don’t know what they’re getting into.

Johnathan Hillstrand: Hey, my son Scott is here. He’s been running the Time Bandit, and doing a hell of a job. Love you, kid!

Scott Hillstrand: I’ve been doing the best I can. The boat’s looking sharp, and I think they’ll be impressed with what they’ll see.
Johnathan Hillstrand: I’m a lucky man.
Scott Hillstrand: It hasn’t been easy, with the rules different from Alaska to here. It’s been rough, but we’ve managed to work through it, and I think they’ll be happy with what’s been done.

Bandita Jackie: Hi John! What do you think was the most valuable thing that your son Scott learned this season?
Johnathan Hillstrand: I don’t know. Scott?
Scott Hillstrand: Family comes first. In the end, that’s all you’ve got is family.

beanie07: Hi Johnathan – I have to say that the flour pot is my favorite prank so far. Do you brainstorm ideas in the wheelhouse?
Johnathan Hillstrand: Yeah, in my off time, everywhere. Always coming up with good ideas. The flour pot trick never gets old – kind of like the pie in the face trick.

grudawg-3: Was there any damage to the boat at the end of last year, when you were in the ice field?
Johnathan Hillstrand: Yes. We’re currently in the shipyard, putting about $300,000 in the boat. The new boat is pretty impressive.

Nancy Catch Fan: What would you do with your quota and your boat in the future if your son doesn’t take it over?
Johnathan Hillstrand: We make more money if someone else fishes our quota, so if my son does not take over, we will have someone else fish our quota.

phoenix rising: Do you think Scott will commit more in the future?
Johnathan Hillstrand: Let’s ask Scott!
Scott Hillstrand: I wouldn’t be putting in time in the shipyard if I weren’t going to commit in the future. It was great spending time with the new baby and the wife I just married. It took commitment from both of us, and there will be a lot more in the future.

Instigator Kate: Hey Captain Johnathan. Does it hurt to see Scotty say that you were never around when he was a kid?
Johnathan Hillstrand: Scotty said that? I wasn’t, and I wish I had been. The seas robbed me of that; I can never get that back. I’m trying to make up for that now.

miso: Was there anyone who really stepped up this season and impressed you? What did you think of Scottie’s performance by the end of the season?
Johnathan Hillstrand: Eddie with the broken leg, who still fished through the season, and my son who was such a good stand-up guy. I’m a lucky man.

Lesley: Do you respect your son’s decision for leaving in the middle of the season?
Johnathan Hillstrand: Well, no. But I respect him for standing up for his family. For the boat, no, but I respect his values.

sable2043: What is it like to have your son on the boat?
Scott Hillstrand: I don’t get to see much of my father when he’s in town, so it’s a little like being on vacation, but not. I get to have conversation with him when we’re out there, more than when we’re not. So for me, it’s good father/son bonding time.
Johnathan Hillstrand: It’s great having him on the boat. Any time I have a chance to hang with him. He’s one of the best people I know.

sea2see: HI Jon! Me and my 10 year old little girl love ya bunches! She says she’s a bandita. She has a question for her fav captain. Before you became a fisherman captain, were you very interested in fishing?
Johnathan Hillstrand: Thank you! I love all the banditas. And yes, ever since I was 6 or 7 I used to watch my dad sail off into the sunset to go crab fishing. I always wanted to be a crab fisherman.

heroic man: Hey Scott do you cook for your dad when you’re on the boat, or who does the cooking?
Scott Hillstrand: My dad loves grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup, and that’s easy to cook. I don’t do it very often, but he loves my tacos that my wife taught me to cook so well.

Bandita Terri: Scott…Is running the Time Bandit something you would like to hand down to Sawyer?
Scott Hillstrand: Yeah, I would. I could always wish that he’d stay in school and make more money, but I’m going to let him make his own decision. And if that’s something he wants to pursue, I’ll be behind him 110 percent. It definitely gets to a guy when you’re stuck in traffic every day, and then working 8-10-12 hours a day, and you don’t have time to spend with your family. But if you go out fishing, and spend that time in the middle between the seasons, you actually spend more time with the family if you add it up, and you can take off and have that family time.

(Photos courtesy of Discovery)

MDCrabber: Scott, is your dad as much fun off the ship as he seems to be pulling pranks on?
Scott Hillstrand: My dad is always fun. He’s the funnest guy I’ve ever met. We’re more friends than father-to-son. If you were to see us together, you wouldn’t know we were father and son; people mistake us for brothers. He’s a really fun guy to hang out with.