Interesting Crews of Season 6 Deadliest Catch

If you really watch “The Deadliest Catch” then you know that each fishing boat and crew is different and interesting in their own ways.  However, this season, it would seem that while the Northwestern and Cornelia Marie started out as the most interesting, at this point the title goes to the crew of the Time Bandit.  They are taking over the lime light and pushing the envelope in every episode and many viewers are loving it.

As stated the two boats that started the season with interesting activities were the Northwestern, captained by Sig Hansen, and the Cornelia Marie, captained by Phil Harris.  The story line between these boats was based on the Jake’s.  Each boat had their own version of a young, headstrong, thinks they are ready for anything Jake.  Jake Anderson is the newest and youngest deckhand on the Northwestern.  At the beginning of this season he asked to be taught to drive the boat, and yet he has only been on the boat for approximately three seasons.  His young impatience needed to be put into check.  The good part was that Captain Phil Harris’ son, Jake Harris was also getting a little cocky and was bossing others on the boat around.  The two captains talked it over and decided to switch Jake’s for the first three weeks of this season.  The Jake’s loved working on other boats, but the best part of the story was their returns to their own ships.  They were suited up in survival suits and placed in the Bering Sea only to be wrangled from the sea like a crab pot.  There was a little tension, when Jake Anderson went missing for a few minutes, but he was found and brought on board his boat the Northwestern.  It would seem that Jake Anderson has a new outlook back on his boat, but Jake Harris returned to his old ways, even stating that he did not know if he would be back on his father’s boat next season.  This will continue to play out, especially since after the opilio crab season, Phil Harris died, so the next few weeks will be ones to watch. 

However, the crew of the Time Bandit has taken the cue and vamped up their antics.  Between assault rifles and fishing in boxers, the captains, and crew are enjoying their time and doing their jobs, and raking in the crab.  The only downer of the crew and vessel is the animosity between Johnathan Hillstrand, captain of the Time Bandit, and Keith Colburn, captain of the Wizard.  Their friendship ended at the beginning of the season, and while it is a sad outcome, many viewers understand the basis for this break between the two captains.  The Time Bandit, as said before, has taken the spotlight this season.  The main factor of this boat is that it is a family affair, and even those deckhands who are not blood family, are considered family.  The youngest of the Hillstrand family is Scott Hillstrand, Johnathan’s son, who is learning all facets of the business so that when it is time, he will take over the family business. But that is not the most interesting thing that has happened.  The first interesting thing that happened occurred while Scott was getting his first lesson as captain.  The deckhands decided to have a little fun and one even decided to fish in his skivvies.  Mike Fourtner, wearing only his boxers and his boots and even less after a slip, works with to bring up a crab pot.  In the end, no pun intended, the pot held only a single cod fish and the deckhand was reduced to being a shooting gallery pawn running up and down the deck.  It relieved much tension and was a great way to finish up the King Crab season. 

It is pranks and antics like these that create an atmosphere that is not only 36+ hours of continuous work, but a camaraderie that is beyond compare for a stressful and highly intense 6 weeks.  These outbursts keep the crews working knowing that they are all one family while on the sea and that with the long days/nights, there is also fun and caring between the members of the boat.  With week upon week with no one but your crew to talk too, it is important to let go sometimes, and be human.  Otherwise the tension would break these men, and from the previous seasons as well as this season it is obvious that having fun is as much a part of crabbing as the 30+ hours at a time pulling pots.