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Photo Credit: Cameron Glendenning/Discovery
Premiered:
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Network: Discovery
Type: Live Action
Created by Thom Beers
Subject Matter: Workplace
Tags: fishing (crab)
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It's the deadliest job on earth -- crab fishing on the icy Bering Sea. Fishermen battle Arctic weather, brutal waves, and a ticking clock for a chance at big money in this modern-day gold rush. This unique breed of men set out upon an unforgettable odyssey. Sadly, all of them may not return. Each season of DEADLIEST CATCH features two different crab seasons during a single brutal winter -- fishing vessels bring in King crab starting mid-October and Chionoecetes opilio (a.k.a. snow crab) in January.
After an all-day marathon from 9am-8pm ET/PT, Discovery presented a new one-hour special and then the Season 9 premiere at 9pm ET/PT on Tuesday, April 16, 2013. In the show's ninth season, the seven skippers and their crews are fighting through hell and back again in search of King and Opilio crab. But as the fleet faces off with the raging sea, they are quick to realize, that sometimes the most violent storms can come from within.
On Tuesday, April 22, 2014 from 9-11pm ET/PT, Discovery broadcast the Season 10 premiere of DEADLIEST CATCH. In the first episode, opening season comes and goes as the captains have been grounded by of all things -- politics. For the first time in nearly two decades, a government shutdown brings Washington D.C. to a screeching halt with its far-reaching effects going well beyond the Beltway. Eventually the shutdown ends, but it's just the beginning for the captains. Up against a ticking clock of a shortened season, a late start means greater competition than ever before. With a deadline to offload looming and millions of dollars on the line, the captains must lay down the hammer and fish through treacherous weather. A boat goes up in flames; another runs aground while many more earn record-breaking profits. When the smoke clears, one captain finds himself in rehab and another wakes up in a hospital.
Immediately following an all-day marathon (9am-9pm) of encore episodes, Discovery aired the two-hour Season 11 premiere of DEADLIEST CATCH on Tuesday, April 14, 2015 at 9pm ET/PT. After years of keeping a lid on Bairdi crab quota, new government regulations have increased the inventory by 400%. These changes mean the potential for huge paydays for Captains and crew. On the Northwestern, the Bairdi bump won't just bring profit for the ever-controlling Captain Sig Hansen; it will bring opportunity and a bigger stake in the claim for his brother Edgar. But will Sig loosen the reins on his aging crew? Meanwhile on the Cornelia Marie, Josh Harris is trying to step out of his father's shadow, the late Capt. Phil Harris, and earn the respect of his crew. But first, he needs to get out of the dock since his boat's engine won't start and is forced to wait for critical parts. For Wild Bill of the Cape Caution, this season's about accepting his son for who really he is; on the Time Bandit, Johnathan Hillstrand must overcome his health, family issues and massive boat repair bills to turn his business around with a new group of young guns. On The Wizard, Captain Keith Colburn must re-examine his idea of the ultimate deckhand as he goes through several crewmen. And for Elliott Neese, it's the need to bridge the gap between his dreams of having a family and a successful business.
Season 12 of DEADLIEST CATCH premiered on Tuesday, March 29, 2016 from 9-11pm ET/PT on Discovery, immediately following an all-day marathon (9am-9pm) of encore episodes. This season, DEADLIEST CATCH welcomes a new skipper to town. Just 23-years-old, Sean Dwyer of the Brenna A is the youngest captain ever in the history of DEADLIEST CATCH. Following in the footsteps of his recently-departed father, the young rookie has fished all his life but never as a captain on the Bering Sea. Now he embarks upon the Holy Grail of commercial fishing in a vessel that hasn't fished crab in eight years and manned by an all-rookie crew. Added pressure comes from the fact that his 290,000 lb. quota comes from Sig. Sean isn't the only one feeling the heat. Breaking free of Sig's mentoring grip is Jake Anderson who takes his first full season at the helm of the Saga. Last season, Jake fought to prove his worth as a fisherman, father and captain. Now that he's been given a shot, he needs to prove his worth as a leader. But can he command a crew he also sees as his friends? Meanwhile on the Cornelia Marie, young skipper Josh Harris steps out of the shadows to claim his birthright on the legendary vessel once commanded by his father, the late Captain Phil Harris. The boat has finally gotten an overhaul - complete with new electronics and engine room. But making the boat like new comes with a steep price. To pay for the overhaul, Josh had to sell a majority of the boat to investors meaning if they can't find crab, the investors will find someone else who can. Over on the Cape Caution, a new year brings a new crew for long-time Captain Wild Bill Wichrowski. This season, Wild Bill turns to his son Zach Larson to find and train the boat's crew. But the teaching process hasn't been quite so easy for the teacher or the students. Can Zach prove he's up to the challenge to finally take over the wheel house? Captain Keith Colburn of The Wizard is struggling with life both on and off the deck. Keith hopes for a fresh start this season after recently breaking up with his wife of 25 years and accepting that his kids are all grown up. Millions of dollars-worth of crab on the line, and Keith's crew is ready to go on day one. But before they can leave, they need their captain... who is nowhere to be found. On the Time Bandit, Jonathan Hillstrand and his brother Andy, find themselves in a dicey situation that could not only cost them a quarter million dollars but that could potentially cost them their fishing license. Will Jonathan make the right decision? Or will this force them to call it quits before the season even started? And finally on the Northwestern, salty Captain Sig Hansen makes a bold decision to search for crab on grounds that he hasn't been to in over a decade. Was it the right choice? Or was there good reason why he's avoided it this long? While experience battles youth this season, Mother Nature wages war. The warm waters of El Nino push the crab deeper, making the catch even more elusive. Each boat will have to fight even harder for every crab that comes over the rail. Injuries, breakdowns and chaotic weather plague the fleet, proving once and for all that in the Bering Sea legends can be built... But they also can be broken.
On Tuesday, April 11, 2017 from 9-11pm ET/PT, Discovery Channel the thirteenth season of DEADLIEST CATCH, immediately following an all-day marathon (3am-9pm) of encore episodes. Over the past 12 years, the veteran captains thought they've seen it all. But this year proves to be like no other on record. Generations of fishermen have made a hard living setting out of Dutch Harbor, Alaska, one of the nation's most prolific crabbing ports. However, this year the crabs have seemingly vanished -- igniting a grueling hunt to save the fleet's way of life. After a massive temperature spike in the Bering Sea, traditional fishing hot spots are now coming up empty. And the situation leaves everyone in the fleet -- veterans and greenhorns alike -- wondering what can be done to save the season? In the two-hour season opener, "Uncharted Territory," Captain Sig resumes the helm after a major heart attack, and Wild Bill debuts his own brand new boat in a crisis season. Plus, there's an attempt to rescue a heart attack victim.
Season 14 of DEADLIEST CATCH premiered on Tuesday, April 10, 2018 from 9-11pm ET/PT, Discovery Channel. After several lean seasons, the Alaskan crab fleet are back to claim their part of a massive $120-million-dollar bounty. With the lucrative Bairdi fishery opening back up, adding millions of pounds to the pot, there is a renewed sense of optimism. Big money is on the line, the fishing is more competitive than ever and the captains are going to battle to catch as much of the high-value crab as they can. But as always, the biggest battle they face is against a turbulent Bering Sea in the stormy dead of winter. Before setting sail, the captains will pay tribute and honor their friends and fellow fishermen of the F/V Destination. Last year, the vessel was lost at sea - making a huge impact on this tight-knit community of fisherman and the industry. "It's times like this that remind us just how fragile our lives are. And the dangers that we face. It's times like this that make you go deep," said veteran captain Sig Hansen. After taking last year off, boat owner Josh Harris is back once again to co-captain the Cornelia Marie with Casey McManus. This year, they have 120,000 pounds of King Crab to catch and will need to search for crab fast. But after a year away, does Josh still have what it takes to command a vessel on the Bering Sea? On the 107-foot Saga, Jake Anderson has completely rebuilt the boat with $750,000 worth of updates, and will begin his season floating on an ocean of debt. This year, Jake's goal is to make a name for himself on the crab grounds, paying off the mountain of debt, and to do it all independent of mentor and father-figure, Sig Hansen. Meanwhile, on the legendary Northwestern, Captain Sig Hansen is sick and tired of people telling him how he should live after his near-fatal heart attack. He feels strong and he's ready to do what he does best. But this year, its every man for himself. The seasoned skipper and crew, led by brother Edgar, plan to dominate the seas on their own - fleet be damned. Captain Wild Bill is back with his new boat, the Summer Bay, and faces one problem after another as he struggles to make a profit. He loses a huge chunk of crab quota to a competing captain, and battles one of the worst engine failures of his career. But all of that is quickly put into perspective when a deckhand falls overboard in a violent storm. Captain Sean Dwyer of the Brenna A has every other crabber in his sights this season. With a back-door business deal, he buys up a piece of Wild Bill's quota out from under him, almost doubling his potential payout for the year. But mother nature knocks him down a peg when the young captain is bashed with one of the biggest waves he's ever seen, costing him over $30,000 in damages. And finally, Captain Keith Colburn of the Wizard has his sights set on being the top producer this season, and his goal to out maneuver and out fish rival Sig Hansen. He is no stranger to high risk and high reward, but as the season wears on, a problem develops that could put Keith's season -- and life -- in jeopardy. Forty-foot waves, hurricane force winds, heavy-machinery and massive icebergs are just a few reasons that no season is ever the same. Making matters even worse, the sea is terrifyingly heightened by this year's super moon, a tsunami and some of the worst winter storms on record. And once again, the crew will have their work cut out for them like never before.
The fifteenth season of DEADLIEST CATCH premiered on Tuesday, April 9, 2019 from 8-10pm ET/PT on Discovery Channel. This year, something is different in the air. A new boat blows into town, rumored to know where over a quarter billion dollars-worth of king crabs are located. The rest of the fleet is left on the outside willing to do anything to get in on the score. Complicating matters, massive winter weather comes up and never really goes back down. Storm after storm causes season-ending injuries and more damage to the boats than the captains have seen in years. New to the fleet this season is the cut-throat, no-nonsense Captain Steve "Harley" Davidson with the 148-foot-long Southern Wind. The boat is the second-largest in the fleet behind only Captain Keith Colburn's boat The Wizard. Harley, who has captained the Southern Wind for 15 years, doesn't make friends easily -- including Captain Keith who considers Harley as enemy no. 1. This season, Harley was able to break out ahead of others to look for crab. After scouring the grounds with over 1,200 pots, he believes that a quarter billion dollars-worth of crab are clustered in a single massive horde. If he's right, every captain in the fleet will be on top of him, turning the high-stakes hunt for crab into a close-quarters battleground. On the legendary Northwestern, Captain Sig has been preparing 23-year-old Maritime Academy alumna and daughter, Mandy Hansen, to be his relief skipper. But how will she stack up in a season of competitive close-quarters fishing? After years of hard work, Jake Anderson has whipped the Saga into ship shape and hired a strong crew. Now, with a growing family, he wants to buy into the boat and become a partner, not just an employee. But in order to gain ownership and secure a stable future for his wife and family, Jake must fish fast enough to bring in a quarter million over expenses for the buy in. With massive boat payments due, Captain Wild Bill has his work cut out for him on the F/V Summer Bay. With two untested greenhorns and a furry little dog named Rico, the veteran skipper has a lot to keep his eye on. It's not long before things take an unexpected turn when one of Bill's newbies suddenly disappears at sea. Captain Sean Dwyer of the Brenna A has major ambitions. After his dad passed away 5 years ago, he took the helm and punched through every challenge the Bering Sea could throw at him. Now, he hopes to convince his mother and business partner that what they really need is to buy a second boat. But with Keith and Sig's gear standing in his way, Sean must outfox the veterans or say goodbye to his dream of expanding the family business. All eyes are on captains Josh Harris, Casey McManus and their fabled Cornelia Marie. Last season, Josh gained notoriety by skirting a series of close calls while filling the boat at a breakneck pace. Now, the young skipper must prove that last year's success wasn't a fluke. If he succeeds, he could be entrusted with a million bucks worth of added quota. It's an all-out battle this season as the captains attempt to catch their plunder. But as tensions rise, the temperatures continue to drop. With the weather colder than it has ever been in over half a decade, parts of the Bering Sea are beginning to freeze over along with the boats in it.
On Tuesday, September 10, 2019 at 9pm ET/PT, Discovery Channel premiered "Now or Never," the Season 15 finale of DEADLIEST CATCH. A crushing injury requires Coast Guard rescue; Josh and Casey face a huge loss.
Mike Rowe - Narrator
Sig Hansen - Captain of the Northwestern (Seasons 1-15)
Keith Colburn - Captain of the Wizard (Seasons 3-15)
Bill 'Wild Bill' Wichrowski - Captain of the Kodiak (Seasons 6-8), Cape Caution (Seasons 9-12), and Summer Bay (Seasons 13-15);
Josh Harris - Captain of the Cornelia Marie (Seasons 9-12, 14 & 15)
Casey McManus - Captain of the Cornelia Marie (Seasons 10-12, 14 & 15)
Jake Anderson - Captain of the Saga (Seasons 11-15)
Sean Dwyer - Captain of the Brenna A (Seasons 12-15)
Steve 'Harley' Davidson - Captain of the Southern Wind (Season 15)
Andy Hillstrand - Captain of the Time Bandit, King crab season (Seasons 2-12)
Johnathan Hillstrand - Captain of the Time Bandit, Opilio season (Seasons 2-12)
Phil Harris - Captain of the Cornelia Marie (Seasons 1-6, 10)
Elliot Neese - Captain of the Ramblin' Rose (Seasons 7 & 8) and the Saga (Seasons 9-11)
Derrick Ray - Captain of the Cornelia Marie (Season 7)
Scott Campbell Jr. - Captain of the Seabrooke (Seasons 7-10)
Larry Hendricks - Captain of the Sea Star (Seasons 1, 3, 4, 5)
Murray Gamrath - Captain of the Cornelia Marie (Seasons 4 - 5)
Harry Lewis - Captain of the Incentive (Season 5)
Wayne Baker - Captain of the Trailblazer (Season 5)
Wade Henley - Captain of the Lisa Marie (Season 5)
Rick Fehst - Captain of the Early Dawn (Season 4)
Sten Skaar - Captain of the North American (Season 4)
Rick Quashnick - Captain of the Maverick (Seasons 1-3)
Jerry ''Corky'' Tilley - Captain of the Aleutian Ballad (Seasons 2 & 3)
Allen Oakley - Captain of the Early Dawn (Season 3)
Greg Moncrief - Captain of the Farwest Leader (Season 3)
Blake Painter - Captain of the Maverick (Season 3)
Eric Nyhammer - Captain of the Rollo (Season 2)
Roger Strong - Captain of the Saga (Pilot & Season 1)
Gary Edwards - Captain of the Big Valley (Season 1)
Jeff Weeks - Captain of the Billikin (Season 1)
Tony LaRussa - Captain of the Fierce Allegiance (Season 1)
Pete Liske - Captain of the Lady Alaska (Season 1)
Vince Shavender - Captain of the Lucky Lady (Season 1)
Jim Stone - Captain of the Retriever (Season 1)
Shaun Miles - Captain of the Vixen (Season 1)
Coleman Anderson - Captain of the Western Viking (Season 1)
Ole Helgevold - Captain of the Arctic Dawn (Pilot)
Bing Henkel - Captain of the Erla-N (Pilot)
Also known as Deadliest Catch Alaskan Crab Fishing
Production & Distribution
Produced by	Original Productions
Wanted: Dead or Alive - Bon Jovi
Dutch Harbor - Unalaska, Alaska USA - Map It!