Deadliest Catch

One of the most popular shows on the Discovery Channel is Deadliest Catch. The reality series follows the crew of several fishing vessels as they head out into the Bering Sea during crab season. The job is considered the most dangerous in the country due to the hazards of the job — holding tank hatches, uneven surfaces, wet decks — and the stormy and unpredictable waters off the coast of Alaska.

The show is narrated by voice actor Mike Rowe and the show is filmed aboard the vessels, which change from season to season.

When did Deadliest Catch start?

The first season of Deadliest Catch premiered in 2005, and since then there have been several spinoffs and specials of the series, including After the Catch, The Bait, On Deck and The Viking Returns. There was also Deadliest Catch: Dungeon Cove, which premiered in 2016 and featured crab fisherman working off the coast of Oregon.

Deadliest Catch cast:

The Northwestern crew:

• Captain Sig Hansen
• Norman Hansen (Engineer/Deckhand)
• Nick Mavar (Deckhand)
• Karl Rasmussen (Greenhorn)
• Matt Bradley (Deckhand)
• Mandy (Hansen) Pederson (Captain-in-training)
• Clark Pederson (Greenhorn)

The Wizard crew:

• Captain Keith Colburn
• Monte "Mouse" Colburn (Relief Captain)
• Gary Soper (First Mate)
• Roger Schlosstein (Deckhand)
• Tyler Gateman (Deckhand)
• Pascual Ganuelas (Deckhand)
• Freddy Maugatai (Deckhand)
• Todd Gateman (Greenhorn)

The Saga crew:

• Captain Jake Anderson
• Sean Dunlop (Deck Boss)
• Jack Bunnell (Engineer)
• James Jones (Deckhand)
• Robert McNeese (Deckhand)
• Cameron Meyer (Deckhand)

How much do the Deadliest Catch stars make?

The risk is seemingly worth the reward for the cast of Deadliest Catch. It is reported that captains can earn more than $200,000 a year and crew members can earn as much as $50,000 over the course of the three-month crab season (the two most active months are October and January). And that is not counting the salary they earn from the Discovery Channel.

Deadliest Catch deaths:

Since commercial fishermen hold the title for the most dangerous job, there has been more than one death on Deadliest Catch — but not all the deaths are job-related.

• Captain Phil Harris — The fan-favorite passed away in 2010 after suffering a massive stroke. He was 53 years old.
• Tony Lara — The former captain of the Cornelia Marie suffered a massive heart attack in his sleep in 2015 at the age of 50.
• Blake Painter — Blake appeared on Deadliest Catch in 2006 as the captain of the F/V Maverick. Blake was found dead in his home at the age of 38.
• The crew of the Eagle III — The Eagle III appeared on Deadliest Catch: Dungeon Cove, and sank, killing Josh Paulus, Danny Matlock, and Blaine Steinmetz in 2016.
• Justin Tennison — The 33-year-old was found dead in his hotel room in Alaska just four days after returning from sea. According to an autopsy, his cause of death was determined to be complications from sleep apnea.
• Mahlon Reyes — In July 2020, Mahlon Reyes' death was announced, and a year later his cause of death was revealed to be “acute cocaine intoxication." He was 38 years old.
• Nick McGlashan — Nick's body was discovered in a Nashville hotel room in December 2020, where he overdosed at the age of 33. He left behind two kids.
• Todd Kochutin — The F/V Patricia Lee crew member died in February 2021 after being struck with a crab pot onboard the vessel. Todd was only 30 years old at the time of his death.
• Ross Jones — The Deadliest Catch star was only when he passed away in June 2022. He left behind a young son from a relationship with his partner, Chloe.
• Nick Mavar — On June 13, 2024, Nick Mavar passed away in Naknek, Alaska after suffering "a medical emergency."