What's it Like at Sea in a Storm?

05/26/2009

Hello Deadliest fans. Let me start by thanking you guys for the bagillion (that's right, "bagillion" -- it means "a lot") emails I got for the T-shirt contest.  It was really fun to hear from you all, and I must say Deadliest Catch fans are some of the greatest ever!

Last week we played a little guessing game where I gave you guys 10 "facts," three of which were untrue.  Here are the correct or not correct answers:

1.    Josh Harris eats peanut butter cups all day until we run out (he averages about eight packs a day): 
TRUE: I don't know how he gets all his vitamins and nutrients to survive the Bering Sea, but he does all right.

2.    We throw shot tapes overboard in waterproof cases to be retrieved by the Sea Star and sent back to L.A.
TRUE: It's a painful thing to watch all your hard work floating amongst the waves, but thanks to the Sea Star it has always worked out OK.

3.    Between Todd and me, we have shot over 400 hours of footage. 
TRUE: I don't have the exact number, but I would say the Cornelia Marie generates about 3,400 hours of tape each season (including deck cams).

4.    The guys pop No-Doze like crazy to stay awake. 
FALSE: You would think they would use No-Doze to stay awake.  However, they never do. They're all natural.

5.    We eat a ton of crab on the boat. 
FALSE: There are a few reasons we don't eat crab.  First, after being knee deep in it all day, the last thing you want to do is eat it.  Second, you aren't allowed to.  Alaska Fish and Game regulates how much crab each boat is allowed to catch.  So if you eat any of your catch it must come off your quota. To adjust all the paperwork associated with eating 5 pounds of crab is a pain in the butt.  If you are caught eating crab, or there is evidence that you ate crab (crab legs in the fridge), the fines are huge.  So it's really just not worth it.

6.    The Cornelia Marie holds roughly 300,000 pounds of opies.
TRUE: It's a damn big boat.

7.    The only thing that made me get over my seasickness was acupuncture and two different kinds of prescription pills. 
TRUE:  Thanks to Dr. Anna in Dutch Harbor.  She specializes in medicine and acupuncture, so she gave me the royal treatment: two IV bags, two courses of acupuncture and four prescription pills.  Thank you, Dr. Anna.

8.    The longest Todd and I stayed awake was 32 hours. 
TRUE: It may be slightly more, but I was too tired to remember.  As long as those guys are fishing, we are awake shooting it.  Sometimes we are even shooting while they are sleeping. You never know when something is going to happen, so you need to be prepared.

9.    A pot weighs roughly 500 pounds. 
FALSE: Some of you actually did research. Good job! They are about 800 pounds.

10.    Jake Harris cooks some of the best steak I've ever had. 
TRUE: It's true, ladies -- both those Harris boys are good cooks.  However, the "Jake Steak" is delightful.  Maybe it's because he made them after we arrived on land for offloading, and I hadn't eaten in days.  Regardless, they were delicious.

A lot of you guys emailed me to ask what it's like at sea in a storm.  Well, let me tell you.  The Cornelia Marie definitely experienced some rough ones and it was nuts to say the least. I've never experienced anything quite like it and imagine I never will again.  You can't fish in those conditions; in fact you can't really do anything in those conditions. There is nowhere to hide from the intensity. You must either ride with the waves or fight your way through them.  Those are tense times on a boat, and I think for the most part you'll find everyone up in the wheelhouse on alert.  I will never forget Todd coming up to me and saying: "If you can sleep, make sure you sleep with your survival suit next to you."  That was as scared as I've ever been. Fresh off the Katmai tragedy, how can you not be? 

In general, you can't sleep much out there.  You're either working all day and all night, or there's a bad storm and you simply can't. If I did sleep, it wasn't an easy task. Since I was top bunk, during bad weather I had to wedge my legs in between the mattress and the frame.  This helped keep me in place so big waves wouldn't send me flying out of bed and into the wall. 

Throughout the whole Deadliest Catch experience, (I'll admit) I wanted to go home a few times, but I never wanted to or would quit.  Through it all you know home is in the future, eventually, and that keeps you motivated. 

Comments

["H"]

Just wondering if there is any way you can stay dry. I volunteered on a fishing boat in the Atlantic but know the sea is a lot less rough. It was somewhat rough but no too bad. You mentioned seasickness and I had a bracelet with a plastic pressure thing. "H"

[Lisa Hurley]

just want to say i'm in love with all you men out there fighting the weather, the hours, i get chills watching you. Be safe make it home to your familys.

[Janna]

Mmmm...I want a Jake Steak. Love the blog Josh, keep it up. :)

[Brenda Sue]

Yeah Baby! Nice to see a Wisconsinite representing on the CM! My brother just got me addicted to the show and now I can't stop watching!!!!

[Bonnie@captainphilharris.com]

Excellent blog Josh! Any invites for next year? I hope you've been able to regain some of the weight you lost, that's a tough way to lose it.
Thanks for sharing with us :)

[captian Dew]

Josh you need to get on the wheel for a few hours. I dont know but driving the boat and riding in it make a world of differance. Ive had trouble with sea sickness all my life the only thing that helps me is getting on the wheel.

[maria]

" Courageous " one word for you all.

[status 12]

I have been addicted to this show since the very first airing. I admire all these guys as well as the production crew who risk their lives to bring this show to us. Can someone tell me what happened to the maverick?

[Annetta]

I am a the biggest Catch fan ever, I never miss the show and watch for hours. God's speed to all the Captians and their ships. I hope the show will last for a very long time. Thanks to all the Captians for sharing their time with us.

[Aliamae]

I come from a family of fishermen and I have so much respect,admiration to the Captain and crew of all men fishing crabs in Alaska for their outstanding courage, tenacity,endurance,expertise and care/concern for their fellow fishermen.To the producers of the show-Thank you for this show and may Deadliest Catch entertain us for a long long time.God be with you and keep you all safe at all times.

[Tracy Ekstedt]

I'm a big fan of the show and the employment. I used to crab and shrimp out of Westport, WA. My main boat was the Anita-D. It was a 70ft shrimper w/ foreward wheelhouse. I loved that boat dispite the fact the Head never worked, our refrigerator was the ice in the hold. As a deckhand on the Anita-D I worked the port side and processed and iced and at the end of our 18 hr days (luckily not 40-50) we took turns at wheel watch. The storms off the coast of WA aren't as bad as the Bering Sea but I've seen my share of wicked. The kind of day where you can reach over the stern and touch the water one min and the next you're lookin a story and a half down at it. One min. you see a boat 300 yards away and then you see only the radio antenna. But I never had trouble sleeping after a days grind. Shrimpin or Crabin. But that was 14 yrs ago and I still miss it to this day. My prayers are with you all on the sea and I'm dedicated to watching the show. Be safe and be real.
TRE

[Lance]

How much money do you make during king crab season? And is the money worth it?

[sabrina d]

i love to watch the guys do there thing, and am a big fan wish all the men and thier familys the best, god bless them all, happy crabbing fellas,,, marry me sig,lol.

[Brenda Hagins]

I love the show, glad all ya'll made it home safely, Capt. Phil is so cute and funnt. Can't wait for next season.

[Peggy McKita]

Just really love the Catch and admire all the hard work it takes to produce it. Thanks for the blog Josh it is very interesting.

Glad you are all back safe.

Peggy

[Jennifer]

I may be a female but every season I am ready for the deadliest catch crew.. I have always loved Phil on the Cornelia Marie,and when he got sick I was devistated, but then also happy when he returned,I think that everyone else are great too.. I always hate when the season is over. I give props to all those guys that go out there work so hard and risk there lives to make money... I cant wait for the next season I know it will be great. Be safe out there and have some fun.

[Barb]

Josh
Why do you use the picture of the "Incentives" opie river on your blog!!!! {Peoplem may think its the Corneala Marie

[Peter Jones]

The job these blokes do is fantastic,risking their lives to put this delicacy on our tables.Mind you i bet they hate the sight of the bl**dy things. So in respect to them i wrote this blog.http://hubpages.com/hub/danger-and-the-crab.

[Eric Chiasson]

Have you seen an Ovatek life raft before??? www.ovatek.com

It's an egg-shape dual fiberglass hull which is way better than the conventional inflatable rubber life raft... Let's do something about their safety, we need to inform them about this product. It's been on the market for 15 years...

Again, www.ovatek.com

[Sebastian]

I started watching Deadliest catch when i was in the marines and always wondered how to be considered to be a greenhorn on one of these ships(Time Bandit or Corneala Marie)? I love the sea and been tring to find a job that pushes me to the limit. so far, i became fat and bored.

[TIM DONALDSON]

THE CAST OF DEADLIEST CATCH WAS ON CASH CAB...WHAT DATE AND TIME..?