Bering Sea Brothers

06/16/2009

A lot of you guys have been emailing me wondering what's up with Josh and Jake fighting all the time.  Well, they're brothers and brothers fight, especially when they're exhausted and living in cramped quarters.  Also, they know how to push each other's buttons and sometimes I think they do things just to get under each other's skin. For me, watching them fight is hilarious. I mean, they'll fight over the dumbest things. They would fight over how to put a pot on the boat, how to do bait or how to cook a potato. I mean really, guys, a potato?  I get it, though. I live with my brother and we fight about how much water is in the dog's bowl.  

Working with the Cornelia Marie guys is truly an honor, and it starts at the top.  Capt. Phil is the best -- a lifetime fisherman who has been fishing the Bering Sea for decades.   Phil has been through it all and understands the nuances of fishing the Bering Sea and always puts the safety of the crew before all else.  Working with Phil is sort of like dealing with a smoldering fire: he's always smoking and could turn into something ugly in a flash.  Phil is a tough man and expects from his crew what he puts in and that's a lot.  

As a Deadliest Catch producer on a boat, you walk a fine line between fisherman and producer.  You want to earn the respect of the fishermen and prove you can hang with them, work their hours and do what they do.  However, your job isn't to catch crabs -- it's to produce the best possible TV show that you can.  So what's the happy medium?

The happy medium is different for each producer, but for me I wanted to be 100 percent fisherman and 100 percent producer.  This meant spending every moment with the guys on deck while they were working.  I would shoot as much as I could, but occasionally I would put the camera down and help them on deck.  It was fun learning how to bait a pot, sort crab and push the totes along the dock.  If I could learn how to be a greenhorn deckhand, it would help me as a greenhorn producer.  

Meanwhile it is COLD, COLD, COLD out in the Bering Sea during opilio season.  It's so cold the ocean is frozen, and it's like a slushy out there.  One cold night I wrote this poem while wrapped up in blankets in my bunk:

If hell froze over, I would already be there.

Plunging through the Bering Sea, I'm cold, cold, cold.  So cold that a mere hug would no doubt crush my bones.

If hell freezes over, I would already be there, and in true form I'm joyfully stuck.  Stuck like a sardine in the rafters of Costco; you could never find me.

Dancing snow and the rhythmic coma of the bow bouncing warms my senses, but I'm still cold, I'm still horizontal, I still will smile.

If hell froze over, I would already be there.

Comments

[maria]

Seems to me all of the vessels have family relations, either behind the helm or on deck or behind the scenes somewhere....Thank God for family. I Love It. Carry On Men.
Bravo Josh , for even more writing.

[tim montee]

Bring Mike Rowe back!!!!!!! It's not cash cab??? Get a clue!!!

[tim montee]

bring mike Rowe back!11 Get a clue!!!!!

[Vicki Linn]

Thanks for continuing your blog and you all did great in the filming and production, kuddos for your willingness to do this very tough job. Are you doing another season?

[Nemo]

I think its hilarous as well when Josh and Jake fight, only because they are brothers and I know that what their fighting about wont ruin their relationship. They're not fighting because they hate eachother. And Thankyou Josh, so much for writting your blogs. I love reading them. I look forward to a new episodes of deadliest catch every week as well as a new blog from you.

[m mawhinney]

OMG - JAKE HARRIS IS SO HOT!

[Joshua Gonzalez]

i agree with you thats the one thing brother know what to do is push eachothers buttons and fight whether it be argumantative or phyisical but its still really funny when its done by josh and jake it gives the comedy part of the Cornelia Marie

[Linda A.]

Josh,

That sibling bickering goes on between sisters, too.

It was good to read your latest blog post to catch up on what's been going on on "Catch." You see, I had expanded basic cable for awhile, and, while I had it, I discovered, and consequently got hooked on, "Deadliest Catch." Now that I no longer have expanded basic, (I can't afford it), I haven't been able to watch "Catch" for almost two months, and I miss my crabbers. (I've got Season 5 on my Netflix wait list, so I'll catch up -- no pun intended -- when it comes out on DVD.)

Anyway, from reading your June 16 blog post, it sounds like Captain Phil is back at the helm of the Cornelia Marie. I'm glad to hear that because the last time I was able to watch "Catch," he was having some health problems and was forced to sit out the beginning of the season. I've thought about him from time to time and wondered how he's doing, but it sounds like he's doing OK; that's good to know.

[cr0ak]

Jake reminds me of Fredo Corleone. Not the sharpest knife in the drawer but wants to be top dog. Likes to order people around (especially his brother). Capt. Phil should kick his patootie off the boat until he grows up a bit and learns how to be a MAN (not the child that he acts like).

[b]

why does TLC/ Discovery...etc. not have a way to contact the corporation online. How would I file a complaint... join a blog?? Ridiculous. Thanks for "listening" to the people.

[Karen]

Jake is hot!!!

[RAD]

Did the CM offload crab at St Paul harbor?

[(Alex)andra]

I just want to say that Josh Harris is the sexiest guy out there and keeps me watchin every season,but to the rest you guys all do a great job.Stay safe

[John Markus Jr.]

About blood clots. Any captain over 40 should be wearing anti clot hose or be using a machine used in hospitals that prevents blood clots. You can buy them at a hospital supply place and your doctors can fill you in on what to ask for.
Because of a docs mistake, I now suffer from blood clots.
I now tell everyone this.
I went in for a test one day and walked out six weeks later a cripple. The doc made a mistake and trashed my femoral artery, vein and did nerve damage. They then operated to repair the damage and I caught an infection.
Spent two and a half months on IV anti biotics. (It was later determined, I didn't need the test, the doc was greedy and did the test anyway)
Permant nerve damage to boot, constant pain.
Healthcare reform people. I worked in healthcare for twenty years. If it could happen to me, it can happen to anyone.
I don't want a captain to go through what phil went through if it can be avoided. Most people who have blood clots that go to their lungs, die as if they are being choked to death.

[patricia zoellner]

bring mike rowe back!! please

[Michelle Alyea]

I just wanted to give a shout out to the Harris brother with the facial hair!!! Jake or Josh, I'm not quite sure, but with the comments I've read, it might be Jake! But who knows. Anyways, you are the sexiest fishermen out there!! I enjoy watching the show and wish you and your crew all the best, and to stay safe!! I would be extremely sad if you were to get hurt!! However, you make the show that more interesting! Thanks for doing what you do! And if you do have a special lady, she's the luckiest women alive! Take care all of you and best of luck!

[Shayna]

How is it that if your out on the Berin Sea that you can still keep up on your Blogs? Also Can you tell me if Josh Harris is single cause i think he's an amazing guy and he's really good looking. I would like to let him know that. Good fishing and God Bless to all the guys on the Cornelia Marie

[Annetta]

It is a common thing for brothers to fight. Watching Jake and Josh go at it adds to the excitement of the show. To the producer the bloggs and the shows are great. As a personal observation I would love to see some type of show featuring the boys of the Cornelia Marie.

[scott cummings]

Hey did Jake ever payback Phil on the flat screen telvision. He bought for his bunk.

[mindy]

hey ummmmmmm.....what ever happen to dave millman? the one that rolled his ankle. now theres a hottie for ya!!! good luck all.

[TINAH]

i would like to know what jake does for fun on his spare time

[TINAH MESA ARIZONA]

DOES JAKE HAVE A GIRL FRIEND OR ANY KIDS

[naomi]

i would like to good luck to all of you and jake is the hottest! is he single?

[naomi]

you always have to thank God for having family with you. Unlike some men and women who are overseas have no one. good luck to all of you and best wishes for seasons to come! :)

[Joseph Barrus]

Hi, I watch the when it is on durring the week and when the new episodes come on every tuesday, which is tomorrow. I have a question or to to ask any of the " famous" fisherman that can answer it.
1. How is it possible to become a fisherman, I desperately would like to do Americas most deadly job. yaya i dont know what im talking about and everyone asks it. but i have done army training and have done extreme events in my life, not i think but i know i can perform think devious task. no im not asking to be on the best ship but, just asking for a token of advise.
2. what are the date of start-finish for each season? I really dont have anthing going for me in life so the most extreme options seem the best. And I am young only 18, but Im simply wondering how it is possible. I can say that both the wizard and cornielia marie will nedd "green horns" they always do so i would like to put my resume in and want to know how. Be safe and rake in the bank. I mean you not me