The North American has finally arrived on the king crab fishing grounds. We are late, but ready to fish. Our deck-cameraman Danny slides from his bunk uneasily. It is his first journey into the Bering Sea. I notice that it takes him a while to stand and catch his balance. Danny is unaware of my gaze and concern as I watch him. He has been seasick and lying in his bunk since we first climbed onboard. It is now time to go into production mode, and I really need him to rally.
Engineer and deck boss John Skaar (pictured in orange) also rises from his bunk. He is anxious to hit the deck and begin baiting and dropping pots over the rail. He too will have to manage his crew on deck. Travis, one of John’s deckhands, is seasick as well, but John is not worried about him. Travis has had a lot of experience fighting though his nausea. He will be OK. John is more concerned about managing the other two deckhands, each a master fisherman with his own ideas about how a deck should be run. He will have to lead Davin Nes (pictured in yellow), a highly experienced fisherman, and Eric Nyhammer, the captain of the Rollo, who has joined us as our fourth deckhand for king crab season. Both of these men will certainly voice their own opinions. John practically grew up on the deck of the North American. It is his home turf and he is likely to defend that position.
As the crew steps out onto the wooden deck, they walk right past cameraman Danny, who is now doubled over puking by the bait-chopper. All that I can do at this point is shake my head and climb up into the wheelhouse to film the captain during his first pot drops in three years. It is time to fish and time to shoot. In the days ahead, each of us will have to define our individual roles and positions aboard this vessel.
Photo: Marc Carter/DCL






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