5 Secrets You Didnt Know About The Making Of The Deadliest Catch
5 Secrets You Didnt Know About The Making Of The Deadliest Catch
Deadliest Catch has been a huge Discovery Channel hit since it premiered in 2005. With over 300 episodes, the Alaskan-based reality TV series captures the real-life drama aboard crabbing boats in the Bering Strait during the Alaskan king, Opilio, and Bairdi crab fishing seasons. Crews battle fierce and inhospitable environments to reach their quota and make a living. Waves toss about boats like they are nothing and heavy machinery could sweep a crew member out to sea at any moment with one big wave.
Over the years, these struggles and those who go through them have attracted millions of viewers. Despite the show’s extreme conditions and high drama, some of the most shocking stuff happens off-camera. Deadliest Catch also has a large crew behind the scenes, making the show work. With that large crew and the memorable Deadliest Catch boats, plenty of drama has bubbled up over the show’s long run. From breaking the law and high-profile civil lawsuits to post-production trickery, there’s always more going on that fans don’t see.
5 Several Cast Members Had Substance Issues
Elliott Neese, Jake Harris, And Nick McGlashan All Had Abuse Problems
Several cast members have left throughout Deadliest Catch’s run on Discovery Channel, with their drama behind the scenes. One issue that has popped up for the cast and crew is substance abuse problems. Elliott Neese gave up his role as Captain of The Saga and left the series in season 11, checking into a 60-day rehab program for drug addiction (via Distractify). Jake Harris was arrested for substance possession after his father’s death, saying, “I got a big hole in my heart, and I tried to fill it up with everything that wasn’t good for it” (via CNN).
Nick McGlashan passed away in 2020 at 33.
Nick McGlashan also had a prolonged struggle. “My life went from Bering Sea bada** to full-blown junkie very rapidly. Hidden from me was that passion I had for life,” Nick McGlashan wrote in 2017 (via Chosenmag.com). “Taken from me was my ability to live. I was at war with my addiction and it was winning… I was three overdoses into my addiction and a heavy alcoholic. My addict self was killing me, and I was struggling to die.” Nick McGlashan passed away in 2020 at 33.
4 The Show’s Production Manager Was Arrested For Selling Illegal Substances
Matthew Schneider Was Arrested In An 18-Person Drug Bust
The cast of Deadliest Catch aren’t the only ones who have butted up against substance abuse problems. In 2010, Matthew Schneider, the show’s production manager, was charged with using and selling illegal substances after he delivered about $300 worth of cocaine to an undercover officer as part of an elaborate sting that resulted in 18 arrests (via Today). Court documents also said Schneider used these substances in front of the undercover officers and talked about buying large amounts to sell. None of the captains or crew members who appear on the show were connected to the arrest.
Overall, the police seized a large number of illegal substances during the investigation, along with $13,000 in cash. The drugs included methamphetamine, cocaine, OxyContin, and marijuana and had a street value of around $80,000. The mayor at the time, Shirley Marquardt, said, “for people from out of town that come here, don’t bring that garbage with you. If you are going to bring that garbage with you, you are not welcome.”
The cast of Deadliest Catch aren’t the only ones who have butted up against substance abuse problems. In 2010, Matthew Schneider, the show’s production manager, was charged with using and selling illegal substances after he delivered about $300 worth of cocaine to an undercover officer as part of an elaborate sting that resulted in 18 arrests (via Today). Court documents also said Schneider used these substances in front of the undercover officers and talked about buying large amounts to sell. None of the captains or crew members who appear on the show were connected to the arrest.
Overall, the police seized a large number of illegal substances during the investigation, along with $13,000 in cash. The drugs included methamphetamine, cocaine, OxyContin, and marijuana and had a street value of around $80,000. The mayor at the time, Shirley Marquardt, said, “for people from out of town that come here, don’t bring that garbage with you. If you are going to bring that garbage with you, you are not welcome.”
3 Sig Hansen Was Accused Of Terrible Things
Hansen’s Daughter Sued Him For Abuse From Her Childhood
Sig Hansen has been a longtime fan-favorite on Deadliest Catch, so it came as quite a surprise when allegations of abuse surfaced in March of 2017. Hansen’s estranged daughter, Melissa Eckstrom, a 28-year-old attorney living in Seattle, filed a lawsuit against her father, alleging he abused her as a child. The lawsuit relied on her memories of the abuse, as well as medical examinations, a therapist’s evaluation, and state Child Protective Services’ findings from the time that concluded Hansen likely abused his daughter in 1990 when she was just two years old.
Sig Hansen denied the allegations and claimed the medical and psychological findings were biased. In April 2017, prosecutors decided they couldn’t bring criminal charges against the captain, but a civil lawsuit remained in the courts. Hansen has always denied the claims, saying that Eckstrom’s mother “poisoned my relationship with our daughter through years of vile lies” (via Cheat Sheet).
Sig Hansen has been a longtime fan-favorite on Deadliest Catch, so it came as quite a surprise when allegations of abuse surfaced in March of 2017. Hansen’s estranged daughter, Melissa Eckstrom, a 28-year-old attorney living in Seattle, filed a lawsuit against her father, alleging he abused her as a child. The lawsuit relied on her memories of the abuse, as well as medical examinations, a therapist’s evaluation, and state Child Protective Services’ findings from the time that concluded Hansen likely abused his daughter in 1990 when she was just two years old.
Sig Hansen denied the allegations and claimed the medical and psychological findings were biased. In April 2017, prosecutors decided they couldn’t bring criminal charges against the captain, but a civil lawsuit remained in the courts. Hansen has always denied the claims, saying that Eckstrom’s mother “poisoned my relationship with our daughter through years of vile lies” (via Cheat Sheet).
2 Sig Hansen Spat On An Uber Driver And Kicked His Car
Hansen Pled Guilty To The Criminal Charges
While DAs refused to prosecute the criminal case against Sig Hansen, the Deadliest Catch star was arrested in connection with misdemeanor assault and property destruction charges in May 2017 after an alleged incident with an Uber driver. The charges alleged that Hansen got into an argument with the driver before spitting on the driver’s head and kicking the outside of the car. Hansen received probation and a $43 fine after pleading guilty (via PEOPLE).
“I am terribly sorry for my behavior and am very embarrassed by it. I owe a bunch of people apologies, first and foremost to our Uber driver, who was just trying to get us home safely,” Hansen said in a statement at the time. “I hope I can make that apology in person. I have no excuse and accept responsibility for my actions. I made a boneheaded move last night, and I am sorry.”
11 The Show Doesn’t Cover The Deadliest Kind Of Fishing
There Are Three Different FIshing Types Deadlier Than King Crab Fishing
A fisherman’s life used to be a lot deadlier than it is today. Increased safety measures and precautions have saved countless lives and continue to improve. There are still many risks associated with crab fishing in the Bering Sea, but there are actually at least three deadlier catches (via Salon). According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, groundfish, like cod and flounder, were the deadliest kind of fishing on the East Coast of the United States from 2000 to 2014.
Commercial fishing dropped to number 2, behind logging, in the list of most dangerous occupations.
Atlantic scallop fishing was the second most dangerous, and Dungeness crab fishing off the coasts of Oregon and Washington was the third deadliest. Overall, fishing conditions do improve every year. From 1990 to 2014, there was a 74% drop in commercial fishing fatalities in Alaska. In addition, commercial fishing dropped to number 2, behind logging, in the list of most dangerous occupations.
