At 53 years old, the patriarch and colourful captain passed away
Captain Josh Harris has returned to the high seas. There are many turbulent waters.
The 39-year old is returning to Discovery Channel’s series “Deadliest Catch.” Season 18 examines the challenges faced by captains when it comes to the coronavirus pandemic and the shutdown of red-king crab catching by the Alaskan government for the first time since 25 years.
Harris finds it especially meaningful because he is reunited with his brother Shane. After Phil Harris, the famed fisherman, passed away in 2010, Harris and Shane reconnected.
Captain “Wild” Bill Wichrowski is determined to grab viewers’ attention and show them the hard truth of searching the Bering Sea to find a way to earn a living without risking financial ruin.
Fox News Digital spoke with Josh Harris and Wichrowski about Season 18, which will place family first and what they believe to be the most important.
Fox News: Josh, in the upcoming season you will be able to reunite with your brother. Was that a positive experience for you?
Captain Josh Harris: It was a great experience to be reunited with my older brother. He is a lot stronger than me and can outrun me. But he’s a great guy. He hasn’t changed one bit. He is still a goofball and a hard worker, but he’s full of life. We needed all of that for the season ahead.
Fox News: Bill. For the first time in 25-years, the Alaskan government has stopped red king crab catching. What were your worries about making a living?
Captain Bill Wichrowski: I was there for the 25-year anniversary and it was quite devastating, as fishermen are usually checked every day. Now that I am a bit older, my partner I have a little war chest. It’s hard to keep a crew together because it’s so hard to replace them.
It takes years to build a team of men who can work together well and perform well. They have to find other things to do if they don’t make any money. It was up to us to find some money for these guys so that their lives could continue at a normal pace, until we entered the next fishing industry. We did everything possible.
Fox News: Josh. What was the most important lesson your father gave you about becoming a successful fisherman?
Harris: He just never quit. You keep going until the wheels come off. It’s that simple. He has a lot heart and drive. There is no stopping him. We’ll fight to the death. It takes a lot to train the dog. This is how it works.
Fox News: Fox News viewers might watch “Deadliest Catch” to conclude that they can do it. How would you advise someone who believes they are capable of handling this job?
Wichrowski If you are still interested in going after that, give me a shout.
Harris: Harris: He laughed.
Fox News: Josh. What was your biggest challenge after reconnecting to Shane?
Harris: Harris: I had to face the biggest challenge of taking a 46 year-old man who has never tried crabbing but that you love a lot, and then getting him on the deck of a crabboat. It was a challenge in itself. It was like taking someone out from retirement and giving them a strange carnival ride and telling them to get up. It was both challenging and interesting. It’s hard to be angry at your brother after 20 years. It happens.
Fox News: You didn’t follow Bill’s advice?
Harris: Harris: *Laughs* My brother loves to jump headfirst into things and not worry about too much. He’s tough. You can’t be dumb if you are going to be tough. We are both alive, so that’s a good thing.
Fox News: Bill, What’s the myth or reality about crab fishing?
Wichrowski – I believe you said something that really resonated with me earlier. Everyone sits down on the couch thinking, “Oh, that’s possible,” but only a few people actually try. Everyone sits down on the couch with a bag full of Cheetos and thinks, “Oh, that’s possible.” They don’t realize that the monotonous grind can last for hours, days, and even days. This will separate the men and the women. It’s much more difficult than it appears on TV.
Fox News: Josh, have you ever considered quitting fishing to spend more time with your family?
Harris: Every day, every day. Especially after my dad died. Fishing was something I disliked for a long time. The money is different. It’s different than it was. It’s not easy to get everything you want, so we have to work hard. It was a difficult time, but Hillstrands helped me to find the strength and drive to continue in the industry.
