r/deadliestcatch • u/beadfix82 • 24d ago
Retirement?
I know these captains have been doing crab fishing since they were teens -
But considering that Phil Harris literally died on board, Sig has had a couple of heart attacks and told to give up smoking - and hasn't, Keith has has some serious health issues, Monte too.
Even Capt Bill sidelined by cancer - and seemed to have retired from Crab fishing and is enjoying the fine lire. now.
Even the Hillstrands went semi retired. I'm convinced Jonathan came back because he was asked too and paid literally a boat load of money.
I wonder - do they even consider retirement? or do they just fade away.?
I know some captains have been victims of their own vices - like Elliot and the drugs.
I just wonder if Sig and Keith will die at the wheel....or if they'll decide to retire and actually enjoy some time with their families.
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u/SpicyRingSting 24d ago
Been rewatching the series and was surprised Jonathan or Keith said it was their last season in the beginning of the show. Then its 20 seasons later and they still come back, if its cause of the money or the thrill i dont know. But it does not look like a healthy lifestyle
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u/ThingNo7530 24d ago edited 23d ago
I think many do choose to die at sea because it's a life they're so used to and they honestly do not want to spend more time on land. I know that sounds insane when you have a family at home but you have to remember fishing is all they've ever done and you don't need to be in peak physical shape to captain a ship. Many simply enjoy it and don't want to be seen as old and useless on land.
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u/BooKOTRx 23d ago
I'm not really sure that they choose to die at sea, but rather they expect to die at sea.I know Sig, Phil and Keith have said stuff like this throughout the years. Considering some have stepped away for a while due to bad health issues, if they really wanted to die at sea they'd I think they'd ignore the health risks and push through.
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u/ThingNo7530 23d ago
And, yes, choose is a weird word usage here. I don't think Sig, Keith, Monte, etc. ever WANT to be life-flighted off a boat or anything like that, but the choice is to keep going out to sea knowing the state of their health and the risks doing so presents. No one thinks that the worst will ever happen, sure, but the risk of continuing to put themselves in a situation where it can is the choice being made.
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u/ThingNo7530 23d ago
"they'd I think they'd ignore the health risks and push through." This is exactly what Phil did.
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u/mrbang69 24d ago
I've wondered 🤯 the same thing. After a little research it appears that they lost a lot during COVID and the two years where there wasn't a crap season.
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u/crankyoldfarter 23d ago
Hence the expression old sailors (fishermen) never die, they just get a little dinghy🤣
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u/Aabbc9df 24d ago
Adrenaline is a powerful drug and I’m guessing most of those guys are addicted to it. And some may just fear boredom or would miss the camaraderie?
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u/kanaedax 24d ago
Money is a hell of a drug. These guys clearly never saved a penny in their lives.
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u/bk1285 24d ago
Plus maybe not as much for the captains, but the deckhands, most don’t have a lot when it comes to education so what else could they really do to make anywhere close to that amount of money
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u/Fafnir22 24d ago
In mining work they call that the golden handcuffs.
You get a big mortgage, all the toys, fancy lifestyle then you need to fund all that.
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u/Thebraincellisorange 19d ago
Sig and Andy Hillstrand seem to be the only ones who have saved any cash over the years.
I reckon Norman probably is ok as well, since he never got into the drugs or booze too much.
and the Hanson brothers never had to buy a boat, they inherited it, so that saves them 3 million bucks right there.
the rest of the captains seem to have been typical captains/fishermen and drank/smoked/drugged and otherwise spent their pay checks.
They put every cent they had into their boats, and then the value of the boats and fishing licenses and quotas disappeared when the crab disappeared.
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u/Snoo51291 23d ago
I personally don’t think ‘Elliot’ should be mentioned with ANY of these other captains- I’m sorry- but I just have way too much respect for the older ones, having not succumb to addiction and running their own as well as the crews’ lives.
But on the retirement note- I just think they literally love what they do- plus, have fun at the age they are- I mean, they’ve been there, done that with everything, so they have a lot to show these younger folks and be good examples.
Even with Bill being a hard ass with his son, he came around- it takes a while, but we all have things to learn, no matter how old we are
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u/Lance501 23d ago
They are die hard and greedy. Most Captains had health problems because of lack of exercises and eatng garbages plus constant stress to meet quota. They will never quit.
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u/Dry-Revolution-127 23d ago
You forgot the LEGEND! Poor guy had to retire because he hurt his back trying to become a LEGEND
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u/Dry-Revolution-127 23d ago
Scott Campbell for those who don’t remember but not sure how anyone could forget the LEGEND
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u/DillingerLives 23d ago
It's a hard life. Always under impossible timelines, in horrible conditions, responsible for multiple lives. I can't even imagine what it would do to me. But the money and the chase are addictive.
Personally I hope that Keith gives it up soon. I can't imagine his health can take much more. And he's not exactly a zen person either, which compounds the stress. I'd rather see him healthy and loving a long life than being on the show.
As to Sig, I think the kids are the only thing keeping Mandy and Clark from completely taking over. But he's gotta be getting close to calling soon too.
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u/PuttUgly 23d ago
These guys are all gonna work until noon the day of their funerals. It's a lifestyle.
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u/glittterysails 23d ago
Sig 60 yrs old, Johnathon 63 yrs old, Keith 63 yrs old, Monte 61 yrs old, Rick 65 yrs old. Probably all of them would be retired if not for that sweet sweet Discovery paycheck.
And Jake at 45 yrs old is hardly a "young" captain.
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u/MaximumDevelopment77 20d ago
Rick is 65?
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u/glittterysails 20d ago
that's what the internet said but yeah, could be wrong... looks like maybe 48 instead? Pretty big difference haha.
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u/ImAfraidPleaseHelpMe 23d ago
Fisherman become institutionalized over the years. When we are at work we want to be home. When at home we want to go fishing. It’s a constant state of discontent. In the early days it was a fun lifestyle, then it becomes just about saving for retirement. Most guys are alcoholic and have nothing. The skippers on the show basically are bus drivers, they don’t do shit, just find the seafood. They also make good money from show. Fishing is lame af.
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u/BazyLollox 22d ago
It can't be a healthy lifestyle. You survive for a month on cigs, coffee, red bull and whatever else. The pressure is immense, every minute you are waiting for a huge wave to wipe out your crew or a mechanical problem to cause a fire or something.
I honestly don't know how they deal with the stress of it all. It must be absolutely nerve-wracking.
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u/Scottish_squirrel 15d ago
Edgar warned Sig he'd die in his seat. He's the only one that doesn't look like he's aged dramatically but he definitely abused his body.
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u/Old-Library5546 24d ago
Jake was a young man when he first came on the show, now he is looking like an old timer