Deadliest Catch took the world by storm with its massive sea swells, perilous fishing conditions, and onboard drama. Much of what fans see on screen is true to life, with a bit of Hollywood's embellishment for dramatic effect, of course. But while fans witness everything the crew does, much of what's captured on camera - hundreds and hundreds of hours of footage - doesn't even make it past the cutting room floor.
Furthermore, while fans see how the fishing season affects the crew, they don't see how it affects the town or other local fishermen. While Discovery has been praised for the award-winning show, there's plenty that goes on behind the scenes that have never made it to the screen. Deadliest Catch speaks to the lives and risks the Bering Sea crews take every year, and while truly crazy things are captured on camera, not everything is revealed to the world.
Contrary To Popular Belief, The Cameramen On The Show Are No Safer Than The Crew
Many fans would like to believe that the camera crew who accompany the fisherman are far safer than those who put their lives at risk for King Crab. Unfortunately, this is far from true. Everything the crew experiences is what cameramen will experience, including rising sea swells, frigid temperatures, poor weather, and disappointing seasons.
Unlike shows like Bering Sea Gold, the crew has lost dozens of cameras and plenty of equipment to the hazards that plague crab fisherman, so it's not only their lives that are in danger on these ships.
The Show Was Responsible For Catching A Bank Robber
That bank robber was none other than Joshua Tel Warner, and he was a crew member aboard the Wizard. Unfortunately for Warner, but luckily for police, the culprit appeared on nine episodes of the show before eventually being caught. Had he not made an appearance and fought with so many crew members, thus giving him his on-screen notoriety, it may have taken police that much longer to hunt him down. The deputy district attorney for Oregon said it "wasn't a particularly bright move" for Warner.
The Crew Make Even More Money Than Is Revealed On The Show
Specifically, the ship captains. While this isn't necessarily true for every crew or captain on each ship, their salaries definitely aren't too shabby. This is meant to compensate for the life-threatening risks they take although whether it's always worth it remains to be seen. Captain Bill Wichrowski has been reported to be worth roughly three million and it's likely his electrician, naval engineering, and fisherman work history, in addition to being a captain, that he has to thank for it.
Local Fisherman Have Suffered As A Result Of The Show's Success
Despite the celebration and joy that occurs when the ship's crews have a great year, that doesn't mean local fishermen celebrate in the same successes. With the premiere of Deadliest Catch and its massive following, the show has unintentionally turned these waters into a massive competition - one in which local fishermen usually don't stand a chance.
The ships featured on the show are now incredibly well known, putting local fishermen at quite the disadvantage. In Alaska, some crews don't even make more than minimum wage due to the unbeatable competition thanks to the show's grand following. Understandably, there aren't too many fans of the Discovery Channel's work in the home state of Deadliest Catch.