The crew from Discovery Channel\u2019s mega-hit Deadliest Catch<\/em> knows how to reel us in. Before they drop anchor at Merrill Auditorium September 12 during their live tour, we caught up with the fearless and bawdy Hillstrand brothers.<\/h3>\nInterview by Robyn Foley<\/p>\n
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What\u2019s the difference between a regular fairy tale and a fisherman\u2019s fairy tale?<\/strong><\/p>\nCaptain Andy Hillstrand: A regular fairy tale starts out, \u201cOnce upon a time.\u201d A fisherman\u2019s<\/em> fairy tale begins, \u201cYou\u2019re never going to [freakin\u2019] believe this!\u201d<\/p>\nOf all the hours of footage shot in a season, how many actually make it on Deadliest Catch<\/em><\/strong>?<\/strong><\/p>\nCaptain Johnathan Hillstrand: We shoot 10,000 hours each season; about 20 hours make it on the show.<\/p>\n
Ok, so you\u2019re in port and in a hurry for a dinner date\u2013is there a quick antidote for crab stink? Can you tell us any homemade remedies? Lemon juice? <\/strong><\/p>\nAH: Ah, but [crab stink] is the smell of money!<\/p>\n
You crab fishermen have your superstitions\u2013what are your faves?<\/strong><\/p>\nAH: We\u2019re Swedish, so we will do a left-handed Swedish turn heading out.<\/p>\n
Johnathan, when you fished in Gloucester\u2013did you get up here to Portland? <\/strong><\/p>\nJH: Many times. When I owned the fishing vessel Canyon Explorer<\/em>, we were in town a lot\u2013fishing for deep-sea lobster and slime eels. I have friends here.<\/p>\nJay Leno recently wisecracked, \u201cYou guys remind me of every Mainer I have ever met.\u201d But, you\u2019re not Mainers! What do you think he meant by that? <\/strong><\/p>\nJH: \u2026Hard working and honest.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s your craziest bycatch? <\/strong><\/p>\nJH: We brought up a half cod, half shark one time.<\/p>\n
AH: A ratfish.<\/p>\n
JH: We were going to call it an \u201cAndy-fish.\u201d We\u2019ve also brought up a Scale Crab\u2013there are only four or five on record. It\u2019s a deep-sea crab with red and white stripes.<\/p>\n
Sounds like half-lie, half-truth. Sometimes blue lobsters turn up in Maine traps; have any blue crabs or other interesting anomalies graced your crab pots?<\/strong><\/p>\nJH: Rarely there will be a white king crab. You can get a light blue Opilio crab sometimes, too. Those are one in a million, though.<\/p>\n
AH: Johnathan always says \u201cone in a million\u201d when he doesn\u2019t know the true stats.<\/p>\n
If you weren\u2019t destined to be crab-boat captains, what do you think you\u2019d be doing now?<\/strong><\/p>\nAH: Astronaut.<\/p>\n
JH: Racing something. We\u2019ve both always loved racing cars. We used to do the quarter mile.<\/p>\n
AH: American-Graffiti<\/em> style.<\/p>\n[A dreamy pause ensues<\/em>]<\/p>\nJH: I had a \u201955 Chevy 600hp once.<\/p>\n
AH: 1979 GTO with a \u201969 body. It did 180 mph.<\/p>\n
The flag on your vessel Time Bandit<\/em><\/strong> is a Jolly Roger. What\u2019s up with that? You guys trying to ward off evil spirits?<\/strong><\/p>\nJH: It\u2019s funny\u2013a red background would mean everyone\u2019s going to be killed; the black background means \u201csurrender.\u201d We definitely want the crabs to surrender!<\/p>\n
Becky\u2019s Diner is a waterfront landmark here in Portland. All the crews from sword boats to shrimpers and lobster boats find their way here. Any plans to make the pilgrimage for good luck? It\u2019s like kissing the Blarney Stone. Even Taylor Swift\u2013.<\/strong><\/p>\nJH: We\u2019re there!<\/p>\n
Catch the Hillstrand brothers and Captain Sig in Portland during their live show, \u201cAn Evening with the Captains of Deadliest Catch<\/em><\/strong>,\u201d September 12 at Merrill Auditorium.<\/strong><\/p>\n
What\u2019s the difference between a regular fairy tale and a fisherman\u2019s fairy tale?<\/strong><\/p>\nCaptain Andy Hillstrand: A regular fairy tale starts out, \u201cOnce upon a time.\u201d A fisherman\u2019s<\/em> fairy tale begins, \u201cYou\u2019re never going to [freakin\u2019] believe this!\u201d<\/p>\n Of all the hours of footage shot in a season, how many actually make it on Deadliest Catch<\/em><\/strong>?<\/strong><\/p>\n Captain Johnathan Hillstrand: We shoot 10,000 hours each season; about 20 hours make it on the show.<\/p>\n Ok, so you\u2019re in port and in a hurry for a dinner date\u2013is there a quick antidote for crab stink? Can you tell us any homemade remedies? Lemon juice? <\/strong><\/p>\n AH: Ah, but [crab stink] is the smell of money!<\/p>\n You crab fishermen have your superstitions\u2013what are your faves?<\/strong><\/p>\n AH: We\u2019re Swedish, so we will do a left-handed Swedish turn heading out.<\/p>\n Johnathan, when you fished in Gloucester\u2013did you get up here to Portland? <\/strong><\/p>\n JH: Many times. When I owned the fishing vessel Canyon Explorer<\/em>, we were in town a lot\u2013fishing for deep-sea lobster and slime eels. I have friends here.<\/p>\n Jay Leno recently wisecracked, \u201cYou guys remind me of every Mainer I have ever met.\u201d But, you\u2019re not Mainers! What do you think he meant by that? <\/strong><\/p>\n JH: \u2026Hard working and honest.<\/p>\n What\u2019s your craziest bycatch? <\/strong><\/p>\n JH: We brought up a half cod, half shark one time.<\/p>\n AH: A ratfish.<\/p>\n JH: We were going to call it an \u201cAndy-fish.\u201d We\u2019ve also brought up a Scale Crab\u2013there are only four or five on record. It\u2019s a deep-sea crab with red and white stripes.<\/p>\n Sounds like half-lie, half-truth. Sometimes blue lobsters turn up in Maine traps; have any blue crabs or other interesting anomalies graced your crab pots?<\/strong><\/p>\n JH: Rarely there will be a white king crab. You can get a light blue Opilio crab sometimes, too. Those are one in a million, though.<\/p>\n AH: Johnathan always says \u201cone in a million\u201d when he doesn\u2019t know the true stats.<\/p>\n If you weren\u2019t destined to be crab-boat captains, what do you think you\u2019d be doing now?<\/strong><\/p>\n AH: Astronaut.<\/p>\n JH: Racing something. We\u2019ve both always loved racing cars. We used to do the quarter mile.<\/p>\n AH: American-Graffiti<\/em> style.<\/p>\n [A dreamy pause ensues<\/em>]<\/p>\n JH: I had a \u201955 Chevy 600hp once.<\/p>\n AH: 1979 GTO with a \u201969 body. It did 180 mph.<\/p>\n The flag on your vessel Time Bandit<\/em><\/strong> is a Jolly Roger. What\u2019s up with that? You guys trying to ward off evil spirits?<\/strong><\/p>\n JH: It\u2019s funny\u2013a red background would mean everyone\u2019s going to be killed; the black background means \u201csurrender.\u201d We definitely want the crabs to surrender!<\/p>\n Becky\u2019s Diner is a waterfront landmark here in Portland. All the crews from sword boats to shrimpers and lobster boats find their way here. Any plans to make the pilgrimage for good luck? It\u2019s like kissing the Blarney Stone. Even Taylor Swift\u2013.<\/strong><\/p>\n JH: We\u2019re there!<\/p>\n Catch the Hillstrand brothers and Captain Sig in Portland during their live show, \u201cAn Evening with the Captains of Deadliest Catch<\/em><\/strong>,\u201d September 12 at Merrill Auditorium.<\/strong><\/p>\n
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