EXCLUSIVE | 'Deadliest Catch' captain Keith Colburn who tested positive for Covid-19 says it hit business too
For the captain of the 'Deadliest Catch', each season comes bearing its own set of challenges. However, Season 17 has proved to be the toughest one yet with Covid-19 now threatens to shut down their very livelihood.
Being a captain aboard these fishing vessels comes with having to make difficult choices. This can often mean going against the tide, literally and figuratively. If you're at the edge of your seat, waiting for what could possibly be the most thrilling season yet -- Captain Keith Colburn of the Wizard talks about the toll quarantines and isolation took on his crew.
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MEAWW caught up with captain Colburn to talk about the latest season of the show, how he is dealing with having tested positive for Covid-19 and more. Here are the excerpts:
Covid-19 has not been easy on businesses and the fishery is no exception to this. Could you tell us a bit more about how this pandemic affects your work?
Covid has had widespread effects from quarantine to social distancing to the US Department of Fish and Game not being able to do a survey this year. Pricing has been off because of additional crab stocks in freezers that aren’t being used. In short, we weren’t able to work as usual and this has really stunted how we work in the fishery and it’s sure made it difficult. On the backside of the season, we all faced continued quarantines and social isolation. Plus, we couldn’t go on the dock in town. In my own case, I’m back in Seattle and the boat is going through a major overhaul. I’ve been quarantined for Covid and it’s been really tough and a real disadvantage not being there on site to handle this massive undertaking. The pandemic has had a huge impact spanning from a year ago to today.
What was the biggest hurdle for you personally this season?
The biggest hurdle has been trying to maintain some kind of efficiency in a chaotic fishery given Covid-19 concerns and market pricing. We need to get out and get crab. But then you factor in getting out with all of this happening and trying to avoid breakdowns, injuries and you name it. From top to bottom, we have to be on our watch for everything and anything. We couldn’t take another stumbling block to throw us off.
What is the one thing that fans should keep an eye out for on this season?
They say it every year -- keep an eye out for the weather. And this year, the weather was hellacious. Every year, it seems like it gets more intense with catastrophic storms that weigh down on the fleet. This year, we laid down into the ice and a lot of freezing spray and complications. We have some huge storms and other things that really impact the fleet and where we can fish. The weather is just absolutely brutal.
Your relationship with the Wizard has been a long-standing one. From deckhand to owner and captain, how would you describe it?
My relationship with the Wizard is a love affair. I fell in love with the Wizard 30 years ago. And I’ve been on board nearly my entire career. I’ve learned the craft from being in the trenches to ownership of the boat. The Wizard is part of my life. I have a deep respect and commitment to keep the vessel in the best shape possible. The Wizard is an anomaly – it’s a bigger boat, a stronger boat. And if I take care of her, she’ll take care of me and my crew. She always gets us home safe. And we keep her happy by filling her belly with crab.
Over the past seasons of the show, you've shown fans just how important it is to trust your instincts. But that is easier said than done. Do you ever feel a sense of doubt or insecurity, when you're going against the tide, literally?
I feel doubts and insecurities all the time. That’s the toughest thing. Once you commit to fish somewhere, you’ve committed a lot of time and energy to trying to work somewhere. You’re on pins and needles hoping to get something. Once you’ve committed gear to an area, you’re at 2 to 2 ½ days in an area. Soon as that first pot goes off, the anxiety starts. Once you get the gear off, you get a moment to breathe. It gets me every time.
You started in this field at the young age of 22, with no prior experience. If you could give your younger self any advice, what would it be?
I was really aggressive in my younger days, trying to soak everything up. I maintain that to this day, 36 years later. I sometimes see a greenhorn do something dumb, but even then I put it in my memory bank that its something you shouldn’t do. I’m always learning. And it’s one of the things that got me into the wheelhouse when I did. I’ve always been engaged in the fishery, the policy and wanting to know more about the industry. Why do we have this? And what is the policy behind it? I’ve done it all from scrubbing the tanks to traveling to Washington, DC. And driving major policy. And of course, catching crab along the way.
What's your favorite thing about being on the job?
I enjoy the intensity and the level of intellect that goes into the work. At any given moment, I have 5 or 6 or 7 jobs at once. It’s the ultimate in multitasking. You need to be completely clear and engaged. It’s like being a quarterback in the NFL. You’re constantly looking at the fleet, the weather and the delivery dates. All this on top of driving a 2 million pound vessel in extreme environments while keeping everyone safe. There is so much that goes on that keeps me alert and focused. That’s what I enjoy most.
It's no secret that you're a bit of a wizard in the kitchen as well. According to you, what's the one rule to cooking great seafood?
The one rule to cooking great seafood is don’t overcook it. You go out to a great restaurant and the fish is moist and wonderful. Then it doesn’t come out the same way at home because its been overly dried out on the grill. Buy fresh seafood and be very careful about not overcooking it. The fish needs to stay and moist. And if you keep that all in mind, you’ll have the best fish you’ve ever eaten.
Deadliest Catch premieres Tuesday, April 20, at 8 pm on Discovery and is streaming now on Discovery+.