Johnathan Hillstrand Ends His Season With $1,000,000 Worth Of Crab! | Deadliest Catch
In an adrenaline-fueled final push as the winter crabbing season winds down, Captain Johnathan Hillstrand of the famed Time Bandit set his sights on a million-dollar goal with just three days’ worth of rations left. The seasoned captain, aiming to end his season on a high note, targeted two crucial strings of 20 crab pots each.
The voyage was fraught with challenges as Hillstrand faced powerful six-knot currents that threatened to sink his buoys and entangle his gear, risking a loss of $24,000 in equipment. Unwilling to let the sea claim his potential earnings, Hillstrand devised a bold plan. He constructed a makeshift drag from rebar and metal scraps to salvage the precious crab pots from the depths of the icy waters.
Persistence paid off for Hillstrand after several nerve-wracking attempts to secure the pots. His innovative solution worked, allowing him to retrieve the submerged gear and secure a bumper catch that propelled him toward his financial target.
The triumph was sweet for Hillstrand, who not only achieved his season’s financial goal but also marked a significant milestone in his illustrious career. Having braved towering waves and perilous conditions for over three decades, Hillstrand’s career earnings have now reached a staggering $66 million—rivaling the legendary loot of the pirate Captain Blackbeard.
The season’s success was celebrated in true “Time Bandit style,” with Hillstrand planning a spectacular display of 42,000 pounds of fireworks. The captain’s victorious end to the season not only underscored his resilience and savvy but also secured his place among the legends of crab fishing in the treacherous waters of the Bering Sea.
