I am Jonathan and Andy Hillstrand from Deadliest Catch, AMA

Jonathan and Andy - I don't have a question, but I wanted to tell you that my boys and I have watched Deadliest Catch every season. You have helped instill in my boys (now 17 and 13) that every job is worth doing, and that there is no sin in leaving home clean and coming home dirty (admittedly, with some help from Mike Rowe too). Stay safe out there!

Andy,John- Thanks a bunch

WE're on the chat: http://imgur.com/WjvN3O0

Best ship prank?

Jonathan - The truck on Phil's boat. We tied a truck to his buoy line. He thought it was a crab pot, but he pulled up a truck!

Hi Jonathan and Andy! Have you ever said to yourselves This Catch is simply just too Deadly!?

John-a few times

If you had to fight one hundred crab-sized Sigs or one Sig-sized crab, which would you choose?

John-I'll fight either one

Do you guys regularly eat crab?

John- who wouldn't

Is having the camera crew on board more of a hindrance to work, or do you all put them to work every now and then too!?

JOnathan - no, they have a really hard job to do keeping up with us! Trying to get a story out of a non-scripted show.

Have you guys been to any industry parties where you feel really out of place because, well, you're the fucking Deadliest Catch cast?

Andy- Yes it's weird seeing the famous people you see on tv or the movies

John- everyones been pretty nice

An all new episode of Deadliest Catch begins tonight at 9 PM on Discovery Channel. Ask anything!

UPDATE: We're taking turns answering your questions http://i.imgur.com/JQGm48T.jpg http://i.imgur.com/mDHuboO.jpg

Now that Josh has been able to tell everyone he bought the CM can you tell us if he has been coming to you guys for advice and if so about what.

Andy- Yes josh has asked for alot of advice and we help him anyway we can.

If you could 'borrow' a crew member from another boat, who would it be and why?

Jonathan - Wow, that's a tough one. If I stole one off every boat it would be.. Dream team...

1. Freddie 2 Edgar
2. Jake Anderson
3. Crosby

What is the biggest difference you've noticed in the filming process of Deadliest Catch since you started in Season 2? The biggest difference in crab fishing since season 2, asides from the dropping quota?

-john go pros and high def theres not much they dont catch now days

Do you guys still have the hot tub on the TB?

Andy- No a crane fell on it and smashed it

What's your favorite midnight snack while working?

Andy-Coffee

How bad as the influx of greenhorns been since the popularity of the show? Has there been increased competition from random people buying boats thinking they will make it big?

John- there's been greenhorns since the first crabpot got pulled.

I love the show. What's the hardest part about the job? I can't imagine ever doing what you guys do. Props, and keep it up.

John- Everything about the job is hard thanks for the props.

John and Andy, about how much per season do you guys spend on fireworks? I was just watching the episode where you guys talk about the history of your dad and The Time Bandit, it was great seeing you guys light them all off in honor of your dad!

Andy- Spend lots on fireworks, love to light fireworks.

What age do you plan on retiring? Who is in line to inherit the Time Bandit?

Andy-We look at all options like anyone else but just will keep crabbing for now.

How is the health of the fishery? Are the quotas directly related to that health and does the quota system actually make sense?

Andy- The fisheries are the most managed fisheries in the world for sustainability. The qoutas are based on the stock size of legal males.

What are your plans for after you retire from crab fishing? (but please don't, I love you both)

Jonathan - Find a nice place to winter. And fish salmon in the summer.

Does anything get cut from the show that you just don't want shown?

john we wish haha

How are the Harris brothers doing now?

john another damn good question

Watching you on the show is always fun. Really enjoyed the Time Bandit special not only for the info on the vessel and your family but because it really showed other sides of both of you. Fair winds and big catches to you from the Gulf coast.

Andy- Thank you very much

Have things calmed down between you two and Keith/Monte of the Wizard

john- yeah can't go around being mad at each other like we said before leave it at the beach.

Andy-All good

Do you guys work only on the crab boats or have another job?

Andy-owning a crab boat is a full time job.

Can you comment on the stories that Discovery chops the footage to make things look worse than it actually is? Im not supporting these claims, but it seems to come up in discussions about Deadliest Catch alot.

john- Probably somebody who's never been on a boat in their life. I think it's worse than they can show sometimes

As catchers of many types of crab and fish, what is your favorite type of seafood to eat? Do you prefer it cooked in any particular style?

Andy- I like halibut alot

john-any kind of seafood is great but prawns are one of my favorites.

Hi guys, big fan, one of a small number in the UK I'd bet.

What do you think Deadliest Catch has that has allowed it to succeed where a lot of similar shows have failed? There's a relatively small number of TV shows that make it anywhere near 9 seasons.

Andy- Only around cause of all you guys watching

To John, What was worse: Cracking the ribs on the bull ride or on the motorcycle drop?

john punctured lung on bull

• What’s Capt. Andy’s average run mile time?

• Worst practical joke ever played on each other (either)?

• Did you inhale (either)?

• Biggest lie you have ever told?

My fastest average run time is never I walk.

me and Bill Clinton smoked once but we did not inhale (John)

Worst practical joke was Guys on Northwestern put dirty underware in our pot.

I never broke the window when i was 5 ( John) Don't have much use for liars.

Who of the other captains on the show do enjoy spending the most time with?

john - Andy

I don't recall what episode or season it was but I remember that you guys were stressed out or something and just brought out some AR's and started shooting shit.

Is there any legitimate reason to have rifles on-board? Pirates? Greenpeace? Or just for the sake of being 'Murican'!

Andy- The reason we have guns onboard is if the boat ever sank and you were shipwrecked you'd need a gun to survive.

On average.. How many hours of sleep, would you say, that your crew gets of sleep?

john not much 4 hrs at one shot if your lucky

Have either of you read Josh and Jakes book on their dad? If so, what did you think of it?

havent read it yet.might be hard to read that

It seems like, with reduced quotas, boat repairs, etc., it gets more and more difficult to break even, much less make a profit, catching Alaskan crab. Where do you see the industry / fleet in 10 years? Will it just be a few huge boats who have purchased all the quotas from other boats, or do you see things easing up a bit for the boat owners / operators?

Andy- wow that's a whole bunch of questions for a crabber to type. We'll be just fine

Andy- what was the meanest prank you ever pulled on John?

John- What was the meanest prank you pulled on Andy?

Andy- wasn't a mean one but john blew a seal bomb up when i was cleaning windows and i lit a seal bomb in a frying pan in the wheelhouse to get him back.

What is the biggest fish you have ever caught?

john halibut 545 dresssed

Where either of you guys in the military or has it always been on a boat?

Andy- I thought about joining the Marines but the Fishing got me first

Will you guys be back in Kodiak any time soon?

Andy- not too sure boats working all the time to pay the bills.

What are the things you most want to pass on to your kids and the future Hillstrands once y'all are gone? What do you want your legacy to be?

John- work hard and be honest

Hey Guys, I heard the rumor, that Andy is gone from the Boat, is that True?

Andy- I'm right here that's why they call them rumors.

What is the average overhead cost for the boat for a season?

Andy- Can vary so much based on how long it takes to catch them

Other than crab fishing, what other types of fishing do you enjoy in your spare time?

John- Any type of fishing love it all.

First things first, I'd love another Catch-Con in Seattle!! Secondly, do either of you play any Video Games in your off/down time?

John- i don't like video games Andy does though

Johnathan will you be coming to Virginia Beach VA this year?
It would be a great place to promote your books and the classic car shows here are awesome, would love to see your 55 chevy!!!

John- would love to but will have to see

What is the longest you have been on the water for one period of time?

Andy- 3 months

john 6 months

Being that you guys have the HARDEST jobs EVER... if you could have gone in a different direction (career wise) what would you have picked? (Either)

john- President of the United States

Is your crew as high strung as you guys are?

john everyone is like they are on the show

how much alcohol do you bring on board before you hit the seas

Andy- None

What do you do when you're not on the boat?

same stuff as everyone else.except everyday is saturday

Andy why are you so hard on Scotty?

Andy- Don't think i am what some people see as hard others see as love keep watching the show.

How is it working as brothers? You see Sig and Edgar have some problems but you guys always seem good. Do you find it puts a strain on your relationship?

Andy- we do fine but that's because we've grown up running boats for ourselves or different people. Everyone argues though

Hey, guys. I mainly encountered you in Tucker Max's book, though I love what I've seen of Deadliest Catch. How did you feel about partying with him/his portrayal of you? Accurate, or did he fuck it up?

john light weight haha

what do you guys do with your spare time when you aren't out catching crab?

answer is same things as everyone else.but everyday is saturday john

I just want to say my husband and I are huge fans of you and you brother, and close second are the Hansen brothers. We religiously watch every Tuesday for the new episodes.

Andy,John- Thanks very much

What does the Time Bandit do for its summer / off-season tenders? Can you tell us what life on the Time Bandit looks like / what y'all are doing on the boat from season to season over the course of the year?

John- The boat working all the time not really any down time.

• When do the crew get to eat, sleep, etc?
• What is a typical day schedule-wise while crab-fishing?
• How are chores set?
• What is your favorite prank on others?

Andy- Never sleep 24-7 everyone works

How much of what you guys do is legit or just showboating for the series. e.g. the lighting of the last hook, firing off fireworks etc.

How was the production crew effected by the loss of Phil?

How prevalent is drug abuse in that industry?

Sigs always bit herring and lit the hook and we've always loved fireworks

I love you guys. I feel like I know you! I heard somewhere that you guys were gonna have your own show. What can you tell us about that.

john ?

Do you guys see the crab fishery surviving in it's current state beyond the next 5 years? Would it ever return to derby fishing vs quota? Could it be fished out?

Andy- Fisheries have cycles like anything else in life of course it will survive unless a giant meteor takes us all out.

Will you be at the Morris Community Theater this Friday?

john where's that at

Hi guys, we come from germany and we see the show from the beginning. we are very big fans of the time bandit and the cornelia. we don´t have any question, but we want to say you made a very good job and all of the guys are soooo cool. very good luck for the next seasons. greetings from CUXHAVEN/Germany

Andy- Thanks Danke

Jonathan and Andy, I would like to thank you for the many hours of entertainment. My husband son and middle daughter get so into your show especial when your boat is on. I crack up watching them. Thanks so much for the memories you have given them. If ever need a deck hand I’ll send you my husband and son ;0) Shay

John,Andy Thanks alot we had a good time answering all the questions here today. Going on Conan Tonight on TBS at 11EST Make sure too catch the new episode of deadliest catch tonight on Discovery.

What is the biggest crab you have ever caught? And what is the weirdest thing you have caught by accident? Thanks for the AMA! Huge Fan Love the show!

Andy- !6 inches across the shell so about 16 pounds

Hey guys big fan! Do people recognize you a lot in public now? Thanks!

yes

Andy- Sometimes people recognize you sometimes not

So Andy, heard you were from Indiana. Do you remember living in Gaston? My mother says you rented from My Great Grandmother.

Andy-No not from there and never rented sorry about your confusion

How far apart do you usually set the pots and how much time does it take to get to them? How long should it take a good crew to pull a pot, get the crab out, rebait, send it back down, and then sort the crab? I don't think the show has ever explained how this all works. Thanks

Andy- That's a whole other story for another time It all varies and would take to long to explain.