What happened to the Time Bandit from Deadliest Catch? Retirement, rebuilds and comeback
What happened to the Time Bandit? The 113-foot crab-fishing vessel left Deadliest Catch in 2017 after a mix of legal issues and burnout among the captains. Since then, Captain Johnathan Hillstrand has retired more than once, only to return when the call of the Bering Sea proved too strong. His comebacks have seen him back on the Time Bandit at times, and on other boats when circumstances changed.
What happened to the Time Bandit from Deadliest Catch?
In 2017, at the end of Season 13, Captain Johnathan Hillstrand announced his retirement after 37 years of crab fishing. This decision marked the end of an era for the Time Bandit on Deadliest Catch, as Johnathan had been a central figure on the boat and the show. He cited the physical toll of the job and a desire to pursue other interests, such as salmon fishing on a smaller drift boat.
Jonathan’s retirement was emotional. He cast his final crab pot that yielded over 350 pounds of crab and marked a strong finish for the vessel.
Andy Hillstrand, his brother, also stepped back. This led to the boat’s temporary withdrawal from the series. Fans expressed disappointment, viewing the Time Bandit as a character in its own right.
However, Johnathan’s retirement was not absolute. He continued fishing to maintain his captain’s licence.
When did Time Bandit first appear on Deadliest Catch?
The Time Bandit joined Deadliest Catch in Season 2 in 2006 and quickly became a fan favourite. Viewers followed the boat under the stewardship of Johnathan and Andy Hillstrand as they sailed the seas. Their brother, Neal, would step in as co-owner and, at times, as a working crew member.
The series documented the boat’s mix of danger and personality. There were high-risk rescues, hard seasons, and practical jokes between rival captains. Some of the most memorable moments involved clashes with Sig Hansen of the Northwestern. In Season 3, the Time Bandit played a critical role in rescuing a man who had fallen overboard from another vessel.
Time Bandit’s absence, repair and return
The Time Bandit vanished from Deadliest Catch for a few seasons as problems behind the scenes piled up. In 2018, a major engine explosion sidelined the vessel during the crab season. The damage was severe and required a complete engine replacement.
This breakdown played a key role in Time Bandit’s absence in Season 15. Johnathan later told fans on social media that repairs were complete and that the Time Bandit was back in Homer, Alaska.
More trouble followed in 2019 when reports surfaced that the boat had been listed for sale at $2.88 million through Dock Street Brokers. The move came amid mounting legal pressure from a lawsuit linked to a former crew member who was injured in a fireworks accident on the boat in 2013. The sale never went through, and the Time Bandit remains in family hands.
Johnathan Hillstrand’s absence from the show did not last long. In 2020, he returned for Season 17 to secure his million-dollar quota and protect his fishing rights. He did so without the Time Bandit at first. The boat rejoined the series in the seasons that followed.
The reopening of the Red King Crab fishery had already pulled the Time Bandit out of semi-retirement and back into action by season 20.
Time Bandit’s current status
Who runs the Time Bandit now? Ownership remains firmly with the Hillstrand family, specifically brothers Johnathan, Andy, and Neal.
Also, Time Bandit now sails under the Norwegian flag, operating in the Bering Sea and the North East Atlantic. It continues to work the crab seasons and has featured in recent episodes of Deadliest Catch. However, the challenges have not eased. Power failures and crew problems still test the boat and those on board.