Deadliest Catch season 20 star Jake Anderson has been busy since the last installment aired, and it’s time to talk about what he’s been up to. The series is a long-running favorite, debuting way back in 2005. Life aboard a fishing vessel on the Bering Sea is no cakewalk – it’s very dangerous out there on Deadliest Catch boats, but the rewards can be great. As the show’s stars try to catch snow crab and Alaskan long crab, they risk their lives.
Jake is an interesting addition to the cast, but his stint on the show ended in so much controversy.
Jake’s been a member of the Deadliest Catch cast since 2007. He’s currently 44 years old. On and off-screen, his life has been marked by tragedy, and he has lived with addiction. His drinking habit got out of hand, but he is now sober. The terrible personal losses he sustained may have exacerbated his addiction issues. Some Deadliest Catch cast members have passed away, but Jake is thankfully alive and well.
Jake Went On A Sobriety Journey
He’s Sober After Deadliest Catch Season 20
The Deadliest Catch crew deal with a lot of stress on the high seas – see Jake’s costars in the gallery above. Jake’s life hasn’t been easy, and possibly, he turned to alcohol to self-soothe. Jake has lost some important people and carries a lot of trauma. In the fifth installment, Jake found out that his sibling Chelsea Dawn Anderson had passed away. He was destined to lose his father under mysterious circumstances. His dad went missing – his truck was discovered, but he wasn’t in it. His remains were later found by a passerby.
Jake has also lived with opioid addiction, which he’s recovered from. In fact, he wrote a book about his experiences with addiction, which is titled, “Relapse.” Often, relapsing is part of the process of finally overcoming an addiction, but it can be emotionally grueling. The fact that Jake relapsed but kept trying is the reason why he’s sober and drug-free today. He didn’t give up, and now he can live without serious addictions. When addiction isn’t treated, it can lead to depression and health problems.
As per his Indigo book listing bio, Jake is a “fourth-generation” fisherman” who was raised in Anacortes, Washington. When he “became a deckhand on the F/V Northwestern,” he “joined the popular television series Deadliest Catch.” The bio features a lot of interesting facts about his life, referencing his passion for skateboarding. He also likes playing the acoustic guitar. Jake’s fond of grunge music. He’s been through some hard times, and was even homeless at one point. So, he has achieved a lot in a life where plenty of rain has fallen.
Jake Anderson Has A Family
His Wife & Son Mean The World To Him
Jake is a family man who treasures his wife and son. Above, via Jake’s Instagram, he shows off his cute little boy, who is (of course) enjoying a piece of fried fish. The blond child’s the apple of his father’s eye, and the boy lived with a health condition that led to seizures. His parents are very happy that he’s not having those issues now. On Luka’s birthday, which is March 13, his father wrote:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUKA. Daddy wishes he was home
Jake Lost His Saga Vessel
Tax Issues May Be To Blame
Above, Jake “takes the helm as the new captain of the Titan Explorer” in a Deadliest Catch episode, via Discoveryaustralia at YouTube. However, his history with another vessel, Saga, is very different. Jake once shared ownership of a boat called Saga, but seemingly due to financial setbacks, he lost the fishing vessel – it was repossessed.
Losing the boat led to a lot of complications, as he was trying to run a fishery business. It was due to this unfortunate situation, which might have been linked with unpaid taxes, that he ended up on Deadliest Catch. A captain, Sig Hansen, offered him a new gig, and the rest is history. A lot of Hansens have appeared on the series, including show alum Edgar Hansen.
The Deadliest Catch star is thriving in 2025. It’s nice to see Jake happy. With his wife Jenna Anderson and three kids, he has a wonderful family. They’ll love him whether he catches a lot of crab or not. His recovery journey has helped him to build the life of his dreams.
