The Deadliest Catch Member Who Was Sadly Once Homeless

There are plenty of jobs out there that inherently require workers to experience different levels of danger. In comparison, however, the measured level of danger for the crab fishermen that fans watch on "Deadliest Catch" can be easily summed up within the very title of the show. And for these incredibly brave workers, whether being at the lowest level of greenhorn or a top-of-the-world captain, plenty of these fishermen jump on board, carrying with them more personal baggage than just a duffle bag. A shaky family life, financial distress, and even a plethora of addictions can pile on like opilio crab hitting the sorting table. 

And if there's a job that can exasperate the emotional toll these problems provide, this gig might take the crab cake. Not only are these fishermen facing dangers such as out-of-control crab pots, rogue waves, and boat issues, but they also face the stresses of catching enough crab to earn a proper living. And based on what fans have seen on "Deadliest Catch" over the years, none of these fishermen are immune to off and onshore hardships.

There have been several off-boat tragic moments dealt with on the show over the years, including the news that on December 28, 2020, Nick McGlashan died from a drug overdose at only 33 years old. As TMZ reported, captain Blake Painter also sadly passed away from a drug overdose back in 2018. These, of course, are the worst-case scenarios that can stem from pressures of the job combined with at-home issues. But with tragedy, there is thankfully inspiration, as plenty of these brave crabbers use the job to help them get back on track, with some even eventually finding themselves at top of the wheelhouse.

There are plenty of people out there who wouldn't have the strength, emotionally or physically, to work one day on an Alaskan crab fishing boat, let alone have an entire career. And for fishermen like Jake Anderson, the effects of the immeasurable challenges that this specific line of work causes may only be the tip of the iceberg. That's because Anderson personally knows that not everyone enters this line of work with a clean slate.

Despite being featured on this successful series since 2007, Anderson has been through plenty of ups and downs. This can be due to the fact that Anderson came into the industry after already experiencing issues more complicated than snagging crab. Goskagit reports that Anderson reveals in his book "Relapse" that he had dreams of becoming a professional skateboarder. But that dream quickly faded after suffering an injury in 1999. The sudden loss of his skateboarding dream led to Anderson abusing alcohol and drugs, including methamphetamine. 

This downward spiral resulted in Anderson losing friends and supporters who didn't want to hang around a drug addict. "They don't want to touch you, they don't want to talk to you, they point the fingers at you," Anderson said. For the next two years, Anderson actually found himself homeless, trying to still salvage a skateboarding life on the streets of Anacortes. However, life did turn around, as  Discovery explains, when Anderson was introduced to crabbing by his uncle, Nick Mavar. Although fans have witnessed Anderson's professional and personal life mimic the very unpredictable waves of the Bering sea, he has managed to climb the ladder to the big chair reserved only for captains.