{"id":13673,"date":"2026-10-12T08:04:21","date_gmt":"2026-10-12T08:04:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foxnews.znicely.com\/?p=13673"},"modified":"2026-10-12T08:04:21","modified_gmt":"2026-10-12T08:04:21","slug":"why-jonathan-hillstrand-really-left-deadliest-catch-and-the-time-bandit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foxnews.znicely.com\/?p=13673","title":{"rendered":"Why Jonathan Hillstrand Really Left Deadliest Catch and the Time Bandit"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"post__header\">\n<h1><\/h1>\n<h1><\/h1>\n<h1><\/h1>\n<h1><\/h1>\n<h1><\/h1>\n<h1><\/h1>\n<\/header>\n<h1><\/h1>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Jonathan Hillstrand Reveals The REAL Reason He Left Time Bandit\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/j6qO5sw0cbU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<header class=\"post__header\">\n<h1 class=\"c-main-headline\">What happened to the Time Bandit from Deadliest Catch? Retirement, rebuilds and comeback<\/h1>\n<div class=\"c-article-info post__info\"><time class=\"c-article-info__time c-article-info__time--clock\" title=\"2026-01-16T08:09:28+03:00\" datetime=\"2026-01-16T08:09:28+03:00\">Published 16 Jan 2026<\/time><\/p>\n<div class=\"c-article-info__authors\"><span class=\"c-article-info__authors--capitalize\">by<\/span>\u00a0 Nicholas Nganga reviewed by\u00a0 Masolo Mabonga<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"c-article-info__reading-time\">5 min read<\/span><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"post__content\" data-io-article-url=\"https:\/\/www.tuko.co.ke\/facts-lifehacks\/celebrity-biographies\/615123-what-happened-time-bandit-deadliest-catch-retirement-rebuilds-comeback\/\">\n<p class=\"align-left\">What happened to the Time Bandit? The 113-foot crab-fishing vessel <strong>left <\/strong><strong><i>Deadliest Catch<\/i><\/strong><strong> in 2017 after a mix of legal issues and burnout among the captains<\/strong>. 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.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"article-image\"><picture class=\"article-image__wrapper\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.tuko.co.ke\/images\/720\/e3ddc09188b4bd4e.webp?v=1 720w, https:\/\/cdn.tuko.co.ke\/images\/560\/e3ddc09188b4bd4e.webp?v=1 560w, https:\/\/cdn.tuko.co.ke\/images\/360\/e3ddc09188b4bd4e.webp?v=1 360w\" type=\"image\/webp\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1021px) calc(100vw - 2 * 13px), (max-width: 1400px) calc((100vw - 2 * 20px - 2 * 20px) \/ 2), 800px\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"article-image__picture\" title=\"Time Bandit on transit\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.tuko.co.ke\/images\/1120\/e3ddc09188b4bd4e.jpeg?v=1\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1021px) calc(100vw - 2 * 13px), (max-width: 1400px) calc((100vw - 2 * 20px - 2 * 20px) \/ 2), 800px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.tuko.co.ke\/images\/720\/e3ddc09188b4bd4e.jpeg?v=1 720w, https:\/\/cdn.tuko.co.ke\/images\/560\/e3ddc09188b4bd4e.jpeg?v=1 560w, https:\/\/cdn.tuko.co.ke\/images\/360\/e3ddc09188b4bd4e.jpeg?v=1 360w\" alt=\"Time Bandit on transit\" width=\"1120\" height=\"630\" data-alcp_ajhbdcgf_prev-pointer-events=\"\" data-alcp_ajhbdcgf_mark=\"1\" \/><\/picture><button class=\"article-image__button\" title=\"Expand image\"><\/button><figcaption class=\"article-image__caption\">Time Bandit on transit. Photo: @Maritime Optima (Modified by author)<br \/>\nSource: Instagram<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<section class=\"table-of-contents\">\n<div class=\"table-of-contents__footer\">Read also<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"post__read-also c-article-read-also js-read-also\" data-news-type=\"Read also\">\n<p class=\"c-article-read-also__headline-wrapper\"><span class=\"c-article-read-also__headline-hover-inner\">Kenya newspapers review: Mt Kenya leaders tread carefully, keep cards close as 2027 contest takes shape<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"615123-what-happened-to-the-time-bandit-from-deadliest-catch\" class=\"table-of-contents__scroll-section\">What happened to the Time Bandit from Deadliest Catch?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"align-left\">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 <i>Deadliest Catch,<\/i> 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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"align-left\">Jonathan&#8217;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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"align-left\">Andy Hillstrand, his brother, also stepped back. This led to the boat&#8217;s temporary withdrawal from the series. Fans expressed disappointment, viewing the Time Bandit as a character in its own right.<\/p>\n<p class=\"align-left\">However, Johnathan&#8217;s retirement was not absolute. He continued fishing to maintain his captain&#8217;s licence.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"615123-when-did-time-bandit-first-appear-on-deadliest-catch\" class=\"table-of-contents__scroll-section\">When did Time Bandit first appear on Deadliest Catch?<\/h2>\n<div class=\"post__read-also c-article-read-also js-read-also\" data-news-type=\"Read also\"><picture class=\"c-article-read-also__image\"><source src=\"https:\/\/cdn.tuko.co.ke\/images\/360x203\/c9c9593016ea8deb.jpeg?v=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.tuko.co.ke\/images\/560x315\/c9c9593016ea8deb.webp?v=1 560w, https:\/\/cdn.tuko.co.ke\/images\/360x203\/c9c9593016ea8deb.webp?v=1 360w\" type=\"image\/webp\" sizes=\"256px\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.tuko.co.ke\/images\/360x203\/c9c9593016ea8deb.jpeg?v=1\" sizes=\"256px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.tuko.co.ke\/images\/560x315\/c9c9593016ea8deb.jpeg?v=1 560w, https:\/\/cdn.tuko.co.ke\/images\/360x203\/c9c9593016ea8deb.jpeg?v=1 360w\" \/><\/picture>\n<p class=\"c-article-read-also__caption\">Read also<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-read-also__headline-wrapper\"><span class=\"c-article-read-also__headline-hover-inner\">AFCON 2025: Why King Mohammed VI hasn&#8217;t attended any games in Morocco<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"align-left\">The Time Bandit joined <i>Deadliest Catch<\/i> 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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"align-left\">The series documented the boat\u2019s 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 <i>Northwestern<\/i>. In Season 3, the Time Bandit played a critical role in rescuing a man who had fallen overboard from another vessel.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"article-image\"><picture class=\"article-image__wrapper\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.tuko.co.ke\/images\/720\/916738d8909ff513.webp?v=1 720w, https:\/\/cdn.tuko.co.ke\/images\/560\/916738d8909ff513.webp?v=1 560w, https:\/\/cdn.tuko.co.ke\/images\/360\/916738d8909ff513.webp?v=1 360w\" type=\"image\/webp\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1021px) calc(100vw - 2 * 13px), (max-width: 1400px) calc((100vw - 2 * 20px - 2 * 20px) \/ 2), 800px\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"article-image__picture\" title=\"Johnathan and Andy Hillstrand\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.tuko.co.ke\/images\/1120\/916738d8909ff513.jpeg?v=1\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1021px) calc(100vw - 2 * 13px), (max-width: 1400px) calc((100vw - 2 * 20px - 2 * 20px) \/ 2), 800px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.tuko.co.ke\/images\/720\/916738d8909ff513.jpeg?v=1 720w, https:\/\/cdn.tuko.co.ke\/images\/560\/916738d8909ff513.jpeg?v=1 560w, https:\/\/cdn.tuko.co.ke\/images\/360\/916738d8909ff513.jpeg?v=1 360w\" alt=\"Johnathan and Andy Hillstrand\" width=\"1120\" height=\"630\" \/><\/picture><button class=\"article-image__button\" title=\"Expand image\"><\/button><figcaption class=\"article-image__caption\">Johnathan and Andy Hillstrand, the captains of Time Bandit. Photos: @Ben Trivett\/@DiscoveryChannel (Modified by author)<br \/>\nSource: Instagram<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"615123-time-bandits-absence-repair-and-return\" class=\"table-of-contents__scroll-section\">Time Bandit\u2019s absence, repair and return<\/h2>\n<p class=\"align-left\">The Time Bandit vanished from <i>Deadliest Catch<\/i> 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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"align-left\">This breakdown played a key role in Time Bandit\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"align-left\">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.<\/p>\n<div class=\"post__read-also c-article-read-also js-read-also\" data-news-type=\"Read also\"><picture class=\"c-article-read-also__image\"><source src=\"https:\/\/cdn.tuko.co.ke\/images\/360x203\/65dfac8d34d0e6f2.jpeg?v=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.tuko.co.ke\/images\/560x315\/65dfac8d34d0e6f2.webp?v=1 560w, https:\/\/cdn.tuko.co.ke\/images\/360x203\/65dfac8d34d0e6f2.webp?v=1 360w\" type=\"image\/webp\" sizes=\"256px\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.tuko.co.ke\/images\/360x203\/65dfac8d34d0e6f2.jpeg?v=1\" sizes=\"256px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.tuko.co.ke\/images\/560x315\/65dfac8d34d0e6f2.jpeg?v=1 560w, https:\/\/cdn.tuko.co.ke\/images\/360x203\/65dfac8d34d0e6f2.jpeg?v=1 360w\" \/><\/picture>\n<p class=\"c-article-read-also__caption\">Read also<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-read-also__headline-wrapper\"><span class=\"c-article-read-also__headline-hover-inner\">Toxic Lyrikali&#8217;s photo working at mjengo before fame surfaces<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"align-left\">Johnathan Hillstrand\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"align-left\">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.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"615123-time-bandits-current-status\" class=\"table-of-contents__scroll-section\">Time Bandit\u2019s current status<\/h2>\n<p class=\"align-left\">Who runs the Time Bandit now? Ownership remains firmly with the Hillstrand family, specifically brothers Johnathan, Andy, and Neal.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"article-image\"><picture class=\"article-image__wrapper\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.tuko.co.ke\/images\/720\/ee3cc26df64a481a.webp?v=1 720w, https:\/\/cdn.tuko.co.ke\/images\/560\/ee3cc26df64a481a.webp?v=1 560w, https:\/\/cdn.tuko.co.ke\/images\/360\/ee3cc26df64a481a.webp?v=1 360w\" type=\"image\/webp\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1021px) calc(100vw - 2 * 13px), (max-width: 1400px) calc((100vw - 2 * 20px - 2 * 20px) \/ 2), 800px\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"article-image__picture\" title=\"Time Bandit in Alaska\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.tuko.co.ke\/images\/1120\/ee3cc26df64a481a.jpeg?v=1\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1021px) calc(100vw - 2 * 13px), (max-width: 1400px) calc((100vw - 2 * 20px - 2 * 20px) \/ 2), 800px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.tuko.co.ke\/images\/720\/ee3cc26df64a481a.jpeg?v=1 720w, https:\/\/cdn.tuko.co.ke\/images\/560\/ee3cc26df64a481a.jpeg?v=1 560w, https:\/\/cdn.tuko.co.ke\/images\/360\/ee3cc26df64a481a.jpeg?v=1 360w\" alt=\"Time Bandit in Alaska\" width=\"1120\" height=\"630\" data-alcp_ajhbdcgf_prev-pointer-events=\"\" data-alcp_ajhbdcgf_mark=\"1\" \/><\/picture><button class=\"article-image__button\" title=\"Expand image\"><\/button><figcaption class=\"article-image__caption\">Time Bandit in Alaska. Photo: @The Boating Site (Modified by author)<br \/>\nSource: Facebook<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"align-left\">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 <i>Deadliest Catch<\/i>. However, the challenges have not eased. Power failures and crew problems still test the boat and those on board.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"615123-faqs-about-time-bandit\" class=\"table-of-contents__scroll-section\">FAQs about Time Bandit<\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li>Why is the boat named &#8220;Time Bandit&#8221;? The name draws inspiration from the 1981 film <i>Time Bandits.<\/i><\/li>\n<li>Is the Time Bandit still fishing? Yes. The F\/V Time Bandit is still fishing with Captain Johnathan Hillstrand.<\/li>\n<li>What happened to Time Bandit in 2012? In 2012, the Hillstrand brothers replaced the ageing engines, which had logged around 48,000 hours. In their place came a pair of Cummins ReCon engines.<\/li>\n<li>When was Time Bandit built? The boat was built in 1991 by Giddings Boatworks in Coos Bay, Oregon.<\/li>\n<li>What amenities make Time Bandit stand out from other Bering Sea vessels? The boat has a four-man sauna, queen-size beds in the state rooms, and a dishwasher.<\/li>\n<li>What are the main technical specifications of the Time Bandit? The Time Bandit is a 113-foot house-aft fishing vessel with a beam of 28 feet, an 8-foot draft, and a gross tonnage of 298 tons.<\/li>\n<li>Did the Hillstrands write a book about their experiences on the Time Bandit? Yes. Andy and Johnathan Hillstrand, along with co-author Malcolm MacPherson, published <i>Time Bandit: Two Brothers, the Bering Sea, and One of the World&#8217;s Deadliest Jobs.<\/i><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div class=\"post__read-also c-article-read-also js-read-also\" data-news-type=\"Read also\"><picture class=\"c-article-read-also__image\"><source src=\"https:\/\/cdn.tuko.co.ke\/images\/360x203\/7f6d940d1ce768d1.jpeg?v=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.tuko.co.ke\/images\/560x315\/7f6d940d1ce768d1.webp?v=1 560w, https:\/\/cdn.tuko.co.ke\/images\/360x203\/7f6d940d1ce768d1.webp?v=1 360w\" type=\"image\/webp\" sizes=\"256px\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.tuko.co.ke\/images\/360x203\/7f6d940d1ce768d1.jpeg?v=1\" sizes=\"256px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.tuko.co.ke\/images\/560x315\/7f6d940d1ce768d1.jpeg?v=1 560w, https:\/\/cdn.tuko.co.ke\/images\/360x203\/7f6d940d1ce768d1.jpeg?v=1 360w\" \/><\/picture>\n<p class=\"c-article-read-also__caption\">Read also<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-read-also__headline-wrapper\"><span class=\"c-article-read-also__headline-hover-inner\">Aziz Ki: Hamisa Mobetto&#8217;s hubby loses son, fans comfort him<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"615123-final-word\" class=\"table-of-contents__scroll-section\">Final word<\/h2>\n<p class=\"align-left\">What happened to the Time Bandit is not a simple story of retirement or decline, but one of resilience and stubborn loyalty to the sea. The vessel has mirrored the grit of the Hillstrand family itself and remained exactly what fans remember.<\/p>\n<p class=\"align-left\">Tuko.co.ke also published an article about what happened to NFL running back Najee Harris. The article covers his recent injuries, career moves, and personal background. Discover how a fireworks accident and a torn Achilles tendon affected his 2025 season.<\/p>\n<p class=\"align-left\">Curious to know how these setbacks have shaped Harris\u2019 career? Dive into the whole story to uncover the latest updates, his recovery journey, and insights into his life both on and off the field.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; What happened to the Time Bandit from Deadliest Catch? Retirement, rebuilds and comeback Published 16 Jan 2026 by\u00a0 Nicholas Nganga reviewed by\u00a0 Masolo Mabonga 5 min read 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 &#8230; <a title=\"Why Jonathan Hillstrand Really Left Deadliest Catch and the Time Bandit\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/foxnews.znicely.com\/?p=13673\" aria-label=\"Read more about Why Jonathan Hillstrand Really Left Deadliest Catch and the Time Bandit\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13674,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13673","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-deadliest-catch"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/foxnews.znicely.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13673","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/foxnews.znicely.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/foxnews.znicely.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foxnews.znicely.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foxnews.znicely.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13673"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/foxnews.znicely.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13673\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foxnews.znicely.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/13674"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/foxnews.znicely.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13673"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foxnews.znicely.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13673"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foxnews.znicely.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13673"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}