Does Deadliest Catch's Camera Crew Ever Have Time To Eat?

Fans of the show "Deadliest Catch" might have a few unanswered questions about what goes on behind the scenes. While the most exciting scenes and events are put together for each episode, audiences can't help but wonder about some of the things that occur off-screen. With 18 seasons under their belts and more still coming, the crew certainly has a rhythmic routine developed, and audiences who have ever fantasized about joining the crew will be unaware of some of these behind-the-scenes secrets. For example, when do they get to eat?

The hourlong segments audiences receive aren't all that happens — cameras on the boats are rolling 24/7, after all (via American Cinematographer). Audiences understand that the job of a fisherman on such a boat is extremely demanding, and along with that, so is being part of their camera crew. So much so that they can avoid lending a hand during daily chores. "It's harder for the cameraman to be aware of his surroundings as he frames a shot," said David Reichert, one of the cinematographers on the series. "The fishermen are watching the hooks and cranes."

Being on a boat in the ocean is uncertain. Some days there are storms, vicious winds, or poor fishing conditions. And since the camera crew is always standing by, ready to capture these critical moments of the show, it's a wonder if they have time to do anything else. When do they sleep? When do they eat? Thankfully for us, Captain "Wild" Bill Wichrowski shared some of the happenings in an interview with The A.V. Club.

The camera team that accompanies the fishing crew is there for the trip's duration, which can be up to five weeks. This ultimately means they spend a lot of time together, including meals and sleeping arrangements. In an interview, Captain "Wild" Bill Wichrowski said that there are two camerapeople per boat (across six or seven boats total). Additional crew members can be on the vessels, and a chase boat also follows the action from afar (per American Cinematographer). He also revealed that eating is a high priority for his boat, though meals can be few and far between with how busy his crew is; this kind of fishing is a demanding and rigorous job, as audiences are well-aware.

"Many of them have flexibility to where they can go down and make themselves something quick in between when our guys do," he told The A.V. Club. "If you watch the show, especially on my boat, eating is of a high priority, though it comes few and far between. A lot of times the camera guys will make themselves something real quick. I've had guys that make meals or they've made sandwiches and took them out on deck." He also added that the camerapeople eat and sleep alongside the fishermen.

While it might not always fit the agenda to eat meals at the same time, depending on if members of the fishing crew eat at different times and if the camera crew is reshooting any takes (which does happen), fans can rest assured that the camera crew does have time to savor a meal while out on the boat and amid some difficult fishing and capturing fishermen at work.