Q: When does crab season start and end?
A: Officially, the king crab and snow crab fisheries start on 15 October of every year. King crab ends on 15 January, snow crab ends on 15 May. The market demand is why we fish at this time of the year, king crab in the autumn and snow crab in the winter months.
Q: It looks like you have the biggest boat in the fleet. Is that right?
A: It's large, but it's not the largest. There are crab vessels that are 165 feet, but what is unique to the Wizard is her capacity. She holds over 400,000 pounds of crab in her tank. There are larger boats that hold more pots, but I believe the Wizard holds the most crab in the fleet.
Q: Where did you learn first aid? Did you save Lenny's finger?
A: I'm a licensed captain, and some of the requirements in your licensing are first aid training. I've been through numerous first aid and CPR classes. As far as the finger, Lenny is okay and still working on the boat. You'll have to follow the show to see what happens.
Q: Are you the only captain that doesn't chain smoke?
A: To the best of my knowledge, but I do have a bad habit as I chew tobacco.
Q: What is the hardest thing about being a captain?
A: I would say staying focused. Trying to remain focused on the crabs, the crew, the weather, your offload dates, and a multitude of other things at the same time can create confusion. Being focused at all times is probably the most important and most difficult thing about being a captain.
Q: How many days or weeks are you out at sea?
A: However long it takes to put 400,000 pounds of crab in the boat. Sometimes that can be five days on great fishing. It can take as long as three weeks. Many times we offload to floating processors so we never touch land. Sometimes we may go one to two months without actually touching land.
Q: Is it different for you not only running the Wizard now but also owning it?
A: Definitely. There are a lot of demands and jobs associated with both owning and being the captain of a vessel. Trying to balance both is a serious chore. With our new crab programme, it's much worse than it was in the past for owner-operators.
Q: What type of engines are in your boat, what size wheel and how much power?
A: Our main engine is a CAT 399. It has 1200 horsepower. The wheel is approximately six feet in diameter. We have four generators, R3306 Caterpillars, two of which are our main power supplies. They generate 175 kilowatts, which is probably enough power to light up your entire block.
Q: Is there a website that honours boats and fisherman who have died at sea?
