Click the photo or this link to watch. It starts about the 30 minute mark.

Updated: Sig’s package went for a final bid of $8,100!

Captain Sig needs your help as he helps his friend Guy Fieri raise money for Lisa.  He’s so serious that he was making phone calls as early as 5am and while boarding the plane to make sure this gets out with all the information that you need to know.  You can read all about Lisa and her story here. Guy has already gone big and customized a 2008 Harley Davidson FXCW Softtail Rocker with of course help from the crew at Michael’s Harley-Davidson. Read here all about the “Kulinary Gansta” bike that YES! You can win. No joke. Guy ain’t messing around here folks. Let’s show them the power of the Northwestern Network and even if you can’t make it, bid or donate. At least pass the link along to others that is all Sig asks.

Captain Sig Hansen Package

The winning bidder and a guest will be hosted by Captain Sig Hansen and the crew of the F/V Northwestern, of the Discovery Channel’s Series, The Deadliest Catch, to a full day at the 2nd Annual Deadliest Catch Convention(CatchCon). Last year’s CatchCon was a sell out. Captain Sig and the Crew will spend time with you as the day progresses based on their commitments to Discovery Channel and CatchCon. You will be introduced to the Captains and Crew of the other vessels featured on the Show. Other surprises at the CatchCon will be given to the two of you.

Time allowing, Captain Sig will take you from CatchCon down to the Ballard waterfront where he will give you a tour of the F/V Northwestern, show you the inner workings of the pilot house and how crab pots are launched and retrieved. There even maybe a ride around the working waterfront to see the Crab Fleet that is home based in Seattle.

The winning bidder will go home tonight with autographed F/V Northwestern souvenirs including two Original Crew jackets as seen on the Show, Northwestern hats and an Autographed picture of the Vessel signed by Captain Sig and the Crew.

This is a once in a lifetime experience so bid often and bid high.

Do you have an aversion to auctions? Can’t make the auction? Don’t like auctions? Just want to give money and you like to help others? This link is for you I WANT TO DONATE

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Katrin sent this in awhile ago and we’ve been real busy cleaning house around the server and sorting and moving photos.

Capt. Sig -

My family came to visit me tonight, and we had Captain Sig Battered Pollock for dinner.  Here are some pictures of my baby sister Margie after her first fish dinner. :)  The first one is my family’s favorite, but the second one is a close second. Deadliest Catch is my favorite show, and the Northwestern is my favorite boat.  Safe journeys in the upcoming season!

Aubrey R.

It is with great sadness that we write this tonight as Phil Harris has passed away. Northwestern fans remembering Phil

Phil’s Moments at Sea

Source via Discovery Channel

UPDATE: February 9, 2010: It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to our dad – Captain Phil Harris. Dad has always been a fighter and continued to be until the end. For us and the crew, he was someone who never backed down. We will remember and celebrate that strength. Thanks to everyone for their thoughts and prayers. - Jake and Josh Harris

Discovery mourns the loss of dear friend and colleague Captain Phil Harris. He was more than someone on our television screen. Phil was a devoted father and loyal friend to all who knew him. We will miss his straightforward honesty, wicked sense of humor and enormous heart. We share our tremendous sadness over this loss with the millions of viewers who followed Phil’s every move. We send our thoughts and prayers to Phil’s sons Josh and Jake and the Cornelia Marie crew. Statement from Discovery -

It is with tremendous sadness that I say goodbye to Phil Harris. Phil and I have been business partners and friends for nearly 20 years.  We have been through a lot of ups and downs together with the F/V Cornelia Marie. As a skipper, he was a great fisherman. He loved his family and cared for his crew. We will all miss him. – Cornelia Marie Devlin

  

Via Captain Phil Harris dot Com

For direct inquires please contact
Russ Herriott
Business Partner and Manager to Capt Phil Harris and Sons Josh and Jake
702-296-9865
russherriott@msn.com

This just in from our friends in Gloucester.

I have been blessed with the opportunity of a lifetime! My video, titled “Gloucester Fisherman” because I am so very proud of my community and maritime heritage, has been selected to the Final 10 of the “Survivor” Casting Call Contest! Whichever video of the final 10 receives the most votes, that person will likely be a castaway in season 21/22 of “Survivor”!!!
Now it’s up to you! My ONLY chance is for you to click on the link below, vote for me, and take a moment to forward this e-mail to as many friends, as far reaching as possible. Five minute of your time could change the lives of my family!!

Thank you so much…. your support means everything!

Jimmy T.

VOTE FOR JIMMY NOW

All of us at fvnorthwestern.com send all our thoughts and prayers to Phil and his family and crew.

For the most up to date official source head over to www.corneliamarie.com

Official Facebook Page

Source: Discovery Channel

“Phil Harris suffered a stroke while in port off-loading from the F/V Cornelia Marie. He has been transported to a medical facility and is receiving the best care possible. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and we will make more information available as we know it.”

From Morgan @ Corneliamarie.com Jan 30, 2010

Captain Phil Harris suffered a stroke yesterday at St. Paul Island in Alaska. He was medivacked to Anchorage and is currently at a hospital receiving treatment.
I didn’t say anything earlier, so family can learn from us instead of through the internet. I know anybody who is reading this also cares about Phil, so we thought you should know as well.
Phil is at a good hospital and receiving the best care possible. My mother, Cornelia Marie Devlin and Jake Harris are with him at the hospital. Josh is staying on the boat to help the new relief skipper who is flying out there today. The boat is in the harbor now, but needs to be able to leave in case the ice shifts and moves in.
Our engineer Steve found Capt. Phil on the floor of his stateroom Friday. He was immediately taken to the clinic in St. Paul – the same place he was treated when he had a blood clot two years ago.
As soon as we receive more information about Phil, we will pass it on to you.

Join Captain Sig of Deadliest Catch at the Tables and on the Water in the World’s First Hybrid, High Stakes Fishing & Poker Tournament

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 11, 2009 – Nassau, Bahamas

TVI Events, the producers of the inaugural Fish & Chips Showdown to be held May 11 – 16, 2010 in Nassau, Bahamas is excited to announce that Captain Sig Hansen of the F/V Northwestern and star of Deadliest Catch will be hosting the 2010 Fish & Chips Showdown.  Joining Sig will be his brother, Edgar Hansen, Deck Boss of the F/V Northwestern, along with the girls of PlayerXT, who will be co-hosting the event and competing in the Bullz-Eye.com Bikini Model Search Finals.  Fish & Chips Showdown participants will have the opportunity to win a piece of the $250,000 cash purse and spend 5 days in the Bahamas alongside Sig and Edgar.  Limited tickets are still available, so visit www.thefishandchips.com to sign up.

The Fish & Chips Showdown will be based out of the stunning, four-star Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort. The poker tournament will be held at the adjoining Crystal Palace Casino, with the final table at the world famous Nygård Cay Resort. The fishing tournament will be staged from the nearby Paradise Island Marina. Competitors will battle it out on the tables and on the water for $250,000. Payouts include purses of $170,000 for the poker tournament, $70,000 for the fishing tournament and an additional $10,000 to the overall Fish & Chips Champion. Additionally, the winner of the fishing tournament will qualify for the 2010 IFGA Offshore Fishing World Championships.

Participant packages are available covering five nights accommodation at the Sheraton, buy-ins to both tournaments, chartered and catered boats for the fishing tournament, transportation between airport and hotel, catered food during poker play and now, final table poker action at the world famous Nygård Cay. Packages are available for those who wish to provide their own boat or seek other accommodations as well.

The Fish & Chips Showdown is currently open to 170 participants, with limited tickets remaining.  To participate, visit www.thefishandchips.com.

Texas Hold’ Em + Big Game Fishing + Bikini Models + Nygård Cay + $250,000 up for grabs + Captain Sig Hansen + … = The Ultimate Experience!

About TVI Events

TVI Events is an innovative global event management company. TVI Events provides clients and event participants with full-service event management, including early-stage event planning, venue and vendor contracting, attendee registration, professional hosting and all related services. In addition to hosting third party events, TVI Events hosts proprietary destination events, including the annual Fish & Chips hybrid poker and fishing tournament.

About Captain Sig Hansen of the F/V Northwestern

Captain Sig Hansen began fishing at age 14, was a full-time Bering Sea fisherman by age 18, a relief captain at age 22 and running the Northwestern at age 24 – which he has continued to do for 20 years.  Sig has been featured in all seasons of the documentary television series Deadliest Catch, where he also serves as technical advisor for the production.

The Northwestern has been, and continues to be, a top producer with an exceptional safety record: the Northwestern has never had a single death at sea in the nearly 20 years Sig has been at its helm and its serious injury rate is significantly lower than other boats in the Bering Sea fleet. The Northwestern won the final derby seasons for both the king crab and opilio crab in 2005 and 2006 respectively, taking home the titles for both the highest poundage caught and the highest dollars earned between the featured boats in the Deadliest Catch.  Learn more and follow Sig at www.fvnorthwestern.com.

For more information about the Fish & Chips Showdown hosted by Captain Sig Hansen of the F/V Northwestern please visit www.thefishandchips.com or call 888-539-4691.

Austin Oaks from North Carolina on Halloween. Austin as Sig Hansen and his Dog Milo the Lobster. (They couldn’t find a crab costume).

This holiday season Sig sat down at home and gave his first Holiday Message via his webcam through Facebook. In true Sig style you can tell computers are not his strong suit.

CAPTAIN SIG TALKS SAUCE: “Shut up & Dip”

“We eat lots of fish sticks and there is always lots of our Tartar Sauce around
the table…it’s good! We also love to eat Shrimp and use lots of our Cocktail
Sauce (It’s good for making Bloody Mary’s too)!
We’re on a fishing boat not a luxury liner and you need to learn how to improvise.
The Tastiest Catch Sauce is great on any seafood and beyond.
I can barely leave the dock with out Sea Horseradish sauce
for my crew….it’s a must have.”

Order Online Here: http://www.tastiestcatch.com/order.htm

https://secure.unasecure.net/lpig_donation/index.cfm?siteid=lpig

Pebble Mine advocates call for boycott of Seattle restaurants serving wild salmon from Bristol Bay, Alaska. As food blogger Ronald Holden put it, “Are they crazy?”

Here’s the dish: a media firestorm erupted this week because thirteen of Seattle’s finest seafood restaurants stepped up in support of protecting Bristol Bay’s salmon fishery (where I got my own start as a salmon fisherman) from the proposed Pebble Mine by serving and featuring Bristol Bay salmon on their menus.

In response to the positive press coverage of this Bristol Bay salmon promotion (part of Trout Unlimited’s Savor Bristol Bay campaign), there was a backlash from the Pebble folks, namely from the Truth About Pebble’s Board Member, Gail Phillips, who called for a boycott of these restaurants and from the Pebble Partnership’s CEO, John Shively, who denounced the chefs as a bunch of yuppie foodies from the big city who don’t know anything about how hard it is to live in rural Alaska. Little did Gail and John realize that they would feed the fire and help get the story in the New York Times, the LA Times, the Seattle Times, Seattle PI, the Washington Post, the Anchorage Daily News, and over 200 other media outlets. Here is today story in the Seattle PI:  Save the salmon by eating salmon

I know where I’ll be eating dinner tonight, one of the thirteen Seattle restaurants serving wild salmon from Bristol Bay, Alaska. Those restaurants include: Art of the Table, Chiso, Emmer & Rye, Flying Fish, Persimmon, Ponti Seafood Grill, Rover’s Restaurant, Steelhead Diner, Tilth Restaurant, Tilikum Place Cafe, The Pike Brewing Co., Palace Kitchen and Etta’s Seafood.

Join me in supporting Alaska’s commercial fishermen and Seattle’s chefs and restaurants by voting with your fork and Savoring Bristol Bay!

-Sig

“I own all seasons on DVD and every season Dad and I get together, share a beer, and enjoy the “reality” show, Deadliest Catch. Everyone has their own favorite ship, crew, and captain. The Northwestern, captained by Sig Hansen and crewed by his two brothers and a tight nit crew of friends, has been with Deadliest Catch since season 1. Dad and I saved our Captain Sig’s Northwestern Ale by Rogue Brewing to savor during the last episode of the 2009 season.”

Source: http://otakudensdram.livejournal.com/153475.html

This comes to us today from Samantha Age 12.

As soon as the episode aired our inboxes lit up with emails. Here’s a few of them. View the Episode

“Just wanted to tell you guys,(in case you don’t know) that you were just immortalized On South Park. It was awesome. Congralations Good Luck, and Be Safe.” – Helen V.

The new season is underway. If this is an indication to the start of the new season. Yes, that appears to be Norman delivering Northwestern a pot. Look for more photos coming soon.

Katrin who has become one of our resident artists,  submitted this fan art in the other day.

This year has been a very busy year and nothing surprises the guys more than when people bring in stuff from our stores. Especially when they forget what they commissioned almost a year ago. You can easily see Edgar’s expression when he sees the Northwestern Calendar printed for the first time.  Thanks to Mary McNatt of Florida for the picture and buying a calendar.

Talk about a temperature swing. For Capt. Sig Hansen and crew –stars of the Discovery Channel’s hit series “The Deadliest Catch”– greeting guests at Epcot’s Norway pavilion this weekend means thawing out in Florida summer weather that is, oh, about 80 degrees warmer than their average workday environment catching crab on the Bering Sea. Capt. Sig, from one of the show’s featured vessels the “Northwestern,” his deck boss Edgar Hansen and crewman Matt Bradley got a warm reception from hundreds of cheering fans Friday afternoon while signing autographs and posing for photos. It was a return visit for the ‘Catch’ crew; they made a similar appearance at Epcot last summer. If you want to meet-n-greet with Capt. Sig and Co. from the Northwestern, they will be in the (air-conditioned) gift shop in Norway at Epcot again later today, Saturday and Sunday, 1pm to 4pm and 5:30pm to 8pm.

Click here for more photos of Capt. Sig Hansen & crew at Epcot today and the rest of the story by the Orlando Sentinel.

Is there room in this neighborhood for two burger contests? I guess we’ll find out soon enough.

Wednesday afternoon from 3:00 – 4:00 pm on the Jones Soda Headquarters rooftop, contestants will try to create the most original and tasty burger using any Jones Soda product in their recipe. Winning recipes in the past have utilized Cola, Orange Cola, Cream Soda and Jones Naturals Limes with Orange.

Participants will have 20 minutes to cook, assemble, plate and present the finished product to the judges, where Sig Hansen, Erik Denmark and Brian Canlis will be on hand to rate each burger on appearance, taste and creativity.

While this panel of judges has one glaring omission, it is quite impressive nevertheless:

Sig Hansen is the Seattle-based Captain of the fishing vessel Northwestern and one of the stars of the Discovery Channel series Deadliest Catch.

Erik “the Red” Denmark, who resides in Seattle, is a competitive eater and a member of the International Federation of Competitive Eating. He recently placed eighth in Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest in New York City, eating 38 dogs in 10 minutes.

Brian Canlis is the co-owner of the award-winning Seattle fine dining restaurant Canlis.

We’re completely sold out of the Sig Hansen and 3 Brothers Signed autographs. We still have some Edgar and Boat Photos (Signed by all 3 brothers). We’re working on a new set of limited edition prints here in the next few weeks.

Looks like all the work I’ve done over the last month or so caught the attention of CafePress. :)

“Fans of “Deadliest Catch” are familiar with Sig Hansen’s famous “Shut up and Fish,” which is the virtual motto of the popular Northwestern fishing vessel. Those who watch the show probably won’t be surprised that Sig Hansen took merchandising matters into his own hands and started the official Northwestern T-shirt shop a few years back.

The Hansen brothers are lifelong fisherman who went into the family business at a young age; Sig himself started working on crab boats at 14. Having spoken with Sig many times, I can tell you that he’s as amusing on the phone as he is on television.”

Head on over to read the rest of the post.

Weeks into the Opilio Season, the fleet is bone tired and desperate for home. As delirium sets in aboard the Cornelia Marie, deadly, rib-crunching mistakes are made. After weeks of relentless hazing the Wizard’s greenhorn gets news from home that could send him packing. On the Northwestern, Jake receives word of a death in the family. These young men will learn that when an ocean lies between a fisherman and his family, tragedy at home spells gut-wrenching, heartbreak at sea.

Sent in from a fan.

My daughter (age 9) had to make a boat for a science unit on buoyancy, using things around the house (i.e. no kits). She chose the Northwestern, and it was judged “Most Realistic”. She really had fun making it.

Originally From Tasty Booze

When the fleet gets word of great fishing by the ice pack, the chase is on to the ends of the earth! Two egos collide, when Keith and Phil fight over fishing turf. Sick of hauling mangled, barnacle-ridden crab down south, Captain Harry on the Incentive faces his fears and climbs north to frozen waters. While aboard the Northwestern, Sig pushes his crew and himself to the edge of insanity with a sleepless, 38 hour grind. Hellacious hours and missing pots—a journey to the far north will push these men over the edge.

Look’s like Sig’s Alaskan Adventure package raised, $13,000. That’s not bad.

Toby Keith’s sixth annual golf and music fundraising weekend to benefit Ally’s House raised more than a half-million dollars to help children with cancer and their families in Keith’s native Oklahoma. The $550,000 raised brings the to-date total to nearly $3 million. The dinner, music and auction saw several big ticket items drawing huge bids. A dinner party for 20 with Keith earned $32,500. The Alaskan Adventure with Deadliest Catch boat captain Sig Hansen brought in $13,000, and a Costa Rica getaway to the Four Seasons drew a $19,000 bid. More than 40 sports and music celebrities were in attendance, including Keith’s Beer For My Horses co-star and co-writer Rodney Carrington, and baseball player Roger Clemens.

EPISODE TWELVE – Tuesday, June 30 at 9 PM (ET/PT) Late into the season, each skipper faces his own personal brand of hell. Frozen crab, frozen gear, and a frozen harbor chill the hearts of even the most callous fishermen. On the Cornelia Marie, Skipper Phil gambles on the theory that air bubbles on the water means crabs are farting down below. On the Time Bandit, Captain Andy enters St. Paul harbor—now frozen enough to walk across. Five pack-a-day smoker Sig Hansen tries his hand at quitting the habit. When a huge storm kicks up he takes his stress out on his crew. Aboard the Wizard, Captain Keith demands an answer from his greenhorn: “Are you in or out?” It’s a season where very crab has been paid for in headaches—but the rising seas and oncoming ice-pack could make things worse.

I suppose when you’re the Web Boss you have the ability to post whatever you’d like whenever. While I don’t usually do that— I am today. Probably the number #2 show next to Deadliest Catch our family watches in the Discovery network (family) is Pitchmen.

The reason is simple, it’s real people doing what they would normally do with or without cameras much like Deadliest Catch. The real appeal for us is the synergy Anthony and Billy have on and off set and the comedy of the two. I ‘d agree with you much like Conan portrayed last week as he and I am not the types who buy from direct marketing spots. But the show is about real people, real jobs and real life. Young Billy furthers the real life aspect by his use of twitter over the most trying times of his life again further showing the “Real Life” aspect.

This post doesn’t represent the views of the Hansen’s or Discovery Channel but I for one  would like Sully, YoungBilly and Arwen to go into production on Season 2 and see the full number of episodes from the can to the cut and onto the air. Perhaps Sully and Young Billy can form a sullivan-mays production company and use that for charitable work. Better yet sullivan-B-mays (the big B for Big Billy). I know Anthony already has a production company, but his interview with MJ, allowed Anthony to say things in the public view that normally wouldn’t be said and that Billy was part of who Anthony is today.

It’s the best way in my opinion to honor the memory of Billy Mays, if it wasn’t for his talent the show would have never gotten off the ground. I don’t know Thom Beers personally but I think it’s fair to say he appreciates the interaction between people and his shows are about the people who—well are usually the forgotten souls that make the world go round.

I know TV Shows are about the audience and media buys, but I think another season that spotlights pitchmen and the struggles of the industry is worth it for us the fans of the show as well as the pitchmen of the industry and of course for the memory of Billy Mays.

I’ve received numerous emails about, “I must have known Billy”. I didn’t know him personally. However Thom, Sully, YoungBilly and Discovery let me and my family and thousands of others know Billy, the products and the art of the pitch. As a Web Boss (jack of all trades media) I have a natural fondness of seeing video productions, behind the scenes, media editing and I like comedy. It was the perfect show—pitch perfect some said.

-PS

The audio clip Anthony talks about season 2 was signed on for with Discovery and Billy was to be the official Taco Bell spokesperson.

Update: 6/30

Be sure to find @YoungBillymays on twitter as he is planning to start a foundation as a memorial to his late father. I’ve expressed to him I am willing to help in way I can. Also note that the writer has corrected the online version of the article and no-longer refers as StepSon, I recieved this email today so be sure to thank Drew for the correction.

Patrick,

Tampa police reported that he was Mays’ stepson, so we wrote it that way. I have changed the story to say “son” in the online version and referred this to an editor. Thanks for your e-mail.

Drew Harwell, staff writer
St. Petersburg Times

Also a fan sent these in to us last night at our fans@fvnorthwestern.com addy and yes we know it’s the time bandit boys but they are true friends of Northwestern and Crew.

(L-R) Capt Andy, Billy Mays, Capt Jonathan & Jeff?

Capt. Johnathan & Captain Pitchman Billy Mays

Also don’t forget, #wearblueforbilly

Here are some list of clips, articles and other news related to the day’s events.

EXCLUSIVE AUDIO: MJ Talked To Anthony Sullivan via Phone from London.  CLICK TO PLAY (Courtesy the MJ MORNING SHOW)

EPISODE 11 – Lockout EPISODE ELEVEN – Tuesday, June 23 at 9 PM (ET/PT) The 250,000 square mile arctic ice pack is barreling South, swallowing the crab grounds one mile per every hour. Now, the skippers are faced with a major gamble: flirt with the icy, fertile waters to the North, or play it safe in the fished out Southern grounds. After some skippers strike gold, the race is on to St. Paul Harbor. But with the canneries in sight, the crab fleet finds a new challenge — one that threatens the value of their crab bounty…St Paul Harbor is frozen shut! The skippers will need to fight tooth and nail to plow their way to shore.

JOIN IN ON THE DISCUSSION

It’s not a creative display of empty boxes in my kitchen- mostly because when I took this, it was to brag to a friend in Georgia that I’d found these locally and she’d never seen them before. :) (And I’m pleased to say, not only was her jealousy sweet, the fish was quite tasty!)

Saundra M.

Hey Sig,

I saw your products in the freezer isle, and being a fan of both Deadliest Catch and The Northwestern I immediately picked up a box. Of course they were awesome. I’ll never eat the name brand minced meat fish sticks again! The texture was great and they tasted really fresh, nothing like the bland and mushy ones I grew up eating. I seriously can’t wait til next payday to try the other four varieties. So when am I gonna be able to pick up a box of Captain Sig’s Crab Legs or Crab Cakes? That would be beyond awesome.

Keep fishin!

-Timm B

PS- My cat Harry couldn’t keep his paws off. He’s also a fan.

Every so often we receive emails from people that really go out of their way for us. Judge Bob Moon is one of those people, not only did he write a poem for Northwestern he also laminated it and sent copies to us here at Northwestern Brothers Marketing. Now of course one hangs in wheelhouse of Northwestern.

Judge Bob Moon

Judge Bob Moon, is a General Sessions Court Judge in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He is also an avid fan of Captain Sig Hansen and the crew of the Northwestern. Judge Moon has a long history of off shore fishing primarily in the Gulf of Mexico and has weathered high seas and gale force winds personally. Understanding the dangers of off shore fishing, especially in the Bering Sea, he was inspired to write the poem, “Prayer of the Northwestern,” for Captain Sig and crew. Judge Moon said, “I suppose that if there is magic on earth, it is in the sea. The per centage of salt content in most seas is the same percentage as the salt content in a man’s body. There has been a long and historical connection between men and the sea. I suppose there always will be.”

The Judge concluded, “I wrote the poem primarily for the “Northwestern,” but the first verse is for all captains and crews who make their living on the seas and oceans throughout the world. I very much appreciate what these brave men do, and I am very honored to be on board with them in the spirit of the prayer.”

Judge Moon’s Poem Is Now Part Of “Northwestern” Sea Vessel

GREAT AMERICAN SEAFOOD COOK OFF
www.greatamericanseafoodcookoff.com

Press Contact: Shea Communications Inc.
Richard Shea, Alexis Schneider Gerbracht (212) 627-5766

FOR RELEASE:

GREAT AMERICAN SEAFOOD COOK-OFF TO GATHER

COUNTRY’S FINEST CHEFS IN NEW ORLEANS

Sig Hansen, Star of Deadliest Catch, Will Host the Annual Seafood Showdown

NEW ORLEANS, June 12, 2009 — Accomplished chefs from throughout the United States will gather in New Orleans on July 18^th to compete in the 2009 Great American Seafood Cook-Off, which is presented by the Louisiana Seafood Promotion & Marketing Board.  This will be the sixth consecutive year that the popular culinary contest has occurred.  The event, which has featured both up-and-coming and celebrity chefs over the years, underscores the importance of cooking with domestic seafood and encourages the use of products from sustainable fisheries.

“Since first introducing the Great American Seafood Cook Off in 2004, we have advanced the cause of sustainable fishing and also had a lot of fun,” said Ewell Smith, executive producer of the Cook-Off and executive director f the Lousiana Seafood Promotion & Marketing Board.  “I look forward to continuing this tradition and welcoming America’s most talented chefs to New Orleans this summer.”

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, the event’s chief sponsor, uses the cook-off to highlight to American seafood consumers the agency’s management of the Nation’s marine ecosystems. “Rebuilding U.S. marine fisheries so they can support the highest sustainable harvest for future generations of Americans is a significant challenge,” said Jim Balsiger, acting NOAA Fisheries Service assistant administrator.  “We are on target to end overfishing and set annual catch limits as required by U.S. law.”

Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana recently sent letters to the governors of all 50 states asking them to appoint a chef to compete in the event.  To date, 12 states have registered chefs including Kentucky, Idaho, Illinois, Maryland, Maine, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Texas and West Virginia.   Louisiana will be represented by Chef Tory McPhail of Commander’s Palace.  The 2009 Great American Seafood Cook Off is endorsed by the National Restaurant Association and will be audited by the National Fisheries Institute.

Sig Hansen, the commercial fishing captain who stars in the popular documentary television show Deadliest Catch, will host the 2009 Great American Seafood Cook Off.  Hansen began fishing at age 14 and currently captains the Northwestern, a fishing vessel based in Seattle. The Northwestern won the final derby seasons for king crab (2005) and opilio crab (2006), taking home titles for both the highest poundage caught and the highest dollars earned among the boats featured in Deadliest Catch.

“I am very excited to visit New Orleans and participate in the Great American Seafood Cook Off,” said Hansen.  “Coming from a commercial fishing family, I recognize the importance of sustaining our fisheries here in the U.S., which keeps the rich culture and heritage of our coastal fishing communities alive.”

The Great American Seafood Cook Off will take place at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans during the Louisiana Foodservice Expo.  Open to the public, the event asks attendees to make a $5-$10 donation at the door. This donation is for cook-off entry only and does not include entry into the expo. The Cook Off will begin at noon and conclude at 4pm.  Participating chefs will create unique dishes with domestic seafood, and utilize fish that’s native to their home state whenever possible.

Prior winners of the Great American Seafood Cook Off include John Currence of City Grocery in Oxford, MS, Tim Thomas of the Ocean Forest Golf Club in Sea Island, GA, Justin Timineri, Executive Chef for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Randy Evans of Brennan’s of Houston, and John Besh of Restaurant August in New Orleans.

Great American Seafood Cook Off sponsors include NOAA and FishWatch, Michelob Brewing Company, Whole Foods Market, Loubat Food Service Equipment, Louisiana Restaurant Association and the Royal Sonesta New Orleans hotel. Acknowledgement is also in order to the supportive seafood organizations; the National Fisheries Institute, Gulf and South Atlantic Fisheries Foundation, Texas Department of Agriculture, Jones Seafood Solutions, Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board and Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.  A special thanks also to media sponsors, Gulfscapes Magazine and Louisiana Public Broadcasting.

For more information, visit online at www.GreatAmericanSeafoodCookoff.com.
###

DOWNLOAD THE PRESSER

We love your show and your new seafood products! Here is a picture of our three kids with our empty Captain Sig Seafood boxes. The baby, Philip, is just 3 months old, but knows his cousins Wesley, 8, and Madelyn, 5, are onto something great!

Joe and Julie J. & Garry and Susan J.

EPISODE TEN – Tuesday, June 16 at 9 PM (ET/PT) It’s week three of the Opilio Crab Season. Long hours and inhuman conditions already have the crabbers turning on each other. One skipper needs to deliver his crab but boat-crushing ice stands between his vessel and the safety of harbor. On the Northwestern, the bitter temperatures have the Jr. Deckhand showing signs of strain. While on the Wizard, Skipper Keith is still reeling from the after-affects of a monster wave that banged up his crew. On the Time Bandit the crab is crawling on board, but one old Deckhand wants to crawl off. A sea of misery surrounds the fleet — and the season isn’t even half over.

JOIN IN ON THE DISCUSSION OVER AT NORTHWESTERN FORUMS

Hello My name is Filip. I am eight years old. I am from Poland in Gdynia by the sea. I like to watch the program Deadliest Catch and the most I like NORTHWESTERN. I greet all the crew. My grandfather was a fisherman first, the second was at the head of the engine on the tugboat. I am very interested in ships. In the future I would like to design ships.

This is our Rottie, Bruce. He never gets into the trash, but he couldn’t resist…Bruce wants to know when we can get the salmon patties in extra large?
Thanks for the great fish
Julie Lahr

Bruce Finds The Empty Box

‘Deadliest Catch’ captains, crew tape post-fishing-season show in S.D.
By David Hasemyer, Union-Tribune Staff Writer
2:00 a.m. June 10, 2009

PACIFIC BEACH – For every macho couch potato who wants to live the life of crab boat fisherman Phil Harris, the perpetually angry captain on the reality TV hit “Deadliest Catch,” Harris has this advice: Don’t do it.

“You haven’t got what it takes,” Harris said yesterday with a mix of disdain and empathy for adventure-seeking amateurs. Harris and the four other captains of the crab boats featured in the popular Discovery Channel series left the rough seas off Alaska for a round table at RT’s Longboard Grill in Pacific Beach this week. The captains are in San Diego until tomorrow taping a companion segment called “After the Catch,” which will begin airing Tuesday following the weekly installment of “Deadliest Catch.” Sig Hansen, the Seattle-based captain with Nordic good looks, is here. So is Johnathan Hillstrand, a resident of Homer, Alaska, with intense eyes and a rough-hewn nature.

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Picture of Ashtyn of Green Bay, WI. A total Captain Sig fan. Loves to eat Crab. Ashty colored this crab after I traced it onto a T-shirt for him. He is 4 years old. Submitted by Brandon N

Ashtyn

of Green Bay, WI.

*As always we do not post the the last names of children or their respective email or mailing addresses.

After 125 years today, June 7 2009, the Bristol Bay fishery is alive and well. Learning from other salmon fisheries, then developing the Alaska Territorial Board of Fisheries in 1950 and with good fisheries management, this fishery has survived while others have not.

The future of this fishery’s continuing success will depend on Alaska’s decisions regarding industrialization of her resources and her continuing commitment to the care and protection of her living natural resources.

Sig Hansen signed autographs Downtown on Saturday. (Shawn Wilson/KTUU-TV)

On the wire from Anchorage.

by April Young
Saturday, June 6, 2009

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — His show is called “Deadliest Catch” and there were hundreds of fans trying to catch some time with Captain Sig on Saturday.

Sig Hansen signed t-shirts, books and even faces at the 5th Avenue Mall. He made an appearance at the Alaska Walking Store.

Some people waited a couple of hours to see him.

“We just flew in for the day and I don’t know how many people showed up but there must have been 300 or 400 people at least and it just never surprises me,” Hansen said. “It’s amazing when you meet people from Florida and all over the country.”

Hansen said the show started out as a documentary on the Discovery Channel, and he’s surprised how its popularity exploded.

Sig will be attendance this June 19th for a benefit for the Wounded Warriors. For more information or to volunteer to help, call Mark Kandianis of Kodiak Fish Company 360-201-0757 or email: kfish@az.com.

Mark’s statement says it best, I just thought it was a worthy cause to let these warriors know we’re still thinking of them and we haven’t forgotten them. The TV coverage may have dwindled after the election but these guys are still walking around with lost limbs and scars that reflect a lifetime of misery and we want to let people know they didn’t do this for nothing.

Alaska’s Fishing Community Honors our Wounded Warriors
Friday, June 19 2009 at the Washington State Patrol Aviation Section Hangar
Olympia, Washington 1000 to 1400 PDT

What we are doing:

We are putting on an Alaska Seafood Buffet for 300 Wounded Warriors from Madigan Army Medical Center at Fort Lewis, Washington. There will also be Fly-bys of WWII T-6 aircraft with a missing man formation.  The Olympic Air Show sponsored
by the Olympic Flight Museum is held June 20-21 in Olympia.  Many pilots and volunteers who will participate in the air show will also be on hand to help with the buffet to honor our Wounded Warriors.

What you can do:

We are asking all Alaskan and Northwest Fishermen, their vendors, suppliers,  shipyards,  fish buyers, brokers, personnel, and any other organizations or individuals to please show your support for our military men and women  who have been  injured in the service to these United States.  There are many things in life we do for our own gratification; these are the men and women that give us that opportunity.

We need contributions of money or seafood for this event, and Remote Warrior Care Program sponsored by the Madigan Foundation of Fort Lewis, Washington. The Foundation places wounded, injured and ill warriors back into their hometowns to recuperate before being released from active military service or returned to active duty.   Approximately twelve warriors from  Alaska,  many from Washington state and the rest of the country are  presently in medical transition at Madigan Army Medical Center.

All donations are eligible for a 501 (c) 3 tax deduction and will receive a letter of acknowledgment from The Madigan Foundation. Contributions should be made to:
The Madigan Foundation for “Wounded Warriors Event” and mailed to
Madigan Foundation, P.O. Box 97215, Lakewood, WA 98497.

A donation of $500 gives the contributor a ticket for a drawing for a flight in a beautifully restored 1942 T-6 / SNJ-4 WWII Advanced Navy Trainer  N119 DP.

FOR MORE INFORMATION DOWNLOAD THE FOLLOWING HANDOUTS

Alaskan Fishing Community Wounded Warrior Release

The Patty Murray Document

We’re back again this year at Ronald McDonald House in Seattle. In 2008 the Avellino Family walked away with the Sig and Crew Dinner and 10 guests for over $4,000. If you want to read more about how you can help Ronald McDonald House, please click here—> rmhc-handout-09

The Avellino family

We’re back again this year at Ronald McDonald House in Seattle. In 2008 the Avellino Family walked away with the Sig and Crew Dinner and 10 guests for over $4,000. If you want to read more about how you can help Ronald McDonald House, please click here—> rmhc-handout-09

The Avellino family