Andy Hillstrand is an American commercial fisherman, television personality, and co-captain of the F/V Time Bandit, born on September 25, 1963, in Homer, Alaska. He starred on the Discovery Channel series Deadliest Catch starting in Season 2 in 2006.
A third-generation Alaskan fisherman, Andy fished the Bering Sea for over three decades before stepping away from the spotlight.
Who is Andy Hillstrand?
Andy Hillstrand is one of the most recognized faces from the hit reality series Deadliest Catch. He served as co-captain of the F/V Time Bandit alongside his older brother Johnathan Hillstrand.
During the show’s run, Andy took the helm primarily during the Opilio crab season in the Bering Sea. His brother Johnathan led the crew during the King Crab season.
Andy’s role went far beyond steering the boat. Known aboard the ship as the “Axeman,” he could rewire electrical systems, administer first aid to injured crew, and manage the mechanics of the vessel.
The Hillstrand brothers became one of the most iconic duos in the show’s history. Their blend of fishing expertise, brotherly tension, and offbeat humor drew fans season after season.
Outside the water, Andy also built a construction business in the Seattle area and ran a horse ranch with his wife Sabrina. His life off-camera has been just as full as his years on the Bering Sea.
Early Life of Andy Hillstrand
Andy grew up in Homer, Alaska, in a household entirely shaped by fishing. His father, John Hillstrand Sr., and his grandfather both worked as commercial fishermen.
His biological mother left the family when Andy was a young boy. His father then raised him and his brothers alongside his stepmother, Nancy Hillstrand.
Andy started fishing at just seven years old, heading out to sea with his brother Johnathan. By then, the Bering Sea was already part of his daily reality.
He was the third child in a family of five brothers, including Johnathan, Neal, David, and Michael. Three of those brothers, Johnathan, Neal, and Andy, worked together on the water for years.
The Hillstrand family fishing tradition stretched back at least two generations before Andy. That foundation gave him not just skills but a deep respect for the sea.
Andy Hillstrand Age
Andy Hillstrand is 62 years old as of 2026, born on September 25, 1963. His zodiac sign is Libra.
He began his commercial fishing career as a child and worked the Bering Sea for more than 30 years. Andy first appeared on Deadliest Catch in 2006, when he was already a seasoned captain.
Andy Hillstrand Ethnicity and Nationality
Andy Hillstrand is American by nationality, born and raised in Homer, Alaska. He has spent most of his life in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest.
His ethnic background is white American, with family roots going back multiple generations in Alaska. The Hillstrand name has been tied to Alaskan fishing communities for decades.
That deep Alaskan heritage shaped Andy’s identity both on and off the water. His connection to the state goes far beyond where he was born.
Andy Hillstrand Height and Weight
Andy Hillstrand stands 5 feet 8 inches tall, which is approximately 1.78 meters. His exact weight is not publicly confirmed.
His build reflects a lifetime of physical labor, hauling crab pots and working long shifts at sea. He has maintained a fit, athletic frame throughout his fishing career.
Andy also rides horses competitively and has won equestrian races, which adds another athletic dimension to his lifestyle.
Andy Hillstrand Career
Andy Hillstrand spent more than three decades as a commercial fisherman before becoming a television figure. His career on the Bering Sea was already well underway when the cameras arrived.
He took his role on Deadliest Catch seriously from day one. Fishing was never a performance for Andy; it was simply his life on camera.
Early Fishing Career
Andy followed his father and grandfather into commercial fishing from childhood. By the time he was a young adult, he was already a capable deckhand and eventually a co-captain.
He worked various fisheries in the Bering Sea before settling on king and Opilio crab seasons. The Hillstrand family operated together, with brothers often sharing responsibilities across different roles.
Their vessel, the F/V Time Bandit, became their base of operations for decades. Andy’s brother Johnathan is also credited as a co-captain of the 113-foot ship.
Deadliest Catch and Television Career
Andy joined Deadliest Catch in its second season, which aired in 2006. The show followed fishing crews through dangerous crab seasons in the Bering Sea, out of Dutch Harbor, Alaska.
He and Johnathan quickly became fan favorites for their dynamic. Andy served as the steadier, more mechanical counterpart to his brother’s wilder energy on deck.
In 2010, the brothers also appeared in a spin-off called Hillstranded, which followed their off-season adventures. That same year, Andy appeared on NPR’s Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me, showcasing his dry wit beyond the fishing world.
Andy and Johnathan also made an appearance on The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien. Both brothers helped define the tone of Deadliest Catch’s early seasons and contributed to the show’s massive global audience.
Departure from Deadliest Catch
Both Hillstrand brothers departed after Season 13 in 2017. Their exit came after years of tension with Discovery Channel producers.
In a 2011 Entertainment Weekly interview, Andy explained the conflict: “It got to the point in our relationship where something had to change, and we just said enough’s enough.” The friction began during production of the Hillstranded spin-off, when disputes arose over branding rights and production schedules.
A lawsuit also played a part in the brothers’ departure. In 2015, crew member David Zielinski sued the Hillstrands after a firework exploded in his hand aboard the Time Bandit in 2013. The case resulted in a $1.4 million settlement.
Johnathan later returned to the show in Season 17 in 2020. Andy made a brief appearance for Season 19 but has largely stayed away from the series since then.
Life After the Show
After leaving Deadliest Catch, Andy founded Hillstrand Construction, a company based in the Seattle-Tacoma area. He also ran Hobby Horse Acres, a 17-acre horse ranch he owned with his wife Sabrina in Chandler, Indiana.
The ranch offered horseback riding lessons to children and adults. Andy also competed in equestrian events and won the 1998 Alaska National Barrel Horse Association reserve title in barrel racing.
By his own choice, Andy has kept a very low profile since leaving the show. He currently lives in the Seattle-Tacoma area with Sabrina, focused on his construction business and family life.
Andy Hillstrand Awards and Recognition
Andy Hillstrand did not win formal industry awards during his time on Deadliest Catch. However, the show itself became a cultural landmark on the Discovery Channel.
Deadliest Catch aired for over 13 seasons with the Hillstrands as central figures, becoming one of the most-watched reality series in cable television history. Andy’s reputation as a skilled and reliable captain earned him long-standing respect within the commercial fishing community.
His 1998 barrel racing reserve title with the Alaska National Barrel Horse Association stands as a notable personal sporting achievement. That win showed a side of Andy that television rarely captured.
Andy Hillstrand Wife
Andy Hillstrand married Sabrina in 1993, and the two have now been together for over 33 years. He has credited his wife directly for the strength of their marriage, once saying in an interview: “It’s hard to stay married when you’re gone all the time. But I got a good woman, I guess.”
Sabrina co-managed Hobby Horse Acres with Andy, running the horse ranch and riding school. She played a central role in building that part of their life together while Andy spent months at sea.
The couple previously lived in Chandler, Indiana, before eventually relocating to Virginia. Andy and Sabrina currently live in the Seattle-Tacoma area.
Andy Hillstrand Children
Andy and Sabrina have two daughters, Cassandra (known as Cassie) and Chelsea, both born in Alaska. The girls grew up between Alaska and Indiana, where the family eventually settled for a period.
It was Cassandra who sparked Andy’s interest in horses. When she asked for a horse for her eighth birthday, Andy started riding to support her and went on to compete in equestrian races himself.
Andy and Sabrina also have two grandchildren as of recent years. Though Andy has always been at sea for much of his daughters’ childhoods, he has described their bond as close.
Andy Hillstrand Net Worth
Andy Hillstrand’s estimated net worth is $3 million as of 2026. His income has come from multiple sources over the years, including his salary from Deadliest Catch, the fishing business, and various land-based ventures.
During his time on the show, Andy earned approximately $25,000 per episode from the network. The Time Bandit also generated income from crab catches sold after each fishing season.
The Hillstrand brothers built several businesses under the Time Bandit name, including Time Bandit Spirits and merchandise sales through the official Time Bandit website, including shirts, cups, and other gear. Andy also founded Hillstrand Construction after leaving the show, adding a separate income stream.
Hobby Horse Acres, the 17-acre ranch he and Sabrina ran in Indiana, was valued at over $300,000. The ranch offered horseback riding lessons and served as both a personal passion and a business.
Andy Hillstrand Social Media
Andy Hillstrand maintains a low public profile and is not widely active on social media. He previously posted on Twitter and has a Facebook fan page.
His private Instagram account exists but is not publicly accessible. Andy’s decision to stay off social media aligns with his broader approach of living quietly away from the spotlight after Deadliest Catch.
The Bottom Line
Andy Hillstrand joined Deadliest Catch in Season 2 in 2006 and helped make the F/V Time Bandit one of the show’s most beloved vessels across 13 seasons. His mechanical skill, calm leadership, and dry sense of humor made him one of the series’ standout figures.
He grew up as a third-generation Alaskan fisherman and spent over 30 years working the Bering Sea before and during his time on television. Away from the water, he built a construction company and a horse ranch alongside his wife Sabrina.
Since leaving the show after Season 13 in 2017, Andy has kept a deliberately private life near Seattle. We hope you enjoyed reading about Andy. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!