Johnathan Hillstrand Brother: Meet Andy Hillstrand in 2026
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If you know Johnathan Hillstrand Brother from Discovery Channel’s Deadliest Catch, you may have wondered about the brother who helped make the Hillstrand name famous on the Bering Sea.
Johnathan Hillstrand’s brother is Andy Hillstrand, his younger brother and longtime fishing partner aboard the F/V Time Bandit. The Hillstrand brothers became two of the best-known captains associated with the reality series, combining a family fishing tradition with the dangerous world of commercial crab fishing.
Andy and Johnathan were particularly notable because they did not always share the same role on the Time Bandit. Johnathan commonly served as captain during king crab fishing, while Andy took the captain’s chair during opilio crab season.
Over time, however, Andy’s presence on Deadliest Catch became much less frequent. Unlike Johnathan, who returned to the series and remains active aboard the Time Bandit in 2026, Andy shifted much of his attention toward land-based business and horse-related activities.
So, what happened to Johnathan Hillstrand’s brother? Here is the full story.
Who Is Johnathan Hillstrand’s Brother?
Johnathan Hillstrand’s brother is Andy Hillstrand, a longtime commercial crab fisherman and former Deadliest Catch captain.
Andy Hillstrand became widely known through his work on the Time Bandit alongside Johnathan and other members of the Hillstrand family.
The brothers grew up around Alaska and developed their fishing careers through their family’s long connection to the sea. Their experiences eventually became part of Deadliest Catch, which brought the dangers of Bering Sea crab fishing to television audiences.
The Hillstrand family connection extends beyond just Johnathan and Andy. Their brother Neal has also been associated with the Time Bandit and the family’s fishing operation.
sourecs: yahoo.com
That family element is one reason the Time Bandit became such a memorable part of Deadliest Catch.
Who Is Andy Hillstrand?
Andy Hillstrand is a former Time Bandit captain and one of the original Hillstrand brothers associated with Deadliest Catch.
He worked as a commercial crab fisherman and shared ownership and operational responsibilities involving the family’s fishing vessel. During the show’s earlier years, viewers often saw Andy working alongside Johnathan in some of the most dangerous waters in the Bering Sea.
Andy and Johnathan had complementary roles aboard the Time Bandit. Johnathan generally handled king crab operations, while Andy was associated with opilio crab fishing.
Their different responsibilities allowed the brothers to divide the demanding fishing seasons while remaining closely connected to the same family business.
Andy Hillstrand and Johnathan Hillstrand on Deadliest Catch
Andy and Johnathan became recognizable figures on Deadliest Catch because their relationship was different from the typical captain-and-crew dynamic.
They were brothers, business partners and experienced fishermen.
The Time Bandit gave viewers an inside look at how family relationships could affect life aboard a commercial fishing vessel. Working in the Bering Sea is already demanding, but doing it alongside a close family member can add another layer of pressure.
The series showed the Hillstrands dealing with:
- Dangerous ocean conditions
- Heavy fishing gear
- Crab quotas
- Long fishing seasons
- Mechanical problems
- Crew-management challenges
- Exhausting working conditions
- The risks of commercial crab fishing
The reality of the job was even more demanding than what television could capture. Andy previously explained that the cameras could not fully convey how much the constant movement of the ocean physically wears down fishermen.
Why Did Andy Hillstrand Leave Deadliest Catch?
Andy Hillstrand gradually stepped away from the television side of Deadliest Catch to focus more on the land-based side of the Hillstrand family business and other interests.
His departure was not simply a case of disappearing from the fishing industry overnight.
A 2016 statement associated with Deadliest Catch explained that Andy had been working on the land-based side of the family business for several seasons. He also continued traveling to Dutch Harbor to help with permits and licenses connected with the Time Bandit.
That distinction matters.
Andy leaving the regular television spotlight did not necessarily mean that he suddenly stopped being connected to the Hillstrand family’s fishing operation.
His role evolved.
Instead of spending as much time in front of Discovery Channel cameras and aboard the vessel, Andy increasingly focused on activities away from the Bering Sea.
When Did Andy Hillstrand Leave Deadliest Catch?
Andy’s transition away from Deadliest Catch happened gradually, particularly around the period following the show’s earlier seasons featuring the Hillstrand brothers.
The Time Bandit and its owners stepped away from the series after Season 13, before the vessel eventually returned to the show. The boat later became part of the series again, with Johnathan taking the leading role aboard it.
This is why it can be misleading to describe Andy’s story as a single dramatic “exit.”
His involvement decreased as his professional focus shifted elsewhere, while Johnathan eventually returned to Deadliest Catch.
What Happened to Andy Hillstrand After Deadliest Catch?
After becoming less involved with the show, Andy spent more time on land, particularly in Indiana, where he developed an interest in horses.
His family had moved toward a horse-related business, and Andy became involved in training horses and developing a ranch.
Earlier accounts described Andy spending his summers in Indiana working with horses while continuing to maintain connections to Alaska and the fishing business.
His life away from the Time Bandit therefore looked very different from the dangerous work viewers saw on television.
Instead of battling Bering Sea waves, Andy could be found working around horses and building a business on land.
What Is Andy Hillstrand Doing Now?
As of September 2026, Andy Hillstrand is much less visible on Deadliest Catch than his brother Johnathan.
Recent reporting describes Andy as having moved toward land-based work and spending less time as an active television fishing personality. His Indiana horse operation, Hobby Horse Acres, was part of that transition, although later reports indicate the ranch was sold.
So if you’re looking for Andy Hillstrand today, you should not expect to see him regularly occupying the captain’s chair on the Time Bandit.
His brother Johnathan is the Hillstrand most prominently associated with the vessel and the current series.
Is Andy Hillstrand Still Involved With the Time Bandit?
Andy has a long history with the Time Bandit, but his current role should not be confused with Johnathan’s active position as captain.
The Time Bandit remains strongly connected to the Hillstrand family. The vessel has returned to Deadliest Catch after its earlier absence, and Johnathan has been the primary Hillstrand captain featured aboard it in recent seasons.
In 2026, Johnathan is clearly still active on the boat.
For example, Season 22 has continued to feature Johnathan and the Time Bandit dealing with storms, mechanical problems, crew emergencies and the harsh realities of Bering Sea fishing.
What Is Johnathan Hillstrand Doing in 2026?
Johnathan Hillstrand remains active as the Time Bandit captain on Deadliest Catch.
Season 22 has provided several recent examples of his continuing role.
In August 2026, Johnathan dealt with a serious crew injury after a greenhorn fell from a bunk and suffered a head injury. He made the decision to return toward St. George Island through difficult seas so the injured crew member could receive medical treatment. Reports put the seas at around 17 feet during the emergency return.
Johnathan has also continued facing mechanical and operational problems aboard the Time Bandit during Season 22.
By September 11, 2026, the Time Bandit was still part of the active season, with Johnathan dealing with a medical issue involving his brother Neal while the fleet faced extremely rough conditions.
That makes the difference between the brothers particularly clear: Andy has largely moved away from the television spotlight, while Johnathan remains an active face of the Time Bandit.
What Happened to the Time Bandit?
The Time Bandit has had a complicated history with Deadliest Catch.
The 113-foot vessel became one of the show’s most recognizable boats after appearing prominently with the Hillstrand family. The vessel was built in 1991 and was designed for the demanding conditions of commercial fishing.
After the Hillstrands’ departure from the show following Season 13, the Time Bandit eventually returned to television.
Johnathan’s return helped restore the boat’s place in the series.
The vessel is still active in Deadliest Catch in 2026, with Johnathan serving as its primary captain.
Andy Hillstrand’s Fishing Career
Andy’s fishing career is closely tied to the Hillstrand family’s history in Alaska.
He worked in commercial crab fishing during some of the most physically demanding conditions imaginable. The Bering Sea is known for rough weather, cold temperatures and powerful waves, making crab fishing an exceptionally demanding occupation.
Andy and Johnathan also explained the reality of their work through their book:
Time Bandit: Two Brothers, the Bering Sea and One of the World’s Deadliest Jobs
The book gave fans a deeper look at the brothers’ lives and the realities behind the television series.
That behind-the-scenes perspective is important because Deadliest Catch is reality television, but the cameras cannot capture every part of what happens during long fishing trips.
Andy Hillstrand’s Life With Horses
One of the biggest changes in Andy’s life after becoming less involved with Deadliest Catch was his increased interest in horses.
His youngest daughter helped spark that interest, eventually leading Andy toward horse training and barrel racing.
What began as an interest became a more serious business venture.
Andy previously described the contrast between his two worlds: spending months working aboard a fishing boat and then returning to land to train horses.
That transition also made sense for someone whose body had spent decades dealing with the physical demands of commercial fishing.
Andy had even joked about how much the ocean had physically worn him down over the years.
Johnathan Hillstrand and Andy Hillstrand: What’s the Difference?
| Johnathan Hillstrand | Andy Hillstrand | |
|---|---|---|
| Relationship | Andy’s older brother | Johnathan’s younger brother |
| Best known for | Time Bandit captain | Time Bandit captain/fisherman |
| Deadliest Catch role | Active in recent seasons | Much less visible in recent seasons |
| Main vessel | Time Bandit | Time Bandit historically |
| Fishing specialty | King crab and broader Time Bandit operations | Opilio crab during earlier years |
| Later focus | Continued fishing and television | Land-based business and horses |
| 2026 status | Active on Deadliest Catch | Mostly away from the series |
The key takeaway is simple: both brothers have deep roots in the Time Bandit, but their paths eventually diverged.
Did Andy Hillstrand Return to Deadliest Catch?
Andy has made appearances connected with the Deadliest Catch world over the years, but he has not returned as a regular captain in the way Johnathan did.
Johnathan’s return became much more significant for the Time Bandit and the series.
The latest 2026 season continues to feature Johnathan rather than Andy as the primary Hillstrand captain.
For fans hoping to see both brothers regularly together again, that means the classic Hillstrand partnership is now more of a historical part of the show’s identity than its current format.
Why Are the Hillstrand Brothers So Important to Deadliest Catch?
The Hillstrand brothers represent one of the clearest examples of how Deadliest Catch combined family, fishing and reality television.
Their story includes:
- A family fishing tradition rooted in Alaska.
- The Time Bandit, one of the show’s most recognizable boats.
- Two brothers working together in a dangerous profession.
- Different roles during fishing seasons, with Johnathan and Andy taking responsibility at different times.
- A transition away from television for Andy.
- A continued career at sea for Johnathan.
That combination helped make the Hillstrands memorable to Deadliest Catch fans.
Final Takeaway
If you searched for “Johnathan Hillstrand brother,” the answer is Andy Hillstrand.
Andy was a major part of the Hillstrand family story on Deadliest Catch and spent years working alongside Johnathan aboard the Time Bandit. He served as a captain during parts of the fishing operation, particularly during opilio crab season, while Johnathan commonly handled king crab operations.
Andy eventually stepped back from the television side of the business and focused more heavily on land-based interests, including horses and an Indiana-based business.
Johnathan took a different path. As of September 2026, he remains active as the captain of the Time Bandit on Deadliest Catch, continuing to face the dangerous conditions, crew emergencies and mechanical problems that have defined his television career.
The brothers may no longer appear together as frequently as they once did, but their names remain permanently linked to the Time Bandit and one of Discovery Channel’s most recognizable reality series.
