Early Life and Fishing Career
Josh Harris was born on March 18, 1983, in Seattle, Washington. He was raised in a fishing family and spent much of his youth watching his father, Phil Harris, run the F/V Cornelia Marie. Josh began working on deck as a greenhorn in his early twenties, alongside his younger brother Jake Harris. He made his “Deadliest Catch” debut in season 3, where he was portrayed as a hardworking, spirited deckhand eager to learn the ropes and build a future in crab fishing.
Captain Phil’s Death and Aftermath
The turning point in Josh’s story came in 2010 during season 6, when his father suffered a massive stroke while offloading crab. Josh and Jake rushed to Anchorage to be with him, and Phil died days later. The emotional scenes of their final moments became some of the most memorable in the series’ history. After Phil’s passing, Josh and Jake inherited partial ownership of the Cornelia Marie. While Jake struggled with addiction and legal issues, Josh stepped into a leadership role, working with other co-owners to keep the boat running. He eventually became captain, though he often relied on more seasoned crew members to assist with navigation and operations. His passion for preserving his father’s legacy remained a driving force throughout his time on the show.
“Deadliest Catch: Bloodline” and New Ventures
In 2020, Josh launched a spinoff series called “Deadliest Catch: Bloodline,” which aired for three seasons. The show followed Josh to Hawaii, where he pursued leads from his father’s old fishing charts and attempted to start a tuna business. “Bloodline” blended reality TV adventure with a family mystery, as Josh pieced together Phil’s secret past in the islands. The series featured Hawaiian fisherman Casey McManus, who had previously co-captained the Cornelia Marie with Josh, and brought a fresh tropical setting to the franchise.
