In the ever-changing and adapting world of crabbing and fishing, Deadliest Catch is showcasing a new life for the fishing vessel Seabrooke. A rookie from Season 19 has been given a new lease on life, and a much-needed opportunity to earn some money, as she is becoming the captain of F/V Seabrooke. After blowing up a generator and having a collision on her boat, F/V Victory, Captain Sophia “Bob” Nielsen is receiving a reprieve from close family friend, Captain Greg Wallace of F/V Seabrooke. It’s a new path for Bob as she takes her chances on a new ship.
Since 2010, Deadliest Catch has been one of the most popular television programs on Discovery Channel. Now in its 20th season, Deadliest Catch follows the high-risk, high-reward world crab fishermen experience in the Bering Sea. Exploring the various fishing vessels and crew that call Alaska home, Deadliest Catch expertly chronicles the dangers that the crew faces on board and through the vicious weather conditions. While the locale never changes, often new faces arrive on the scene as they attempt to build their careers in the lucrative industry.
Who Is Sophia “Bob” Nielsen?
At the ripe age of 23, Sophia “Bob” Nielsen joined the cast of Deadliest Catch for Season 19. Sophia “Bob” Nielsen is a third-generation fisherwoman. Fans of the show learned that she tragically lost both of her parents, but she’s vowed to keep their legacy alive as she captained their ship, the fishing vessel Victory. While she didn’t get a chance to learn from her father while he was still alive, she was determined to honor him by taking up the family business following his passing. As the rookie of the cast, she joked in the finale of Season 19, “I’m only 23 years old, but I can feel the gray hair coming in.” To help her prepare to captain her own ship again, she learned from Captain Jake Anderson, before he lost control of his ship F/V Saga. Fans saw her become a quick learner, helping her rise to the next level.
With a strong rookie season, and returning for Season 20, some things have changed since fans first saw Sophie “Bob” Nielsen. At the start of Season 20, Bob, as she’s lovingly known, stated, “It was my rookie year on my boat, the Victory. And I ended up putting in close to 40,000 pounds. But I blew up my big generator and I got in a collision. I’m in debt $200,000 right now. Which is why I’m trying to home in on my skipper skills and become a better captain.” Bob had to change course and find a new solution in the high-stakes upcoming season. Thanks to Captain Greg Wallace, she has a new place to hone her skills. Captain Greg knew Bob’s father and was willing to take her under his wing. Bob was well aware of the nepotism that aided in her snagging this opportunity. But in this industry, if an opportunity arises, you take it.
Of course, this has caused some tension between the crew of F/V Seabrooke, including Captain Greg’s own daughter, Megan Wallace. Megan has known Bob since their school days. She believes she has to earn this position, believing Bob is not ready. Megan was strong in her conviction, saying “I had to earn this job. I had to work for him for years and really prove myself. She didn’t have to do the same and she’s already up there. So, I don’t know. If she’s not ready, she’s not ready.” The jealousy is top of mind for Bob, but that won’t stop her from pursuing more knowledge. “I would be definitely jealous if it was my dad up here teaching some other young girl how to drive the boat,” confessed Bob.
Like Captain Jake Anderson, working on someone else’s ship can be a learning curve. Bob knows it won’t be easy working on a boat that’s not hers with a new crew and new gear. As Bob has already proven she can step up to the plate in the series premiere, Sophia “Bob” Nielsen’s presence on Deadliest Catch is important. As tension is sure to mount as the 20th season trails on, the visibility of having a character like Bob in a male-dominated program is integral. She’s there on a mission to succeed and prove the naysayers wrong. While there is dissension between the women already, and some fans question how far they are willing to go for this potential rivalry, having female representation on Deadliest Catch is crucial. Deadliest Catch may showcase a male-dominated industry, but the women are eager to play.
‘Deadliest Catch’ Season 20 Is a Rip-Roaring Adventure
While a lot of off-camera drama has surrounded Deadliest Catch, including the tragic death of longtime castmember Nick Mavar, Season 20 is off to a rip-roaring start. The season has tackled Jake Anderson’s own loss of his boat and having to start from scratch. He began working on the boat he started on, F/V Northwestern, alongside his mentor, Captain Sig Hansen. Fans have watched Captain Wild Bill Wichrowski on and off-screen as he deals with his battle with prostate cancer. Another Season 19 rookie, Jacob Hutchins, is enduring a new workload with a new superior. And there’s certainly much more to come this season.
Deadliest Catch has been able to continue for as long as it has because of beloved characters and vessels mixed with new personalities, exploring profound storylines. Deadliest Catch may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but for those fans who are devoted to the program are excited to see what comes next. As for Captain Sophia “Bob” Nielsen, her journey is still at the beginning. Knowing that she can’t captain her own vessel and turning for help shows immense pride and willingness to grow. Perhaps if Captain Sig ever steps down from the show, Bob could be the new face of the program.
