Andy Hillstrand Wiki-Bio, Age, Married life, Wife, Net Worth, Family.

Andy Hillstrand is an American commercial fisherman, musician, and television personality, best known as the co-captain of the F/V Time Bandit on Discovery Channel’s Deadliest Catch. Known for his steady presence on the Bering Sea, Andy has spent much of his life in commercial fishing while also exploring personal interests off the water. Over the years, he’s played music, trained horses during off-seasons, and remained deeply connected to family and hands-on work. Whether hauling crab pots or unwinding with a guitar, Andy’s life reflects resilience, versatility, and a strong sense of identity shaped by both sea and soil.

Early Life and Background

Andy Hillstrand was born on September 25, 1963, in Homer, Alaska. From the very beginning, the ocean was part of his life. With both his dad, John Hillstrand Sr., and his grandfather working as commercial fishermen, it didn’t take long for Andy to follow in their footsteps.

He grew up in a big family—five biological brothers: David, Johnathan, Andy, Michael, and Neal. Neal is the youngest of the group. Add three stepbrothers—Rick, Eric, and Jeff—and you’ve got a full house. The brothers were all close in age, so close that each of them ended up in a different grade in school. Neal and Mike were only 11 months apart.

Andy was no stranger to the sea. He started tagging along on fishing trips when he was just three years old. By seven, he was already helping with the catch. Working on the family boat wasn’t just something he did—it became second nature.

For a while, Andy’s childhood also took him to North Idaho. He went to a Christian school in Post Falls and graduated in 1981. Not long after, at just 17, he headed back to Alaska full-time and jumped straight into the family’s fishing business.

But Andy wasn’t all about boats and crab pots. He had a musical side, too. He started playing drums when he was seven, and later picked up the guitar—a bit easier to carry around when you’re constantly on the move.

Marriage and Family Life with Sabrina Hillstrand

Andy Hillstrand has been married to his wife, Sabrina, for over 33 years. Throughout his career at sea, their relationship has remained steady. In interviews, Andy has acknowledged the challenges of long stretches away from home, once saying, “It’s hard to stay married when you’re gone all the time. But I got a good woman, I guess.”

They have two daughters, Cassandra and Chelsea, who were raised in both Alaska and Indiana. When Cassandra—often called Cassie—asked for a horse on her eighth birthday, it led Andy to take an active interest in horseback riding. He learned to ride to support her, and over time, it became something he pursued personally.

Andy went on to compete in barrel racing, earning the Alaska National Barrel Horse Association reserve title in 1998 and NBHA state championships in 1999 and 2000.

In 2002, the family moved to Chandler, Indiana, where they operated a 17-acre horse ranch. They offered riding lessons, hosted day camps, and cared for thirteen horses. After several years, they sold the ranch and stepped away from horse training. The Hillstrands eventually relocated to Virginia, where they now live with their dogs.

Career & Deadliest Catch

Andy Hillstrand has dedicated much of his life to commercial fishing, carrying on a family tradition rooted in the waters of Alaska. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, his brother Johnathan fished lobster out of Gloucester, Massachusetts—a period during which Andy may have also been involved. During the 1990s, the two explored blue crab fishing, but the lower market price and restricted quotas made it less sustainable than red king crab. These early ventures gave Andy a broad foundation in various fisheries before he focused his efforts on king and opilio crab seasons in the Bering Sea.

Andy joined Deadliest Catch in its second season, which aired in 2006. He served as captain of the F/V Time Bandit, typically leading the vessel during the opilio crab season. His brother Johnathan took command during the king crab run. Andy’s role was central to the day-to-day operations on deck—from running gear to managing crew dynamics in high-pressure conditions.

The Time Bandit was designed by the Hillstrand family with input from their father, John Sr., and named after the 1981 film Time Bandits—a reference to how life at sea demands time, energy, and commitment. Andy, Johnathan, and their brother Neal paid off the vessel over nearly two decades, investing approximately $3.2 million.

As captain, Andy had to make frequent judgment calls in response to shifting weather and sea ice conditions. When faced with approaching storms, he would either keep the boat moving by jogging into the waves—a method to reduce rolling—or, when possible, take shelter behind St. Paul Island or dock in a harbor protected from the storm’s path. These decisions were critical for crew safety and equipment preservation during high-risk periods at sea. While the Time Bandit could reach speeds up to 10 knots, Andy typically ran it comfortably at 7–8 knots. He also maintained routines like replacing the American flag every couple of weeks whenever safely in port—small actions that kept morale steady.

Crab seasons varied depending on how much quota each vessel held and how quickly the crab could be located and caught. On the Time Bandit, king crab seasons sometimes wrapped up in as little as four weeks, while opilio crab seasons could last up to four months. These extended hauls demanded both physical stamina and strong planning—skills Andy consistently applied in his role as captain.

In 2010, Andy and Johnathan briefly expanded their on-screen presence with a spin-off series called Hillstranded, focusing on their off-season adventures. Andy stepped back from the show during Season 12 to manage land-based operations in Dutch Harbor, including permits and logistics. Though not at sea that year, he remained integral to preparations. After Season 13, he paused his on-screen involvement but continued supporting the Time Bandit behind the scenes.

In 2023, Andy returned for Deadliest Catch Season 19, rejoining the vessel for the opilio season. He remains active in fishing and continues to work closely with the Time Bandit, splitting his time between onshore coordination and occasional runs at sea.

Net Worth

As of 2025, Andy Hillstrand’s net worth is estimated to be around $2 million. Most of that comes from his years in commercial fishing, selling crab catches, and being part of Deadliest Catch for over a decade. Between life at sea and time on TV, it’s a career that’s kept him both busy and financially steady.

Hillstrand Family and brother

Captain Andy was born as the third of five children from his father John Hillstrand s.r and his ex-wife. Descending with the age seniority David, Johnathan, Andy, Michael, and Neal Hillstrand are five brothers.

Three of the five brothers work together in the sea. Johnathan and Andy co-captains FV time bandit while Neal is the boat’s chief engineer as well as the boat’s primary cook. Neal also works on deck and stands in as captain when necessary.

Not much information about Andy’s mother has surfaced in media however after the divorce she got married to another man. As for John Sr., he married Nancy Hillstrand who currently owns the family seafood distribution business.

Also, Hillstrand brothers are known to have a stepbrother named Lincoln Brewster who is a contemporary Christian musician. If we look at the Hillstrand family tree, his paternal grandparents Earl David Hillstrand and Mary Jane Lloyd who set the tradition of fishing in the family.

Wiki/Bio Facts

Fact	Description
Full name	Andy Hillstrand
Date of birth	September 23, 1963
Age	61
Place of birth	Homer, Alaska, USA
Nationality	American
Ethnicity	White
Zodiac sign	Libra
Height	About 5 ft 11 inch or 180 cm
Weight	About 80 Kg or 176 pound
Eye color	Blue
Hair color	Brown
Marital status	Married
Spouse	Sabrina Hillstrand
Children	Two daughters (Chelsey and Cassie)
Father	John Hillstrand s.r
Role model	His father, John Sr., who taught him how to fish and run a boat
Siblings	David, Johnathan, Andy, Michael, and Neal
Occupation	Crab fisherman, horse trainer, reality TV star
Known for	Deadliest Catch (2006-2023)
Net worth	Estimated at $2 million
Education	Unknown
Hobbies	Fishing, hunting, riding horses, playing guitar
Nickname	The Axeman