The landmark 20th season of Deadliest Catch is here and that means the return of lots of familiar faces, including one of the show’s youngest stars, Sophia “Bob” Nielsen. This aspiring captain – young, friendly, and playful in spirit – has captured the attention of both longstanding fans and newcomers to the franchise alike. And for good reason.
Read below to learn everything you need to know about Bob. Nielsen joined the fishing season as last year’s Season 19 newcomer, coming in second to last place grossing $144,120 at 36,000 pounds of crab. (Comparatively, the top-earning ship of Season 19 netted over $1 million.
) Nielsen was also notably the youngest captain in the fleet at 23 years old. She currently lives in Kodiak, Alaska. Coming from a long line of fishermen, Nielsen admitted on Season 19 to feeling a sense of responsibility for her family’s legacy, particularly that of her father, from whom she inherited her boat, the F/V Victory.
Nielsen revealed that her father died when she was too young to learn the art of fishing by his side. She admitted it was only after his passing that she finally got on a boat. Nielsen’s father, Gary Nielsen, reportedly died in 2013 due to heart issues.
He left her and her brothers – Brett and Brandon – two fishing vessels. A few years later, her mother, Annette Donvito, also died for reasons unknown. Longtime Deadliest Catch captain Jake Anderson – who worked closely with Nielsen on Season 19 – also lost a parent a.
