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‘Deadliest Catch’: Here’s What Phil Harris’ Son Jake Is Doing Now

Since its debut in 2005, “Deadliest Catch” has kept fans glued to their screens.

There’s something about watching brave fishermen tackle the myriad of hazards that come with crab fishing on the Bering Sea. And although this job really does require the toughest of the tough, there’s a surprising amount of people willing to jump aboard. One of these brave men was captain Phil Harris. Harris joined “Deadliest Catch” during season two. He captained the FV Cornelia Marie and quickly became a fan favorite. Unfortunately, his time with the show ended in season six when he died in 2010 after suffering a debilitating stroke.

Luckily, the Harris name wasn’t quite finished with sea life yet. Harris’s sons, Jake and Josh stepped up and took over for their father aboard the Cornelia Marie. However, Jake Harris’s run on “Deadliest Catch” was short-lived. He left the show in 2012. But his departure was never explained. Fans have since speculated about the aspiring fisherman’s whereabouts. So, here’s what happened to Jake Harris.

Losing a parent is never easy, especially at a young age. So, it makes perfect sense that Jake Harris would struggle after his father’s passing. During an interview in 2020, Harris talked about spiraling into some harmful habits after his father’s death.

“I got a big hole in my heart and tried to fill it up with everything that wasn’t good for it,” said Harris. “It took me a while to realize what I really wanted out of life.”

The “Deadliest Catch” star says he turned to drugs and alcohol to ease the pain. However, he admitted that the habits only made things worse.

“It was definitely a big trip up, threw my world upside down, put me in a real sad place for a little bit, kind a made things worse before they got better,” he said.

Will Jake Harris Return to ‘Deadliest Catch’?

As of 2020, the 35-year-old was currently in prison after pleading guilty to driving under the influence and possession of heroin with intent to manufacture or distribute. He received 18 months in jail on August 1, 2020.

Police initially arrested the “Deadliest Catch” star in January of that year after a confrontation with a park ranger in Washington Bay’s View State Park. The confrontation escalated into a police chase. Once he was caught, police found more than half an ounce of heroin and various materials used for distribution in the motor home Harris was driving.

So, where is Jake Harris now? Well, we have great news! Harris was released early from prison and has been sober ever since. In the sixteenth season finale of “Deadliest Catch”, Jake reunited with his brother and made an appearance on the show for the first time since leaving at the end of season eight. Although we’re sure fans would love to see a permanent return by Harris, neither the show nor the Harris brothers have released any news about a possible return.