Judge Moon's poem
The Discovery Channel's popular television series, the "Deadliest Catch," featuring legendary sea captains and crews opilio crab fishing the treacherous Bering Sea from Dutch Harbor, Alaska now includes a Hamilton County judge on board at least in spirit.
Patrick Sherman, who manages media and marketing relations for Captain Sig Hansen and his brothers Edgar and Norman, informed Judge Bob Moon last week that his poem, "Prayer for the Northwestern," has been accepted by Captain Hansen and crew.
The judge's poem is now displayed in the wheelhouse of the "Northwestern." Discovery Channel producers are currently evaluating the poem for a possible featured inclusion in the program when filming begins next fall.
Crab fishing in the Bering Sea begins in October with fishermen delivering millions of dollars of cargo in opilio and red crabs. Judge Moon has fished off shore for more than thirty years primarily in the Gulf of Mexico. He currently fishes with plastic surgeon, Dr. Jim Eyssen and friends on the Contender boat, "Seacup," owned by Dr. Eyssen. Judge Moon said, "Jim Eyssen is an excellent captain and mates Rick Lyons of Chattanooga and James Adams, of Ider, Alabama are superb and knowledgeable fisherman.
We usually fish the deep rigs off shore about 100 miles south of Dauphin Island, Alabama. The rigs and natural bottoms are especially productive.
I very much enjoy fishing in the 5,000 feet of blue water where the larger fish are usually found. Fishing for red snapper, grouper, tuna, cobia, wahoo and amberjack both inshore and offshore have been terrific this year."
The inspiration for the poem according to the judge was based upon an episode last year where a man went overboard on the crab boat, "Time Bandit." "In the freezing water of the Bering sea few fisherman survive once overboard with only a matter of minutes in which to be rescued .
The fishing boat, "Katmai," also sank last year in the Bering Sea losing most of her crew.
I can identify with gale winds, high seas, mechanical breakdowns and dangers of offshore fishing. I have fished the Gulf for decades for sport, occasionally in terrible weather. These men fish the Bering Sea for a living in some of the most dangerous waters on earth.
I appreciate Captain Sig Hansen and the men of the "Northwestern" as well as the hundreds of fisherman who feed the world and risk their lives in doing so."
Asked why he chose Captain Sig Hansen and the "Northwestern" as the focus of his poem, Judge Moon said, "Sig Hansen and his brothers Edgar and Norman are Norwegian fisherman with a 50 year history in their family of crab fishing.
The 125 foot "Northwestern" was christened in 1977 and has been lengthened twice. It has a 250 pot capacity. It is a beautiful boat with medium blue highlights and lines that caught my eye the very first time that I saw it. The boat design is exceptionally sea worthy.
All of the captains and crew on the "Deadliest Catch" are very good at what they do. They are professionals with many years of experience. However, the Captain and crew of the "Northwestern" were the most identifiable, charismatic and the easiest for me to write about."
Judge Moon, has just completed another poem, "The Biggest Catch," for "Northwestern" deckhand, Matt Bradley. The judge said, "At this time the poem is personal for Matt, who has been a deckhand on the "Northwestern" for thirteen years.
"Matt has some personal issues that he is working hard to conclude. I have had some very interesting and personal conversations with him. If the poem is made public, it will be Matt's decision."
Judge Moon said, "I have given all copyrights of the poem to the Hansen brothers conditioned that the profits of all sales go to the underprivileged children of Alaska."
The design and printing for "Prayer for the Northwestern" was produced by Jerry Sanders of Aladdin Printing in Chattanooga. New episodes of the "Deadliest Catch" appear every Tuesday night at 9:00 p.m. on the Discovery channel. The "Northwestern" website can be viewed at www.fvnorthwestern.com.
PRAYER OF THE NORTHWESTERN
Especially for Captain Sig Hansen and Crew
By Judge Bob Moon, May, 2009
Father, take this ship inside Thy hands
And protect the souls of these men
Fish with them, and stay with them
Until their journey's end
And to Captain Sig give guidance
And understanding of the sea
Bless his crew with fair weather
In all that's meant to be
Give peace to their families
That are back on shore
That all will return quite soon
With clear skies above
And inside your love
Beneath a harvest moon
Fill their pots like Peter's nets
On the shores of Galilee
And let them know you love them so
As they fish across the sea
And in their work and in their rest
Teach them to love their fellow man
And to love each other as you have taught
And to try and understand
That peace on earth can surely come
With your blessings and your love
For Captain and Crew of the Northwestern
Grant safe passage from above
The crew of the Northwestern-left to right, Matt Bradley, deckhand, Edgar Hansen, deckhand boss and engineer, and Captain Sig Hansen.