Where is Elliott Neese From Deadliest Catch Now? 2024 Update

Summary

• Elliott Neese left Deadliest Catch in 2015.
• Since 2017, he has all but disappeared from social media due to legal proceedings and drug addiction.
• He is now clean and ready to set sail on the Barren Sea again.

Ahoy, Deadliest Catch fans! Created by Thom Beers, this series is undoubtedly one of the most down-to-earth and truthful examples of reality television. For 19 years, Discovery Channel viewers have followed the deadliest adventures of brave fishermen during crab seasons. But of course, we love Deadliest Catch not only for the dangers of Alaskan commercial fishing, but also for the hardships that unfold in the lives of those men hardened by the unforgiving conditions of the Bering Sea.

Onboard, harsh criticism, arguments and even fights are not uncommon, but sometimes what happens on the boats is just a drop in the bucket of the equally drama-filled events that unfold behind the scenes. This is especially true for the former captain of the fishing vessel Saga, Elliott Neese, who left the project after Season 11. But what is the controversial fisherman doing now, in 2024, and what are the chances of him returning to Deadliest Catch?

Elliott Neese Has Faced a Lot of Obstacles since Leaving Deadliest Catch

Elliott Neese was quite controversial when he debuted on the show as the captain of the F/V Ramblin' Rose. Whether the producers were trying to portray him as an antagonist who made life impossible for the crew or whether he really was that way, the show divided the audience into two camps, those who openly disliked Neese and those who still supported him.

However, it was hardly an exaggeration on the part of the producers to create more conflict for the sake of the show. In 2012, he was sued by the mother of his two children after allegations of domestic abuse that had been going on for years at the time. According to the report, the reason was his abuse of alcohol and other psychoactive substances.

Unfortunately, this was also the reason for his departure from Deadliest Catch: in 2015, he left the project to undergo a 60-day rehab program. For several years, he struggled with drug addiction, unfortunately relapsing from time to time, which led to a new legal drama in 2021 for distributing heroin, which resulted in him serving time in the Federal Prison Camp, Duluth from 2022 to 2024.

Where Is the Controversial Fisherman in 2024?

Luckily, in May 2024, it was reported that Elliott Neese had been released from prison, and it appears that he has returned to his main passion, which had been hampered by his struggles with drugs. He is ready to conquer the Bristol Bay area once again, now on a new vessel, the Sea King, which he purchased in 2021.

Furthermore, judging by his recent posts on his Instagram account, Neese is not only getting back on track professionally, but personally as well. He looks more than healthy and has found a new love in a woman named Josie Cone.

Is There Any Chance He Will Return to Deadliest Catch?

Of course, now that Neese is free and ready to go back to fishing for salmon and crab, it's natural to ask if he might return for more seasons of Deadliest Catch.

Back in 2017, for example, the show's executive producer, Decker Watson, was enthusiastic about the fisherman's desire to return to the project and promised to try to bring him back for Season 14. However, it seems that lawsuits and other issues in Neese's life prevented that from happening. Well, now that Elliott Neese is back on board, it's possible that the producers will decide to bring him back after all.

A new episode of Deadliest Catch Season 20 will air on Discovery Channel and Discovery+ on July 16, 2024 at 8 p.m. ET.

Source: Instagram, Instagram.