Jim was born in Seattle, WA on January 3, 1952, in a savage snowstorm.

He lived in Ballard until 5 when the family moved to Lynnwood in 1957. Early life in Lynnwood was idyllic. At age nine, Jim went to sea for the first time, tuna fishing with his dad and grandpa. After that first summer, he was hooked on fishing.

He attended Meadowdale High School, MHS, GO CHIEFS! He was a gifted athlete and was voted Captain of the basketball team at the end of his junior year. He was a very popular and much liked student. After school he went salmon and tuna trolling. In 1972 he started King Crab fishing in the Aleutian Islands. King Crab was a great job. In 1976 Jim started running the Nordic Fury. He was a good fisherman from the start, having had excellent instruction from his dad. Jim was able to offer many of his friends lucrative jobs when King Crab was the Deadliest Catch. Jim retired from the fishing business in 2000 when his back could no longer take the bouncing abuse the Bering Sea continued to deliver.

Jim was married four times. Candis, mother of his two children, Lacey & Jacob (his kids were his proudest achievement); Sally; Barb; and Cherie, to whom he was married for the last 20 years.

Jim's love was freely given. He was such an easy man to love.