Nick Tokman

Nick Tokman, also known as “Sunshine” from the Emmy-winning show “Deadliest Catch” (Discovery Channel), is someone known for going after what he wants in life. For the past four years, Nicholas has been on the show battling some of the harshest conditions on the Bering Sea as a commercial crab fisherman. From working 20 plus hour days, wrestling 800-pound steel crab pots, rogue waves, extreme cold, freezing spray and repetitive manual labor; Nicholas has proved to himself that he has what it takes physically, mentally and emotionally to overcome even the hardest obstacles in life. Although Nick’s feats can be seen on the show, what is not known is his story.

Born in Massachusetts, Nick was always known for his adventurousness and go-getting personality. During his early years in high school, Nick knew he did not want to live an ordinary life. Feeling that a good education would help him with his goals, he worked as a caddy in the summers on Nantucket Island to help fund a private school education at The MacDuffie School in Springfield, MA. While at MacDuffie, Nick was heavily involved in the school; starting the school’s first Cross Country Team, serving as President of the Student Body, organizing fundraisers, acting in school plays, performing in the jazz ensemble and playing various other sports. Prior to becoming a cast member on the show, it was no surprise with Nick’s adventurous spirit that he chose to attend University in a foreign country. At 18 years old, Nick went on to study at the prestigious John Molson School of Business in Montreal, QC; where he also learned to speak French. Being a suit salesman by day, a janitor by night and a pizza deliverer on weekends while also going to school full time, Nick felt overworked and was down and out from University. One day on break from University while sitting in his grandparents’ living room, Nick’s grandfather Henri Durocher introduced him to “Deadliest Catch” for the first time. Seeing the rough weather, hard labor and high seas, Nick felt a strong passion along with an inner calling to go crab fishing. Although his family did not want him to go and even cut off funding for school, Nick decided to follow his heart and went up to find work in Alaska. His journey was not easy by any means. After running out of money, pawning the gold necklace his mother gave him, struggling through a series of setbacks and failures along with staying in the homes of strangers, a homeless shelter and even a laundromat in the process, Nick eventually had an opportunity to work on the “dream boat” that got him up to Alaska; the “Northwestern.” At 27 years old, Nick achieved his dream of becoming a successful crab fisherman. He has made it his personal mission to share his story and inspire others to pursue theirs.

Nick is in the process of completing a book about his adventure and the interesting, yet somewhat outrageous, and even bizarre characters he met along the way.