Thom Beers, the executive producer of the Deadliest Catch sat down with the Wall Street Journal to give a preview of what lies ahead.

Sounds like we can expect an emotional Cpt. Phil tribute, new Captains and drug use...Season 7 premiers tonight on the Discovery Channel.

Thom Beers in his Burbank, CA office

TMZ has obtained a clip from the upcoming season of "D.C." ... in which Derrick Ray -- the new skipper of the F/V Cornelia Marie -- gets into a serious verbal spat with engineer Steve Ward.

According to Captains Andy and Johnathan Hillstrand of Discovery Channel's hit show "Deadliest Catch," Time Bandit crew member Justin Tennison passed away in his sleep on February 21, 2011 at a hotel room in Homer, AK. He was 34 years old. Read the story.

Police say Tennison died of unknown causes and an autopsy will be conducted Wednesday. TMZ has learned cops discovered drugs and alcohol in his room.

Captain Andy Hillstrand's Fan Page on Facebook features some more information on Tennison.

Only 34 years old. We know what the stress of the job did to Captain Phil Harris, I wonder if it was the same for Justin. I'm also curious how the TV production will depict this tragedy.

Peter Joseph listened to a fisherman on the TV show "Deadliest Catch" describe how he was rescued from an overloaded, sinking crab boat years ago and thought his story sounded strikingly familiar.

A retired Coast Guard captain, Joseph jotted down Corey Eisenbarth's name during the end credits for the Discovery Channel show about the real-life adventures of crab-boat crews. He found Eisenbarth's home number in Astoria, Ore., and called....More

It's been one year since "Deadliest Catch" star Captain Phil Harris passed away -- and TMZ has learned his sons will honor his memory in the place they felt closest to him ... on a fishing boat...

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

KENAI, Alaska -- An Alaska man charged with manslaughter once captained a ship on the pilot that spawned the cable TV show "Deadliest Catch."

The Peninsula Clarion reports 59-year-old Clarence "Ole" Helgevold was the captain of the Arctic Dawn. That was the vessel featured in a 2004 three-part miniseries titled "America's Deadliest Season." The Clarion reports the show, effectively a pilot for "Deadliest Catch," followed Helgevold and his crew during the 2003-2004 opilio crab season.

Helgevold was charged last week with driving under the influence and manslaughter after his car struck a snowmachine and killed 47-year-old George Larion.

The Arctic Dawn was substantially damaged in September when it caught fire while moored in Seattle.

Captain Sig from the Northwestern has gotten an Alaska state employee in trouble by trying to take her out to dinner. I wonder what he eats in his off time? When I went to dinner with Captain Keith last year, I expected him to order a steak or something, but instead he ordered Sturgeon and Leeks!

From KUCB:

A state employee for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game has been charged with the receipt of an "unlawful gratuity." Melanie Bakker, age 26, allegedly received $100 after conducting a gear inspection of the F/V Northwestern, a featured vessel on the television series Deadliest Catch.

According to court documents, Bakker had scheduled the inspection with Sig Hansen, the captain of the Northwestern, for Saturday, January 15. Fish and Wildlife technicians regularly perform this type of gear inspection on weekends, and ADFG offers it as a courtesy. After the inspection occurred, the Deadliest Catch star offered to buy Bakker dinner. Bakker told police that she declined the invitation, but that Hansen then insisted that she take a gift of $100. Bakker did not take the money immediately, but accepted the gift after Hansen persisted. During the time of the inspection, she was using a state vehicle and clocked in for one hour of work for the department. Read More...

Crosby Leveen, a deckhand on the F/V Wizard under Captain Keith Colburn, is a resident of the state of Maine, however on his license he entered Alaska for his home state. Why, well according to authorities, out-of-state fishermen sometimes misrepresent their home base to save some money on the licensing fees. He was fined $440.00 plus additional fees and court costs for his transgression.

Maybe Captain Keith doesn't run that tight of a ship after all. I guess if I was from Maine, I'd lie about my residency too! Hope they didn't start a burn barrell brawl over this...