Michael Treston was born in Savannah, Georgia, to James Michael Treston and Margaret Mitchell Treston. The family lived in Savannah and New York City, and settled in Columbus, Georgia. Shortly after graduating from Pacelli High School in 1966, Mike joined the U.S. Coast Guard. During a tour of duty in Alaska, he fell in love with Kodiak. After leaving the Coast Guard in the early 1970s, Kodiak became his home. It was the heyday of king crab fishing. Mike was a sought-after engineer and crew member fishing king crab, Dungeness crab, Tanner crab and halibut around Kodiak and in the Bering Sea.