Sig Hansen heads by way of particularly harmful waters throughout Season 21 of Deadliest Catch. which premieres with a two-hour particular on Friday, August 1, on Discovery. He and his fellow captains are hoping to hit the jackpot venturing South to Adak Island. Phrase has unfold that the distant space is teeming with kilos of beneficial king crab. The island was as soon as bustling with navy and a middle of fishing exercise. Nowadays the realm is comparatively desolate. Hansen hopes to hold on what his household began a long time prior by revisiting the realm.
It’s a giant threat he’s seeking to translate into excessive reward, however the 59-year-old isn’t going it alone, at the least at first of the season, when he groups up with Johnathan Hillstrand on the Time Bandit to discover the chances of this explicit area of Alaska. Forward of the two-hour premiere of the favored Discovery Channel collection on August 1, we caught up with Hansen in regards to the tough journey to return.
You’ve been on this present for therefore lengthy, however it looks like this one is particular for you in a variety of methods.
Sig Hansen: We have been fairly a methods within the West, legally so far as we may go in our field. If you get to Adak, it’s fairly historic. For me, it was a visit again in time. That was a variety of enjoyable. The very fact my daughter bought to take part and she or he was on the Northwestern for the primary time on her personal was an actual deal with for me. A part of me actually enjoys all this, and a part of me is like, “Jesus Christ, I’m setting myself up for dying.” It scares me. It actually does. She did nice. Mandy being on her personal [while I was away]. For me, it was a blessing that I assumed was going to be a curse being with the Hillstrand guys aboard the Time Bandit at first. We went on this prospect mission. For the Catch followers I believe that can be a giant one as a result of I didn’t see it coming both, however it labored out. To not give an excessive amount of away, however it labored out. We discovered a variety of crab. It was a variety of enjoyable. Nearly going again in time.
Northwestern deckhand Clark Pederson sorting crab on the desk. (Discovery Channel)
Competitors appears to be like to be at an all-time excessive on this Gold Rush model scenario. You discover this place that has untapped potential the place others like Keith Colburn wish to do no matter it takes to get their piece of the pie. Take me by way of how aggressive this space is with the season we’re exploring.
Boy you probably did your homework! This was final October, and it may be exhausting to recollect all of the stuff we did. Yeah, Colburn was within the space. True to his colours, he’s by no means going to alter. That’s the reason I like him a lot. He confirmed up and it felt like we have been again within the derby days. As quickly as we discovered that it was him, it was a variety of enjoyable. It wasn’t enjoyable on the time, however trying again, it was a variety of enjoyable. It made it actual. It was extra aggressive. You’re preventing on your land. You’re preventing on your space. That’s the way it was earlier than. That’s the way it was this final season, and I like that. It makes you’re feeling younger once more, aggressive, imply.
Jake Anderson runs into some massive issues on his vessel, the Titan Explorer. You’re listening to the misery sign on the radio. He labored below you. You may have mentored him. How emotional have been these moments once you heard that he and his crew have been in hassle?
Being in these scary conditions you’re feeling for the man. I really feel like he’s in all probability able to caring for himself, however issues do occur. It was worry. In my thoughts, it was simply plain worry for him. On the finish of the day, you must remind your self he is aware of what he’s doing. I do know which will come off as blunt and exhausting, however they need to handle themselves. That’s simply the way in which it’s, however it was scary.
You talked about earlier Mandy taking up for you aboard the Northwestern whilst you have been in your prospecting journey. Why was now the appropriate time you felt she was prepared for this accountability? How is it to see her observe in your footsteps?
The very fact she took the reins herself. That was the primary time for her. She has run the boat with me and been contained in the decision-making with me. She is on her personal right here and made her personal selections. That’s what impressed me. It was like one other journey again in time. It jogged my memory of my very own scenario. Again then we didn’t have telephones, ship to shore, so we needed to radio from Alaska to Seattle. I can keep in mind making an attempt to ask my father, “What do I do? The place do I am going? How am I going to repair this drawback?” He’s yelling at me, “It’s a must to make your individual selections, and that was it.” I felt prefer it was a style of actuality I bought. On the finish of the day, she made the appropriate selections. She needed to be her personal boss. When you’re not going to be your individual boss, then get the hell out of the chair and let another person do it. It’s simply that straightforward. Folks don’t perceive that till you’ve been there.
She definitely takes possession of the captain’s chair as viewers will see.
Yeah, she is a chip off the previous block.
You make no bones in regards to the dangers concerned this season. What are among the largest challenges you face?
If you’re out West, you’re in a special space. Geographically, it’s totally different. You’re coping with heavier tides and currents and slender passages and issues like that. If you’re coping with these sorts of components, all the pieces adjustments. You may have totally different waves and patterns that hit you. What could seem like on the floor could not look the identical as what’s beneath you. That’s the place issues occur. It’s a really scary scenario to be in. The facility of the currents actually makes issues totally different. That with the tide and the winds, it adjustments the entire recreation plan. It simply feels greater.
Keith suffered a medical emergency on board final season. When issues like that occur, does it get you interested by your individual profession? The place do you stand in the case of your future engaged on boats?
Proper now, I’m in Norway the place we now have a challenge for an occasion heart that we opened. That is on land. That’s to not say that’s my objective in life. For me, I need to cease, however I don’t need to cease simply but. I’m making an attempt various things. That’s enjoyable to me. So long as life is enjoyable ,then you definately’re motivated and transfer ahead. Folks ask me on a regular basis if I’m going to cease fishing. The reply is not any as a result of I like what I do, however it’s getting tough on a regular basis. It’s very tough. I can’t keep awake like I used to. It’s exhausting to push like we did, and that’s what it takes. It’s a actuality verify. It’s getting more durable and more durable.
Sig Hansen, June Hansen, Mandy Hansen holding child, and Clark Pederson standing collectively. (Discovery Channel)
It appears to be like such as you’re at all times working. Is there something you love to do for enjoyable?
Now we have a spot on the lake. We go water snowboarding with the youngsters and all that great things. It’s at all times one thing with the household. We’re doing extra journeys to Norway, so that’s enjoyable. Now we have a variety of household right here as nicely. I’m not an avid golfer. I’m not down that highway but. I believe for me, what’s enjoyable for me is one thing that’s difficult. Any little challenge that has somewhat little bit of threat and reward is enjoyable. I’ll at all times be doing one thing like that I believe. It’s like what we did with the middle. Folks suppose I’m nuts, however I adore it as a result of it’s difficult. If it’s not a problem, I don’t suppose I’d do it. I by no means considered all this till you requested me, however that’s how I’m pondering at present.
You and the opposite guys have this competitors amongst one another, however there’s additionally a variety of camaraderie too. How do you describe the bond you all share by not solely being in the identical business however doing all your job whereas cameras are on for the world to see.
I believe this system introduced us nearer collectively. The tv present reveals what others are doing later once you watch it. You might be spying on one another by way of the eyes of the TV. That’s enjoyable. The camaraderie has been getting stronger and stronger, and I believe that has to do with age. I believe in case you’d requested me that query 20 or 30 years in the past, there can be no camaraderie. It was only a competitors, and also you’d throw one another below the bus as a lot as you could possibly. You’d lie, steal and attempt to catch extra crab. Your ego was greater. It was very ego-driven. I believe all people has matured, at the least Keith and I, John and others. We’re getting older, so we’re seeing issues otherwise. If somebody does one thing good, I pat them on the again and say, “Properly executed.” Earlier than I’d say, “Rattling, you didn’t deserve it.” That’s even when they did nicely. I’m a special man.
What do you need to say to viewers this season?
Primary, it’s airing on a Friday. That blew my thoughts. That’s nice as a result of I hear it on a regular basis the place folks complain they’ve DVR as a result of they need to stand up early for work. Now on Friday, it’s nice. Now we have such hardcore followers. I adore it. Yearly you don’t know what to anticipate, and the viewers know that. That’s why we’re nonetheless right here 21 years later. It’s enjoyable. The more difficult, the enjoyable it’s. That’s once you look again. That’s how it’s. All the time have been. You need to have the bragging rights. That hasn’t modified. Earlier than you went to the bar how good you probably did. These days you brag to your grandkids how good you’re. It’s totally different. The circle of life.
Deadliest Catch Season 21 premiere, August 1, 8/7c, Discovery Channel