Captain Sig Hansen BETRAYED By Time Bandit’s Captain! | Deadliest Catch

Golden King Crab Season Kicks Off in the Bering Sea

The season is finally underway, and the Northwestern crew is wrapping up their final preparations. A welder is in the water, installing line cutters designed to protect their gear—specialized tools that resemble oversized scissors. For Captain Sig Hansen, a fifth-generation Norwegian fisherman with over three decades of experience, this marks a return to a fishery he hasn’t tackled since 1988. Alongside his daughter Mandy, Sig is steering the Northwestern into uncharted waters, both figuratively and literally.

Golden king crab is an open-access fishery, meaning it’s a derby-style race to catch as much as possible. Unlike the rest of the fleet, which is heading east to fish bairdi crab, Sig’s plan is to follow a deep edge along the ocean floor, pushing north all the way to the Russian border. “We’ll be way up there on top, by ourselves,” Sig declares. But solitude isn’t guaranteed. His competitors include Captain Jonathan Hillstrand and his brother Andy, partners with Sig for this fishery.

The Hillstrand brothers, notorious for their high-octane approach to fishing, haven’t worked together on the Time Bandit since 2016. Andy, known for his dramatic flair and penchant for explosives, is back in action, drawn to the derby-style fishery where only the best fishermen succeed. “This is the real deal,” Andy says. “You go out, and the best fisherman wins.”

But even before setting sail, challenges arise. Bait supplies become a flashpoint of tension between Sig and Jonathan. Jonathan had pre-ordered 6,500 pounds of frozen fish last year, leaving little for Sig’s crew. “I ordered this a year ago, Sig,” Jonathan explains during a tense phone call. “There wasn’t enough for everyone.” Miscommunication and frustration mount, but there’s no time to dwell—both crews need to hit the water before the competition gets ahead.

Despite the tension, Sig reflects on the camaraderie shared with the Hillstrands. “We’ve been through so much together,” he says, acknowledging that pulling off a successful season will require cooperation as much as competition. Mandy, stepping into her role as both deckhand and heir to the Hansen legacy, is determined to support her father through the season’s inevitable ups and downs.

The stakes are high. Months of preparation, tens of thousands of dollars spent on fuel, food, and gear, and the promise of $2.2 million worth of golden king crab hang in the balance. The Bering Sea fleet, battered by challenges yet driven by determination, throws off their lines and sets their sights on the horizon.

For Sig and his crew, the mission is clear: navigate the rough seas, outwit their rivals, and make this season a success. As the Northwestern powers through the waves, Sig reflects on the past, the present, and the uncertain future. “It’s like we’re back to Ground Zero,” he says. “This boat’s gonna need you as much as I need you.”

With grit, experience, and no small amount of rivalry, the golden king crab season begins. The race is on, and the Bering Sea is unforgiving. But for these fishermen, it’s home—and where the American dream still lives.