“It’s Insulting To ME!” Sig Hansen FURIOUS With Johnathan Hillstrand! | Deadliest Catch

High Seas Tensions: Crab Fleet Scrambles as King Crab Move North

Bering Sea — The icy waters off the coast of Alaska have turned into a battleground as captains race to secure their share of the dwindling red king crab quota. For Captain Sig Hansen of the Northwestern, tensions are rising as promising signs in his fishing grounds seem to dry up.

“Something fishy is definitely going on here,” said Hansen, visibly frustrated. “It’s offensive when someone tries to lie to you, and you can see through it. It’s like they assume you’re as stupid as they are.”

The pressure is mounting. With the season well underway, fishermen know that an unproductive trip could cost them dearly. In Hansen’s case, the once-promising signs in his current fishing grounds have all but disappeared.

“There was a lot of action here before,” Hansen admitted. “It looked good, but now, it’s just not going to do it. Where’s all the crab at? If you’re not catching, your quota can be pulled right out from under you.”

A Moving Target

Scraping the drags from a three-day town soak, Hansen is trying to track down a school of red king crab believed to be migrating northward into a canyon. But covering the expansive terrain is no small task.

“I want to head farther into the canyon,” he explained, “but when it opens up like that, it’s a lot of ground to cover. And the more ground you need to cover, the more gear you need—and we don’t have that luxury right now.”

Compounding Hansen’s challenges is the fact that 35% of the fleetwide quota has already been caught, leaving little room for error. To maximize their chances, Hansen has turned to Captain Jonathan Hillstrand of the Time Bandit, hoping for a collaborative effort to triangulate the school’s location.

“We worked together earlier in the season,” said Hansen. “Two heads are better than one—or maybe one and a half heads.”

Signs of Success on the Time Bandit

Meanwhile, Hillstrand seems to have found success in his southern fishing grounds. Pulling up pots filled with crab, he celebrated on deck.

“Look at that pot! That’s a good one,” Hillstrand exclaimed, patting himself on the back. “Good job, me!”

However, Hillstrand knows time is running out. With just five days left until his next delivery, he still needs to pack on another 45,000 pounds of red king crab to meet his target.

The two captains agreed to meet farther north, hoping to double their efficiency by covering more ground. But Hansen is beginning to have doubts.

Trust on Thin Ice

As Hansen monitored Hillstrand’s movements on the AIS (Automatic Identification System), he noticed something troubling.

“John told me he was setting gear, but what I’m seeing doesn’t add up,” said Hansen. “His movements don’t match what he said. He’s still picking gear, not setting it. If he’s holding out on me, that’s going to sting.”

Hansen didn’t mince words about his frustration.

“If you’ve got a little spot you’re not willing to share, just say so,” he said. “Don’t tell me you’re coming to help prospect when you’re still working your own gear 15 miles south.”

A Race Against Time

With the red king crab on the move and the season’s window quickly closing, the pressure on both captains is palpable. If the school of crab moves beyond their reach, the consequences could be devastating.

“This crab fishery can shut off like a faucet,” said Hansen. “You’ve just got to keep your mouth shut and get the pots in the water. Time is everything out here.”

For now, Hansen and Hillstrand are heading north, hoping their combined efforts will pay off. But on the Bering Sea, where trust is as fragile as the icebergs that drift through its waters, anything could happen.