Sig Hansen’s Co-Captain Reels In Humongous Red King Crabs | Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns

Chasing the Million-Dollar Catch: A High-Stakes Fishing Expedition

For seasoned fishermen, the pursuit of a million-dollar haul is an ongoing challenge, and this time, the journey involved tapping into a different fishery. The risks were higher, but so were the potential rewards.

With the new fishing grounds set, anticipation ran high as the first pots were hauled up. “Let’s go, let’s see some life!” came the hopeful cries. But excitement quickly turned to disappointment—pot after pot came up empty. “Blank. Zero. It’s not gonna cut it,” the frustration was palpable. Time was running out, and the crew desperately needed to see results.

Finally, a glimmer of hope—one crab. It wasn’t much, but it was a sign of life. Slowly but surely, the numbers started to improve. “We’re gonna need more,” was the realization, but persistence paid off. Within an hour, the crew saw promising results, the pots filling up. “That’s pretty good! We’re adding up at least!” The sight of 200 kilos of crab provided a much-needed morale boost.

Yet, the highs were followed by lows. Another string of pots yielded nothing. “Blank again. The first part of the string, and we’re not catching anything. It’s a sad story, actually.” The unpredictability of the sea was making its presence known, leaving the crew anxious about the success of their trip.

Then, a breakthrough—king crab. “It’s a king crab! A sign of life!” It wasn’t just any crab; it was a highly sought-after red king crab. But the buyers wanted healthy, seven-pound males, and the crew wasn’t there yet. Still, momentum was picking up. “I forgot what this felt like. This is nice to see! I think we’re going to start making some money now.”

With the crab pots yielding results, it was time to check in with the buyers. “I finally caught some red king crab, and they’re big—5,000 pounds. I think I can do it. I just have to talk to Sig.” The buyers were interested, and now the focus shifted to meeting the demand. “We got something! Red King, baby!”

For the captain, this was more than just another haul; it was personal. “If my father were here right now, he’d be in tears to see his son running a big boat in Norway. I feel pretty special.”

With the final crabs loaded and the deal nearly sealed, uncertainty still lingered. “I don’t even know if people are going to like this crab, but we’ll see. Good luck!” The American fleet had struggled to catch red king crab, but this crew had done it. Now, the last step was getting Sig to approve the deal. “He’d be crazy not to accept this deal… but knowing Sig, I never know what his answer is going to be.”

The sea had tested them, but determination had prevailed. Now, all that was left was to see if their gamble would pay off in the market.