“We’re Out Of Business!” Sig Hansen’s Crab Operation Is Dead In The Water! | Deadliest Catch

Aboard the Northwestern: A Fall of Struggle, Strategy, and Success

Aboard the Northwestern, the crew is facing a challenging yet promising day on the waters. As Captain Sig Hansen assesses the situation, there’s a glimmer of hope. “I believe there’s a band of crab stretching northwest-southeast,” he says. “We have a quote I want to hit, we need a big bump just to get our average up and find some consistency within the pot.” The crew has been seeing a couple of crabs here and there, but it’s not enough to make a solid impression on their haul.

However, the situation begins to change as they follow a promising sign of life further north. After setting their 22-pot string, the crew reaps their final 2,000 pounds of the Fall season. With nowhere left to deliver, their work could soon be over. “What do we got coming up?” a crew member asks. The response is simple, yet thrilling: “Yes, yes! Oh yeah, yeah, yeah!”

It’s the big one they’ve been waiting for. As excitement fills the air, they begin pulling up a pot with a large catch, showing potential for an impressive haul. “Bang, we can keep these averages up, we got a good shot of getting out of here,” Captain Sig reflects with cautious optimism.

But just as quickly as things start looking up, disaster strikes. A sudden mishap leaves the crew without control over the block, the vital piece of equipment needed to haul the pots. “No hydraulics, no block,” Captain Sig says grimly. “Bottom line, no block, no gear.” The tension is palpable as the crew scrambles to fix the issue.

In the heat of the moment, Captain Sig has an idea. “If the block doesn’t work, the winch on the anchor does,” he suggests. The crew moves swiftly, tying the anchor winch and forcing the line forward, hoping to get the pot to the surface. The crane then lifts the pot out of the water, dumping the crabs onto the table. It’s a risky operation, and the tension is high.

“Barely hold on to it,” one crew member warns, “If it snaps, remember, it doesn’t just break, it whips and comes at you.” Despite the danger, the crew moves with determination. They have no choice but to make it work. Slowly but surely, the operation succeeds. “Alright, we’re in,” one of the crew members says as the pot is successfully hauled aboard.

“We’re swimming in it,” says another, filled with relief and excitement. They’re not out of the woods yet, but the catch is starting to turn things around. The sorting process continues, and there’s a sense of hope that they’ll be able to fill their quota. “How do we do?” Captain Sig asks. The numbers start rolling in: 21 crabs per pot, and 39 hours left to go. “We’re in them,” a crew member exclaims, as the pot yields even more crabs.

As the day progresses, the crew pulls in more pots, each one a step closer to their goal. There’s a final push toward the last pots of the season, and as the last one comes up, there’s a moment of triumph. “Got him, good job La!” Captain Sig calls out. The crew has finally found their rhythm, and despite the setbacks, they’re on track to finish strong.

In the end, it’s the crew’s resilience, quick thinking, and teamwork that make all the difference. Aboard the Northwestern, it’s never just about the catch—it’s about pushing through challenges, adapting on the fly, and making the best out of every situation.