Mandy’s Selfie Saves Sig’s Crab Catch! | Deadliest Catch

Captain Sig Hansen and Daughter Mandy’s Race Against Time to Reclaim Their ‘Honey Hole’

As the deadline for processors to close their doors looms just 10 days away, Captain Sig Hansen and his daughter Mandy face a daunting challenge. The duo, alongside their crew, must urgently locate their fishing grounds before time runs out. But with the ocean floor dimpled with ridges and gullies, the search for the elusive red king crab is anything but easy.

Captain Sig, in a moment of frustration, reflects on a particular spot he had fished many years ago. “I know it was in a dip, a hole, but I can’t remember where exactly,” he confesses, trying to recall the precise location. He recalls marking it on his bi-metric chart, but with no clear recollection of the coordinates, the task becomes even more critical.

“Could it be on that old computer?” asks Norman, one of the crew members. Sig remembers that years ago, the coordinates might have been saved on an old computer that was used for plotting their fishing locations. The idea of going back to outdated technology feels like a long shot, but it’s the best option they have.

Norman quickly jumps into action, digging through the boat’s storage to locate the old computer. After some time spent rummaging, Norman triumphantly finds it. The team scrambles to hook it up, hopeful that the data is still intact. “I can’t believe you didn’t write this down,” Sig jokes, somewhat exasperated but also relieved as the crew begins to access the files. On the screen appears a plot of the area Sig remembers, clearly showing the dip in the ocean floor he had fished in the past.

“This is it!” Sig exclaims. “I know it. I know this hole,” as the crew gathers around the screen. They now have a clear direction, and the excitement is palpable. The only thing left is to take action and get back to fishing. “We’ve got it,” says Norman with a smile. But just as they begin to plan the next steps, disaster strikes.

In a flash, the computer screen goes blank. “What happened?” Sig demands. Norman frantically tries to troubleshoot the problem. “It’s dead. It just died,” he reports, a look of disbelief on his face. The crucial data they had just accessed disappears, leaving the crew in a state of panic. “It can’t be gone,” Sig says, his voice tight with frustration. “I was just looking at it!”

The computer had completely crashed, wiping out the coordinates they had so desperately needed. The crew is stunned as they stare at the now useless screen. But this setback doesn’t stop them. The team knows they cannot give up—they’ve come too far to let a broken computer ruin their chances.

In a moment of inspiration, one of the crew members suggests using modern technology to retrieve the lost data. “I bet you I can pull those coordinates up for you,” he says, pulling out a smartphone and connecting to the internet. With the help of a smartphone and modern mapping software, the coordinates for Sig’s “honey hole” are quickly found. The crew breathes a sigh of relief as the precious information is pulled up, confirming that the elusive hole is still within reach.

“Got it!” Sig says, clearly relieved. “We’ve got our spot back. Is that your hole, Norman?” he asks, turning to his crew member. Norman nods, smiling. With the data now safe, the team gets to work.

With the pots ready, they set out to drop them in the exact spot they had found. “There’s crab, but it’s not that great… still good crab,” Sig comments as they pull their first pot from the water. The crabs are large and healthy, but the real test is whether they can catch enough to fill their tanks before the processors shut their doors for the season. As they continue to haul in pots, the crew begins to see more and more signs of life.

“We need a few more of those, and that will fill the tank,” Mandy says with a sense of determination. The crew continues working tirelessly, making sure each pot is hauled in with care and precision. “Turn and burn on this one. We need to be aggressive,” Sig urges, pushing the team to work as efficiently as possible. They are running out of time, and every minute counts.

By the end of the day, their efforts are rewarded with 70 crabs hauled in over the course of 20 hours. “70 crabs in 20 hours, crazy!” Sig laughs, feeling the weight of the season’s pressure lifting, at least for the moment. But they still need more. Every haul is crucial if they hope to make their deadline and get their catch delivered on time.

As the team works through the night, Captain Sig offers some final advice to Mandy, who is now taking on more of a leadership role. “Thanks for showing me that,” she says, grateful for the chance to learn from her father’s experience. Sig chuckles and jokingly responds, “Don’t let anybody follow you. This is passing the torch.” He playfully warns that no one should steal his secret spot. “The cloud stole it now. It’s everybody’s hole,” he jokes, as they get back to work.

With the “honey hole” now fully revealed, the team is able to push forward with newfound confidence. They’ve made it this far, and with a little luck, they might just make their deadline. Sig’s wisdom, Mandy’s determination, and the team’s adaptability have allowed them to rediscover their secret spot, and with it, their hope for success in the final days of the season.

As they continue to fish, they know that in the world of crab fishing, it’s not just about luck. It’s about persistence, problem-solving, and a bit of good fortune. This season may not have gone according to plan, but Sig Hansen and his crew are proving that with the right mindset and a lot of hard work, they can still come out on top.