The Saga is reborn: Jake Anderson and the challenge of erasing Captain Elliot’s legacy | Deadliest Catch

The High Stakes of the Crab Fishing Season

October – Dutch Harbor, Alaska

The crew is preparing for the Alaskan king crab season. It’s my birthday, and the best gift is heading out to sea to catch them. “Hey, it’s my birthday!” “Happy birthday!”

24 hours before the start of the Alaskan king crab season, captains and crews are making last-minute preparations. “The best part of being a captain? You don’t feel cold anymore.” No matter how many years you’ve been doing this, the nerves never go away.

The unpredictable weather and increased quotas will challenge every captain’s skill this year. “The water temperature is higher—that’s a fact. The snow crab quota increased by 30%. There’s a lot of money at stake, and we want to be the best, but everything depends on the weather.”

With $70 million in crab revenue on the line, everyone is working non-stop. “It’s a tough job, but it’s either them or us.”

Jake Anderson’s New Beginning

On the Saga, Jake Anderson is stepping into his first full season as captain. “This was how the deck looked before, but now it’s all new.” Everything has been repainted, floors refinished, and seats upgraded.

“This is my boat now, my responsibility. I want the crew to associate it with me—not Elliot.” Jake takes on the final touch himself—painting the ship’s name and logo. “It’s not common for the captain to help paint, but this means a lot to him, and that’s good.”

Meanwhile, across the dock, Captain Sig Hansen of the Northwestern is unimpressed by his former deckhand’s approach. “That’s something you do when you’re 20 and working the deck, not when you’re the captain.”

“Maybe he thinks he can be friends with his crew, but he’s wrong. You have to lead. If your captain is hanging off the side of the boat painting, do you respect him or mock him?”

Jake’s crew arrives just in time to witness their captain suspended on a rope. “What are you doing up there? Shouldn’t your crew be doing that?” Jake insists that his willingness to help is setting an example. “Now they know that if they can’t do it, I’ll get my ass out of the cabin and help.”

Edgar Hansen counters, “You think that’s leadership? Giving them an excuse to slack off?”

A confrontation follows as Jake is ordered down. “Get off my damn boat!” The tension is high, but the crew can’t help but acknowledge, “The paint job does look good.”

The Season Begins

With the Saga freshly painted and tensions rising, the crew is ready. The storm is coming, and the real challenge is about to begin. The only thing left to do is fish—and survive.