‘Deadliest Catch’ Star Sig Hansen Spills the Brutal Truth About Crab Fishing and It’s Worse Than You Think

If there's one person who embodies everything people love about Deadliest Catch, it's Captain Sig Hansen. Hansen's been a staple of the series since its premiere, dealing with the highs and lows of the world of crab fishing. He's also been fairly open about how tough of a profession it is, warning in interviews that this life isn't for the faint of heart. While most people often dismiss the events of Deadliest Catch for being exaggerated, there have been real deaths and real danger due to the intense conditions that crab fishermen find themselves in. Just how tough does it get? According to Hansen, this is a profession that isn't for "the faint of heart."

‘Deadliest Catch’ Undersells How Intense Some of the Crab Fishing Conditions Are

While Deadliest Catch hasn't shied away from the intense weather conditions that make crab fishing such a tough job, the series has apparently undersold how bad it could get. Hansen sat down with Fox News last year to talk about the conditions he and his crew face, which includes freezing weather — and the possibility of a boat sinking:

"We've had events where the boat was icing down to the point where I thought there was no return. We've had struggles with mechanical issues where, you know, we've had, like, tanks where our crab tanks either fill with water when they're not supposed to, and that creates instability on the boat. Things of that nature...There's been many challenges and there were challenges where I've seen boats literally go down. You know, eight miles away from me, and there's nothing I can do about it,...You watch people and friends that you know, and you're literally in the fog."

This confession underlines that every time Hansen and his men go out into the ocean, they're literally taking their lives into their hands. If the freezing weather or the massive waves don't get them, their own boat will. One of the most shocking deaths on Deadliest Catch happened when a crew member was smashed in between one of the heavy steel crab pots and the deck, which resulted in him losing his life. The same boat that could be a source of livelihood also has the potential to end your life. And taking Hansen's words into account, the psychological element must weigh on a fisherman. Not being able to save your friends from the elements is a fate I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.

Sig Hansen Continues To Be a Mainstay of 'Deadliest Catch'

Despite the danger that goes with his job, Sig Hansen continues to be a part of Deadliest Catch. He even appeared in Season 20, though the series finale "Nothin' but Mammals" had him encountering yet another potentially life-threatening issue. When the power went out in the Northwest, Hansen was forced to switch to manual steering to get through the night. Most of the steering on the boat is usually plotted out by computers and GPS's, so to see the crew having to do everything by hand was tense. On top of that, they had to haul in their crab pots; working in the dark, pulling heavy steel pots that could potentially crush you into a bloody pulp is terrifying. Yet Hansen and his crew managed to pull it off, and the reward was sweet: not only did they get a great haul, but Hansen got to meet his grandson for the first time!

If viewers want to see a lower stakes show that still features Hansen as the lead, they should turn to Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns. The Viking Returns sees Hansen, his son-in-law Clark Pederson, and his daughter Mandy traveling to Scandanavia to take advantage of a $1 million king crab quota. Compared to the raging seas and the other dangers that Hansen faced, The Viking Returns was less of a hassle — not to mention more of a family affair. And when it comes to overcoming fear, Hansen had this to say: "As a fisherman, greed always overcomes fear. We are greedy bastards who overcome fear. We don’t have any other way to make a living." Considering what Deadliest Catch's fishermen pull in terms of monetary value, it's not hard to see why they keep going back into these dangerous, life-threatening conditions.