For two decades, Captain Sig Hansen has been the face of bravery on the hit Discovery Channel series Deadliest Catch. But as time has gone on, the beloved fisherman has started to come to terms with his grim fear of mortality and his future at sea. Recently, the reality star has gotten a bit of a reality check, and opened up in an interview about how getting older is taking a toll not only on him, but on his future in the industry. With a desire to spend more time with his family and knowing that Fishing Vessel Northwestern would be in capable hands, Captain Sig’s journey may end sooner than fans may desire.
‘Deadliest Catch’s Captain Sig Knows “Retirement Is Obvious”
Captain Sig has been the steadfast face of the franchise, serving as a leader and father figure to many of the individuals on his crew. But every story needs to end. “I’ve been there, done that,” he revealed. “Now I want to spend more time with my family, my wife, look at all the years and decades that she’s given up for me waiting. It’s got to go the other way, and so you see things differently, that’s all.” He knows he’ll continue to do it, but has acknowledged that “retirement is obvious.”
Captain Sig’s life has changed throughout the course of his time on Deadliest Catch. Once just a father, Captain Sig is now a grandfather. “I used to laugh at all these old-timers when they’d brag about their grandkids and talk about how that’s their whole world. I’m like, ‘You guys are nuts. Can’t we talk about fishing?’ And now, I’m one of those guys.”
Though Captain Sig has yet to put an expiration date on his future in the wheelhouse, it’s clear that when the time comes, his daughter will be able to continue the family legacy. As seen in the Season 21 premiere, when Captain Sig was out scouting with Captain Johnathan near Adak Island, it meant Captain Mandy Hansen was piloting F/V Northwestern in Dutch Harbor. She did well for herself and didn’t let the other men intimidate her. Her success at that moment was a reminder to Sig that he’d taught her well. Though it would throw a wrench in the family plans should Captain Mandy take over full-time, part of Sig’s joy is knowing the legacy lives on. Captain Sig learned the trade from his father. He opened up about the Hansen family tradition at length during the spin-off series Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns.
Captain Sig Has Experienced Major Life Events on ‘Deadliest Catch’
Tackling the harsh conditions that face him every time he heads out in the Bering Sea, it’s no secret that his career has taken a toll on him. But no crashing wave can compare to the terrors within the human body. Deadliest Catch fans are well-acquainted with Captain Sig’s past medical emergencies. The captain has experienced two during his tenure on the show. The first came in 2016, which was documented in real-time while filming. This event was known as “the widow maker.” Two years later, as a result of an allergic reaction, he suffered a minor heart attack.
As a natural-born leader, it’s crucial that Captain Sig acknowledges his future path. He’s minimized his health issues in the past, but his ability to know that it’s no longer a joke allows others to take their health seriously. The reality of reality television is that there will be a Deadliest Catch after Captain Sig retires, and there will certainly be an opportunity for him to find a new journey.
Deadliest Catch airs Fridays at 8:00pm on the Discovery Channel.
