Deadliest Catchseason 21 could shape up to be one of the least watchable seasons yet, due to some questionable changes. The famous Discovery show premiered almost two decades ago in April 2005. It documented the lives of crab fishermen as theytraveled across the Bering Sea during the Alaskan king crab and snow crab seasons.
The show gave viewers a detailed look into the lives of the crew members on the boat and their fishing operations. Itsserious and genuine portrayal is what made it one of the most successful showson the network, guaranteeing new seasons each year.
In 2025, Discovery announcedDeadliest Catchseason 21, anew season full of drama and fishing adventures. The show features returning captains and crew members, who have been a major part of it for many years.Deadliest Catchseason 21 showcases Sig Hansenas he returns after overcoming health issues in the past.
Reports hint that he wants to pass the torch to his daughter, Mandy, who’s ready to learn a lot more this season. The show also features F/VTitan Explorer Captain Jake Anderson, F/VWizard’s Captain Keith Colburn, F/V Time Bandit Captain Jonathan Hillstrand, and many others.
7The Crab Population Has Declined In The Deadliest Catch Industry
The Crew Will Face A Challenging Task This Year
Deadliest Catchseason 21 will be different for several reasons, with the primary one being the declining crab population. According toOcean Conservancy.org, the"Bering Sea Snow Crab"season is collapsing, with the overall population of snow crab dwindling to just 10% of its former level.
Additionally, the red king crab population is declining, making the crew’s jobs much more challenging compared to nearly two decades ago. They’llneed to venture farther into less accessible locations and update their strategiesin order to meet their goals.
6Several Prominent Cast Members Have Passed Away Or Left Deadliest Catch
Todd Kochutin Has Passed Away
Season 21 will have a different feel, as viewers will notice the absence of severalDeadliest Catchcast members who have passed away. One such name isNick Mavar, who joined the show in 2005and appeared in over 90 episodes before leaving due to health reasons.
Sadly, he passed away in 2024 after a medical emergency. In the last five years, otherDeadliest Catchcast members,such as Todd Kochutin,Mahlon Reyes, Nick McGlashan, Blake Painter, and others, have also tragically passed away.
5Some Of The Deadliest Catch Drama Seems Manufactured
Fans Miss The “Old Deadliest Catch”
Deadliest Catchstarted as a show that gained popularity due to its authentic and unfiltered nature.
However, maintaining that level of success over a long period is challenging, leading many fans to believe thatnewer seasons of the show contain some contrived or scripted scenesto enhance the entertainment value.
Previously, a Redditor,@BenDPB, shared their observation on Reddit, expressing nostalgia for the"old Deadliest Catch.“Other Redditors echoed this sentiment, showing a preference for the original, more genuine format.Deadliest Catchseason 21 is likely to incorporate more fabricated drama, potentially moving away from its traditional raw adventure style towards a more contemporary, scripted reality TV approach.
4The Deadliest Catch Industry Standards Have Changed
It’s Gotten Safer
A significant reason the show relies on manufactured drama is that the crabfishing industry has seen major improvements, making certain aspects of the job safer and easier. Several reports indicate that the once high-risk occupation in Alaska is now less deadly.
In fact, according toCDC.Gov,“Thenumber of fishing fatalities due to traumatic injury in Alaska has decreased by 70%over the last three decades.“While the job of theDeadliest Catchcrew member is challenging, new standards and technological advancements have made it somewhat easier, particularly for those with experience in this field.
3The Deadliest Catch Cast Member Storylines Aren’t As Gripping
Deadliest Catch Season 21 Needs New Compelling Stories
Deadliest Catchseason 21 may not be as entertaining as previous seasons. Despite the drama and challenges, the season may still struggle because there aren’t many gripping stories left to tell on the show. Like most shows in their 20th season, themajority of the storylines that originally attracted viewers have slowly come to a conclusion.
This change has made the show feel less meaningful, which makes sense.Deadliest Catchseason 21 willneed to offer compelling new storylines and plots to engage viewers once againand generate more interest in future seasons.
2The Deadliest Catch Filming Schedule Has Changed
Deadliest Catch Will Return In August 2025
Deadliest Catchseason 21 will be slightly different because of the new filming schedule. The upcoming season is expected to have a longer break, possibly due to production or filming delays. Regardless,Deadliest Catchseason 21 is scheduled to air on July 31, 2025, nearly two months later than season 20 and season 19, which aired in June and April, respectively.
It’ll be interesting to seehow the new filming schedule affects the show’s viewership. Despite the changes,Deadliest Catchremains a beloved show, with millions of fans eagerly awaiting the new season.
1Deadliest Catch Season 21 Could Be Sig Hansen’s Final Season
Sig May Retire From The Show
While Sig hasn’t confirmed it yet,Deadliest Catchseason 21 could potentially be his final appearance on the show. The 58-year-old Seattle native first appeared on the show during its premiere season and has been apart of it for nearly two decades, making him one of the franchise’s iconic figures.
Sig has astrong reputation as a fisherman and an even better reputation as a leader.Many viewers watchDeadliest Catchspecifically to follow Sig’s journey and enjoy seeing him interact with other cast members, such as Edgar and several others.
Unfortunately,Sig’s health has declined over the past decade, with a major heart attackback in March 2016 and another major heart-related health scare in 2018. Sig has made significant efforts to improve his physical health by trying out new medications and drastically cutting down on smoking.
During an interview withTMZin 2016, he expressed feeling stressed about work and other issues, which led to his heart attack. He stated thatsmoking was only"20%“responsible for the heart attack, with"stress"being the main factor.
“That season was a pain in the a**. It was stress-related.”
Despite this, Sig remains determined to pursue his career in the crab fishing industry. He is currentlytraining his daughter, Mandy, who is gradually becoming more involvedin the show. Sig is preparing to pass the torch, possibly inDeadliest Catchseason 21.
While he hasn’t officially announced his retirement, itwon’t be surprising to see him step down after this season, allowing his daughter to continue the family name and legacy in future seasons ofDeadliest Catch.
Deadliest Catchseason 21 will premiere on Friday, August 12, 2025, at 8 p.m. EDT on Discovery.
