Edgar Hansen Admits He Didn't Miss Fishing Once During His Break From Deadliest Catch

If you could zero in on the one thing that the deckhands of Discovery's "Deadliest Catch" most likely agree on, it's that they want to get the season over with as soon as possible. Fans of the show almost never hear any of these hard-working fishermen hoping the trip out across the treacherous Bering Sea will last longer than expected. And it's safe to say that the majority of them, during the off-season, aren't itching to get back to crustacean hunting.

Of course, it's no surprise that these crew members feel the opposite of excited to get back to crabbing when you take a look at what it takes, physically and mentally, to handle a job like this, season after season. The obvious reason is the backbreaking work these brave fishermen endure, which includes anything from swinging hammers to break off clinging ice to hauling in pots for up to 40 hours straight without sleep. Oh, and let us not forget that they're also literally putting their lives at stake to pull in a salary.

For Edgar Hansen, deckhand of the Northwestern and brother to Sigg, it seems that there is no love to be found between him and his line of work. "Backbreaking" has a more literal definition for him, as he explains in a 2016 interview with Discovery's Mike Fourtner. His actual back issues have, at times, wedged a painful barrier between him and the job. However, Hansen also reveals that when he's not out on the water fishing, he has no reason to put any thought towards it.

No matter how strong and brave the deckhands of the vessels featured on "Deadliest Catch" can be, it's no doubt that the majority of them probably live for the off-season. And who wouldn't if they were in that position? Hauling 700-pound crab pots or taking a family vacation? Holding on for dear life as a rogue wave crashes across the deck or playing video games on a couch? But, when hearing how Edgar Hansen of the Northwestern describes his mindset in the off-season, simply not thinking about the job must be like his own personal vacation. 

Back when chatting with Mike Fourtner, Hansen was asked if he's ever considered leaving the business. Although not knowing the exact answer to that specific timeframe, he did express how when the time comes, there will probably be no love lost. Thinking back to the time he took off due to his back issues, Hansen said, "I took a year off, a few years ago, to be home ... I didn't miss fishing one day." That response comes with no surprise whatsoever, as that crab-catching veteran had, at the time of the interview, been featured on the popular show for over 15 years.

Although Hansen hasn't appeared on "Deadliest Catch" since 2018, keeping this exhausting job off the brain may still be hard, despite stepping away. Being part of one of the most featured boats in the series that started in 2005 probably makes him more recognizable than he cares to be. Despite all the reminders, it seems, based on his remarks, that rehashing memories of the gig is probably much more tolerable than actually experiencing it firsthand.