Why Telling Lies Is Actually A Good Thing To Do On Deadliest Catch
It may be difficult for some to think of "Deadliest Catch" as a reality competition show. There's no traditional game show host livening the mood with jokes. The harsh physical conditions that the crab fishermen must endure atop the Bering Sea are extremely dangerous and often lead to some genuinely terrifying "Deadliest Catch" moments. However, the captains of each featured crew are indeed contestants, locked in a fervent battle with one another over who can obtain the best overall crab haul when they finally make their return to port.
With each fishing vessel attempting to come out on top of the market, tenuous alliances between each "Deadliest Catch" team can turn into fierce rivalries at the drop of a hat. Amid the high stakes and many variables of fishing for profit, it's only natural that some captains employ a few less savory tactics involving manipulation and mind games. In fact, according to one particular "Deadliest Catch" star, telling lies is one of the best possible things someone can do on the show.
Nice guys (usually) finish last on Deadliest Catch
It's no secret that working on "Deadliest Catch" is an even tougher job than you might think. Climbing up that totem pole can't be done without getting one's hands dirty, in more ways than one. A captain must bend their morals to ensure they have the best chance at victory. That's why, according to series veteran Sig Hansen, lies are the most useful tool in a fisherman's tackle box.
"Sometimes it boils down to who can lie the best," the F/V Northwestern captain said in an interview with Tim Estiloz. "Even though you have your friends and they're other captains, you're still going to lie to them. You have to because your fishing secrets are your livelihood."
Of course, some bouts of trickery doesn't mean that opposing captains can't support one another when the occasion calls for it. For example, Season 17 sees Hansen, Jonathan Hillstrand, and the other captains put aside their differences in order to team up and save the local fishery during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In an interview with Hollywood Soapbox, Hillstrand spoke about the camaraderie he feels with his fellow fishermen, even in the heat of competition. "Sig is real competitive and stuff," the captain said. "I hope everyone does good. He doesn't believe me when I say this. He goes, 'Bulls***.' I go, 'No, I hope you do good, Sig. I hope I do a little bit better than you, but I hope we all do good.'"