If you’ve spent any time watching a 125-foot boat get tossed around like a toy in the Bering Sea, you know the face. Weathered. Gritty. Usually illuminated by the glow of a radar screen and the cherry of a cigarette. But lately, fans aren't just asking where the crab are—they’re asking how old is Sig Hansen and, more importantly, how much longer can his heart take the stress?
Let's get the numbers out of the way first. Sigurd Jonny Hansen was born on April 28, 1966.
That makes him 59 years old.
He’ll hit the big 6-0 in the spring of 2026. For a normal guy, sixty is the age where you start looking at RVs or perfecting your golf swing. But for a guy who has spent the better part of four decades breathing in diesel fumes and salt spray, sixty hits a little differently. It’s not just about the years; it’s about the mileage.
The 2025 Health Scare: A Turning Point for the Captain
The question of age became a lot more urgent during the Season 21 finale of Deadliest Catch, which aired in late 2025. It was a rough one to watch. Sig didn't just look tired; he collapsed on the Northwestern.
He was rushed to the hospital after a bout of total exhaustion. When the doctors got a look at him, they didn't mince words. They told him he needed to think about retirement. Honestly, you could see the conflict in his eyes. On one hand, he’s a guy who once said he’d never hang up the cap. On the other, he’s a grandfather of four who wants to actually be around to see those kids grow up.
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"I’m a fisherman—you’ve got to remember, you’re talking to a professional liar here," Sig told People recently. "I lie for a living. You do know that, right?"
He was joking about his past claims that he’d never quit, but the underlying tone was serious. This wasn't his first brush with the "big one." He survived a major heart attack in 2016 while cameras were rolling, and another "slight" one a year later triggered by an allergic reaction. When you’re pushing sixty and your body has already sent you three "final notices," you start to listen.
Why Sig Hansen Still Matters to the Bering Sea
Age in the fishing industry is a weird thing. You have the "Old Guard" like Sig and Keith Colburn, and then you have the "Young Guns." But experience is the only thing that keeps people alive when a 40-foot rogue wave decides to join you on deck.
Sig has been at this since he was 14. He was a relief captain at 22. Think about that for a second. At an age when most of us were struggling to figure out how to pay rent, he was responsible for a multi-million dollar vessel and the lives of a full crew.
His record is actually insane. Under his watch, the Northwestern has never had a death at sea. In an industry where people die literally every week during the peak season, that’s not just luck. That’s a level of focus that most people can’t maintain for eight hours, let alone forty years.
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The Grandpa Factor
If you want to know what's really making Sig feel his age, look at his Facebook page. It’s not all crab pots and ice anymore. It’s grandkids.
He’s admitted that being a "Papaw" changed his brain chemistry. He used to mock the old-timers who sat around bragging about their grandkids. Now? He’s that guy. He’s realized that his wife, June, has spent decades waiting for him to come home from the Bering Sea. There’s a real sense of guilt there—a feeling that he owes her the "last whatever I got left."
What’s Next for the Northwestern?
So, if Sig is 59 and the doctors are hovering, what happens to the boat?
The legacy is already in motion. His daughter, Mandy Hansen, has been his protégé for years. She’s not just a "TV personality"; she’s a legitimate captain who has earned the respect of a very cynical, very male-dominated crew. Along with her husband, Clark Pederson, the next generation of the Hansen dynasty is basically ready to take the wheel.
The Reality Check:
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- Sig’s Age: 59 (turning 60 in April 2026).
- Health Status: Multiple heart scares, including a 2025 collapse.
- Career Length: 45+ years on the water.
- Retirement Outlook: He’s "thinking about it," but hasn't signed the papers yet.
The Verdict on the Legend
Is Sig Hansen too old to fish? Physically, maybe. Mentally, the guy is still a shark. But the Bering Sea is a young man's game, or at least a healthy man's game.
Seeing him at 59, grappling with his own mortality, makes him more relatable than he was as the "invincible" captain of the early seasons. He’s human. He’s tired. And he’s earned the right to sit in a recliner for a while.
If you're following his journey, keep an eye on the 2026 season announcements. Whether he’s in the chair or just advising from the shore, the Hansen name isn't leaving the water anytime soon.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Watch the transition: Pay close attention to how much wheel time Mandy gets in upcoming episodes; it's the clearest indicator of Sig's exit strategy.
- Check the stats: Follow the official Northwestern social media for real-time updates on their winter 2026 crab quotas, as this often dictates how much stress the Captain is under.
- Respect the health journey: If you see Sig still smoking or pounding 20 cups of coffee on screen, know that those are the "red zone" behaviors his doctors are currently fighting to change.