Season 20 of Deadliest Catch is built around a return to derby-style competition for crab. After the crab fisheries reopened in 2023, the rules let a boat keep fishing for more crab when another boat had not met its quota, and that arrangement brought back some of the rush of the old derby days. The season premiered on Discovery Channel on June 11, 2024, so this is a preview of a season that has already aired, written for readers deciding what it is about and whether to watch it.
What changed for Season 20
The central difference is the fishery itself. According to Original Productions’ Season 20 feature, written for Entertainment Weekly by Ashley Boucher, the reopened crab fisheries introduced rules that let boats catch more crab when a competing boat had not reached its quota. The result is a race in which a captain’s pace relative to the other boats matters, which the feature presents as a return to the competitive feel of earlier derby fishing.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Deadliest Catch: Season 1 | $9.93 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Deadliest Catch - Season 1 (5 Disc Set) | $4.29 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Deadliest Catch the Complete First Season | $11.53 | Buy on Amazon |
That framing matters for viewers who know the show from its early years. The competition is not simply a matter of who catches the most in a season. It depends on how quickly a crew works and on what the rest of the fleet is doing at the same time.
The veterans and the newer crews
Season 20 pairs longtime captains with crew members who are newer to the show. The feature highlights two veterans and three people who joined in Season 19.
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Longtime captains
- Sig Hansen, captain of the Northwestern, one of the show’s best-known figures.
- Keith Colburn, captain of the Wizard, who is credited in the feature with the season’s title line.
Newer faces returning from Season 19
- Sophia “Bob” Nielsen
- Jacob Hutchins
- Jack Bunnell
The feature describes these three as joining in Season 19 and returning for Season 20. The pairing of established captains with these newer participants is the main human storyline the production feature describes.
Why the anniversary is part of the framing
The season is promoted as the show’s 20th anniversary. The dates below come from the Season 20 feature and mark the milestones that frame the season.
| Date or milestone | What it refers to | Source and qualification |
|---|---|---|
| April 12, 2005 | Series debut | Reported by Original Productions’ Season 20 feature |
| 2023 | Crab fisheries reopen, and the derby-style quota rules begin | Described in the same feature; the feature does not give a separate fishery regulation citation |
| June 11, 2024, 8 p.m. ET/PT | Season 20 premiere on Discovery Channel | Original release details from the feature; a historical date, not a current schedule |
| 20th anniversary | The season’s framing as the show’s twentieth year | The feature’s description of the season |
The feature also names Max as the streaming home for the season after its premiere. Platform names and rights have changed since then, so check the service that currently carries the season before relying on that detail.
The danger the showrunner promised
Showrunner Arom Starr-Paul is quoted saying viewers would see danger on the water that they had not seen “in probably 10 years.” This is his own description of the season, given in the feature. No independent measure of danger, injury or incident rates is cited to back up the comparison, so treat it as a preview claim rather than a verified statistic.
Starr-Paul also described the season as feeling like the show’s first season again: “It’s like season 1 again.”
What the captains said about the fishery
Keith Colburn’s line, “The race for crab is back,” is the title phrase. The feature presents it as a remark from a conversation aboard the vessels and attributes it to Colburn by name and role.
Sig Hansen’s comment about the future of the fishery is more measured: “I see that there’s still a future, but a more controlled future.” The quote reflects a captain’s view of the fishery, not a finding about its stock levels or regulation, and the feature does not provide data to go with it.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where to watch Season 20
Availability depends on your country and changes over time, so confirm the current listing before you subscribe or buy. The two platform listings below were the ones cited for this season.
| Option | What the listing shows | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Prime Video | A digital purchase option for Season 20 | Whether it is available in your region and at your price; the listing does not establish a physical DVD or Blu-ray edition |
| Disney+ | A series listing that includes Season 20 episodes | Whether your subscription region carries the season; catalogs are region-sensitive |
| Discovery Channel | Original broadcast home for the premiere on June 11, 2024 | Whether your provider carries the channel; this is historical and not a current schedule |
If you want a one-time purchase rather than a subscription, the Prime Video digital option is the one the sources show. If you already subscribe to Disney+ in your region, its catalog is the cheaper route to check first.
Viewers outside the United States, or those who want a physical copy, will need to check locally, since no physical edition is established by these sources.
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