What Really Happened To The Saga On Deadliest Catch

One of Discovery's — and now Discovery+'s — flagship programs, "Deadliest Catch," is currently knee-deep in its 17th season and rapidly approaching the 300 episode mark. In that time, the series has taken viewers on expeditions across the Bering Sea off the coast of Alaska, documenting the turbulent lives of the fisherman seeking massive crab hauls in the region. There's no shortage of danger, drama, crushing failure, and heartwarming success on these adventures, hence why "Deadliest Catch" is now seen as a constant on the small screen and keeps viewers coming back for more.

Now over 15 years removed from its premiere, "Deadliest Catch" has undergone some significant changes, specifically in terms of its cast. For instance, one name that has risen to prominence is Captain Jake Anderson — a professional skateboarder and fourth-generation fisherman who arrived on the show during Season 3. Always eager to prove himself, he hasn't had it easy on the high seas, especially when it comes to earning the respect of his peers, but he presses on all the same. This committed attitude led him to captain a famed ship known as the F/V Saga, taking over for its former captain, Elliott Neese.

For those keeping a close eye on the latest "Deadliest Catch" season, it's apparent that The Saga hasn't featured as prominently as it once did. Here's what's going on with Captain Anderson's ship.

For the first few episodes of "Deadliest Catch" Season 17, The Saga was nowhere to be found. Some fans questioned if Captain Jake Anderson's vessel finally sank, and others pondered whether or not it was merely being repaired for unknown reasons. All of this speculation was put to bed when it reemerged in the episode "Restricted Zone," which aired on May 25, 2021, with its absence never fully explained. Nevertheless, it has gone on to make a few more appearances to the delight of fans, once again putting its reputation as a rough and tough fishing boat on full display.

To put it mildly, the legacy of The Saga is one riddled with near-tragedy and incredibly close calls. As explained by Distractify, the 42-year old ship has become a never-ending restoration project for Anderson, seeing as it has nearly sunk on several occasions. One particularly infamous instance of this came during the 19th episode of Season 16, "Rogue Wave Juggernaut," when The Saga's rudder began to fail. This meant the crew had to fix it in perilous waters, or else they'd lose control, and it would inevitably sink. Thankfully the team avoided disaster, but this is just a small taste of The Saga's misfortune.

It took longer than most had anticipated, but the F/V Saga is back out on the water and doing well. How long it will be able to do so remains to be seen, but it stands to reason that should issues arise, Captain Jake Anderson won't allow the tenured boat to go down without a fight.