Deadliest Catch (2005–…): Season 4, Episode 6 - Racing the Clock - full transcript
With a few weeks left in king crab season, the fate of every deckhand's paycheck sits squarely on his captain's shoulders. Time Bandit's Capt Johnathan has had good fishing but a string of bad luck for crew and boat. The North American returns to duty.
Narrator: THE RACE
TO THE FINISH LINE CONTINUES.
IT'S 5 WEEKS INTO
AN ALASKAN KING CRAB SEASON
PLAGUED BY BAD WEATHER...
WHOO!
...AND MIXED FISHING.
WHOA HO!
WHOO!
LOOK AT THAT!
THE TIME BANDIT, SKIPPERED
BY JOHNATHAN HILLSTRAND,
AND THE WIZARD, UNDER CAPTAIN
KEITH COLBURN'S COMMAND,
HAD NO TROUBLE FINDING
AND STAYING ON THE CRAB.
THAT'S A POT TO END ON.
RIGHT ON.
RED GOLD RIGHT THERE!
CRAB FISHING THERE, BABY.
BUT FISHING HAS BEEN A BUST
FOR CAPTAIN SIG HANSEN
ON THE NORTHWESTERN...
[ EXHALES DEEPLY ]
Narrator: ...AND PHIL HARRIS
ON THE CORNELIA MARIE.
I MEAN, URGENCY IS GONNA START
BEING A KEY FACTOR HERE.
Narrator: WEEKS AWAY
FROM FINAL OFF-LOADS,
THE FATE
OF EVERY DECKHAND'S PAYCHECK
RIDES ON ONE MAN'S SHOULDERS...
THE CAPTAIN.
[ MID-TEMPO ROCK MUSIC PLAYS ]
220 MILES NORTHEAST
OF DUTCH HARBOR,
THE NORTHWESTERN
IS BACK ON THE HUNT.
AFTER OFF-LOADING 180,000 POUNDS
FOR 756,000 BUCKS,
CAPTAIN SIG
FACES A NEW DEADLINE.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET
THIS CRAB IN BY THE 11th.
THAT'S --
THEY CLAIM TO DROP THE PRICE
IF WE DON'T GET IT IN THERE
BY THEN.
SO, OUR GOAL
IS TO TRY TO FILL THIS BOAT
AND GET IT IN
BEFORE THAT PRICE DROPS.
[ GRINDING ]
AS FAR AS THE FISHING,
HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET A GOOD PICK
OUT OF THIS GEAR.
I'M NOT EXPECTING MIRACLES.
HOW'D IT LOOK?
43.
43. GOOD.
Narrator: POT AFTER POT
OF GOOD, CLEAN CRAB
CONTINUE TO HIT THE TABLES.
LOOKING PRETTY GOOD.
60 OR SOMETHING.
IT'S BEEN OUR BEST STRING
OUT WEST HERE.
MAKES YOU HAPPY TO SEE IT.
AT THE SAME TIME,
IT MAKES YOU WONDER
IF YOU'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING.
Narrator:
WITH JUST 9 DAYS TO CATCH
HIS REMAINING
190,000 POUNDS OF QUOTA,
EVERY DECISION SIG MAKES
MUST COUNT.
EVERY TIME YOU SET A POT BACK --
"AM I DOING THE RIGHT THING?"
OR EVERY TIME YOU STACK,
GET MOVING SOMEWHERE --
"IS THIS THE RIGHT MOVE?"
YOU'RE ALWAYS
SECOND-GUESSING YOURSELF,
AT LEAST I DO.
Narrator: WITH SUCH SCARCE CRAB
ON THE GROUNDS,
SIG'S RELUCTANT TO SET BACK,
EVEN AS HE AVERAGES
60 KEEPERS A POT.
Sig: WE'VE GOT A COUPLE MORE
TRIPS TO DO HERE,
AND WE NEED TO STAY
ON DECENT FISHING.
SO, I THINK WE'RE GONNA GO
THE OTHER WAY AND JUST --
NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT.
PICK THEM UP.
IF WE GET A DECENT PICK,
JUST "THANK YOU
FOR THE GOOD PICK," AND GO.
I DON'T WANT TO WASTE
A LOT OF TIME
SCRATCHING AROUND
ON AN AREA'S THAT'S BEEN HIT.
THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING
BIGGER AND BETTER.
Narrator: BUT FOR EDGAR, LEAVING
BETTER-THAN-AVERAGE NUMBERS
IS A HARD PILL TO SWALLOW.
I'M READY TO SET BACK.
[ CHUCKLES ]
YEAH, THAT KIND OF SCARES ME,
LEAVING ALL THIS FOR SOMETHING
WE DON'T KNOW, BUT WHATEVER.
HE MUST KNOW
SOMETHING WE DON'T.
HE BETTER.
IT'S LIKE A GAMBLE, YOU KNOW?
FISHING IS A GAMBLE.
YOU GOT TO JUST GO
WITH YOUR GUT,
GO WITH WHAT YOU SEE
AND DO IT
AND TRY NOT TO LOOK BACK.
WALKING AWAY.
Narrator: WITH PRESSURE MOUNTING
OVER A POTENTIAL WRONG MOVE,
SIG HEADS DECKSIDE
TO EASE ANY CREW CONCERNS.
I KNOW THIS PLACE
WILL COME BACK TO LIFE.
IT'S JUST WHEN.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
RIGHT.
AFTER EVERYBODY LEAVES.
AFTER EVERYBODY LEAVES?
YEAH.
BUT, I MEAN, THE FACT IS
IT'S NOT FAST FISHING -- PERIOD.
I THINK WE DID THE RIGHT THING.
YOU KNOW, FOR NOW,
WE DID THE RIGHT THING.
READY?
Man: GAME ON.
GAME ON!
IT'S ALL LIES.
EVERY DAMN BIT OF IT.
Sig: I JUST DON'T THINK THAT THE
VOLUME WE'RE SEEING IN THE POTS
OR THE SORT WE'RE SEEING
IS ENOUGH TO JUSTIFY
STICKING AROUND RIGHT NOW.
MAYBE IT IS.
I MEAN, I COULD BE WRONG.
BUT I REALLY DON'T GIVE
A [BLEEP]
I'M NOT BUYING IT
TILL I SEE CRAB IN THOSE POTS.
THEN I'LL BELIEVE IT.
Narrator:
NIGHT FALLS ON THE BERING SEA,
120 MILES TO THE NORTHWEST
ON THE TIME BANDIT.
Man on radio: TONIGHT,
NORTHWEST WINDS 40 KNOTS.
SEAS 21 FEET.
RAIN.
THIS WON'T BE VERY PRETTY.
WHOO!
Narrator: 25-FOOT SEAS
AND A SHORTHANDED CREW
ISN'T ENOUGH TO STOP
CAPTAIN JOHNATHAN FROM FISHING.
BUT IT WON'T MAKE THINGS
ANY EASIER.
WE GOT A LONG
TWO WEEKS OR WHATEVER.
WE GOT A BROKEN ANKLE.
WE'VE HAD ALMOST
AN ELECTRICAL FIRE.
WE'VE HAD
ALL KINDS OF BAD [BLEEP]
KNOCK ON WOOD.
Narrator: BUT JOHNATHAN'S PLAN
IS TO HAUL GEAR
UNTIL CONDITIONS
GET TOO DANGEROUS TO FISH.
SURE KNOCK ON A LOT OF WOOD
AROUND HERE.
Narrator:
THE WIND AND SWELLS ARE RISING.
HO HO-O-O HO!
OH, YEAH!
WOW, HE'S A BIG ONE.
92.
92 KING CRAB IN ONE POT.
CRAB COMING!
YEAH!
Narrator: THE CRAB MAY BE SCARCE
FOR SOME SKIPPERS,
BUT JOHNATHAN'S BEEN
ON A HOT STREAK
FOR NEARLY FOUR WEEKS,
AND HE'S SHOWING NO SIGNS
OF SLOWING DOWN.
IT'S TIME TO PLAY.
95.
95.
95.
Narrator: AS INCREASING WESTERLY
WINDS BLOW AGAINST THE TIDE,
LARGE CONFUSED SEAS BEGIN TO
BATTER THE DECK AND THE CREW.
THEN, SUDDENLY...
WATCH OUT!
WHOA!
HEADS-UP!
CAREFUL, SHEA.
FROM THE PULLEY.
Narrator: A 4-INCH STEEL PIN
SUPPORTING
THE PICKING-HOOK PULLEY SNAPS.
WITHOUT WARNING,
40 FEET OF HEAVY-GAUGE STEEL
WIRE CAREENS TOWARDS THE DECK,
MISSING GREENHORN SHEA LONG
BY A MERE 3 FEET.
THAT'S DANGEROUS [BLEEP] THERE.
[ SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY ]
DID THE SPOOL
FLY OUT OF THE PULLEY?
IT'S ON DECK?
DID YOU SEE WHERE IT LANDED?
IT'S STILL UP THERE?
PICKING BOOM BLEW UP.
WE WEREN'T HOOKED TO THE POT.
IF IT WOULD'VE BEEN HOOKED UP
TO THE POT,
IT WOULD'VE PULLED THE CABLE
RIGHT OVER SHEA'S BODY
AND PROBABLY
CUT HIM IN HALF.
Narrator: IF THE PICKING HOOK
HAD BEEN ATTACHED
TO AN 800-POUND CRAB POT,
THE TENSION
WOULD HAVE YANKED THE CABLE
TAUT AGAINST THE RAIL,
KILLING GREENHORN SHEA
INSTANTLY.
LITERALLY, LIKE,
I'M HERE NOW,
BUT SHOULD IT HAVE BROKEN
FIVE SECONDS LATER,
HALF OF ME WOULD PROBABLY BE
IN THE OCEAN
AND HALF OF ME
WOULD BE ON DECK.
Johnathan:
HOW YOU GONNA STOP
WHEN YOU BUY A BLOCK
FROM A FACTORY
SOME [BLEEP] SLACKER IN INDIANA
OR WHEREVER THEY BUILT
THAT SON OF A [BLEEP]
OUGHT TO BE KICKED
RIGHT IN THE [BLEEP]
HE ALMOST KILLED SOMEBODY, OKAY?
Narrator: COMING UP...
A GREENHORN THREATENS
THE EARLY DAWN SEASON.
TRYING TO MAKE
A DOLLAR HERE, DUDE.
LAZY.
LAZY KIDS.
Narrator: AND THE TIME BANDIT
TEMPTS FATE ONCE AGAIN.
ONE FALSE MOVE, YOU'RE DEAD.
Narrator: 245 MILES NORTHEAST
OF DUTCH HARBOR,
THE TIME BANDIT
HAS STOPPED FISHING.
CAPTAIN JOHNATHAN SLOWLY JOGS
IN 25-FOOT SEAS
AND 40-KNOT WINDS
AS THE CREW EXAMINES CARNAGE
FROM AN EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTION...
...THAT ALMOST KILLED
GREENHORN SHEA LONG.
THAT'S DANGEROUS [BLEEP] THERE.
Narrator:
ENGINEER NEAL HILLSTRAND
LOWERS THE BOOM
SO ANDY CAN ASSESS THE DAMAGE.
WHOA! GOOD!
WELL, WE GOT LUCKY TO FIND
A USED PULLEY, 6 TON,
INSTEAD OF A 5-TON PULLEY
THAT SHATTERED ON US.
GOOD?
YEAH.
Narrator:
THE PULLEY IS SET IN PLACE,
BUT THE ONLY WAY
TO ATTACH THE SAFETY CHAIN
IS TO CLIMB THE 50-FOOT MAST.
Neal:
WHO WANTS TO CLIMB UP THERE?
BLOWING 40 -- ONE FALSE MOVE,
YOU'RE DEAD.
STAND BY.
Narrator:
NEAL SLOWLY SCALES THE MAST
WHILE JOHNATHAN KEEPS A WATCHFUL
EYE FOR ANY INCOMING WAVES
THAT COULD KNOCK HIS BROTHER
OFF THE MAST.
IT AIN'T REALLY
AN EASY THING TO DO TO --
CLIMBING UP THAT LADDER
IN 40-KNOT WIND.
GET IT?
WE'RE BACK IN ACTION.
Neal: KIND OF WEAR YOU OUT.
IT'S SCARY UP THERE, CLIMBING UP
THERE TO HOOK THAT HOOK.
PULLING LIKE 45 UP THERE.
WIND'S TRYING
TO BLOW YOU OFF THE TOP.
YOU'RE HANGING ON FOR YOUR LIFE.
PUMP YOU OUT.
Narrator: NOW,
WITH THE NEW BLOCK ATTACHED,
THE HILLSTRANDS
GET BACK TO BUSINESS.
Johnathan: IF YOU SEE HOW MANY
TIMES I KNOCKED ON WOOD
THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS,
I'D HAVE KNOCKED
ON EVERY SQUARE INCH
OF THIS [BLEEP]
[BLEEP] AREA HERE ON WOOD.
I'M DONE KNOCKING ON WOOD.
NOBODY KNOCKS ON WOOD,
OR I'LL KICK THEIR ASS.
HOW ABOUT THAT?
Narrator: 45 MILES TO THE WEST,
THE 108-FOOT EARLY DAWN
IS FISHING
IN THE CALM AFTER THE STORM.
OH!
WITH SUCH FEW CRAB IN THE HOLD,
CAPTAIN RICK FEHST
HAS SPENT THE LAST TWO WEEKS
MOVING HIS GEAR.
AND TODAY,
THE COLD STREAK CONTINUES.
SPOT CHECK. SPOT CHECK.
SPOT CHECK.
IT'S LIKE A NO-MAN'S-LAND.
GARBAGE DUMP.
AW, MAN.
5.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE PULLED 300 POTS.
WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A VISUAL
ON THE TANKS.
THAT'S DEFINITELY A LOT OF GEAR
FOR NO VISION OF THE CRAB TANKS.
WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY
ON THE SORT TABLE.
WHOOP! WHOOP! WHOOP!
Narrator: THE ONLY LIFE
IN THE POTS ARE TINY STARFISH.
WHEN YOU GET ALL THESE STARFISH
IN THE POTS,
IT MEANS HE SET THE GEAR
ON A LITTLE BIT OF A HARD SPOT.
AND THE CRAB TEND TO AVOID
THAT TYPE OF BOTTOM.
IT'S 60-HOUR SOAK, SO...
MY THEORY NOW IS
THESE CRAB ARE OFF THE BITE.
Narrator:
BAD FISHING BREEDS LOW MORALE,
AND WITH THE CREW STILL FIRED UP
OVER BRYAN NODDING OFF
AT THE WHEEL,
THE GREENHORN BECOMES
AN EASY SCAPEGOAT.
ALMOST MADE IT IN TIME.
WHEN ARE TWO GUYS WORKING?
NEVER.
ONE POT.
WE'VE GOT TIME IN BETWEEN.
I KEEP TRYING, CHIEF.
UNDERSTAND
IT'S GOT TO BE DONE.
I HAVEN'T BEEN STANDING AROUND.
I'VE BEEN TRYING.
I WANT IT DONE.
I KNOW HOW TO DO IT.
LAZY. LAZY KIDS.
TRYING TO MAKE
A DOLLAR HERE, DUDE.
I SEEN YOU IN THE LAST STRING.
YOU WERE DRAGGING ASS.
DRAGGING ASS.
[ LAUGHS ]
Narrator: SINCE EXTRA TIME
SPENT OUT AT SEA
ISN'T REFLECTED
IN THE CREW'S PAYCHECKS,
RICK NEEDS TO LAND ON CRAB SOON.
OTHERWISE, HE MAY FIND HIMSELF
IN THE MIDDLE OF MUTINY.
COMING UP...
AN OLD LEGACY EMERGES.
3 YEARS SINCE WE DID
RED CRAB SEASON,
AND IT FEELS REALLY GOOD
TO BE BACK.
FIRST POT!
WHOO!
WHOO-HOO!
THE TIMING HAS TO BE PERFECT
IN ORDER TO GET DONE.
Narrator: BACK IN DUTCH,
AFTER A THREE-YEAR LEAVE
OF ABSENCE FROM THE BERING SEA,
THE 110-FOOT NORTH AMERICAN
REJOINS THE HUNT
FOR RED KING CRAB.
[ GRUNTS ]
A LITTLE MORE, TRAVIS.
ONE, TWO...
OVERHEAD.
OVERHEAD.
IS THAT
YOUR GO-TO-SEA SUIT?
[ LAUGHS ]
GOT TO BRIGHTEN IT UP --
MAKE IT FESTIVE HERE, YOU KNOW?
IT'S THE FIRST TIME BACK
IN THREE YEARS.
WHAT ARE YOU, NORWEGIAN?
110% NORWEGIAN.
STEN SKAAR, SECOND-GENERATION
NORWEGIAN FISHERMAN,
WILL TAKE THE HELM.
THINGS FIRED UP HERE.
WE'LL HEAR THE ROAR
OF THE 399 KITTY CAT,
AND WE'LL BE READY TO GO.
Narrator: BUT THE ROAD
TO A COMEBACK WASN'T EASY.
IT TOOK SOME NEGOTIATING
FOR STEN TO TALK HIS DAD
AND BOAT OWNER ERLING
INTO LETTING THE NORTH AMERICAN
COME OUT OF RETIREMENT.
...FUEL, INSURANCE.
THIS IS WHAT WE DO.
WE'VE DONE THIS FOR 20 YEARS.
I JUST WANT A SHOT.
AND I DESERVE A SHOT.
IT HAS TO BE JUSTIFIED, STEN,
THE NUMBERS.
YOU CAN'T JUST DO IT
JUST BECAUSE YOU THINK
IT'D BE A FUN THING TO DO.
SO, LET'S SEE IF YOU CAN
GET THE NUMBERS, THEN.
YOU WANT NUMBERS?
I'LL GET YOU NUMBERS.
FINALLY,
WEEKS INTO THE CRAB SEASON,
STEN CONVINCED HIS OLD MAN
TO GIVE HIM A SHOT.
[ AIR HORN BLOWS ]
TRAPPED JUST BEYOND THE STERN.
LET THE STERN GO.
GOOD LUCK, FELLAS.
THANKS.
BE SAFE.
THANKS, CORY.
WELL, WE'RE
LEAVING DUTCH FINALLY.
IT'S BEEN
ALMOST THREE YEARS HERE.
READY FOR KING CRAB.
YOU GOT A BUOY THERE?
MY BIGGEST FEAR RIGHT NOW
IS I'VE BEEN OUT OF THE GAME
FOR A WHILE
AND TRYING TO FIND THE CRAB,
YOU KNOW?
HOPE I HAVEN'T LOST MY TOUCH.
JUST GOT TO GO OUT
AND GET 'ER DONE.
[ IMITATES MONKEY CHATTER ]
[ LAUGHS ]
OH, TRAVIS.
Narrator: ALTHOUGH CAPTAIN STEN
IS SIX WEEKS BEHIND
THE REST OF THE FLEET,
HE'S DETERMINED TO REVIVE
THE 20-YEAR
SKAAR FAMILY TRADITION.
NORTH AMERICAN'S
BACK IN ACTION.
FEELS REALLY GOOD TO BE BACK.
HEADING OUT HERE,
IT'S THE FEELING.
FEEL A LITTLE BIT OF ELECTRIC,
YOU KNOW?
HOPEFULLY THE CRAB GODS WILL BE
GOOD TO US WHEN WE SET THEM.
Narrator:
185 MILES NORTH OF DUTCH HARBOR,
THE EARLY DAWN STEAMS TOWARDS
POTS ON AN 18-HOUR SOAK.
CAPTAIN RICK FEHST
MOVED ALL 300 POTS
AFTER PULLING NOTHING
BUT BLANKS, BAIT, AND STARFISH.
I GOT A FEELING WHERE I'M TAKING
THIS GEAR IS GONNA BE JUST FINE.
JUST A HUNCH.
Narrator: AND ON DECK,
GREENHORN BRYAN
CONTINUES TO SLACK OFF.
BUT SINCE ENGINEER MIKE FISH
HAS SPENT THE LAST YEAR
MENTORING BRYAN,
HE DECIDES IT'S TIME
FOR ANOTHER LESSON IN HUMILITY.
AND I'LL DO YOUR JOB.
WANT TO TRY?
20 POTS.
20 POTS.
OVER THE COURSE
OF THE NEXT 20 POTS,
FISH WILL TAKE OVER BAIT DUTIES
WHILE BRYAN RUNS THE RAIL.
COMPETITION ALWAYS GETS
THE BLOOD FLOWING -- ALWAYS.
[ LAUGHS ]
Narrator:
BRYAN'S FIRST SHOT MISSES.
COME ON!
OH!
I DON'T NEED TO DO
THE CIRCLE OF SHAME THIS TIME.
I'LL BACK UP.
Narrator:
AFTER THREE STRAIGHT MISSES,
CAPTAIN RICK THROWS THE BOAT
IN REVERSE --
A HOOK MAN'S BIGGEST INSULT.
Fish: LIKE, THE OTHER DAY,
HE WAS TELLING ME,
"OH, YOU DON'T THINK
I CAN DO THAT?
THAT'S AN EASY JOB
YOU'RE DOING."
NOW HE'S OVER HERE
GETTING FRUSTRATED.
HE SAID HE COULDN'T KEEP UP
WITH THE BAIT.
WELL, I'M MAKING PLENTY OF BAIT,
KEEPING UP.
LIKE THERE -- SECOND HOOK.
MISSED AGAIN.
HE TELLS EVERYBODY ELSE
THAT THEY CAN'T DO IT.
AS YOU CAN SEE HERE,
WE'RE HAVING A LOT OF TROUBLES.
WHOO!
Narrator: FINALLY,
ON BRYAN'S SIXTH THROW,
HE LANDS THE HOOK.
BUOY!
WHOO!
THEY'VE GOT RIDERS ON THE POT --
THE FIRST SIGN IN WEEKS
THAT THEIR CAPTAIN
MAY BE ON THE BITE.
Fish: JUST PICKED UP
30 POUNDS OF CRAB --
$120 ON THE BACK
OF THE POT.
I THINK WE'RE GETTING
ON TO SOMETHING HERE.
SOMETHING GOOD.
WHOO!
[ GRUNTS ]
Fehst:
CRABS ARE ALWAYS ON THE MOVE,
SO THEY'RE HERE TODAY,
GONE TOMORROW.
WELL, IT'S GOOD.
GOOD, GOOD, GOOD.
Narrator: GOOD CRAB KICKS EVEN
THE GREENHORN INTO FULL STRIDE.
WHEN YOU MAKE HIM GO DO THE JOB,
THEN HE CAN DO IT.
BUT HE ALWAYS HAS THE ATTITUDE
"I CAN'T DO IT,"
OR HE DOESN'T WANT TO.
BUT WHEN YOU MAKE HIM DO IT,
HE CAN DO IT.
HE CAN DO THE JOB.
Narrator: AFTER 20 POTS,
BRYAN HEADS BACK
TO THE BAIT BIN.
Mezich:
WE CAN HAUL A STRING
AND EVERYBODY WILL BE TOTALLY
PISSED OFF AND STRESSED OUT.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ALL BLANK
AND WE'RE GETTING NO NUMBERS.
THREE HOURS LATER, WE COULD HAVE
FULL STRING WITH 50s AND 60s --
EVERYBODY'S CHEERING, SCREAMING,
HAVING A GOOD TIME.
THE GUY YOU WERE JUST PISSED AT,
ABOUT TO HIT,
YOU'RE BUDDYING UP WITH.
Fish: CRAB ARE MOVING
RIGHT ON OUR GEAR RIGHT NOW,
SO WE'RE GONNA PICK THESE,
REBAIT THEM HEAVY.
WE'LL SOAK THEM
FOR TWO DAYS.
WE SHOULD SEE 60s AND 70s.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT.
WE'LL LOAD THIS BOAT UP
IN THREE DAYS.
HEAD TO TOWN.
RIDING.
WHOO-HOO!
Narrator: COMING UP...
HOIST AWAY!
...MISCHIEF ON THE WIZARD.
A LITTLE PRESENT
FOR MY FRIEND STEN.
Narrator: AND CAPTAIN SIG MUST
PUT DOWN A DECKHAND UPRISING.
YOU GOT TO MAKE A DECISION
AND GO WITH IT.
HIS DECISION.
GOD, I LOVE MY JOB.
LOVE MY JOB!
IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT,
GET THE HELL OFF.
Narrator: BACK IN THE COMFORTS
OF DUTCH HARBOR,
THE 155-FOOT WIZARD
IS OFF-LOADING
FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS SEASON.
A TANK FULL OF RED KING CRAB.
Narrator: CAPTAIN KEITH COLBURN
FOUND THE CRAB EARLY
AND NEVER LOST THE SCENT.
MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE
YOU DID SOMETHING
WHEN YOU SEE
THAT HATCH GET POPPED
AND IT'S FULL OF CRAB,
RIGHT?
YEAH. DEFINITELY
MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE
THE BUMPS AND BRUISES
WERE WELL WORTH IT.
YEAH.
FOR GREENHORN MOI,
FIVE WEEKS OF BATTLING
THE BERING SEA TOOK ITS TOLL.
DON'T QUIT YOUR DAY JOB
TO COME DO THIS [BLEEP]
Narrator: BUT NOW, THE GREENHORN
FINALLY SEES THE PAYOFF.
I DON'T SEE ANY CRAB IN THERE.
I SEE DOLLARS.
HAVEN'T DONE
THE FINAL TALLY YET,
BUT IT'S LOOKING LIKE WE'RE
AT OR NEAR 200,000 POUNDS,
AND THE GUYS ARE STOKED.
SO AM I.
AFTER 48 HOURS,
THE FINAL BRAILER IS LIFTED.
GRAND TOTAL
FOR THE WIZARD'S FIRST TRIP --
183,000 POUNDS.
THAT'S ALMOST $800,000.
EIGHT SHOTS OF JAGER.
Narrator: BEFORE SHOVING OFF,
CAPTAIN KEITH TAKES HIS BOYS TO
THE BAR FOR A CELEBRATORY SHOT.
WE GOT
A BUCK 68 LEFT IS ALL.
THAT'S IT?
THAT'S IT.
YOU KNOW, WE HAD MORE,
BUT THEN THE NORTH AMERICAN
DECIDED AT THE LAST SECOND
TO GO FISHING,
SO WE GOT THAT CRAB.
FOR THE PAST TWO SEASONS,
KEITH LEASED
THE NORTH AMERICAN'S QUOTA.
NOW, SINCE CAPTAIN STEN'S
RECLAIMED HIS STAKE,
KEITH WANTS REVENGE.
I'M NOT A PRANKSTER KIND OF GUY,
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
WE NEED SOMETHING
THAT'S NEVER BEEN DONE.
WE NEED SOMETHING ORIGINAL.
WHICH ONE ARE WE TAKING?
THE BLUE ONE?
BLUE, GUYS, BLUE.
LYNN.
COME HELP US WITH THIS, LYNN.
HOIST AWAY!
UP.
OH, IT'S RIPE, TOO.
[ LAUGHS ]
HOP IN, GUYS.
LET'S GO.
IT'S A LITTLE PRESENT
FOR MY FRIEND STEN.
STEN'S FULL OF [BLEEP]
WE JUST NEED TO REMIND HIM.
PLUS, IT'S A "WELCOME BACK
TO THE BERING SEA" PRESENT.
LYNN!
[ LAUGHS ]
HELL, ARE YOU GONNA RIDE?
GO AHEAD. GET IN THERE.
I WAS USING THE BATHROOM.
Narrator: 200 MILES NORTHEAST
OF DUTCH HARBOR,
AFTER LEAVING PROVEN GROUNDS,
NORTHWESTERN CAPTAIN SIG HANSEN
APPROACHES THE FIRST POT
OF THE STRING HE SET
IN NEW TERRITORY.
BEST-CASE SCENARIO
FOR US RIGHT NOW
IS IF THAT FIRST LOAD OF GEAR
HITS REAL WELL.
Narrator:
SIG TOOK A HUGE GAMBLE.
HE LEFT THE HIGHEST NUMBERS
HE'S SEEN ALL SEASON ON A HUNCH.
HE'S GOING FOR THE BIG HIT.
I MEAN, WE GOT A LOT
OF QUOTA LEFT.
WE DO HAVE A LOT OF CRAB
TO CATCH.
Sig: WE'RE UNDER THE GUN
AS FAR AS GETTING UNLOADED
BY OUR DATES.
WE'VE BEEN UNDER THE GUN
AS FAR AS TRYING TO GET UNLOADED
NOW BEFORE PRICE DROP.
SO, IT'S IMPORTANT TO US TO TRY
TO STAY ON CONSISTENT FISHING.
GUYS...
SO, THE FIRST POTS OF OUR FIRST
SET ARE COMING UP HERE.
WE'LL SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT.
18. UGH.
WE WANT MORE THAN THAT.
WHAT WAS THAT ONE --
ANOTHER TEEN?
18, 17.
NOT SO GOOD.
Narrator: AT THIS RATE,
IF SIG STAYED ON PROVEN GROUNDS,
HE COULD HAVE PULLED
THREE TIMES AS MUCH CRAB.
AND THE SALTY DECKHANDS
AREN'T PLEASED.
GOT TO POINT THE FINGER
AT SOMEBODY.
WELL, I MEAN, YOU GOT TO MAKE
A DECISION AND GO WITH IT.
RIGHT OR WRONG, YOU HAVE TO SET
YOUR POT SOMEWHERE.
YEAH, YOU GOT TO HAVE
A FALL GUY.
HIS DECISION.
YOU HAVE TO PICK AN AREA AND
WORK IT AND TAKE YOUR CHANCES.
NEED TO FIND A SPOT HERE.
WE DO HAVE AN UNLOAD DATE.
WE DO HAVE JUST A FEW DAYS
TO FILL THIS BOAT NOW.
I WANT TO FILL THIS BOAT.
I NEED TO FILL THIS BOAT AGAIN.
Narrator: NOW THE CREW IS BACK
ON A LOW-NUMBER GRIND,
A HEAVIER WORKLOAD,
AND MORE TIME AT SEA.
Sig: MONEY IS NOT THE ISSUE
FOR US RIGHT NOW.
IT'S TIME.
TIME IS WHAT MAKES US MONEY.
YOU KNOW, WE SPENT
A LOT OF TIME MOVING GEAR,
SO NOW I GOT TO MAKE UP
THAT TIME BY HAULING SOME POTS.
I MEAN, AS LONG
AS THERE'S CRAB AROUND
AND WE CAN GRIND AWAY,
WE WILL GRIND.
GOD, I LOVE MY JOB.
I LOVE MY JOB!
IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT,
GET THE HELL OFF.
Narrator: COMING UP...
THE EARLY DAWN KID'S SHOT
AT REDEMPTION.
AND THE WIZARD'S SECOND TRIP
COULD BE HER GREENHORN'S LAST.
VERY, VERY, VERY TIRED
RIGHT NOW.
WE'LL SEE HOW THIS SECOND TRIP
TREATS HIM.
Narrator: 185 MILES TO
THE NORTHEAST OF DUTCH HARBOR,
THE 110-FOOT NORTH AMERICAN
HAS REACHED THE SOUTHERN EDGE
OF THE KING CRAB
FISHING GROUNDS.
TO CAPTAIN STEN,
IT'S A WELCOME SIGHT.
BUT HIS STAKES
HAVE NEVER BEEN HIGHER.
RED CRAB, TO ME,
IS LIKE SUPER BOWL OF FOOTBALL.
UNTIL YOU HAUL THAT POT,
IT'S LIKE CHRISTMAS, YOU KNOW.
YOU DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE GONNA GET.
WHAT'S UP, ERIK?
YO HO HO!
Narrator:
ALTHOUGH STEN IS SIX WEEKS LATE,
HE HAS HIRED HIRED FRIEND
AND FELLOW SKIPPER ERIK NYHAMMER
AND WILL RELY HEAVILY
ON HIS KNOWLEDGE OF THE GROUNDS.
ARE YOU GONNA RUN
IN A CERTAIN DIRECTION?
I COULD SET
STRAIGHT NORTH ON THESE.
I WOULD MOST DEFINITELY FAVOR
IN THIS GULLY.
Skaar:
ERIK'S DEFINITELY AN ASSET.
YEAH, HE'S BEEN FISHING
A LONG TIME.
HE KNOWS THIS OCEAN VERY WELL.
TO HAVE TWO CAPTAINS ON BOARD,
YOU LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER AND
YOU CAN TOSS DIFFERENT IDEAS.
READY TO GET THESE
IN THE WATER.
YOU GUYS CAN RELAX.
I'M HERE.
GO AHEAD AND GET THE DECK
READY, JOHN.
WE'RE GONNA SET WITH IT,
SO IT'LL BE A NICE SET.
FIRST POT OF THE SEASON HERE
WE'RE GONNA SET.
OUR FIRST STRING
IS GONNA BE 23 -- 2-3.
Skaar: THIS IS IT.
THIS IS WHAT
WE'VE BEEN WORKING FOR NOW.
A LOT OF PREPARATION
WENT INTO THIS MOMENT HERE.
IT'S AMAZING
ALL THE TIME AND HOURS
COMES DOWN TO THE FIRST POT.
FIRST POT!
YEP! WHOO!
WHOO-HOO!
OVER!
Narrator: DROPPING FIRST POTS
IS A TRIUMPHANT MOMENT,
BUT THIS GEAR COMES
WITH A TICKING CLOCK.
SINCE THE POTS BELONG TO ERIK,
FISH AND GAME
WILL ONLY ALLOW THE SKIPPER
A TWO-WEEK WINDOW
TO FISH THE BORROWED GEAR.
THE TIMING HAS TO BE PERFECT
IN ORDER TO GET DONE.
EVERYTHING HAS TO GO
JUST LIKE A CLOCK.
Narrator: STEN SKAAR'S RETURN
COUNTS ON THIS TRIP
RUNNING FLAWLESSLY,
BUT PERFECTION IS HARD TO CATCH
ON THE BERING SEA.
Skaar: ONE POT AT A TIME.
ONE DAY AT A TIME, YOU KNOW?
JUST CHIP AWAY.
Narrator: 20 MILES TO THE WEST,
THE WIZARD STEAMS NORTH
TOWARDS SOAKING POTS
AND A MOUNTING STORM FRONT.
Keith: THE WEATHER IS UP.
IT'S NASTY, BUT IT'S MANAGEABLE.
SO WE'RE WORKING IN IT.
Narrator:
AS THE BOAT APPROACHES THE GEAR,
KEITH TAKES A QUICK DETOUR
TO TARGET CAPTAIN STEN SKAAR
ON THE NORTH AMERICAN.
Keith: HEY, YOU GUYS, WE'RE NOT
GONNA HAVE TO GO TOO FAR
TO FIND THE NORTH AMERICAN.
I TRACKED HIM. HE'S RIGHT OFF
THE END OF OUR STRING HERE.
NOW WE CAN GET RID
OF OUR PACKAGE.
OUR PRESENT.
WE'RE DONE WITH OUR HOLES
FOR FLOW.
GET THE FLOW GOING THROUGH THERE
SO IT DON'T FALL APART.
IF IT COMES UP IN ONE PIECE,
IT SHOULD BE PRETTY FUNNY.
Keith: SHUT THE DOOR, BOYS!
TIME TO LAUNCH HER.
[ LAUGHS ]
HEADS-UP.
ONCE IT FILLS UP WITH WATER,
SHE'LL SINK LIKE A ROCK.
BON VOYAGE.
YEAH! WHOO!
GOOD!
COME ON, GUYS.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALREADY KIND OF
DONE OUR GOOFING AROUND.
NOW IT'S TIME
TO START HAULING GEAR.
Narrator: 30 MINUTES AFTER
DROPPING THE PRANK POTTY,
SEAS SURGE TO 30 FEET
AND WIND PICKS UP
TO 50 MILES AN HOUR.
WE GOT A 90-POUND STRING
WE'RE PULLING
AND IT'S PRETTY [BLEEP] OUT,
AND I GOT TO THROW HERE.
WHOA, GARY.
GOT TO HANG BACK HERE
TILL IT'S UP THERE!
OH, YEAH!
IT'S GETTING STARTED
OUT HERE NOW!
THAT'S RIGHT.
LET IT GO FORWARD A LITTLE.
GOOD.
THIS IS JUST LOVELY.
Narrator:
AS WATER POURS OVER THE RAIL
AND RAIN PELTS THE MEN,
GREENHORN MOI CAN'T KEEP
THE MOST IMPORTANT PART
OF HIS FISHING EQUIPMENT DRY --
HIS HANDS.
MY GLOVES ARE ON THE OUTSIDE
'CAUSE MY RAINCOAT
KEEPS SLIDING UP OVER THEM.
I TRIED RUBBER BANDS.
I TRIED ALL KINDS OF [BLEEP]
HEY, MOI, COULD YOU COME UP
TO THE WINDOW
FOR ME HERE REAL QUICK?
HEY.
SHOW ME YOUR HANDS.
I WANT TO SEE YOUR [BLEEP]
NO.
WHAT IS THIS?
IT KEEPS SLIDING UP.
LISTEN, YOU GOT TO --
I'M DOING MY BEST, MOI,
TO HELP YOU WITH YOUR HANDS,
ALL RIGHT?
BUT YOU'VE GOT TO USE
SOME COMMON SENSE, TOO.
I'LL BET YOUR HANDS ARE SOAKING
WET RIGHT NOW, AREN'T THEY?
THEY'RE NOT BAD RIGHT NOW.
WELL, THEY'RE
GONNA GET BAD.
YOU'RE GONNA HAUL
90 POTS IN A ROW,
AND YOU'VE GOT TO GET THE ORANGE
OVER THE BLUE.
USE SOME RUBBERS --
WHATEVER IT TAKES.
YOU GOT TO WORK WITH ME HERE,
ALL RIGHT?
OTHERWISE, YOU'RE HANDS
ARE GONNA BE GARBAGE,
AND THEY'RE GONNA BE
COMPLETELY WORTHLESS.
I'M TRYING TO KEEP THEM DOWN,
AND I TRIED THE RUBBERS.
THEY KEEP SLIDING UP.
THEN GO
TO A DIFFERENT JACKET.
OKAY.
ALL RIGHT?
HELP ME OUT ON THIS ONE,
ALL RIGHT?
GOSH DARN IT, MAN.
WELL, YOUR HANDS
GET WET AND SWEATY REGARDLESS,
BUT YOU CAN'T HAVE YOUR COAT
INSIDE YOUR GLOVES
LIKE IT'S TRYING
TO DO TO YOU.
Keith: LOOK AT THE KID.
KID'S GOT THAT YELLOW JACKET ON.
IT'S GOT
THE NEOPRENE SLEEVES ON.
NICE AND SNUG DOWN.
HANDS ARE TOASTY-WARM AND DRY.
HIS HANDS ARE FINE.
WE GOT MR. MOI HERE,
DECIDES HE'S GONNA SET
SOME TREND
AND PUT HIS GLOVES OUTSIDE
OF HIS ORANGE JACKET.
I MEAN, YOU MIGHT AS WELL
JUST HAVE A FUNNEL
WITH WATER DRAINING
DOWN IN THERE.
WORKING MAN'S HANDS.
BEAT UP.
BANGED UP.
LAST THING I NEED
IS TO GO SHORTHANDED
BECAUSE SOMEBODY'S HANDS
FALL COMPLETELY APART.
THESE ARE MY WORKING HANDS.
YOU LOOK AT MOI'S HANDS,
AND YOU LOOK AT THE KID'S HANDS.
THE KID'S HANDS
DON'T EVEN LOOK LIKE
THEY'RE EVEN BEAT UP AT ALL.
I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T GET IT.
Narrator:
AFTER GETTING HIS GEAR STRAIGHT,
MOI HEADS BACK OUT
FOR THE FINAL 45 POTS.
I'M FEELING VERY,
VERY, VERY, TIRED RIGHT NOW.
I WOULD LOVE TO CATCH
A LITTLE NAP.
Keith: IT'S A LITTLE EARLY NOW
TO BE LOOKING HAGGARD.
SHOULD BE PRETTY FRESH
RIGHT NOW.
WE'LL SEE HOW THIS SECOND TRIP
TREATS HIM.
Narrator: COMING UP...
THE FATE OF THE NORTH AMERICAN
IS AT STAKE.
THE CRAB COUNT.
DESPITE THEIR BEST EFFORTS,
THE EARLY DAWN AND
THE NORTH AMERICAN ARE TRAILING.
Narrator: IN THE EARLY MORNING,
185 MILES TO THE NORTHEAST
OF DUTCH HARBOR,
THE NORTH AMERICAN APPROACHES
HER FIRST STRING
OF PROSPECT POTS
AFTER A 12-HOUR SOAK.
AFTER SPENDING THREE YEARS
ON THE SIDELINES,
CAPTAIN STEN SKAAR
HAS A LOT TO PROVE.
THIS IS OUR FIRST POT
OF KING CRAB HERE.
POT NUMBER E-3.
YEAH, THERE'S
A LOT OF STRESSES HERE.
IT DOES WEIGH ON YOU.
Man:
FIRST POT OF THE SEASON.
IT'S GONNA SET THE TONE.
FIRST POT.
HERE IT COMES.
ALL RIGHT.
COMING UP!
WAITING FOR THE COUNT HERE.
3.
HERE YOU GO.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S LIFE HERE.
PRETTY AVERAGE RIGHT NOW.
BUT I DIDN'T COME UP HERE TO DO
AVERAGE.
IT'S KIND OF
A SMALL AVERAGE, SO...
THINK THIS IS A DESERT AREA.
Narrator:
DAWN BREAKS OVER CALM SEAS.
FOR THE PAST 4 HOURS,
CAPTAIN STEN
HAS HAULED 12 TEST POTS
FROM THREE SEPARATE STRINGS,
BUT ONLY CAUGHT
A FEW HUNDRED KEEPERS.
NOW, WITH THE LAST
PROSPECT STRING OFF HER BOW
AND THE FATE OF THE NEXT 13 DAYS
RESTING AT THE BOTTOM
OF THE OCEAN,
THE CREW RALLIES
IN HOPE OF BETTER NUMBERS.
GOOD SHOT.
WE'RE HOPING FOR THE BEST.
KIND OF NERVE-RACKING,
THAT'S FOR SURE.
HERE IT COMES.
WHOA.
WHERE'S --
WHOA!
[ LAUGHS ]
YEAH.
WHERE'S THE POT?
I KNEW IT.
AW!
[ CHUCKLES ] YEAH.
WHOA!
OH, NO.
[ LAUGHTER ]
I JUST HOPE THERE'S CRAB IN IT,
THAT'S ALL.
THERE BETTER BE CRAB IN THERE.
THAT'S ALL I GOT TO SAY.
[ LAUGHTER ]
"ERIC'S DINER."
"ERIC'S DINER."
[ LAUGHS ]
Narrator: THE COMEBACK KID
ISN'T CATCHING CRAB,
BUT RATHER A BERING SEA
WELCOME-HOME CARD,
COURTESY OF THEIR FRIENDS
ON THE WIZARD.
Skaar: WE'RE GONNA KEEP IT
FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION.
[ LAUGHS ]
WE'RE GONNA GET
TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS.
IT'S JUST GOOD TO BE BACK, MAN,
AFTER TWO YEARS --
SEEING THE GUYS EXCITED.
THERE'S NOT A FEELING
LIKE IT IN THE WORLD,
YOU KNOW, LIKE THIS?
Narrator:
EMPTY TANKS AND A TICKING CLOCK,
IT'S BACK TO BUSINESS.
THE FIRST POT COMES
OVER THE RAIL STUFFED WITH CRAB.
ALL RIGHT.
WHOA, LOOK AT THAT!
WOW!
[ LAUGHS ]
BUT AFTER THE SORT...
KIND OF SORTED A LOT OF FEMALES.
Narrator: THE BUZZ
OF THE FIRST POT IS SHORT-LIVED.
THE CRAB ARE MOSTLY FEMALES
AND JUVENILES
AND MUST BE TOSSED
TO PRESERVE THE HARVEST.
THERE WAS ONLY 22
IN THE FIRST POT.
SO, WE'RE GONNA STACK THEM
ON BOARD
BECAUSE THINGS MIGHT IMPROVE
AS WE KEEP HAULING.
SO, IF IT CLEANS UP,
WE HAVE OUR BULLETS BACK ON
THE STERN READY TO BE LAUNCHED.
LOT OF SORTING HERE.
IT'S GONNA GO SLOWER
WITH MORE CRAB.
600, 700 CRAB,
AND 10 OF THEM ARE GOING
DOWN IN THE TANK.
WE'RE NOT TOO INTO THOSE RATIOS.
Narrator: AFTER THREE STRINGS
OF JUNK CRAB,
THE NORTH AMERICAN
HAS SPENT MORE TIME SORTING
THAN HAULING POTS.
AND TIME IS THE ONE THING
THEY CAN'T WASTE.
Skaar: IT WOULD BE REAL DRAG
AT THIS POINT, YOU KNOW,
EVERYTHING WE'VE DONE --
WORKED SO HARD
TO HAVE THINGS GO SOUR ON US
AND MY DAD DECIDES
NOT TO FISH THE BOAT
JUST BECAUSE
THE NUMBERS AREN'T THERE.
Narrator: ACROSS THE FLEET,
EVERY CAPTAIN SETS HIS SIGHTS
ON THE FINISH LINE.
WITH TWO WEEKS LEFT,
THE PRESSURE TO FINISH STRONG
SITS SQUARELY ON THE MAN
IN THE WHEELHOUSE.
ON THE NEXT "DEADLIEST CATCH"...
IT'S A RACE TO THE FINISH LINE
AS CREWS FACE BATTLE
EPIC STORMS.
ABOUT TIME WE GOT
A LITTLE EXCITEMENT AROUND HERE.
WHOA!
CAPTAINS STOP AT NOTHING
TO CASH IN ONE LAST TIME.
73?
[ LAUGHS ]
WHOA!
WE'RE NEVER GOING HOME.
THERE'S A BIG ONE COMING HERE.
WHOA! HO HO HO!
EVERYBODY WONDERS WHY I SMOKE
LIKE A [BLEEP] CHOO-CHOO TRAIN.
Narrator: AND FOR ONE CAPTAIN,
THIS RACE MAY BE HIS LAST.
THE HUNT CONTINUES
FOR THE DEADLIEST CATCH.
TO THE FINISH LINE CONTINUES.
IT'S 5 WEEKS INTO
AN ALASKAN KING CRAB SEASON
PLAGUED BY BAD WEATHER...
WHOO!
...AND MIXED FISHING.
WHOA HO!
WHOO!
LOOK AT THAT!
THE TIME BANDIT, SKIPPERED
BY JOHNATHAN HILLSTRAND,
AND THE WIZARD, UNDER CAPTAIN
KEITH COLBURN'S COMMAND,
HAD NO TROUBLE FINDING
AND STAYING ON THE CRAB.
THAT'S A POT TO END ON.
RIGHT ON.
RED GOLD RIGHT THERE!
CRAB FISHING THERE, BABY.
BUT FISHING HAS BEEN A BUST
FOR CAPTAIN SIG HANSEN
ON THE NORTHWESTERN...
[ EXHALES DEEPLY ]
Narrator: ...AND PHIL HARRIS
ON THE CORNELIA MARIE.
I MEAN, URGENCY IS GONNA START
BEING A KEY FACTOR HERE.
Narrator: WEEKS AWAY
FROM FINAL OFF-LOADS,
THE FATE
OF EVERY DECKHAND'S PAYCHECK
RIDES ON ONE MAN'S SHOULDERS...
THE CAPTAIN.
[ MID-TEMPO ROCK MUSIC PLAYS ]
220 MILES NORTHEAST
OF DUTCH HARBOR,
THE NORTHWESTERN
IS BACK ON THE HUNT.
AFTER OFF-LOADING 180,000 POUNDS
FOR 756,000 BUCKS,
CAPTAIN SIG
FACES A NEW DEADLINE.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET
THIS CRAB IN BY THE 11th.
THAT'S --
THEY CLAIM TO DROP THE PRICE
IF WE DON'T GET IT IN THERE
BY THEN.
SO, OUR GOAL
IS TO TRY TO FILL THIS BOAT
AND GET IT IN
BEFORE THAT PRICE DROPS.
[ GRINDING ]
AS FAR AS THE FISHING,
HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET A GOOD PICK
OUT OF THIS GEAR.
I'M NOT EXPECTING MIRACLES.
HOW'D IT LOOK?
43.
43. GOOD.
Narrator: POT AFTER POT
OF GOOD, CLEAN CRAB
CONTINUE TO HIT THE TABLES.
LOOKING PRETTY GOOD.
60 OR SOMETHING.
IT'S BEEN OUR BEST STRING
OUT WEST HERE.
MAKES YOU HAPPY TO SEE IT.
AT THE SAME TIME,
IT MAKES YOU WONDER
IF YOU'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING.
Narrator:
WITH JUST 9 DAYS TO CATCH
HIS REMAINING
190,000 POUNDS OF QUOTA,
EVERY DECISION SIG MAKES
MUST COUNT.
EVERY TIME YOU SET A POT BACK --
"AM I DOING THE RIGHT THING?"
OR EVERY TIME YOU STACK,
GET MOVING SOMEWHERE --
"IS THIS THE RIGHT MOVE?"
YOU'RE ALWAYS
SECOND-GUESSING YOURSELF,
AT LEAST I DO.
Narrator: WITH SUCH SCARCE CRAB
ON THE GROUNDS,
SIG'S RELUCTANT TO SET BACK,
EVEN AS HE AVERAGES
60 KEEPERS A POT.
Sig: WE'VE GOT A COUPLE MORE
TRIPS TO DO HERE,
AND WE NEED TO STAY
ON DECENT FISHING.
SO, I THINK WE'RE GONNA GO
THE OTHER WAY AND JUST --
NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT.
PICK THEM UP.
IF WE GET A DECENT PICK,
JUST "THANK YOU
FOR THE GOOD PICK," AND GO.
I DON'T WANT TO WASTE
A LOT OF TIME
SCRATCHING AROUND
ON AN AREA'S THAT'S BEEN HIT.
THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING
BIGGER AND BETTER.
Narrator: BUT FOR EDGAR, LEAVING
BETTER-THAN-AVERAGE NUMBERS
IS A HARD PILL TO SWALLOW.
I'M READY TO SET BACK.
[ CHUCKLES ]
YEAH, THAT KIND OF SCARES ME,
LEAVING ALL THIS FOR SOMETHING
WE DON'T KNOW, BUT WHATEVER.
HE MUST KNOW
SOMETHING WE DON'T.
HE BETTER.
IT'S LIKE A GAMBLE, YOU KNOW?
FISHING IS A GAMBLE.
YOU GOT TO JUST GO
WITH YOUR GUT,
GO WITH WHAT YOU SEE
AND DO IT
AND TRY NOT TO LOOK BACK.
WALKING AWAY.
Narrator: WITH PRESSURE MOUNTING
OVER A POTENTIAL WRONG MOVE,
SIG HEADS DECKSIDE
TO EASE ANY CREW CONCERNS.
I KNOW THIS PLACE
WILL COME BACK TO LIFE.
IT'S JUST WHEN.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
RIGHT.
AFTER EVERYBODY LEAVES.
AFTER EVERYBODY LEAVES?
YEAH.
BUT, I MEAN, THE FACT IS
IT'S NOT FAST FISHING -- PERIOD.
I THINK WE DID THE RIGHT THING.
YOU KNOW, FOR NOW,
WE DID THE RIGHT THING.
READY?
Man: GAME ON.
GAME ON!
IT'S ALL LIES.
EVERY DAMN BIT OF IT.
Sig: I JUST DON'T THINK THAT THE
VOLUME WE'RE SEEING IN THE POTS
OR THE SORT WE'RE SEEING
IS ENOUGH TO JUSTIFY
STICKING AROUND RIGHT NOW.
MAYBE IT IS.
I MEAN, I COULD BE WRONG.
BUT I REALLY DON'T GIVE
A [BLEEP]
I'M NOT BUYING IT
TILL I SEE CRAB IN THOSE POTS.
THEN I'LL BELIEVE IT.
Narrator:
NIGHT FALLS ON THE BERING SEA,
120 MILES TO THE NORTHWEST
ON THE TIME BANDIT.
Man on radio: TONIGHT,
NORTHWEST WINDS 40 KNOTS.
SEAS 21 FEET.
RAIN.
THIS WON'T BE VERY PRETTY.
WHOO!
Narrator: 25-FOOT SEAS
AND A SHORTHANDED CREW
ISN'T ENOUGH TO STOP
CAPTAIN JOHNATHAN FROM FISHING.
BUT IT WON'T MAKE THINGS
ANY EASIER.
WE GOT A LONG
TWO WEEKS OR WHATEVER.
WE GOT A BROKEN ANKLE.
WE'VE HAD ALMOST
AN ELECTRICAL FIRE.
WE'VE HAD
ALL KINDS OF BAD [BLEEP]
KNOCK ON WOOD.
Narrator: BUT JOHNATHAN'S PLAN
IS TO HAUL GEAR
UNTIL CONDITIONS
GET TOO DANGEROUS TO FISH.
SURE KNOCK ON A LOT OF WOOD
AROUND HERE.
Narrator:
THE WIND AND SWELLS ARE RISING.
HO HO-O-O HO!
OH, YEAH!
WOW, HE'S A BIG ONE.
92.
92 KING CRAB IN ONE POT.
CRAB COMING!
YEAH!
Narrator: THE CRAB MAY BE SCARCE
FOR SOME SKIPPERS,
BUT JOHNATHAN'S BEEN
ON A HOT STREAK
FOR NEARLY FOUR WEEKS,
AND HE'S SHOWING NO SIGNS
OF SLOWING DOWN.
IT'S TIME TO PLAY.
95.
95.
95.
Narrator: AS INCREASING WESTERLY
WINDS BLOW AGAINST THE TIDE,
LARGE CONFUSED SEAS BEGIN TO
BATTER THE DECK AND THE CREW.
THEN, SUDDENLY...
WATCH OUT!
WHOA!
HEADS-UP!
CAREFUL, SHEA.
FROM THE PULLEY.
Narrator: A 4-INCH STEEL PIN
SUPPORTING
THE PICKING-HOOK PULLEY SNAPS.
WITHOUT WARNING,
40 FEET OF HEAVY-GAUGE STEEL
WIRE CAREENS TOWARDS THE DECK,
MISSING GREENHORN SHEA LONG
BY A MERE 3 FEET.
THAT'S DANGEROUS [BLEEP] THERE.
[ SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY ]
DID THE SPOOL
FLY OUT OF THE PULLEY?
IT'S ON DECK?
DID YOU SEE WHERE IT LANDED?
IT'S STILL UP THERE?
PICKING BOOM BLEW UP.
WE WEREN'T HOOKED TO THE POT.
IF IT WOULD'VE BEEN HOOKED UP
TO THE POT,
IT WOULD'VE PULLED THE CABLE
RIGHT OVER SHEA'S BODY
AND PROBABLY
CUT HIM IN HALF.
Narrator: IF THE PICKING HOOK
HAD BEEN ATTACHED
TO AN 800-POUND CRAB POT,
THE TENSION
WOULD HAVE YANKED THE CABLE
TAUT AGAINST THE RAIL,
KILLING GREENHORN SHEA
INSTANTLY.
LITERALLY, LIKE,
I'M HERE NOW,
BUT SHOULD IT HAVE BROKEN
FIVE SECONDS LATER,
HALF OF ME WOULD PROBABLY BE
IN THE OCEAN
AND HALF OF ME
WOULD BE ON DECK.
Johnathan:
HOW YOU GONNA STOP
WHEN YOU BUY A BLOCK
FROM A FACTORY
SOME [BLEEP] SLACKER IN INDIANA
OR WHEREVER THEY BUILT
THAT SON OF A [BLEEP]
OUGHT TO BE KICKED
RIGHT IN THE [BLEEP]
HE ALMOST KILLED SOMEBODY, OKAY?
Narrator: COMING UP...
A GREENHORN THREATENS
THE EARLY DAWN SEASON.
TRYING TO MAKE
A DOLLAR HERE, DUDE.
LAZY.
LAZY KIDS.
Narrator: AND THE TIME BANDIT
TEMPTS FATE ONCE AGAIN.
ONE FALSE MOVE, YOU'RE DEAD.
Narrator: 245 MILES NORTHEAST
OF DUTCH HARBOR,
THE TIME BANDIT
HAS STOPPED FISHING.
CAPTAIN JOHNATHAN SLOWLY JOGS
IN 25-FOOT SEAS
AND 40-KNOT WINDS
AS THE CREW EXAMINES CARNAGE
FROM AN EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTION...
...THAT ALMOST KILLED
GREENHORN SHEA LONG.
THAT'S DANGEROUS [BLEEP] THERE.
Narrator:
ENGINEER NEAL HILLSTRAND
LOWERS THE BOOM
SO ANDY CAN ASSESS THE DAMAGE.
WHOA! GOOD!
WELL, WE GOT LUCKY TO FIND
A USED PULLEY, 6 TON,
INSTEAD OF A 5-TON PULLEY
THAT SHATTERED ON US.
GOOD?
YEAH.
Narrator:
THE PULLEY IS SET IN PLACE,
BUT THE ONLY WAY
TO ATTACH THE SAFETY CHAIN
IS TO CLIMB THE 50-FOOT MAST.
Neal:
WHO WANTS TO CLIMB UP THERE?
BLOWING 40 -- ONE FALSE MOVE,
YOU'RE DEAD.
STAND BY.
Narrator:
NEAL SLOWLY SCALES THE MAST
WHILE JOHNATHAN KEEPS A WATCHFUL
EYE FOR ANY INCOMING WAVES
THAT COULD KNOCK HIS BROTHER
OFF THE MAST.
IT AIN'T REALLY
AN EASY THING TO DO TO --
CLIMBING UP THAT LADDER
IN 40-KNOT WIND.
GET IT?
WE'RE BACK IN ACTION.
Neal: KIND OF WEAR YOU OUT.
IT'S SCARY UP THERE, CLIMBING UP
THERE TO HOOK THAT HOOK.
PULLING LIKE 45 UP THERE.
WIND'S TRYING
TO BLOW YOU OFF THE TOP.
YOU'RE HANGING ON FOR YOUR LIFE.
PUMP YOU OUT.
Narrator: NOW,
WITH THE NEW BLOCK ATTACHED,
THE HILLSTRANDS
GET BACK TO BUSINESS.
Johnathan: IF YOU SEE HOW MANY
TIMES I KNOCKED ON WOOD
THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS,
I'D HAVE KNOCKED
ON EVERY SQUARE INCH
OF THIS [BLEEP]
[BLEEP] AREA HERE ON WOOD.
I'M DONE KNOCKING ON WOOD.
NOBODY KNOCKS ON WOOD,
OR I'LL KICK THEIR ASS.
HOW ABOUT THAT?
Narrator: 45 MILES TO THE WEST,
THE 108-FOOT EARLY DAWN
IS FISHING
IN THE CALM AFTER THE STORM.
OH!
WITH SUCH FEW CRAB IN THE HOLD,
CAPTAIN RICK FEHST
HAS SPENT THE LAST TWO WEEKS
MOVING HIS GEAR.
AND TODAY,
THE COLD STREAK CONTINUES.
SPOT CHECK. SPOT CHECK.
SPOT CHECK.
IT'S LIKE A NO-MAN'S-LAND.
GARBAGE DUMP.
AW, MAN.
5.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE PULLED 300 POTS.
WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A VISUAL
ON THE TANKS.
THAT'S DEFINITELY A LOT OF GEAR
FOR NO VISION OF THE CRAB TANKS.
WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY
ON THE SORT TABLE.
WHOOP! WHOOP! WHOOP!
Narrator: THE ONLY LIFE
IN THE POTS ARE TINY STARFISH.
WHEN YOU GET ALL THESE STARFISH
IN THE POTS,
IT MEANS HE SET THE GEAR
ON A LITTLE BIT OF A HARD SPOT.
AND THE CRAB TEND TO AVOID
THAT TYPE OF BOTTOM.
IT'S 60-HOUR SOAK, SO...
MY THEORY NOW IS
THESE CRAB ARE OFF THE BITE.
Narrator:
BAD FISHING BREEDS LOW MORALE,
AND WITH THE CREW STILL FIRED UP
OVER BRYAN NODDING OFF
AT THE WHEEL,
THE GREENHORN BECOMES
AN EASY SCAPEGOAT.
ALMOST MADE IT IN TIME.
WHEN ARE TWO GUYS WORKING?
NEVER.
ONE POT.
WE'VE GOT TIME IN BETWEEN.
I KEEP TRYING, CHIEF.
UNDERSTAND
IT'S GOT TO BE DONE.
I HAVEN'T BEEN STANDING AROUND.
I'VE BEEN TRYING.
I WANT IT DONE.
I KNOW HOW TO DO IT.
LAZY. LAZY KIDS.
TRYING TO MAKE
A DOLLAR HERE, DUDE.
I SEEN YOU IN THE LAST STRING.
YOU WERE DRAGGING ASS.
DRAGGING ASS.
[ LAUGHS ]
Narrator: SINCE EXTRA TIME
SPENT OUT AT SEA
ISN'T REFLECTED
IN THE CREW'S PAYCHECKS,
RICK NEEDS TO LAND ON CRAB SOON.
OTHERWISE, HE MAY FIND HIMSELF
IN THE MIDDLE OF MUTINY.
COMING UP...
AN OLD LEGACY EMERGES.
3 YEARS SINCE WE DID
RED CRAB SEASON,
AND IT FEELS REALLY GOOD
TO BE BACK.
FIRST POT!
WHOO!
WHOO-HOO!
THE TIMING HAS TO BE PERFECT
IN ORDER TO GET DONE.
Narrator: BACK IN DUTCH,
AFTER A THREE-YEAR LEAVE
OF ABSENCE FROM THE BERING SEA,
THE 110-FOOT NORTH AMERICAN
REJOINS THE HUNT
FOR RED KING CRAB.
[ GRUNTS ]
A LITTLE MORE, TRAVIS.
ONE, TWO...
OVERHEAD.
OVERHEAD.
IS THAT
YOUR GO-TO-SEA SUIT?
[ LAUGHS ]
GOT TO BRIGHTEN IT UP --
MAKE IT FESTIVE HERE, YOU KNOW?
IT'S THE FIRST TIME BACK
IN THREE YEARS.
WHAT ARE YOU, NORWEGIAN?
110% NORWEGIAN.
STEN SKAAR, SECOND-GENERATION
NORWEGIAN FISHERMAN,
WILL TAKE THE HELM.
THINGS FIRED UP HERE.
WE'LL HEAR THE ROAR
OF THE 399 KITTY CAT,
AND WE'LL BE READY TO GO.
Narrator: BUT THE ROAD
TO A COMEBACK WASN'T EASY.
IT TOOK SOME NEGOTIATING
FOR STEN TO TALK HIS DAD
AND BOAT OWNER ERLING
INTO LETTING THE NORTH AMERICAN
COME OUT OF RETIREMENT.
...FUEL, INSURANCE.
THIS IS WHAT WE DO.
WE'VE DONE THIS FOR 20 YEARS.
I JUST WANT A SHOT.
AND I DESERVE A SHOT.
IT HAS TO BE JUSTIFIED, STEN,
THE NUMBERS.
YOU CAN'T JUST DO IT
JUST BECAUSE YOU THINK
IT'D BE A FUN THING TO DO.
SO, LET'S SEE IF YOU CAN
GET THE NUMBERS, THEN.
YOU WANT NUMBERS?
I'LL GET YOU NUMBERS.
FINALLY,
WEEKS INTO THE CRAB SEASON,
STEN CONVINCED HIS OLD MAN
TO GIVE HIM A SHOT.
[ AIR HORN BLOWS ]
TRAPPED JUST BEYOND THE STERN.
LET THE STERN GO.
GOOD LUCK, FELLAS.
THANKS.
BE SAFE.
THANKS, CORY.
WELL, WE'RE
LEAVING DUTCH FINALLY.
IT'S BEEN
ALMOST THREE YEARS HERE.
READY FOR KING CRAB.
YOU GOT A BUOY THERE?
MY BIGGEST FEAR RIGHT NOW
IS I'VE BEEN OUT OF THE GAME
FOR A WHILE
AND TRYING TO FIND THE CRAB,
YOU KNOW?
HOPE I HAVEN'T LOST MY TOUCH.
JUST GOT TO GO OUT
AND GET 'ER DONE.
[ IMITATES MONKEY CHATTER ]
[ LAUGHS ]
OH, TRAVIS.
Narrator: ALTHOUGH CAPTAIN STEN
IS SIX WEEKS BEHIND
THE REST OF THE FLEET,
HE'S DETERMINED TO REVIVE
THE 20-YEAR
SKAAR FAMILY TRADITION.
NORTH AMERICAN'S
BACK IN ACTION.
FEELS REALLY GOOD TO BE BACK.
HEADING OUT HERE,
IT'S THE FEELING.
FEEL A LITTLE BIT OF ELECTRIC,
YOU KNOW?
HOPEFULLY THE CRAB GODS WILL BE
GOOD TO US WHEN WE SET THEM.
Narrator:
185 MILES NORTH OF DUTCH HARBOR,
THE EARLY DAWN STEAMS TOWARDS
POTS ON AN 18-HOUR SOAK.
CAPTAIN RICK FEHST
MOVED ALL 300 POTS
AFTER PULLING NOTHING
BUT BLANKS, BAIT, AND STARFISH.
I GOT A FEELING WHERE I'M TAKING
THIS GEAR IS GONNA BE JUST FINE.
JUST A HUNCH.
Narrator: AND ON DECK,
GREENHORN BRYAN
CONTINUES TO SLACK OFF.
BUT SINCE ENGINEER MIKE FISH
HAS SPENT THE LAST YEAR
MENTORING BRYAN,
HE DECIDES IT'S TIME
FOR ANOTHER LESSON IN HUMILITY.
AND I'LL DO YOUR JOB.
WANT TO TRY?
20 POTS.
20 POTS.
OVER THE COURSE
OF THE NEXT 20 POTS,
FISH WILL TAKE OVER BAIT DUTIES
WHILE BRYAN RUNS THE RAIL.
COMPETITION ALWAYS GETS
THE BLOOD FLOWING -- ALWAYS.
[ LAUGHS ]
Narrator:
BRYAN'S FIRST SHOT MISSES.
COME ON!
OH!
I DON'T NEED TO DO
THE CIRCLE OF SHAME THIS TIME.
I'LL BACK UP.
Narrator:
AFTER THREE STRAIGHT MISSES,
CAPTAIN RICK THROWS THE BOAT
IN REVERSE --
A HOOK MAN'S BIGGEST INSULT.
Fish: LIKE, THE OTHER DAY,
HE WAS TELLING ME,
"OH, YOU DON'T THINK
I CAN DO THAT?
THAT'S AN EASY JOB
YOU'RE DOING."
NOW HE'S OVER HERE
GETTING FRUSTRATED.
HE SAID HE COULDN'T KEEP UP
WITH THE BAIT.
WELL, I'M MAKING PLENTY OF BAIT,
KEEPING UP.
LIKE THERE -- SECOND HOOK.
MISSED AGAIN.
HE TELLS EVERYBODY ELSE
THAT THEY CAN'T DO IT.
AS YOU CAN SEE HERE,
WE'RE HAVING A LOT OF TROUBLES.
WHOO!
Narrator: FINALLY,
ON BRYAN'S SIXTH THROW,
HE LANDS THE HOOK.
BUOY!
WHOO!
THEY'VE GOT RIDERS ON THE POT --
THE FIRST SIGN IN WEEKS
THAT THEIR CAPTAIN
MAY BE ON THE BITE.
Fish: JUST PICKED UP
30 POUNDS OF CRAB --
$120 ON THE BACK
OF THE POT.
I THINK WE'RE GETTING
ON TO SOMETHING HERE.
SOMETHING GOOD.
WHOO!
[ GRUNTS ]
Fehst:
CRABS ARE ALWAYS ON THE MOVE,
SO THEY'RE HERE TODAY,
GONE TOMORROW.
WELL, IT'S GOOD.
GOOD, GOOD, GOOD.
Narrator: GOOD CRAB KICKS EVEN
THE GREENHORN INTO FULL STRIDE.
WHEN YOU MAKE HIM GO DO THE JOB,
THEN HE CAN DO IT.
BUT HE ALWAYS HAS THE ATTITUDE
"I CAN'T DO IT,"
OR HE DOESN'T WANT TO.
BUT WHEN YOU MAKE HIM DO IT,
HE CAN DO IT.
HE CAN DO THE JOB.
Narrator: AFTER 20 POTS,
BRYAN HEADS BACK
TO THE BAIT BIN.
Mezich:
WE CAN HAUL A STRING
AND EVERYBODY WILL BE TOTALLY
PISSED OFF AND STRESSED OUT.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ALL BLANK
AND WE'RE GETTING NO NUMBERS.
THREE HOURS LATER, WE COULD HAVE
FULL STRING WITH 50s AND 60s --
EVERYBODY'S CHEERING, SCREAMING,
HAVING A GOOD TIME.
THE GUY YOU WERE JUST PISSED AT,
ABOUT TO HIT,
YOU'RE BUDDYING UP WITH.
Fish: CRAB ARE MOVING
RIGHT ON OUR GEAR RIGHT NOW,
SO WE'RE GONNA PICK THESE,
REBAIT THEM HEAVY.
WE'LL SOAK THEM
FOR TWO DAYS.
WE SHOULD SEE 60s AND 70s.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT.
WE'LL LOAD THIS BOAT UP
IN THREE DAYS.
HEAD TO TOWN.
RIDING.
WHOO-HOO!
Narrator: COMING UP...
HOIST AWAY!
...MISCHIEF ON THE WIZARD.
A LITTLE PRESENT
FOR MY FRIEND STEN.
Narrator: AND CAPTAIN SIG MUST
PUT DOWN A DECKHAND UPRISING.
YOU GOT TO MAKE A DECISION
AND GO WITH IT.
HIS DECISION.
GOD, I LOVE MY JOB.
LOVE MY JOB!
IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT,
GET THE HELL OFF.
Narrator: BACK IN THE COMFORTS
OF DUTCH HARBOR,
THE 155-FOOT WIZARD
IS OFF-LOADING
FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS SEASON.
A TANK FULL OF RED KING CRAB.
Narrator: CAPTAIN KEITH COLBURN
FOUND THE CRAB EARLY
AND NEVER LOST THE SCENT.
MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE
YOU DID SOMETHING
WHEN YOU SEE
THAT HATCH GET POPPED
AND IT'S FULL OF CRAB,
RIGHT?
YEAH. DEFINITELY
MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE
THE BUMPS AND BRUISES
WERE WELL WORTH IT.
YEAH.
FOR GREENHORN MOI,
FIVE WEEKS OF BATTLING
THE BERING SEA TOOK ITS TOLL.
DON'T QUIT YOUR DAY JOB
TO COME DO THIS [BLEEP]
Narrator: BUT NOW, THE GREENHORN
FINALLY SEES THE PAYOFF.
I DON'T SEE ANY CRAB IN THERE.
I SEE DOLLARS.
HAVEN'T DONE
THE FINAL TALLY YET,
BUT IT'S LOOKING LIKE WE'RE
AT OR NEAR 200,000 POUNDS,
AND THE GUYS ARE STOKED.
SO AM I.
AFTER 48 HOURS,
THE FINAL BRAILER IS LIFTED.
GRAND TOTAL
FOR THE WIZARD'S FIRST TRIP --
183,000 POUNDS.
THAT'S ALMOST $800,000.
EIGHT SHOTS OF JAGER.
Narrator: BEFORE SHOVING OFF,
CAPTAIN KEITH TAKES HIS BOYS TO
THE BAR FOR A CELEBRATORY SHOT.
WE GOT
A BUCK 68 LEFT IS ALL.
THAT'S IT?
THAT'S IT.
YOU KNOW, WE HAD MORE,
BUT THEN THE NORTH AMERICAN
DECIDED AT THE LAST SECOND
TO GO FISHING,
SO WE GOT THAT CRAB.
FOR THE PAST TWO SEASONS,
KEITH LEASED
THE NORTH AMERICAN'S QUOTA.
NOW, SINCE CAPTAIN STEN'S
RECLAIMED HIS STAKE,
KEITH WANTS REVENGE.
I'M NOT A PRANKSTER KIND OF GUY,
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
WE NEED SOMETHING
THAT'S NEVER BEEN DONE.
WE NEED SOMETHING ORIGINAL.
WHICH ONE ARE WE TAKING?
THE BLUE ONE?
BLUE, GUYS, BLUE.
LYNN.
COME HELP US WITH THIS, LYNN.
HOIST AWAY!
UP.
OH, IT'S RIPE, TOO.
[ LAUGHS ]
HOP IN, GUYS.
LET'S GO.
IT'S A LITTLE PRESENT
FOR MY FRIEND STEN.
STEN'S FULL OF [BLEEP]
WE JUST NEED TO REMIND HIM.
PLUS, IT'S A "WELCOME BACK
TO THE BERING SEA" PRESENT.
LYNN!
[ LAUGHS ]
HELL, ARE YOU GONNA RIDE?
GO AHEAD. GET IN THERE.
I WAS USING THE BATHROOM.
Narrator: 200 MILES NORTHEAST
OF DUTCH HARBOR,
AFTER LEAVING PROVEN GROUNDS,
NORTHWESTERN CAPTAIN SIG HANSEN
APPROACHES THE FIRST POT
OF THE STRING HE SET
IN NEW TERRITORY.
BEST-CASE SCENARIO
FOR US RIGHT NOW
IS IF THAT FIRST LOAD OF GEAR
HITS REAL WELL.
Narrator:
SIG TOOK A HUGE GAMBLE.
HE LEFT THE HIGHEST NUMBERS
HE'S SEEN ALL SEASON ON A HUNCH.
HE'S GOING FOR THE BIG HIT.
I MEAN, WE GOT A LOT
OF QUOTA LEFT.
WE DO HAVE A LOT OF CRAB
TO CATCH.
Sig: WE'RE UNDER THE GUN
AS FAR AS GETTING UNLOADED
BY OUR DATES.
WE'VE BEEN UNDER THE GUN
AS FAR AS TRYING TO GET UNLOADED
NOW BEFORE PRICE DROP.
SO, IT'S IMPORTANT TO US TO TRY
TO STAY ON CONSISTENT FISHING.
GUYS...
SO, THE FIRST POTS OF OUR FIRST
SET ARE COMING UP HERE.
WE'LL SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT.
18. UGH.
WE WANT MORE THAN THAT.
WHAT WAS THAT ONE --
ANOTHER TEEN?
18, 17.
NOT SO GOOD.
Narrator: AT THIS RATE,
IF SIG STAYED ON PROVEN GROUNDS,
HE COULD HAVE PULLED
THREE TIMES AS MUCH CRAB.
AND THE SALTY DECKHANDS
AREN'T PLEASED.
GOT TO POINT THE FINGER
AT SOMEBODY.
WELL, I MEAN, YOU GOT TO MAKE
A DECISION AND GO WITH IT.
RIGHT OR WRONG, YOU HAVE TO SET
YOUR POT SOMEWHERE.
YEAH, YOU GOT TO HAVE
A FALL GUY.
HIS DECISION.
YOU HAVE TO PICK AN AREA AND
WORK IT AND TAKE YOUR CHANCES.
NEED TO FIND A SPOT HERE.
WE DO HAVE AN UNLOAD DATE.
WE DO HAVE JUST A FEW DAYS
TO FILL THIS BOAT NOW.
I WANT TO FILL THIS BOAT.
I NEED TO FILL THIS BOAT AGAIN.
Narrator: NOW THE CREW IS BACK
ON A LOW-NUMBER GRIND,
A HEAVIER WORKLOAD,
AND MORE TIME AT SEA.
Sig: MONEY IS NOT THE ISSUE
FOR US RIGHT NOW.
IT'S TIME.
TIME IS WHAT MAKES US MONEY.
YOU KNOW, WE SPENT
A LOT OF TIME MOVING GEAR,
SO NOW I GOT TO MAKE UP
THAT TIME BY HAULING SOME POTS.
I MEAN, AS LONG
AS THERE'S CRAB AROUND
AND WE CAN GRIND AWAY,
WE WILL GRIND.
GOD, I LOVE MY JOB.
I LOVE MY JOB!
IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT,
GET THE HELL OFF.
Narrator: COMING UP...
THE EARLY DAWN KID'S SHOT
AT REDEMPTION.
AND THE WIZARD'S SECOND TRIP
COULD BE HER GREENHORN'S LAST.
VERY, VERY, VERY TIRED
RIGHT NOW.
WE'LL SEE HOW THIS SECOND TRIP
TREATS HIM.
Narrator: 185 MILES TO
THE NORTHEAST OF DUTCH HARBOR,
THE 110-FOOT NORTH AMERICAN
HAS REACHED THE SOUTHERN EDGE
OF THE KING CRAB
FISHING GROUNDS.
TO CAPTAIN STEN,
IT'S A WELCOME SIGHT.
BUT HIS STAKES
HAVE NEVER BEEN HIGHER.
RED CRAB, TO ME,
IS LIKE SUPER BOWL OF FOOTBALL.
UNTIL YOU HAUL THAT POT,
IT'S LIKE CHRISTMAS, YOU KNOW.
YOU DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE GONNA GET.
WHAT'S UP, ERIK?
YO HO HO!
Narrator:
ALTHOUGH STEN IS SIX WEEKS LATE,
HE HAS HIRED HIRED FRIEND
AND FELLOW SKIPPER ERIK NYHAMMER
AND WILL RELY HEAVILY
ON HIS KNOWLEDGE OF THE GROUNDS.
ARE YOU GONNA RUN
IN A CERTAIN DIRECTION?
I COULD SET
STRAIGHT NORTH ON THESE.
I WOULD MOST DEFINITELY FAVOR
IN THIS GULLY.
Skaar:
ERIK'S DEFINITELY AN ASSET.
YEAH, HE'S BEEN FISHING
A LONG TIME.
HE KNOWS THIS OCEAN VERY WELL.
TO HAVE TWO CAPTAINS ON BOARD,
YOU LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER AND
YOU CAN TOSS DIFFERENT IDEAS.
READY TO GET THESE
IN THE WATER.
YOU GUYS CAN RELAX.
I'M HERE.
GO AHEAD AND GET THE DECK
READY, JOHN.
WE'RE GONNA SET WITH IT,
SO IT'LL BE A NICE SET.
FIRST POT OF THE SEASON HERE
WE'RE GONNA SET.
OUR FIRST STRING
IS GONNA BE 23 -- 2-3.
Skaar: THIS IS IT.
THIS IS WHAT
WE'VE BEEN WORKING FOR NOW.
A LOT OF PREPARATION
WENT INTO THIS MOMENT HERE.
IT'S AMAZING
ALL THE TIME AND HOURS
COMES DOWN TO THE FIRST POT.
FIRST POT!
YEP! WHOO!
WHOO-HOO!
OVER!
Narrator: DROPPING FIRST POTS
IS A TRIUMPHANT MOMENT,
BUT THIS GEAR COMES
WITH A TICKING CLOCK.
SINCE THE POTS BELONG TO ERIK,
FISH AND GAME
WILL ONLY ALLOW THE SKIPPER
A TWO-WEEK WINDOW
TO FISH THE BORROWED GEAR.
THE TIMING HAS TO BE PERFECT
IN ORDER TO GET DONE.
EVERYTHING HAS TO GO
JUST LIKE A CLOCK.
Narrator: STEN SKAAR'S RETURN
COUNTS ON THIS TRIP
RUNNING FLAWLESSLY,
BUT PERFECTION IS HARD TO CATCH
ON THE BERING SEA.
Skaar: ONE POT AT A TIME.
ONE DAY AT A TIME, YOU KNOW?
JUST CHIP AWAY.
Narrator: 20 MILES TO THE WEST,
THE WIZARD STEAMS NORTH
TOWARDS SOAKING POTS
AND A MOUNTING STORM FRONT.
Keith: THE WEATHER IS UP.
IT'S NASTY, BUT IT'S MANAGEABLE.
SO WE'RE WORKING IN IT.
Narrator:
AS THE BOAT APPROACHES THE GEAR,
KEITH TAKES A QUICK DETOUR
TO TARGET CAPTAIN STEN SKAAR
ON THE NORTH AMERICAN.
Keith: HEY, YOU GUYS, WE'RE NOT
GONNA HAVE TO GO TOO FAR
TO FIND THE NORTH AMERICAN.
I TRACKED HIM. HE'S RIGHT OFF
THE END OF OUR STRING HERE.
NOW WE CAN GET RID
OF OUR PACKAGE.
OUR PRESENT.
WE'RE DONE WITH OUR HOLES
FOR FLOW.
GET THE FLOW GOING THROUGH THERE
SO IT DON'T FALL APART.
IF IT COMES UP IN ONE PIECE,
IT SHOULD BE PRETTY FUNNY.
Keith: SHUT THE DOOR, BOYS!
TIME TO LAUNCH HER.
[ LAUGHS ]
HEADS-UP.
ONCE IT FILLS UP WITH WATER,
SHE'LL SINK LIKE A ROCK.
BON VOYAGE.
YEAH! WHOO!
GOOD!
COME ON, GUYS.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALREADY KIND OF
DONE OUR GOOFING AROUND.
NOW IT'S TIME
TO START HAULING GEAR.
Narrator: 30 MINUTES AFTER
DROPPING THE PRANK POTTY,
SEAS SURGE TO 30 FEET
AND WIND PICKS UP
TO 50 MILES AN HOUR.
WE GOT A 90-POUND STRING
WE'RE PULLING
AND IT'S PRETTY [BLEEP] OUT,
AND I GOT TO THROW HERE.
WHOA, GARY.
GOT TO HANG BACK HERE
TILL IT'S UP THERE!
OH, YEAH!
IT'S GETTING STARTED
OUT HERE NOW!
THAT'S RIGHT.
LET IT GO FORWARD A LITTLE.
GOOD.
THIS IS JUST LOVELY.
Narrator:
AS WATER POURS OVER THE RAIL
AND RAIN PELTS THE MEN,
GREENHORN MOI CAN'T KEEP
THE MOST IMPORTANT PART
OF HIS FISHING EQUIPMENT DRY --
HIS HANDS.
MY GLOVES ARE ON THE OUTSIDE
'CAUSE MY RAINCOAT
KEEPS SLIDING UP OVER THEM.
I TRIED RUBBER BANDS.
I TRIED ALL KINDS OF [BLEEP]
HEY, MOI, COULD YOU COME UP
TO THE WINDOW
FOR ME HERE REAL QUICK?
HEY.
SHOW ME YOUR HANDS.
I WANT TO SEE YOUR [BLEEP]
NO.
WHAT IS THIS?
IT KEEPS SLIDING UP.
LISTEN, YOU GOT TO --
I'M DOING MY BEST, MOI,
TO HELP YOU WITH YOUR HANDS,
ALL RIGHT?
BUT YOU'VE GOT TO USE
SOME COMMON SENSE, TOO.
I'LL BET YOUR HANDS ARE SOAKING
WET RIGHT NOW, AREN'T THEY?
THEY'RE NOT BAD RIGHT NOW.
WELL, THEY'RE
GONNA GET BAD.
YOU'RE GONNA HAUL
90 POTS IN A ROW,
AND YOU'VE GOT TO GET THE ORANGE
OVER THE BLUE.
USE SOME RUBBERS --
WHATEVER IT TAKES.
YOU GOT TO WORK WITH ME HERE,
ALL RIGHT?
OTHERWISE, YOU'RE HANDS
ARE GONNA BE GARBAGE,
AND THEY'RE GONNA BE
COMPLETELY WORTHLESS.
I'M TRYING TO KEEP THEM DOWN,
AND I TRIED THE RUBBERS.
THEY KEEP SLIDING UP.
THEN GO
TO A DIFFERENT JACKET.
OKAY.
ALL RIGHT?
HELP ME OUT ON THIS ONE,
ALL RIGHT?
GOSH DARN IT, MAN.
WELL, YOUR HANDS
GET WET AND SWEATY REGARDLESS,
BUT YOU CAN'T HAVE YOUR COAT
INSIDE YOUR GLOVES
LIKE IT'S TRYING
TO DO TO YOU.
Keith: LOOK AT THE KID.
KID'S GOT THAT YELLOW JACKET ON.
IT'S GOT
THE NEOPRENE SLEEVES ON.
NICE AND SNUG DOWN.
HANDS ARE TOASTY-WARM AND DRY.
HIS HANDS ARE FINE.
WE GOT MR. MOI HERE,
DECIDES HE'S GONNA SET
SOME TREND
AND PUT HIS GLOVES OUTSIDE
OF HIS ORANGE JACKET.
I MEAN, YOU MIGHT AS WELL
JUST HAVE A FUNNEL
WITH WATER DRAINING
DOWN IN THERE.
WORKING MAN'S HANDS.
BEAT UP.
BANGED UP.
LAST THING I NEED
IS TO GO SHORTHANDED
BECAUSE SOMEBODY'S HANDS
FALL COMPLETELY APART.
THESE ARE MY WORKING HANDS.
YOU LOOK AT MOI'S HANDS,
AND YOU LOOK AT THE KID'S HANDS.
THE KID'S HANDS
DON'T EVEN LOOK LIKE
THEY'RE EVEN BEAT UP AT ALL.
I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T GET IT.
Narrator:
AFTER GETTING HIS GEAR STRAIGHT,
MOI HEADS BACK OUT
FOR THE FINAL 45 POTS.
I'M FEELING VERY,
VERY, VERY, TIRED RIGHT NOW.
I WOULD LOVE TO CATCH
A LITTLE NAP.
Keith: IT'S A LITTLE EARLY NOW
TO BE LOOKING HAGGARD.
SHOULD BE PRETTY FRESH
RIGHT NOW.
WE'LL SEE HOW THIS SECOND TRIP
TREATS HIM.
Narrator: COMING UP...
THE FATE OF THE NORTH AMERICAN
IS AT STAKE.
THE CRAB COUNT.
DESPITE THEIR BEST EFFORTS,
THE EARLY DAWN AND
THE NORTH AMERICAN ARE TRAILING.
Narrator: IN THE EARLY MORNING,
185 MILES TO THE NORTHEAST
OF DUTCH HARBOR,
THE NORTH AMERICAN APPROACHES
HER FIRST STRING
OF PROSPECT POTS
AFTER A 12-HOUR SOAK.
AFTER SPENDING THREE YEARS
ON THE SIDELINES,
CAPTAIN STEN SKAAR
HAS A LOT TO PROVE.
THIS IS OUR FIRST POT
OF KING CRAB HERE.
POT NUMBER E-3.
YEAH, THERE'S
A LOT OF STRESSES HERE.
IT DOES WEIGH ON YOU.
Man:
FIRST POT OF THE SEASON.
IT'S GONNA SET THE TONE.
FIRST POT.
HERE IT COMES.
ALL RIGHT.
COMING UP!
WAITING FOR THE COUNT HERE.
3.
HERE YOU GO.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S LIFE HERE.
PRETTY AVERAGE RIGHT NOW.
BUT I DIDN'T COME UP HERE TO DO
AVERAGE.
IT'S KIND OF
A SMALL AVERAGE, SO...
THINK THIS IS A DESERT AREA.
Narrator:
DAWN BREAKS OVER CALM SEAS.
FOR THE PAST 4 HOURS,
CAPTAIN STEN
HAS HAULED 12 TEST POTS
FROM THREE SEPARATE STRINGS,
BUT ONLY CAUGHT
A FEW HUNDRED KEEPERS.
NOW, WITH THE LAST
PROSPECT STRING OFF HER BOW
AND THE FATE OF THE NEXT 13 DAYS
RESTING AT THE BOTTOM
OF THE OCEAN,
THE CREW RALLIES
IN HOPE OF BETTER NUMBERS.
GOOD SHOT.
WE'RE HOPING FOR THE BEST.
KIND OF NERVE-RACKING,
THAT'S FOR SURE.
HERE IT COMES.
WHOA.
WHERE'S --
WHOA!
[ LAUGHS ]
YEAH.
WHERE'S THE POT?
I KNEW IT.
AW!
[ CHUCKLES ] YEAH.
WHOA!
OH, NO.
[ LAUGHTER ]
I JUST HOPE THERE'S CRAB IN IT,
THAT'S ALL.
THERE BETTER BE CRAB IN THERE.
THAT'S ALL I GOT TO SAY.
[ LAUGHTER ]
"ERIC'S DINER."
"ERIC'S DINER."
[ LAUGHS ]
Narrator: THE COMEBACK KID
ISN'T CATCHING CRAB,
BUT RATHER A BERING SEA
WELCOME-HOME CARD,
COURTESY OF THEIR FRIENDS
ON THE WIZARD.
Skaar: WE'RE GONNA KEEP IT
FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION.
[ LAUGHS ]
WE'RE GONNA GET
TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS.
IT'S JUST GOOD TO BE BACK, MAN,
AFTER TWO YEARS --
SEEING THE GUYS EXCITED.
THERE'S NOT A FEELING
LIKE IT IN THE WORLD,
YOU KNOW, LIKE THIS?
Narrator:
EMPTY TANKS AND A TICKING CLOCK,
IT'S BACK TO BUSINESS.
THE FIRST POT COMES
OVER THE RAIL STUFFED WITH CRAB.
ALL RIGHT.
WHOA, LOOK AT THAT!
WOW!
[ LAUGHS ]
BUT AFTER THE SORT...
KIND OF SORTED A LOT OF FEMALES.
Narrator: THE BUZZ
OF THE FIRST POT IS SHORT-LIVED.
THE CRAB ARE MOSTLY FEMALES
AND JUVENILES
AND MUST BE TOSSED
TO PRESERVE THE HARVEST.
THERE WAS ONLY 22
IN THE FIRST POT.
SO, WE'RE GONNA STACK THEM
ON BOARD
BECAUSE THINGS MIGHT IMPROVE
AS WE KEEP HAULING.
SO, IF IT CLEANS UP,
WE HAVE OUR BULLETS BACK ON
THE STERN READY TO BE LAUNCHED.
LOT OF SORTING HERE.
IT'S GONNA GO SLOWER
WITH MORE CRAB.
600, 700 CRAB,
AND 10 OF THEM ARE GOING
DOWN IN THE TANK.
WE'RE NOT TOO INTO THOSE RATIOS.
Narrator: AFTER THREE STRINGS
OF JUNK CRAB,
THE NORTH AMERICAN
HAS SPENT MORE TIME SORTING
THAN HAULING POTS.
AND TIME IS THE ONE THING
THEY CAN'T WASTE.
Skaar: IT WOULD BE REAL DRAG
AT THIS POINT, YOU KNOW,
EVERYTHING WE'VE DONE --
WORKED SO HARD
TO HAVE THINGS GO SOUR ON US
AND MY DAD DECIDES
NOT TO FISH THE BOAT
JUST BECAUSE
THE NUMBERS AREN'T THERE.
Narrator: ACROSS THE FLEET,
EVERY CAPTAIN SETS HIS SIGHTS
ON THE FINISH LINE.
WITH TWO WEEKS LEFT,
THE PRESSURE TO FINISH STRONG
SITS SQUARELY ON THE MAN
IN THE WHEELHOUSE.
ON THE NEXT "DEADLIEST CATCH"...
IT'S A RACE TO THE FINISH LINE
AS CREWS FACE BATTLE
EPIC STORMS.
ABOUT TIME WE GOT
A LITTLE EXCITEMENT AROUND HERE.
WHOA!
CAPTAINS STOP AT NOTHING
TO CASH IN ONE LAST TIME.
73?
[ LAUGHS ]
WHOA!
WE'RE NEVER GOING HOME.
THERE'S A BIG ONE COMING HERE.
WHOA! HO HO HO!
EVERYBODY WONDERS WHY I SMOKE
LIKE A [BLEEP] CHOO-CHOO TRAIN.
Narrator: AND FOR ONE CAPTAIN,
THIS RACE MAY BE HIS LAST.
THE HUNT CONTINUES
FOR THE DEADLIEST CATCH.