Wicked Tuna: North vs. South (2014–…): Season 8, Episode 1 - Danger Lurks - full transcript
This year
in the Outer Banks,
why do they call it the
Graveyard of the Atlantic?
Hey, hey, hey, hey!
Hit the gas!
Hit the gas, dude!
Whoo!
Scary.
It's home to
more than 2,000 shipwrecks.
This place
eats boats up, dude.
A
shifting ocean floor.
Am I on the bottom?
Brutal conditions.
Got
too much speed going.
It's a good way to die.
It's a great way to die.
Hang on!
And water so cold
you'll freeze quicker than you
can say, "Man overboard."
Earning a living here
is a matter of life.
The boat caught fire.
It's all gone.
And death.
This season, the captains face
their harshest conditions ever.
It's time to looks danger
in the eye and go fishing.
There he is.
We're on!
Hell yeah!
Booyah!
That's the meat!
Heartbreaking.
Go, go, go, go!
Keep going.
Just keep on going.
As the world looks
to free itself from the grip
of a global pandemic.
Stress level 20.
These fishermen
face the dead of winter.
It's kind of like
a horror film out here.
On the high seas off
the coast of North Carolina to
make a living.
Life raft!
it.
Hold on!
Hold on!
Going fishing!
Whoa!
Watch out!
Please!
Hit him!
Stick him!
♪ ♪
Big boy!
Big boy!
Yeah!
Whoo!
Bam!
This is
Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks.
Let's get out there.
Everybody's gonna be going.
It's been a little choppy,
but not too bad.
I'm happy to be back out.
So here we are.
We're headed out.
Start of the season.
This is the first year the
northern boats hadn't come.
So basically every
boat we're competing
against is a local boat.
So the competition is tight.
We got Cliff and
Brandan returning with me,
the best mates in the ocean.
Last two years
that we've done it,
we've done really well.
We've finished second
twice, but this year,
we'll be number one.
Let's show
'em how it's done, shall we?
First morning.
We're all a little
bit excited here.
Happy day.
Happy, happy day.
It's wintertime,
it's bluefin season.
We got to go.
Not ideal, but hopefully,
we'll make it out here.
It just won't be the prettiest
ride we've had before.
That's why we wait
and we all go together.
Little Shell is
right there ahead of us.
I got Bed Bugs and Outlaw,
they're coming from Wanchese
behind us and you don't
want to go around this place
without any local knowledge
if you're not going with
somebody else,
so get out here
and give it a whirl.
I'm nervous.
I'm really watching all
of my system right now.
My radar, my depth finder,
just hoping that we get out
the Inlet unscathed.
That's something the Offshore
Outlaw boys know all about.
Little
says negative 1.5 foot.
That is shallow!
Just gonna go
with my gut feeling.
I'm nervous.
I'm always nervous navigating
through Oregon Inlet,
especially the bridge.
A couple of years
ago, we lost steering,
hit the bridge.
Water came pouring
in and the bow of the
boat was demolished.
Luckily, everything was
fixable for the right price.
I thought I might lose
the boat financially.
Commercial fishing is the
hard way to make a living,
but it's my passion.
All right.
Bobby coming up on
your port side here.
He's coming with a
doggone mansion this year.
I'll
follow Outlaw and hope
the new boat makes it.
I don't know why, man,
every time we start out,
my nerves are just.
This place is
just deadly, man.
We have a new Reel E' Bugging
this year.
The old boat was a 53 Hatteras.
The new boat is a
60-foot Hatteras,
it's a big jump,
there's a learning curve.
It's massive.
It's a beast.
, Adam, that's
all you got, eight knots?
I'm gonna let
Bobby lead the way.
Y'all better hold on.
He kicks up a
little bit bigger swell.
And we're getting
passed already.
Hold on, Adam.
Hold on.
Here we go.
Whoo! Yeah.
She got a
whippin' current, man.
If he makes it,
we know we're good.
Yeah.
All right, split 'em.
All right, yup.
That wasn't
as bad as it looked.
All right.
Here comes Rasta.
Gonna buzz us. Woo!
We got the
Outlaw beside of us.
He waited to go across the
bar for some safe light.
And we want to be safe too.
We got families
to come home to.
Hope
them boys are bundled up.
Oh, my God, can you
imagine how cold they are,
31 degrees this morning.
Oh, me.
There they go.
Man, if I had that
boat, I'd shoot right
straight through there.
If
you had that boat,
we'd be knocking
icicles off our faces.
Now, what, bro?
Is that the bar or a boat?
Where is the
freaking wreck though?
From the
bridge to the bar,
it takes about
10 or 15 minutes.
Complicating that now this year,
there's an old steel wreck
from the '80s that the channel
is narrowing towards.
So you got about 75 yards from
shallow water with dangerous
rough sea breaking, and then a
steel trawl boat that's been
wrecked since the
'80s that you have to
kind of snake through.
And it's, a couple boats have
hit that trawl boat already
and it ends their season.
It's not something
you're gonna fix overnight.
If you're lucky, you
escape that with your life.
Somebody got a
little guidance here?
Do you know
where the wreck is?
Yeah.
Where is it?
Are you
following the buoys?
Is there
any buoys out here?
Nope! All right.
Hey, feel free to
share that with me.
Which way should I be going?
The wreck
will be on the west side.
On the west side,
there's plenty of room.
Yeah.
The
east side's fine, but you
got plenty of room now.
Where's east?
Where's east?
There's Rasta?
Who?
Rasta.
Hey, Rasta,
you're gonna cut me off?
Follow him.
Yeah, but he
drafts 14 inches.
Just about
abreast of the buoy now.
All right, where's
the poly ball, dude?
Go ahead,
I'll look through it.
Just coming
past it now.
There it is.
Where?
Right over there. 10:00.
Oh, that's a
little ass poly ball, bro.
I'm good though.
Yeah, you're good.
You're good.
me, dude.
At least we
got to worry about one
thing and that's the bar.
Welcome to Oregon Inlet.
The worst part about
this place is the bar.
If you hit it wrong, it
could tear your boat up.
You bust your windows out.
It's just dangerous.
All right, boys here we go.
Hold on.
Hold on, guys.
Breaker. Yeah.
Hold on.
Hold on.
Hold on.
Yeah, boys!
We're out, boys.
Yeah!
We are back, baby.
Woo, if that
don't get your heart going
first second in the morning,
I don't know what will.
Rigging a ballyhoo
is like skinning a cat.
Say everybody
does this different.
A lot of folks down here
use ballyhoo as baits because
they're long and skinny.
They'll actually swim
like they're alive.
Them tunas just
can't resist it.
I've got two of the best
mates in the business on here.
I've got Billon Hollingsworth.
There's a
little bit of an art to it.
And Jason Futch,
AKA Dirty Jay.
Burr, my
hands are frozen.
They got a
great work ethic.
No matter when I say
we're going fishing,
they're ready to go.
It's really good to have two
mates that I can depend on.
See what we got.
First day out.
Nobody knows where
the fish are feeding.
So we're all spread
out looking for them.
Hey!
I got birds up here.
Let's get baits.
These are ballyhoos.
You know,
it didn't make any sense to
go to one spot.
We got 20 miles of boats
looking for these fish.
Nailed it, Drew!
You nailed it.
We are set up, dudes.
Let's do it.
Bluefin or bust.
All of us are
looking for the gold rush,
the Gulf Stream.
The Gulf Stream is
basically an offshore river.
The water is heated down in
the Gulf of Mexico and it
wants to go north.
It goes to where
the cold water is.
Look, look, look.
Look right there.
Good God!
And it
carries its own life cycle.
There's all kinds of bait,
fish, birds, mammals
that all follow the stream.
Where's
the bluefin, Chopper?
.
Back on the ground.
Put something
in the water they may
have not seen before.
The Gulf
Stream influences everything.
It's the lifeblood
of our fishing here.
Everybody's just kind of
searching for that first fish.
We are fishing.
I'm ready to get a bite.
We're all out here to
trying to make a living.
We're trying make
money, but we're fishing.
We're always competing.
And I always considered
Nick my top competition.
He's pushing to
get that first fish.
He wants to prove something.
Where's the Little Shell?
Little Shell's coming for you.
Opening
day of the season.
If we catch a fish early
this morning and get one
first again this year,
it'll definitely
give my guys a boost.
We're gonna get 'em.
The market on
bluefin tuna has steadily been
declining over
the last few years.
And now this pandemic has
hit and they're not shipping
things overseas
like they did before.
Oh boy, we're
gonna get a bite.
And my worst fear is to make
the least amount of money for
my two guys and me.
You know, I have
grown man bills.
Mortgage, I have
a little girl.
And then Cliff and
Brandan have all the same,
three times multiplied.
What the is that?
What is that?
What's that
sound, Brandan?
Let me see.
This is not good.
I'll get
down there and look.
, dude.
We suck?
The boat didn't
get used in the last what,
a month and a half.
I'm gonna tell you
right now that's steering.
We are pouring fluid out.
We got a steering leak.
Right here.
What are you thinking?
There's nothing we
can do, now. We gotta go in.
We got to take what fluid
we got and got to go in.
I just need to know
if I can start heading west.
Yes.
Secure
your deck, Brandan.
.
This is gonna
cost us money and time,
both of things we
can't afford to give up.
Not being able to fish on day
one of the season because of
mechanical issues, it
makes me pissed off.
Terrible
start to our season.
You know, we're
out here to earn money
because we need it.
And well, just bad luck.
Just part of, part
of being on a boat.
Part of working with
boats, they break.
It breaks my heart to go
in there without a fish.
But best thing to do
is to go in right now.
Damn it.
I really wanted
that first fish.
.
There's a
few marks here.
Hopefully we'll get a
bite here any minute.
.
Hey!
Wolf pack!
I have not marked any.
That doesn't mean
they're not here.
We
got the lines out.
You got to put us on the fish.
Don't want
to stay tonight.
No.
.
Look.
Marking 'em.
Come on, Minnie, do
the thing for us.
Yeah.
Yeah.
That'll
be the lucky one.
Boys, bluefin season's
officially started now.
.
We are in
the right spot.
Come to papa.
We've got high hopes.
Come on tune.
It's gonna happen, guys.
.
There he is.
There he is, Drew.
There he is.
Meat. All right.
Tight, boys!
There he is.
We're tight!
There he is.
Yeah, son!
Drew, you want to
move it to there?
Yeah.
All right, let's go.
All right, there she is.
All right, boys.
yeah.
Yo, we're tight.
Yeah. We're tight.
Bobby is
hooked up right now.
He's just to the
north of us a little bit.
We are working our way
that direction.
Good for Buggings.
Waiting our turn.
Okay.
Really, Greg?
You got to get a bite here.
Now, let's
make sure we don't suck.
Booyah!
Let's go, boys.
It's tuna weather right here.
He's down and tight.
Good?
Yeah, that's good.
Starting to blow.
I don't like that
lines whipping up in the.
Yeah, let's
shorten the leash.
I'm ready, dude.
See how that thing's
flapping around?
Yeah, he's coming
to the surface, dude.
See him way out there.
Yeah.
He's coming up, Bobby.
All right, we're
coming to him right now.
Let's dance.
Let's dance.
He's all on the top.
Come on, Brian.
He's all on the top.
Kick his ass country.
Might be like
tail wrapped or something.
It might be.
He's acting real weird.
It's a critical
part of the fish fight.
We got the fish up and down.
You know, first
fish of the year.
This is where things
get dicey, you know,
you just, you got to pucker
up and focus right now.
Until you stick him.
It's just a dream.
It's just a dream.
Spin left, Bobby.
Come up.
I will.
You get us straight,
I'll come up.
We got color.
Nice long fish.
All right, Drew.
Hurry up.
Get up there.
He's right there.
Hurry up.
Where is he, bro?
He's right here, Bobby.
I lost
him in the waves.
Right here.
Right there!
Booyah!
Get a gaff on him.
He ain't done.
He ain't done, dude.
Let him go.
Let him go.
Whoa, he's
swimming, dude.
Big wave.
Hold on!
That harpoon line
is rubbing on this line.
I can feel it.
No .
Grab it on the
other side of the leader.
Grab the harpoon line.
Watch this line
right here, Bobby.
There we go, bro.
Get ready.
When I hit him with a gaff,
he's gonna go nuts.
Come on.
We're gonna lose
this fish, bro.
He just
came off. He's gone!
Yeah, he's gone, bro!
That harpoon line
is rubbing on this line.
I can feel it.
No .
Here we go, bro.
Get ready when I
hit him a gaff,
he's gonna go nuts.
Come on.
We're gonna lose
this fish, bro.
He just came off.
He's gone.
Just handline him.
Help me move this.
I'm gonna
help you out, Bri.
Bro, we're about to
lose this fish, dude.
I know.
And we've had
100 chances to get him.
I know. Right.
It's
amateur hour.
Brian, I
can't see that line.
Where is it?
Little bump,
little bump. Ah!
We're handlining, dude.
Oh, we got a
mess going on here, dude.
Just don't
get caught in here.
Yeah, that's
what I was worried about.
Ah. Ah.
There he is. Color.
Captain Drew.
Yeah.
Put a tail
wrap on this fish.
I'm going over.
Get another
harpoon, pull that.
Grab a gaff.
Tie that off.
Drew, today, bro.
Yeah, sometime today.
Just grab that,
I love you, man.
Oh my God, bro.
There you go.
All right.
Cinch him up.
yeah.
Wow, that feels good.
Bed Bugs!
Yeah, buddy!
It wasn't pretty.
I got to tell
you, it feels amazing.
First fish of the year.
Typical bedbug style.
It was a demon fish, 25 things
could have went wrong there,
22 of them did.
We got the
first fish. We're back.
The champ.
Yeah.
Coming back
to get his crown.
It appears
Bobby's got the first fish.
I guess the tuna gods were
on his side this morning.
Good
for him, bad for us.
I really wanted
that first fish.
Bobby struck first.
That might be a lucky boat.
All right.
Well, let's get him in, Bobby.
We legally can't keep a
bluefin less than 73 inches.
Because at that point they
would have had a chance to
spawn and make more bluefin.
That's a fatty, bro.
Luckily we don't have a
problem with this fish.
You ready?
Yeah.
96 inches.
Yeah, Brian.
You got it, buddy.
Oh, baby.
We're behind
the game right now,
so we just need to get
everything finished,
and then take off.
We ain't
caught nothing but hell.
Everything has
been fighting us.
Gonna fix this steering
and we'll get back out there.
I don't want to
be behind everybody.
This is not what we do.
Last year, we had 15.
Bobby Bugging Bed Bugs had
five and he's bragging about
catching one.
Is he?
So, he,
damn right he is.
You know him.
Yeah, that sucks.
It's early
and it's one fish,
but, you know, it
hurts me right here,
my heart, my pride.
We're gonna fix it up
and we're gonna do what we do,
we're gonna catch fish.
We're gonna end up on top
and that's just the way it is.
You know
what boat stands for?
Yeah, "Bust. Out.
Another. Thousand."
That's exactly right.
All right, guys.
I got to hurry up.
We got to get out there.
The guys are all fishing.
We're working on it, Cap.
All right,
just do what you can.
Yeah, that's the
Doghouse right there.
Yo, frenzy!
Shack is
always someone who,
he's been out here
every year with us.
You know, most days that
we're out here fishing,
Shack is here.
So he pays
attention to detail.
He knows where to be.
He knows where the
fish are moving.
He's a good fisherman.
Feels good.
Start of the season.
We're ready.
Time to go fishing.
You're ready?
Yeah, I'm ready.
Getting everything set up
to deploy the bird and start.
I'm excited.
Been sitting around
the house way too long.
I'm
Britton Shackelford,
captain and owner
of the Doghouse.
I've got a brand
new crew this year.
Bo has fished for a long time.
Multi-different
species of fish,
very, very observant.
Catlin comes from a
long line of fishermen.
I am jacked up.
Hopefully today is the day.
Today's the day.
Me getting to know them is
vital for me to be successful.
That's the bird that
keeps everything tight.
And once we hook the
stick to it, it'll lift it up.
Bo has not fished
with the stick and Catlin has
never done it, so we got the
stick out just so they can
kind of get
acclimated with that.
Down here
in the South, the bluefin are
constantly moving,
looking for bait near
the surface of the water.
So a lot captains troll with
the green stick to keep the
baits up high.
The stick has got a really
heavy what we call the bird,
that keeps tension on
this main line coming
off of this bandit.
And this line
that comes from the top of...
the stick connects
to that bandit...
and pulls the baits up so all
your baits are just dangling.
These are the drops.
We got five of them.
They're just squids with hooks
in them and they dangle and
hop across the
top of the water.
Hopefully that's
what the tuna grab.
Man, it'd
be cool to get one.
Yeah.
My bank account would like it.
Keep
your eyes open now.
Man,
this is unbelievable.
We are really sucking.
I'm just gonna keep working up
to the northeast and hopefully
find some water, warmer water
and maybe find some fish.
Bobby's bite was
in warmer water.
And right now, that's
all the info we have,
so we're gonna ride around
here and see what we can find.
Hurry up and wait.
That's the name of it.
There's a
bubble of warmer water there.
It's something.
I just want one.
I just want one.
Come on, baby.
.
Single mark at 12 fathom.
All right.
Come on, baby!
.
We're on!
Yeah, baby!
We're on!
We are on.
All right,
finally got us a bite.
Feels like a good one.
I know
Bed Bugs caught a fish,
he's down about
ten miles below us.
Guys, I would really
hate to lose to Bobby,
so let's start
this season right.
Okay, cool.
It's like riding a bike.
You can get in
the corner if you want.
Bobby
won one year in a row.
Hey, for four seasons, I
was the top boat down here.
I'm always right there.
It's all right,
nice and easy.
Take your time.
I got
a reputation to uphold.
People are always
looking at the red boat.
They want to know
where I'm going.
They want to know
what I'm catching.
He's not very far away right
now, but he's up high.
A lot of times, big
fish will do that.
They'll stay up high.
Big fish don't
get smart from being dumb.
Dumb fish don't live long.
No.
This year's no different.
Now, I've got a bunch of local
guys I got to deal with and
we're all on a level
playing field now,
it's our backyard.
Down and dirty right now,
just how we like it.
Let him fight that rod.
The bend of that
rod wears him out.
Yo-yoing, baby.
So
I want to catch fish.
I want to make some
money for my crew.
But above all, I want
to be the top boat at
the end of the season.
There he is. Boom.
I want to
make sure everyone knows that
the Fishin' Frenzy is the top
boat in the Outer Banks.
Might get a shot here.
Come on.
Come over here.
There you go.
This fish is crazy.
Hold on. Hold on.
He's going deep.
He's mad!
Nice lovely headshot.
Come on, baby.
This fish is crazy!
Ah, come on.
Come over here.
There we go.
Hold on. Hold on.
He's going deep.
He's mad.
Come over this way.
Pull, pull, pull, pull!
I'm pulling on him.
I'm pulling.
That's right.
Okay, got him.
To my left. The left.
To my left.
That's the way
we like it, boys!
That's how you do it.
Way to start the season.
That's the way to start.
One for one.
Right out of the gate.
Hell yeah, that's
a beautiful fish.
The team's clicking.
Everything's
going our way so far.
I hope it continues.
Very nice-shaped fish.
Yeah, I like that.
That's nice.
92.
What a way
to do it, dude.
That's the way
to start the season.
I like it, I like it, I like it.
You like it,
we like it, sensei.
Heading to the west.
I was watching.
Good going.
Looked like a right
nice one from here.
But then again, we're still
technically...
tied until you get
to the dock.
That's right.
I fished with little Jimmie's
dad before he was born.
Kind of funny to think I've
been doing it for that long.
I want to
sack these guys up.
Young guns.
Here we go.
But
Big Jim has pretty much
retired and Jimmie's
started running the
boat a couple years ago.
And Jimmie's got
a big fast boat.
Faster than my boat.
Jimmie's gonna be
tough to deal with.
We've definitely got
something to prove this year
being the young
guns in the fleet.
I know we can do it, we just
need to prove that we can do
it by doing it.
Put us on
the meat, Jimmie.
I'll try.
I'm Jimmie Horning.
I'm captain of the Hog Wild.
I'm 22 years old.
Born and raised here
on the Outer Banks.
And fishing is what I do.
It's what I grew up doing.
It's what I've always done.
It's the only thing
I know how to do.
It's what I love.
I love everything about it and
it's just what I've always done.
It's my life.
I'm getting wet.
My mates,
I've got Trey and Ellis.
Take me a minute
to get my sea legs back,
get back in the
groove of things.
Ellis is a
great fisherman,
I've known him for a while.
You like my pet chicken?
And Trey, he's been
fishing with me ever since I
started running the
boat five years ago.
The advantage of being
young is we're all full of
piss and vinegar.
Catching some tuna.
Here, fishy, fishy.
Man, did it get cold.
Yeah, it did.
I think I got
frostbite and my toes fell off.
We
have to be tough to deal
with big oceans all the
time, rain, 30-degree weather.
I'm so cold right
now I can barely talk.
This is what we do.
This is how we
make a paycheck.
100% of our income comes
from commercial fishing.
Be nice to catch one,
we could end it and go home.
Wow, that came up fast.
Wow, 7 foot, 6 foot.
This place will give you
a flipping heart attack, man.
Five-eight.
It was a rough year for me
personally in regards to
my boat, you know.
We were heading down to the
Outer Banks early October.
I was moving down here.
We had everything onboard.
I had 30 years'
worth of tackle.
I had 28 fishing
rods and reels.
And the boat caught fire.
Fired up the mayday.
Threw down some
survival suits.
And we got in and we
worked our way to the bow.
You know, by the time we threw
the life raft off the bow,
the entire boat was ablaze.
.
We were
40 miles offshore and
from the first time I smelt
smoke to jumping in a life raft
was about 12 minutes.
After you get pulled out of
the water in a helicopter,
you're soaking wet
and it's all gone.
And, you know, we
were in New Jersey in a,
in a private
airport with no shoes,
no money, no cell phones
and you just can't digest it.
Devastating.
I mean, last year
was just awful.
So catching the first fish
this season is a godsend.
♪ I've got the gold
in my hands ♪
Second place will never do ♪♪
Get ready.
How was your day?
Epic.
Congratulations
on the first fish.
It's a demon fish.
Why don't we come
take a look at him?
Let's do it.
♪ I want the power
and the glory ♪
And it ain’t no sin ♪
I’m the new sensation ♪
Came to win, win, win ♪♪
Dennis,
what does she weigh?
477 pounds, guys.
Oh!
Yeah!
Yeah.
Yeah! We knew it.
We knew it, bro.
We knew it.
We knew it
was a big fish.
We knew.
We needed that.
Let's go see
how it grades out.
Yes.
Can't wait
to see it, Dennis.
Well, you guys
are off to a really
good start this year.
The buyer's
looking for a tail sample with
a thick band of fat
just below the skin and marbled
fat clearly visible in the meat.
It's like butter,
the meat in there.
It's all loaded up
with fat in there,
you can see that.
Oh yeah look at that.
Yeah.
Well let's see what
the core color looks like.
Come on, baby.
And
in the core sample taken
deep within the tuna,
the buyer's looking for a
consistent red color
that's also shiny
and translucent.
Well, it does look
like there's a little meat burn.
You can see the tail is nice
and red but the core sample is
kind of cloudy and opaque.
You know, the
restaurant business is shaky.
The market's very fragile.
And the customers, they
don't want to take a fish
that they can't sell.
What's the
best you can do?
I can pay you
$7 a pound tonight.
All right.
We'll take that.
We'll take it.
Yeah.
We'll take it.
First ones on the board.
Every dollar counts.
All right, look,
I'm not happy with it,
but we'll take it.
We need it all.
Thank you, Dennis.
Thank you, Dennis.
Good luck.
All right,
Dennis, be well.
All right,
let's get another one.
Yeah, man.
Well, he pressed
start new track this morning,
so it should saved it.
It should be
showing everything.
We was on our way in
and we have a track line that...
saves on our GPS
everyday that we go out.
And this is the first time
we've been out of the Inlet...
this year and for some reason,
our track line hasn't saved.
It just deleted it.
We're pretty much stuck.
The new way that we got to
come in and out of the bar...
there's a big shipwreck right
there and it's pretty dicey.
And we don't want to bust
in there in the dark and...
not know where we're at.
I have a chance of hitting
that wreck and sink and...
possibly, you know, possibly
lose our life or something.
We don't want to do that.
We're gonna
need some help if we're gonna
make it through the night.
How about the
Outlaw, you on this one?
Because it's thirty degrees out
here and we are...
layered up to the tee.
We got about ten more hours
until the sun comes up.
Yeah, come on, Adam...
You standing by, Adam?
.
It's gonna be a long night
on the Rasta Rocket.
How about the
Outlaw, you on this one?
It's gonna be along night on
the Rasta Rocket because it's
30 degrees out here and
we're pretty much stuck.
And we got about 10 more
hours until the sun comes up.
Yeah, come on, Adam.
Yeah,
I'm standing by.
What's going on?
Our plot line deleted.
I guess we are gonna stay.
You got an extra towel
on there maybe?
You don't have
any blankets or anything?
I got one
that the dog is in.
She's
pissed off right now.
I got two blankets,
a sleeping bag,
a towel, and a beanbag.
Sure.
You're all life savers.
We're idling over
here to the Outlaw.
They're
gonna help us out.
That's how we do
it in the South.
No man left behind.
That's got
to be him right there.
That bright
light coming toward us?
Thank you, Lord.
Thank you, Lord.
These
are nice and warm.
Just came out the dryer.
All right. Ready,
here's the towel.
Thank you.
Appreciate y'all.
This is going to be
one we ain't going to forget.
All right, fellas.
Appreciate it.
Thank you.
If y'all
get too bad off now,
let us know.
All right.
Burr!
Outlaw saves the day.
First
day of the season. We're
coming in with the meat.
It feels good.
Dennis!
I was really hoping we'd set
the tone with the first fish,
but we got number two.
Well, let's
see what you got.
All right, cool.
Our first trip out,
we got a fish,
but we were just a
little bit late.
But anything we can
get on the market now,
there's not much there, so
it's gonna be worth some money.
What kind of weight we got?
830
pounds dressed, guys.
I love that.
For a 92 incher!
That is the ones
we're looking for.
Hell yeah.
So let's see
what the color is like.
All right.
Sounds good to me.
Not a bad specimen for
your first fish of the season.
We like to hear that.
Right now I'm seeing
some pretty nice red tail color.
It's not jammed,
jammed up with fat,
but I'm hoping a nice red core
here will get you a good price.
Let's see what we got.
Oh yeah, there we go.
Drumroll, please.
It's
actually really clear.
So what do you think?
I mean, what kind of
price we got on here?
I wish it
had a little more fat,
but it's a decent fish
for our New York market.
$8 a pound.
Hey you know something?
Three grand.
A lot of boats out there
that aren't getting paid.
Yeah.
That's true.
I'm happy to have it.
Yeah. Me, too.
Alright. That's good,
Dennis. Thank you.
We'll see in you
in the morning.
Sounds good.
Thank you.
Thank you, sir.
Thank you.
See you tomorrow.
It doesn't make a
difference who's got the first,
it's who's got the
most at the end of the year.
That's what
we're shooting for.
Night
fishing is awesome.
If
you're night fishing,
that means you didn't
catch one during the day,
so you're stuck out
here all damn day.
And all night.
And all night.
.
All right.
We did a good deed.
So maybe the tuna
gods will respect that.
Maybe we'll get paid
back for trying to do good.
What is it, Chopper?
Smell them tuna fish?
Awfully long day.
We really need to get us
a bite because we need
to get on the board.
We can't be falling behind.
I like night fishing.
I don't mind
staying night out here.
Getting rigged
up with Boston Mackerel
for fishing tonight.
We're gonna drift these
baits along all night, you know.
Maybe some of these
fish will feed at night.
Sometimes it's a little bit
better at night drifting.
We're here so we'll
see what happens.
We're just some young kids
out here trying to prove that
we've got what it takes.
So if that means staying out
here all night then that's
what we're gonna do.
Give him a kiss
before you send him off.
That's nasty.
We're only
allowed one fish per day.
If we bring the fish
in after midnight,
that prevents us from fishing
that following day because
technically that fish
was landed on that day.
So say we were to catch
a fish at 9:00 at night,
we could hurry up,
get in here,
get our fish
offloaded before midnight.
That still leaves us
open to fish the next day.
Every single fish counts.
I'm about
to fall asleep.
Where'd all
the big tunas go?
Where did they go, Trey?
We're gonna
get one, Choppy boy.
.
Oh, there's a mark.
.
Hey, hey, hey!
There he is! There he is!
There he is!
There he is!
We're hooked up!
Crank it! Crank it!
Crank it! Crank it!
All right, boys.
All right, got him on.
Hooked up, baby.
We got one on.
Let's make it count here.
All right.
This could be the right one.
Where you want to go?
I wanna put
over on that side.
You ready?
Yup.
Oh boy, I love
those wake up calls.
Right here?
No, right behind you.
There you go. All right.
All right, we
got our night bite.
Let's make it count.
It's starting
to become a really long night.
Yeah.
.
.
Huh?
Hey, hey, hey.
There he is.
Adam! Adam! Fish on!
That the right one?
I think so.
Come on, be the one.
Be the one.
Got something on.
Rod ain't bent very much.
Damn, he's smoking it.
Yeah, it's a tuna, man.
It's got to be.
What else could it be?
He
took a lot of line.
This is a
big fish, fellas.
Definitely fighting
like a good-sized fish.
Bust his ass, Trey.
Pull on him.
Pull on him. Pull on him.
Pull on him.
Pull on him.
Getting close now.
Yeah.
I see it.
I see, I see,
I see color.
All right.
Let's get him.
Hey, let's, uh.
Yeah, yeah,
let's get him.
Yeah. Oh, Please, baby.
Please, please,
please, please, please.
Please.
Woo!
Yeah, baby!
This is what I
dream about right here.
We got him on.
We're just trying to
close the gap a little bit,
get some of this
string back on the reel.
Try and get back
some mono at least.
He's got a
lot of line stretched out.
It puts more drag on him.
Easy to pull the hook or
something could break.
Oh me!
This is the real
nervous part of it.
Woo!
Yeah, baby!
All right.
Getting a little
something on him now.
You gaining on him?
Yup.
All right.
Haven't
done this in a while.
Oh, boy, I'm stressed out.
Here's your swivel right here.
Come on, baby!
Don't put the cart
before the horse,
just get him up here.
4th quarter now, John.
You got to pay attention.
Man, my chest hurts we
need this one so bad.
Yeah, we spent a lot of
money to get this boat ready
for this season.
Crank it, John.
Crank, crank, crank, crank.
Crank, crank, crank.
He's coming.
Hit him now, Jimmie.
That's too deep, man.
Good shot.
He's running, the
dart could pull out!
You didn't hit him
very good there.
I know,
I know, I know.
I should have waited.
I shouldn't have
listened to you.
Just pulled out of him.
Oh, .
Hit him now, Jimmie.
He's too deep, man.
Good shot.
He's running,
the dart could pull out.
You didn't hit him
very good there.
I know,
I know, I know.
I should have waited.
I shouldn't have
listened to you.
Just pulled out of him.
Oh, .
No, it didn't. No, no.
No, no, it
didn't, it didn't.
I still got him on.
Got him?
Not yet.
I'm close.
He's fighting.
All right, Ellis.
Get ready.
Get me that gaff.
Get his tail.
Quick! Quick! Get his tail.
To my left, Trey.
To my left, Trey.
To my left, Trey.
I ain't got
him good in the head.
Get the rope.
I know. I know.
You got him?
I got him.
Hey!
we're going home!
We're going home!
Pretty work!
We did it! Woo!
Pretty work, boys.
Heck yeah.
Put this down on the tail.
95 here.
All right.
Keep going, boys.
We're going home.
Thank God.
I'm a little stressed
about the midnight.
I mean, we're gonna make it.
I just wanna make
sure that we make it.
We'll make it.
We're gonna make it.
Now
we're getting on him.
4th quarter now, John.
You got to pay attention.
Alright, leader.
Got color! Got color!
Tail wrapped!
He's tail wrapped!
Tail wrapped!
Grab that leader.
Stick him!
Stick him!
Stick him with some power.
Shove it in him, Eric.
Got him? Got him?
He's ours.
Pull it tight.
You got a gaff?
You got a gaff?
He's ours.
We got him, Choppy.
Woo!
Yeah! Yeah!
We got it, baby!
Contact, baby! Contact!
Put a smile on my face.
Damn, man.
9:00. 9, 10, 11.
3 hours.
There ain't no way.
No way, man.
Can we
make it in three hours?
There ain't no way.
Man that's just.
Well that
is one disadvantage of
having a slow boat.
Once it hits
12:00 and one second,
that's your fish
for the next day.
Yeah.
One two three!
Come on! Pull!
Oh, man.
What a fish. What a fish.
Wow.
That's a good one.
And
he's a butterball.
There we go, baby.
What is it?
101.
Yeah!
We got a 100 incher, baby!
Told you that fat thing
was gonna take up some room.
Woo!
That is
the Outlaw's fish.
Oh, boy.
We beat the midnight
a few minutes before,
so we get to go
fishing tomorrow.
We need every day we
can get right now.
First one of the year is gonna
be a big one for us, I hope.
I'm here.
Jimmie, it's
good to see you.
You made it just in
the nick of time.
We did.
We made it before midnight.
Good fish.
I can't wait to see him.
Let's bring up here
and check him out.
I feel really good
about the fact that we got a
bite, period.
So feels good to be back
at the dock with a fish,
and it's the first day and I
hope we have a great season.
We're gonna have a
kick butt season.
What do we got for a weight?
436. All right.
Good deal, guys.
Pretty work.
Pretty work.
Let's check him
out and see what he looks
like on the inside.
So what have we been
looking at for prices lately?
Well, COVID, you know,
has been affecting the market.
A lot of
restaurants are closed.
People aren't going out.
The prices are soft for sure.
However, there's not very many
fish on the market right now
and this got a nice
meat texture and I like
the color there.
You know, unfortunately,
I don't see tons of fat,
like I'm a
little disappointed.
Let's take a look at the core.
I like that.
Oh, it looks nice.
It looks
like raspberry jelly.
That's a really
beautiful core.
Yeah, it's really nice.
It's a nice fish, Jimmie.
Well,
what do you think?
Happy to have him.
I feel like...
I can get y'all $8
a pound for this.
All right, cool.
We'll take $8.
We'll take 8 bucks.
Yeah, I'm
happy to have it.
I'll take another one just like
it tomorrow if you can do it.
I hope we're
right back here tomorrow.
All right.
I hope it's earlier.
I hope I see you
in the morning.
That'd be great.
Really, really
fortunate that we got a bite.
And I feel like my team
kinda came together
for me at the end.
It's a really, really good
feel to have a fish this early
in the season and be ahead
of a bunch of the boats.
We're the Hog Wild.
We're big fast
and first class.
Dear Lord, we got
a drizzly overcast morning,
but it's a great
morning for a bite.
Well, we
know we got a special place in
your heart because
so many of your
disciples were fishermen.
So you know us better
than anybody and we
thank you for that.
Saying
a prayer over the radio is
something that
was started years ago.
And it started a tradition
and that tradition gradually
expanded to different
people saying the prayer.
It's what we do.
It's a southern thing.
It's the way that we
got to start the day.
We ask
that you be with our loved ones.
We ask Lord that you just
watch out and put your hand of
protection around them.
I ask and pray these and
all things in the sweet
precious name of Jesus.
Amen.
Amen, Shack.
Thank you.
Amen, Shack.
Amen.
Doghouse,
Britton Shackleford.
Yes,
Fishin' frenzy.
Where are you?
What are you doing?
How was your evening?
It was a nice evening.
We did not catch a
fish. Need one today.
Okay. I got you.
How about the Rocket?
They didn't spend
the night, did they?
They did, man.
Miserable night for him.
Yeah, I bet they
could use a little shelter.
You could
say that again.
That's awful.
Yeah, last night
was absolutely miserable.
If we can make this
happen and catch a fish,
it'd be worth it paying off.
That's for sure.
Right now,
we're out here just...
in the general area,
of where the...
Gulf Stream is going
to be each day.
The stream
moves because of...
the winds and
the currents changing...
but it's generally in the same
area throughout the day.
We got any ballyhoos out?
Oh yeah.
About time
to catch us a tuna.
.
What you got there, Shane?
I don't
know what it is.
It's fightin'.
You want
me to reel him in?
You ready?
Yup.
A few people got
a jump on us yesterday.
We really need
this to be a bluefin.
It'd make the whole
miserable night worthwhile.
If anybody in this
fleet's due one, it's us.
You good, Daniel?
I'd feel
better if we get her.
Fingers crossed.
It'll be our ticket home.
Oh, that was a
tuna, I'm pretty sure.
That's our ticket home.
Be right for us, baby.
I'm pretty tired.
Oh, that was a
tuna, I'm pretty sure.
I know you're out
of it, but dude,
that's our ticket home.
Got to keep
the pressure on him.
Come on,
seventy-four incher.
Bump it. Color.
Big one, ain't he?
Big bite.
There he is.
Put a dart in him.
Tail gaff. Head gaff him.
Whatever.
Here. Over in him.
Tail rope.
Tail rope. Tail rope.
Where's the tail rope?
.
Come on, baby.
Come on. Come on, man.
Cinched!
Woo! Woo!
That's what it's about!
Yeah!
Stick and stay, make it pay!
Hell yeah, brother.
Good job.
Good job, dude.
Woo! On the board.
Ready?
Yeah.
One two three.
Oh, yeah.
Bigger than
we thought he was.
Oh yeah, he is
now property of the
Rasta Rocket, boys.
Welcome
aboard, big fella.
Man, what is that?
92 inches. Yeah, boys.
If there's one thing that dog
loves more than chicken nuggets,
it's a tuna in the boat.
Yeah, baby!
Now there's only one thing to
do but take this behemoth
back to Wanchese.
Back in business, boys.
Outlaw
ain't playing around.
Chopper!
How's it going, Scotty?
Long time no see.
Yes, sir.
It's been awhile.
You can't keep the
Outlaws away, huh?
Yup, we're
glad to be back.
We got a nice one.
Looks
pretty big, too, man.
Wanna get this thing
up and check it out?
Yeah, let's do it.
Look
at that, Scotty.
Chopper,
what do you think, buddy?
Chopper
wanted him, too.
That's the
smaller version.
What do we got, Scott?
We're looking
at 469 pounds dressed.
Yeah!
Nice.
There you go.
Yeah!
I told you, yeah!
For the first fish, baby!
Come on! Woo!
Well, how about
we check this thing out?
Yes, sir. Let's do it.
Let's do it.
There's just a
lot of fat in this fish.
So much fat and
it's so greasy.
There you go.
You know, look at
Chopper's eyes and nose.
He's
drooling already.
Yeah, it's a good fish.
Good fat.
Good color.
But this is what
really matters.
You guys might be
all right here.
All right.
Good news.
You guys
did pretty good.
I hope to keep
seeing fish like this.
What are you
thinking, Scotty?
You guys
are looking at.
First fish, Scotty.
11 bucks a pound.
Yeah! Yeah!
That's what I'm talking about!
Come one! Woo!
We're really
happy we caught this fish.
It's a diamond.
We're excited to get back out
and try and catch another one
just like it.
This is our first
fish of the season.
We're not stopping here.
So these boys
better get ready.
Dinner is on me, Choppy.
Well, boys.
We got it done, it may have
took two days but we did it.
We got a tuna.
We ain't wussies.
There you go.
Bill!
Boys!
What's going on, man?
What's up?
Always love seeing you guys.
Number one is
on the books and boy,
it was a miserable trip.
Cold.
Can you
feel your fingers?
I don't think
she can feel her paws.
I'm trying to warm
them up for her.
Well, let's go ahead and
get this thing up here and get
Minnie warmed up.
Let's do it.
As long as she's fat.
Definitely a round fish.
There you go.
Conditions
the past two days have been
absolutely brutal.
I'm talking about
miserable of the miserable.
We stuck it out, so
I mean I'm over the
moon right this second.
What we
looking like, Bill?
408 pounds.
Yeah!
Hey, good job, guys.
Well, let's see
how much it's really worth.
Let's do it.
Guys, wow, this is a really
nice looking tail cut.
Look how thick that
wall is right there.
Yes.
And you got a fat all
through the minors coming a
little bit up into the majors.
That's just a
really oily fish.
Let's see what
the old core looks like.
Ooh, Man.
Oh, moi-gosh.
Look how
translucent it is.
Yeah, this is
just a killer fish.
The markets, they haven't
seen a whole lot yet,
all that said...
Come on, now.
You're killing me.
What's the price?
Yeah, this
is just a killer fish.
The markets, they haven't seen
a whole lot yet, all that said.
Come on now.
You're killing me.
What's the price?
$14 a pound.
Yeah, dude.
Definitely.
To start it out, I mean.
Yeah. Good job, guys.
Good job.
Good job, dude.
See you tomorrow.
Hey, y'all
be safe out there.
Pleasure, dude.
Congratulations, guys.
First fish.
Way to start it off strong.
We're the
underdog and we know it,
but $14 at 400 pounds
that could be enough
to set us on top.
And that's a big statement.
We're here to prove that we're
just as good as all of these
bigger boats and keep rocking
it because that's how the
Rasta Rocket does.
There's only one thing
left do, ice up, gas up,
and get back out there
and get you another one.
That's right.
Someone needs to let
the tunas know that they're
supposed to give us a bite.
Someone needs
to send them a memo.
They ain't got it yet.
No.
This is right here,
our plot line where
we stayed all morning
around these bites, so hopefully
we'll get us a bite here.
Get that stick out.
Aye, aye, Cap.
I'm in
the mark right now.
Being the first
mate on the Doghouse means I do
whatever the Captain says.
The Doghouse is a
very tight ship.
Britton is very easy
to get along with.
I have enjoyed working
with him for the last year.
One, two.
Definitely
want to catch a fish.
We need to catch a fish,
just get back in the pack.
Just a tremendous amount of
expense getting ready to go
for the season.
Need a fish for my boys.
Need a fish to get
rid of some bills.
I got some
porpoise over here.
Mammals are a
really good sign.
You catch tunas
around mammals a lot.
They feed on the same food.
But mammals are too
smart to eat our baits,
but the tunas, the tunas will.
You catch tunas around
dolphin and whales a lot.
The
conditions are never the same,
so being able to
adjust to what the
conditions are each day.
It's not something you
can just guess about.
You have to know
exactly what you're doing.
You have to have a
certain instinct.
Without Britton doing his job,
Bo and I don't even get
a chance to perform.
.
Mark right there.
Single fish mark right there.
Come on, land hit it!
Here comes another mark.
Being a captain is a
lot of responsibility.
It's making sure that my boat
is in good working condition.
It's making sure
that my crew are happy,
that they're safe, that
they're fishing hard.
But there is a question in
your mind when you start with
a new crew about whether
that crew is gonna mesh.
Here you go.
Follow this thing.
So far I'm super
impressed with both of them.
There might be three or four
different packs of them,
I don't know.
Hey, those are
bluefins right there, dude.
Look, bluefins
right here, dude.
Those are tunas right there.
I'm getting.
I'm putting you on 'em.
A ton of bluefins
on the surface right
here beside us.
About to drag our
squids right over top of it.
So you
want to jig the stick,
pulling up and down on the
line to make the plastic
squids look alive
to the bluefin.
Come on, Lord.
Give me something here.
There he is!
Oh !
Get away from that thing.
!
Stop the boat.
Stop the boat!
What was that?
Oh !
What happened there?
The main line snapped.
I don't like that.
I don't like that at all.
That line is
just floating out there.
All right.
We got to get
around and get the ball.
Yeah, get
around get the ball.
This is not good.
The
main line is attached to the
bandit reel on one end,
and the bird and
poly-ball on the other,
but with it broken, the fish
still has the hook in his mouth,
but the only thing attached
is that bird and poly-ball.
We got to get out there,
grab it with a gaff,
and reconnect it to the bandit
reel before that fish takes
off and takes the bird
and poly-ball with it.
What are
we gonna do here, Bo?
Crank
everything on backwards.
Okay.
Gaff that ball.
What
part did it break?
Halfway down the spool.
It just decided it didn't want
to be with us no more, so.
Cap, slow down.
We're coming up to the ball.
Getting close.
Getting close now.
Careful guys.
We don't wanna lose it.
We need this one, man.
Gaff that ball.
Getting close.
Getting close now.
Careful guys.
We don't want to lose it.
I don't like that mess.
We need
this one, man.
Yeah,
we're getting there.
All right. Hold that.
We circled back
around and got the ball.
We're going backwards on
him, but this is very,
very peculiar to do.
Get it straight!
Oh, I got him hooked up.
That fish doesn't
have that weight or that
poly-ball floating him,
so we're just floating it
straight on the line here now.
We're good right here.
Everything is good, okay.
About 50 feet away.
We got color.
Forward.
Yeah, stick his ass.
Throw it!
Throw it!
It's in there.
Good job, Cap.
Gaff that one.
Okay.
Oh, that
looks like a good one.
Got him?
Got him.
Whoa! Whoa!
Come on now.
Hurry up.
Get me another
gaff in his head.
Come put the
live line on him.
Got him, Cap?
Let him go.
I got him.
I got to get
up on this cleat here.
Awesome job.
Good job.
For the catastrophe
we were dealt, that
went pretty good.
Welcome
to bluefining, Catlin.
I wouldn't
have it any other way.
I'm excited. Happy.
Glad to be
playing the game now.
First
fish of the season.
We've got to really concentrate
on catching a quality fish now
because we don't know
how the market's gonna be.
And that's why we got him on
this swim hook right here.
A swim hook that fish
will gradually calm down.
That amino acid
will leave their meat.
And the quality of the
meat's gonna be much better.
Ready?
Oh, butterball.
Butterball, boy!
Woo, welcome to it.
Yes sir.
Huh.
50 different things that
could have gone wrong.
My guys handled it.
No hoot and hollering,
oh my gosh, whatever,
just go to work.
Let's measure this thing.
94, buddy. 94.
That's a nice.
Nice first.
Nice first one, buddy.
Good job.
Great job.
We're
playing the game now.
Thank you, Jesus.
We're in the game.
I'm happy.
Show me the money.
Micah, Eric, what's happening?
Hey, Doghouse.
How's it going, fellas?
So good to see y'all.
Yeah, welcome back.
First fish of the season.
First
fish of the season.
We earned it.
Check it out.
Check it out.
Get it off the boat.
I got a new crew.
Cat and Bo.
They did exceptionally well.
What do you got, Micah?
368.
368. Yeah.
Awesome, guys.
See what you got.
Beautiful fish, fellas.
Beautiful fish.
Not bad.
Let's take a
closer look at this.
It's got a deep red color,
which is beautiful.
We love that cherry color.
We love that dark, dark red.
There is a lot of fat.
So like when you're in the
grocery store and see you the
fat in a rib eye, that's
exactly what we see here.
This is a premium fish.
Thank you.
Bottom line.
Bottom line...
I'm gonna pay you
$15 on this fish.
15 bucks.
Awesome.
Better
than five grand.
Yeah.
Really appreciate it.
Thank you so much.
Good job, guys.
Thank you.
Hopefully we'll
see y'all tomorrow.
All right, we'll
see you guys. Thanks.
Y'all
have a good night.
It's our
first fish, 15 bucks a pound.
Better than five grand.
You know, we spent a lot
of money trying to get the
boat ready to go.
This is gonna pay that and
both of my crew are gonna
have a nice check.
It's huge.
It's a wonderful,
wonderful way to start.
You cook, he'll drive, and
I'll just sit inside and look
out the windows.
As the season opens,
the smallest boat in the fleet,
Rasta Rocket
gets the largest payday.
But less than $200 behind is
the Doghouse followed by
the helping hands of
Offshore Outlaw.
Meanwhile, the young guns on
Hog Wild have a respectable
first showing,
as well as the new
Reel E' Bugging,
and former
champion Fishin' Frenzy.
While local veteran Little Shell
fails to score a bluefin.
I'm competing for the guys
in the cockpit and the
bills on the table.
So fishing hard, being
blessed with a catch,
all of that is vital.
When I'm catching, I
wanna keep on catching.
I wanna keep on producing.
I wanna be a gracious winner.
I've got
a reputation to uphold.
I've always
caught a lot of fish,
I always push hard,
and this year,
I got some boats that are
definitely gonna be pushing,
but I've won four season here.
It's no secret that I'm
one of the top boats.
My slow start
sucked, but I've been low,
I've been last,
and I've come back.
Here we go, it's
just getting started.
Yeah, we'll have to go
out there in rough weather.
Stay out in the ocean,
live out in the ocean.
Some kind of crazy
and that's bluefining.
There's a lot on the
line personally for me.
We showed up here and we
competed two years ago and
we won this thing.
And then we come out
the following year
and we came in last.
If we can come back this year
and spank all the competition.
I know I can catch as
many fish as anybody
in the fleet, period.
Being the
young guns, we're gonna be the
future to this industry.
These guys aren't
gonna be around forever.
Somebody's got
to take it over.
We just want to prove to them
that we have what it takes.
Everybody
fishing in this competition
wants to win
like there's not a
doubt in my mind.
So, if we can pull this off
and take the number one spot,
it would be quite
an accomplishment.
Woo!
We look to
beat all of them this year.
We don't have a
target on anybody's back.
We're running our own race and
we want to win just as bad as
any of these other guys, but
you got to be a little crazy
to get the job done.
Captioned by Cotter Media Group.
in the Outer Banks,
why do they call it the
Graveyard of the Atlantic?
Hey, hey, hey, hey!
Hit the gas!
Hit the gas, dude!
Whoo!
Scary.
It's home to
more than 2,000 shipwrecks.
This place
eats boats up, dude.
A
shifting ocean floor.
Am I on the bottom?
Brutal conditions.
Got
too much speed going.
It's a good way to die.
It's a great way to die.
Hang on!
And water so cold
you'll freeze quicker than you
can say, "Man overboard."
Earning a living here
is a matter of life.
The boat caught fire.
It's all gone.
And death.
This season, the captains face
their harshest conditions ever.
It's time to looks danger
in the eye and go fishing.
There he is.
We're on!
Hell yeah!
Booyah!
That's the meat!
Heartbreaking.
Go, go, go, go!
Keep going.
Just keep on going.
As the world looks
to free itself from the grip
of a global pandemic.
Stress level 20.
These fishermen
face the dead of winter.
It's kind of like
a horror film out here.
On the high seas off
the coast of North Carolina to
make a living.
Life raft!
it.
Hold on!
Hold on!
Going fishing!
Whoa!
Watch out!
Please!
Hit him!
Stick him!
♪ ♪
Big boy!
Big boy!
Yeah!
Whoo!
Bam!
This is
Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks.
Let's get out there.
Everybody's gonna be going.
It's been a little choppy,
but not too bad.
I'm happy to be back out.
So here we are.
We're headed out.
Start of the season.
This is the first year the
northern boats hadn't come.
So basically every
boat we're competing
against is a local boat.
So the competition is tight.
We got Cliff and
Brandan returning with me,
the best mates in the ocean.
Last two years
that we've done it,
we've done really well.
We've finished second
twice, but this year,
we'll be number one.
Let's show
'em how it's done, shall we?
First morning.
We're all a little
bit excited here.
Happy day.
Happy, happy day.
It's wintertime,
it's bluefin season.
We got to go.
Not ideal, but hopefully,
we'll make it out here.
It just won't be the prettiest
ride we've had before.
That's why we wait
and we all go together.
Little Shell is
right there ahead of us.
I got Bed Bugs and Outlaw,
they're coming from Wanchese
behind us and you don't
want to go around this place
without any local knowledge
if you're not going with
somebody else,
so get out here
and give it a whirl.
I'm nervous.
I'm really watching all
of my system right now.
My radar, my depth finder,
just hoping that we get out
the Inlet unscathed.
That's something the Offshore
Outlaw boys know all about.
Little
says negative 1.5 foot.
That is shallow!
Just gonna go
with my gut feeling.
I'm nervous.
I'm always nervous navigating
through Oregon Inlet,
especially the bridge.
A couple of years
ago, we lost steering,
hit the bridge.
Water came pouring
in and the bow of the
boat was demolished.
Luckily, everything was
fixable for the right price.
I thought I might lose
the boat financially.
Commercial fishing is the
hard way to make a living,
but it's my passion.
All right.
Bobby coming up on
your port side here.
He's coming with a
doggone mansion this year.
I'll
follow Outlaw and hope
the new boat makes it.
I don't know why, man,
every time we start out,
my nerves are just.
This place is
just deadly, man.
We have a new Reel E' Bugging
this year.
The old boat was a 53 Hatteras.
The new boat is a
60-foot Hatteras,
it's a big jump,
there's a learning curve.
It's massive.
It's a beast.
, Adam, that's
all you got, eight knots?
I'm gonna let
Bobby lead the way.
Y'all better hold on.
He kicks up a
little bit bigger swell.
And we're getting
passed already.
Hold on, Adam.
Hold on.
Here we go.
Whoo! Yeah.
She got a
whippin' current, man.
If he makes it,
we know we're good.
Yeah.
All right, split 'em.
All right, yup.
That wasn't
as bad as it looked.
All right.
Here comes Rasta.
Gonna buzz us. Woo!
We got the
Outlaw beside of us.
He waited to go across the
bar for some safe light.
And we want to be safe too.
We got families
to come home to.
Hope
them boys are bundled up.
Oh, my God, can you
imagine how cold they are,
31 degrees this morning.
Oh, me.
There they go.
Man, if I had that
boat, I'd shoot right
straight through there.
If
you had that boat,
we'd be knocking
icicles off our faces.
Now, what, bro?
Is that the bar or a boat?
Where is the
freaking wreck though?
From the
bridge to the bar,
it takes about
10 or 15 minutes.
Complicating that now this year,
there's an old steel wreck
from the '80s that the channel
is narrowing towards.
So you got about 75 yards from
shallow water with dangerous
rough sea breaking, and then a
steel trawl boat that's been
wrecked since the
'80s that you have to
kind of snake through.
And it's, a couple boats have
hit that trawl boat already
and it ends their season.
It's not something
you're gonna fix overnight.
If you're lucky, you
escape that with your life.
Somebody got a
little guidance here?
Do you know
where the wreck is?
Yeah.
Where is it?
Are you
following the buoys?
Is there
any buoys out here?
Nope! All right.
Hey, feel free to
share that with me.
Which way should I be going?
The wreck
will be on the west side.
On the west side,
there's plenty of room.
Yeah.
The
east side's fine, but you
got plenty of room now.
Where's east?
Where's east?
There's Rasta?
Who?
Rasta.
Hey, Rasta,
you're gonna cut me off?
Follow him.
Yeah, but he
drafts 14 inches.
Just about
abreast of the buoy now.
All right, where's
the poly ball, dude?
Go ahead,
I'll look through it.
Just coming
past it now.
There it is.
Where?
Right over there. 10:00.
Oh, that's a
little ass poly ball, bro.
I'm good though.
Yeah, you're good.
You're good.
me, dude.
At least we
got to worry about one
thing and that's the bar.
Welcome to Oregon Inlet.
The worst part about
this place is the bar.
If you hit it wrong, it
could tear your boat up.
You bust your windows out.
It's just dangerous.
All right, boys here we go.
Hold on.
Hold on, guys.
Breaker. Yeah.
Hold on.
Hold on.
Hold on.
Yeah, boys!
We're out, boys.
Yeah!
We are back, baby.
Woo, if that
don't get your heart going
first second in the morning,
I don't know what will.
Rigging a ballyhoo
is like skinning a cat.
Say everybody
does this different.
A lot of folks down here
use ballyhoo as baits because
they're long and skinny.
They'll actually swim
like they're alive.
Them tunas just
can't resist it.
I've got two of the best
mates in the business on here.
I've got Billon Hollingsworth.
There's a
little bit of an art to it.
And Jason Futch,
AKA Dirty Jay.
Burr, my
hands are frozen.
They got a
great work ethic.
No matter when I say
we're going fishing,
they're ready to go.
It's really good to have two
mates that I can depend on.
See what we got.
First day out.
Nobody knows where
the fish are feeding.
So we're all spread
out looking for them.
Hey!
I got birds up here.
Let's get baits.
These are ballyhoos.
You know,
it didn't make any sense to
go to one spot.
We got 20 miles of boats
looking for these fish.
Nailed it, Drew!
You nailed it.
We are set up, dudes.
Let's do it.
Bluefin or bust.
All of us are
looking for the gold rush,
the Gulf Stream.
The Gulf Stream is
basically an offshore river.
The water is heated down in
the Gulf of Mexico and it
wants to go north.
It goes to where
the cold water is.
Look, look, look.
Look right there.
Good God!
And it
carries its own life cycle.
There's all kinds of bait,
fish, birds, mammals
that all follow the stream.
Where's
the bluefin, Chopper?
.
Back on the ground.
Put something
in the water they may
have not seen before.
The Gulf
Stream influences everything.
It's the lifeblood
of our fishing here.
Everybody's just kind of
searching for that first fish.
We are fishing.
I'm ready to get a bite.
We're all out here to
trying to make a living.
We're trying make
money, but we're fishing.
We're always competing.
And I always considered
Nick my top competition.
He's pushing to
get that first fish.
He wants to prove something.
Where's the Little Shell?
Little Shell's coming for you.
Opening
day of the season.
If we catch a fish early
this morning and get one
first again this year,
it'll definitely
give my guys a boost.
We're gonna get 'em.
The market on
bluefin tuna has steadily been
declining over
the last few years.
And now this pandemic has
hit and they're not shipping
things overseas
like they did before.
Oh boy, we're
gonna get a bite.
And my worst fear is to make
the least amount of money for
my two guys and me.
You know, I have
grown man bills.
Mortgage, I have
a little girl.
And then Cliff and
Brandan have all the same,
three times multiplied.
What the is that?
What is that?
What's that
sound, Brandan?
Let me see.
This is not good.
I'll get
down there and look.
, dude.
We suck?
The boat didn't
get used in the last what,
a month and a half.
I'm gonna tell you
right now that's steering.
We are pouring fluid out.
We got a steering leak.
Right here.
What are you thinking?
There's nothing we
can do, now. We gotta go in.
We got to take what fluid
we got and got to go in.
I just need to know
if I can start heading west.
Yes.
Secure
your deck, Brandan.
.
This is gonna
cost us money and time,
both of things we
can't afford to give up.
Not being able to fish on day
one of the season because of
mechanical issues, it
makes me pissed off.
Terrible
start to our season.
You know, we're
out here to earn money
because we need it.
And well, just bad luck.
Just part of, part
of being on a boat.
Part of working with
boats, they break.
It breaks my heart to go
in there without a fish.
But best thing to do
is to go in right now.
Damn it.
I really wanted
that first fish.
.
There's a
few marks here.
Hopefully we'll get a
bite here any minute.
.
Hey!
Wolf pack!
I have not marked any.
That doesn't mean
they're not here.
We
got the lines out.
You got to put us on the fish.
Don't want
to stay tonight.
No.
.
Look.
Marking 'em.
Come on, Minnie, do
the thing for us.
Yeah.
Yeah.
That'll
be the lucky one.
Boys, bluefin season's
officially started now.
.
We are in
the right spot.
Come to papa.
We've got high hopes.
Come on tune.
It's gonna happen, guys.
.
There he is.
There he is, Drew.
There he is.
Meat. All right.
Tight, boys!
There he is.
We're tight!
There he is.
Yeah, son!
Drew, you want to
move it to there?
Yeah.
All right, let's go.
All right, there she is.
All right, boys.
yeah.
Yo, we're tight.
Yeah. We're tight.
Bobby is
hooked up right now.
He's just to the
north of us a little bit.
We are working our way
that direction.
Good for Buggings.
Waiting our turn.
Okay.
Really, Greg?
You got to get a bite here.
Now, let's
make sure we don't suck.
Booyah!
Let's go, boys.
It's tuna weather right here.
He's down and tight.
Good?
Yeah, that's good.
Starting to blow.
I don't like that
lines whipping up in the.
Yeah, let's
shorten the leash.
I'm ready, dude.
See how that thing's
flapping around?
Yeah, he's coming
to the surface, dude.
See him way out there.
Yeah.
He's coming up, Bobby.
All right, we're
coming to him right now.
Let's dance.
Let's dance.
He's all on the top.
Come on, Brian.
He's all on the top.
Kick his ass country.
Might be like
tail wrapped or something.
It might be.
He's acting real weird.
It's a critical
part of the fish fight.
We got the fish up and down.
You know, first
fish of the year.
This is where things
get dicey, you know,
you just, you got to pucker
up and focus right now.
Until you stick him.
It's just a dream.
It's just a dream.
Spin left, Bobby.
Come up.
I will.
You get us straight,
I'll come up.
We got color.
Nice long fish.
All right, Drew.
Hurry up.
Get up there.
He's right there.
Hurry up.
Where is he, bro?
He's right here, Bobby.
I lost
him in the waves.
Right here.
Right there!
Booyah!
Get a gaff on him.
He ain't done.
He ain't done, dude.
Let him go.
Let him go.
Whoa, he's
swimming, dude.
Big wave.
Hold on!
That harpoon line
is rubbing on this line.
I can feel it.
No .
Grab it on the
other side of the leader.
Grab the harpoon line.
Watch this line
right here, Bobby.
There we go, bro.
Get ready.
When I hit him with a gaff,
he's gonna go nuts.
Come on.
We're gonna lose
this fish, bro.
He just
came off. He's gone!
Yeah, he's gone, bro!
That harpoon line
is rubbing on this line.
I can feel it.
No .
Here we go, bro.
Get ready when I
hit him a gaff,
he's gonna go nuts.
Come on.
We're gonna lose
this fish, bro.
He just came off.
He's gone.
Just handline him.
Help me move this.
I'm gonna
help you out, Bri.
Bro, we're about to
lose this fish, dude.
I know.
And we've had
100 chances to get him.
I know. Right.
It's
amateur hour.
Brian, I
can't see that line.
Where is it?
Little bump,
little bump. Ah!
We're handlining, dude.
Oh, we got a
mess going on here, dude.
Just don't
get caught in here.
Yeah, that's
what I was worried about.
Ah. Ah.
There he is. Color.
Captain Drew.
Yeah.
Put a tail
wrap on this fish.
I'm going over.
Get another
harpoon, pull that.
Grab a gaff.
Tie that off.
Drew, today, bro.
Yeah, sometime today.
Just grab that,
I love you, man.
Oh my God, bro.
There you go.
All right.
Cinch him up.
yeah.
Wow, that feels good.
Bed Bugs!
Yeah, buddy!
It wasn't pretty.
I got to tell
you, it feels amazing.
First fish of the year.
Typical bedbug style.
It was a demon fish, 25 things
could have went wrong there,
22 of them did.
We got the
first fish. We're back.
The champ.
Yeah.
Coming back
to get his crown.
It appears
Bobby's got the first fish.
I guess the tuna gods were
on his side this morning.
Good
for him, bad for us.
I really wanted
that first fish.
Bobby struck first.
That might be a lucky boat.
All right.
Well, let's get him in, Bobby.
We legally can't keep a
bluefin less than 73 inches.
Because at that point they
would have had a chance to
spawn and make more bluefin.
That's a fatty, bro.
Luckily we don't have a
problem with this fish.
You ready?
Yeah.
96 inches.
Yeah, Brian.
You got it, buddy.
Oh, baby.
We're behind
the game right now,
so we just need to get
everything finished,
and then take off.
We ain't
caught nothing but hell.
Everything has
been fighting us.
Gonna fix this steering
and we'll get back out there.
I don't want to
be behind everybody.
This is not what we do.
Last year, we had 15.
Bobby Bugging Bed Bugs had
five and he's bragging about
catching one.
Is he?
So, he,
damn right he is.
You know him.
Yeah, that sucks.
It's early
and it's one fish,
but, you know, it
hurts me right here,
my heart, my pride.
We're gonna fix it up
and we're gonna do what we do,
we're gonna catch fish.
We're gonna end up on top
and that's just the way it is.
You know
what boat stands for?
Yeah, "Bust. Out.
Another. Thousand."
That's exactly right.
All right, guys.
I got to hurry up.
We got to get out there.
The guys are all fishing.
We're working on it, Cap.
All right,
just do what you can.
Yeah, that's the
Doghouse right there.
Yo, frenzy!
Shack is
always someone who,
he's been out here
every year with us.
You know, most days that
we're out here fishing,
Shack is here.
So he pays
attention to detail.
He knows where to be.
He knows where the
fish are moving.
He's a good fisherman.
Feels good.
Start of the season.
We're ready.
Time to go fishing.
You're ready?
Yeah, I'm ready.
Getting everything set up
to deploy the bird and start.
I'm excited.
Been sitting around
the house way too long.
I'm
Britton Shackelford,
captain and owner
of the Doghouse.
I've got a brand
new crew this year.
Bo has fished for a long time.
Multi-different
species of fish,
very, very observant.
Catlin comes from a
long line of fishermen.
I am jacked up.
Hopefully today is the day.
Today's the day.
Me getting to know them is
vital for me to be successful.
That's the bird that
keeps everything tight.
And once we hook the
stick to it, it'll lift it up.
Bo has not fished
with the stick and Catlin has
never done it, so we got the
stick out just so they can
kind of get
acclimated with that.
Down here
in the South, the bluefin are
constantly moving,
looking for bait near
the surface of the water.
So a lot captains troll with
the green stick to keep the
baits up high.
The stick has got a really
heavy what we call the bird,
that keeps tension on
this main line coming
off of this bandit.
And this line
that comes from the top of...
the stick connects
to that bandit...
and pulls the baits up so all
your baits are just dangling.
These are the drops.
We got five of them.
They're just squids with hooks
in them and they dangle and
hop across the
top of the water.
Hopefully that's
what the tuna grab.
Man, it'd
be cool to get one.
Yeah.
My bank account would like it.
Keep
your eyes open now.
Man,
this is unbelievable.
We are really sucking.
I'm just gonna keep working up
to the northeast and hopefully
find some water, warmer water
and maybe find some fish.
Bobby's bite was
in warmer water.
And right now, that's
all the info we have,
so we're gonna ride around
here and see what we can find.
Hurry up and wait.
That's the name of it.
There's a
bubble of warmer water there.
It's something.
I just want one.
I just want one.
Come on, baby.
.
Single mark at 12 fathom.
All right.
Come on, baby!
.
We're on!
Yeah, baby!
We're on!
We are on.
All right,
finally got us a bite.
Feels like a good one.
I know
Bed Bugs caught a fish,
he's down about
ten miles below us.
Guys, I would really
hate to lose to Bobby,
so let's start
this season right.
Okay, cool.
It's like riding a bike.
You can get in
the corner if you want.
Bobby
won one year in a row.
Hey, for four seasons, I
was the top boat down here.
I'm always right there.
It's all right,
nice and easy.
Take your time.
I got
a reputation to uphold.
People are always
looking at the red boat.
They want to know
where I'm going.
They want to know
what I'm catching.
He's not very far away right
now, but he's up high.
A lot of times, big
fish will do that.
They'll stay up high.
Big fish don't
get smart from being dumb.
Dumb fish don't live long.
No.
This year's no different.
Now, I've got a bunch of local
guys I got to deal with and
we're all on a level
playing field now,
it's our backyard.
Down and dirty right now,
just how we like it.
Let him fight that rod.
The bend of that
rod wears him out.
Yo-yoing, baby.
So
I want to catch fish.
I want to make some
money for my crew.
But above all, I want
to be the top boat at
the end of the season.
There he is. Boom.
I want to
make sure everyone knows that
the Fishin' Frenzy is the top
boat in the Outer Banks.
Might get a shot here.
Come on.
Come over here.
There you go.
This fish is crazy.
Hold on. Hold on.
He's going deep.
He's mad!
Nice lovely headshot.
Come on, baby.
This fish is crazy!
Ah, come on.
Come over here.
There we go.
Hold on. Hold on.
He's going deep.
He's mad.
Come over this way.
Pull, pull, pull, pull!
I'm pulling on him.
I'm pulling.
That's right.
Okay, got him.
To my left. The left.
To my left.
That's the way
we like it, boys!
That's how you do it.
Way to start the season.
That's the way to start.
One for one.
Right out of the gate.
Hell yeah, that's
a beautiful fish.
The team's clicking.
Everything's
going our way so far.
I hope it continues.
Very nice-shaped fish.
Yeah, I like that.
That's nice.
92.
What a way
to do it, dude.
That's the way
to start the season.
I like it, I like it, I like it.
You like it,
we like it, sensei.
Heading to the west.
I was watching.
Good going.
Looked like a right
nice one from here.
But then again, we're still
technically...
tied until you get
to the dock.
That's right.
I fished with little Jimmie's
dad before he was born.
Kind of funny to think I've
been doing it for that long.
I want to
sack these guys up.
Young guns.
Here we go.
But
Big Jim has pretty much
retired and Jimmie's
started running the
boat a couple years ago.
And Jimmie's got
a big fast boat.
Faster than my boat.
Jimmie's gonna be
tough to deal with.
We've definitely got
something to prove this year
being the young
guns in the fleet.
I know we can do it, we just
need to prove that we can do
it by doing it.
Put us on
the meat, Jimmie.
I'll try.
I'm Jimmie Horning.
I'm captain of the Hog Wild.
I'm 22 years old.
Born and raised here
on the Outer Banks.
And fishing is what I do.
It's what I grew up doing.
It's what I've always done.
It's the only thing
I know how to do.
It's what I love.
I love everything about it and
it's just what I've always done.
It's my life.
I'm getting wet.
My mates,
I've got Trey and Ellis.
Take me a minute
to get my sea legs back,
get back in the
groove of things.
Ellis is a
great fisherman,
I've known him for a while.
You like my pet chicken?
And Trey, he's been
fishing with me ever since I
started running the
boat five years ago.
The advantage of being
young is we're all full of
piss and vinegar.
Catching some tuna.
Here, fishy, fishy.
Man, did it get cold.
Yeah, it did.
I think I got
frostbite and my toes fell off.
We
have to be tough to deal
with big oceans all the
time, rain, 30-degree weather.
I'm so cold right
now I can barely talk.
This is what we do.
This is how we
make a paycheck.
100% of our income comes
from commercial fishing.
Be nice to catch one,
we could end it and go home.
Wow, that came up fast.
Wow, 7 foot, 6 foot.
This place will give you
a flipping heart attack, man.
Five-eight.
It was a rough year for me
personally in regards to
my boat, you know.
We were heading down to the
Outer Banks early October.
I was moving down here.
We had everything onboard.
I had 30 years'
worth of tackle.
I had 28 fishing
rods and reels.
And the boat caught fire.
Fired up the mayday.
Threw down some
survival suits.
And we got in and we
worked our way to the bow.
You know, by the time we threw
the life raft off the bow,
the entire boat was ablaze.
.
We were
40 miles offshore and
from the first time I smelt
smoke to jumping in a life raft
was about 12 minutes.
After you get pulled out of
the water in a helicopter,
you're soaking wet
and it's all gone.
And, you know, we
were in New Jersey in a,
in a private
airport with no shoes,
no money, no cell phones
and you just can't digest it.
Devastating.
I mean, last year
was just awful.
So catching the first fish
this season is a godsend.
♪ I've got the gold
in my hands ♪
Second place will never do ♪♪
Get ready.
How was your day?
Epic.
Congratulations
on the first fish.
It's a demon fish.
Why don't we come
take a look at him?
Let's do it.
♪ I want the power
and the glory ♪
And it ain’t no sin ♪
I’m the new sensation ♪
Came to win, win, win ♪♪
Dennis,
what does she weigh?
477 pounds, guys.
Oh!
Yeah!
Yeah.
Yeah! We knew it.
We knew it, bro.
We knew it.
We knew it
was a big fish.
We knew.
We needed that.
Let's go see
how it grades out.
Yes.
Can't wait
to see it, Dennis.
Well, you guys
are off to a really
good start this year.
The buyer's
looking for a tail sample with
a thick band of fat
just below the skin and marbled
fat clearly visible in the meat.
It's like butter,
the meat in there.
It's all loaded up
with fat in there,
you can see that.
Oh yeah look at that.
Yeah.
Well let's see what
the core color looks like.
Come on, baby.
And
in the core sample taken
deep within the tuna,
the buyer's looking for a
consistent red color
that's also shiny
and translucent.
Well, it does look
like there's a little meat burn.
You can see the tail is nice
and red but the core sample is
kind of cloudy and opaque.
You know, the
restaurant business is shaky.
The market's very fragile.
And the customers, they
don't want to take a fish
that they can't sell.
What's the
best you can do?
I can pay you
$7 a pound tonight.
All right.
We'll take that.
We'll take it.
Yeah.
We'll take it.
First ones on the board.
Every dollar counts.
All right, look,
I'm not happy with it,
but we'll take it.
We need it all.
Thank you, Dennis.
Thank you, Dennis.
Good luck.
All right,
Dennis, be well.
All right,
let's get another one.
Yeah, man.
Well, he pressed
start new track this morning,
so it should saved it.
It should be
showing everything.
We was on our way in
and we have a track line that...
saves on our GPS
everyday that we go out.
And this is the first time
we've been out of the Inlet...
this year and for some reason,
our track line hasn't saved.
It just deleted it.
We're pretty much stuck.
The new way that we got to
come in and out of the bar...
there's a big shipwreck right
there and it's pretty dicey.
And we don't want to bust
in there in the dark and...
not know where we're at.
I have a chance of hitting
that wreck and sink and...
possibly, you know, possibly
lose our life or something.
We don't want to do that.
We're gonna
need some help if we're gonna
make it through the night.
How about the
Outlaw, you on this one?
Because it's thirty degrees out
here and we are...
layered up to the tee.
We got about ten more hours
until the sun comes up.
Yeah, come on, Adam...
You standing by, Adam?
.
It's gonna be a long night
on the Rasta Rocket.
How about the
Outlaw, you on this one?
It's gonna be along night on
the Rasta Rocket because it's
30 degrees out here and
we're pretty much stuck.
And we got about 10 more
hours until the sun comes up.
Yeah, come on, Adam.
Yeah,
I'm standing by.
What's going on?
Our plot line deleted.
I guess we are gonna stay.
You got an extra towel
on there maybe?
You don't have
any blankets or anything?
I got one
that the dog is in.
She's
pissed off right now.
I got two blankets,
a sleeping bag,
a towel, and a beanbag.
Sure.
You're all life savers.
We're idling over
here to the Outlaw.
They're
gonna help us out.
That's how we do
it in the South.
No man left behind.
That's got
to be him right there.
That bright
light coming toward us?
Thank you, Lord.
Thank you, Lord.
These
are nice and warm.
Just came out the dryer.
All right. Ready,
here's the towel.
Thank you.
Appreciate y'all.
This is going to be
one we ain't going to forget.
All right, fellas.
Appreciate it.
Thank you.
If y'all
get too bad off now,
let us know.
All right.
Burr!
Outlaw saves the day.
First
day of the season. We're
coming in with the meat.
It feels good.
Dennis!
I was really hoping we'd set
the tone with the first fish,
but we got number two.
Well, let's
see what you got.
All right, cool.
Our first trip out,
we got a fish,
but we were just a
little bit late.
But anything we can
get on the market now,
there's not much there, so
it's gonna be worth some money.
What kind of weight we got?
830
pounds dressed, guys.
I love that.
For a 92 incher!
That is the ones
we're looking for.
Hell yeah.
So let's see
what the color is like.
All right.
Sounds good to me.
Not a bad specimen for
your first fish of the season.
We like to hear that.
Right now I'm seeing
some pretty nice red tail color.
It's not jammed,
jammed up with fat,
but I'm hoping a nice red core
here will get you a good price.
Let's see what we got.
Oh yeah, there we go.
Drumroll, please.
It's
actually really clear.
So what do you think?
I mean, what kind of
price we got on here?
I wish it
had a little more fat,
but it's a decent fish
for our New York market.
$8 a pound.
Hey you know something?
Three grand.
A lot of boats out there
that aren't getting paid.
Yeah.
That's true.
I'm happy to have it.
Yeah. Me, too.
Alright. That's good,
Dennis. Thank you.
We'll see in you
in the morning.
Sounds good.
Thank you.
Thank you, sir.
Thank you.
See you tomorrow.
It doesn't make a
difference who's got the first,
it's who's got the
most at the end of the year.
That's what
we're shooting for.
Night
fishing is awesome.
If
you're night fishing,
that means you didn't
catch one during the day,
so you're stuck out
here all damn day.
And all night.
And all night.
.
All right.
We did a good deed.
So maybe the tuna
gods will respect that.
Maybe we'll get paid
back for trying to do good.
What is it, Chopper?
Smell them tuna fish?
Awfully long day.
We really need to get us
a bite because we need
to get on the board.
We can't be falling behind.
I like night fishing.
I don't mind
staying night out here.
Getting rigged
up with Boston Mackerel
for fishing tonight.
We're gonna drift these
baits along all night, you know.
Maybe some of these
fish will feed at night.
Sometimes it's a little bit
better at night drifting.
We're here so we'll
see what happens.
We're just some young kids
out here trying to prove that
we've got what it takes.
So if that means staying out
here all night then that's
what we're gonna do.
Give him a kiss
before you send him off.
That's nasty.
We're only
allowed one fish per day.
If we bring the fish
in after midnight,
that prevents us from fishing
that following day because
technically that fish
was landed on that day.
So say we were to catch
a fish at 9:00 at night,
we could hurry up,
get in here,
get our fish
offloaded before midnight.
That still leaves us
open to fish the next day.
Every single fish counts.
I'm about
to fall asleep.
Where'd all
the big tunas go?
Where did they go, Trey?
We're gonna
get one, Choppy boy.
.
Oh, there's a mark.
.
Hey, hey, hey!
There he is! There he is!
There he is!
There he is!
We're hooked up!
Crank it! Crank it!
Crank it! Crank it!
All right, boys.
All right, got him on.
Hooked up, baby.
We got one on.
Let's make it count here.
All right.
This could be the right one.
Where you want to go?
I wanna put
over on that side.
You ready?
Yup.
Oh boy, I love
those wake up calls.
Right here?
No, right behind you.
There you go. All right.
All right, we
got our night bite.
Let's make it count.
It's starting
to become a really long night.
Yeah.
.
.
Huh?
Hey, hey, hey.
There he is.
Adam! Adam! Fish on!
That the right one?
I think so.
Come on, be the one.
Be the one.
Got something on.
Rod ain't bent very much.
Damn, he's smoking it.
Yeah, it's a tuna, man.
It's got to be.
What else could it be?
He
took a lot of line.
This is a
big fish, fellas.
Definitely fighting
like a good-sized fish.
Bust his ass, Trey.
Pull on him.
Pull on him. Pull on him.
Pull on him.
Pull on him.
Getting close now.
Yeah.
I see it.
I see, I see,
I see color.
All right.
Let's get him.
Hey, let's, uh.
Yeah, yeah,
let's get him.
Yeah. Oh, Please, baby.
Please, please,
please, please, please.
Please.
Woo!
Yeah, baby!
This is what I
dream about right here.
We got him on.
We're just trying to
close the gap a little bit,
get some of this
string back on the reel.
Try and get back
some mono at least.
He's got a
lot of line stretched out.
It puts more drag on him.
Easy to pull the hook or
something could break.
Oh me!
This is the real
nervous part of it.
Woo!
Yeah, baby!
All right.
Getting a little
something on him now.
You gaining on him?
Yup.
All right.
Haven't
done this in a while.
Oh, boy, I'm stressed out.
Here's your swivel right here.
Come on, baby!
Don't put the cart
before the horse,
just get him up here.
4th quarter now, John.
You got to pay attention.
Man, my chest hurts we
need this one so bad.
Yeah, we spent a lot of
money to get this boat ready
for this season.
Crank it, John.
Crank, crank, crank, crank.
Crank, crank, crank.
He's coming.
Hit him now, Jimmie.
That's too deep, man.
Good shot.
He's running, the
dart could pull out!
You didn't hit him
very good there.
I know,
I know, I know.
I should have waited.
I shouldn't have
listened to you.
Just pulled out of him.
Oh, .
Hit him now, Jimmie.
He's too deep, man.
Good shot.
He's running,
the dart could pull out.
You didn't hit him
very good there.
I know,
I know, I know.
I should have waited.
I shouldn't have
listened to you.
Just pulled out of him.
Oh, .
No, it didn't. No, no.
No, no, it
didn't, it didn't.
I still got him on.
Got him?
Not yet.
I'm close.
He's fighting.
All right, Ellis.
Get ready.
Get me that gaff.
Get his tail.
Quick! Quick! Get his tail.
To my left, Trey.
To my left, Trey.
To my left, Trey.
I ain't got
him good in the head.
Get the rope.
I know. I know.
You got him?
I got him.
Hey!
we're going home!
We're going home!
Pretty work!
We did it! Woo!
Pretty work, boys.
Heck yeah.
Put this down on the tail.
95 here.
All right.
Keep going, boys.
We're going home.
Thank God.
I'm a little stressed
about the midnight.
I mean, we're gonna make it.
I just wanna make
sure that we make it.
We'll make it.
We're gonna make it.
Now
we're getting on him.
4th quarter now, John.
You got to pay attention.
Alright, leader.
Got color! Got color!
Tail wrapped!
He's tail wrapped!
Tail wrapped!
Grab that leader.
Stick him!
Stick him!
Stick him with some power.
Shove it in him, Eric.
Got him? Got him?
He's ours.
Pull it tight.
You got a gaff?
You got a gaff?
He's ours.
We got him, Choppy.
Woo!
Yeah! Yeah!
We got it, baby!
Contact, baby! Contact!
Put a smile on my face.
Damn, man.
9:00. 9, 10, 11.
3 hours.
There ain't no way.
No way, man.
Can we
make it in three hours?
There ain't no way.
Man that's just.
Well that
is one disadvantage of
having a slow boat.
Once it hits
12:00 and one second,
that's your fish
for the next day.
Yeah.
One two three!
Come on! Pull!
Oh, man.
What a fish. What a fish.
Wow.
That's a good one.
And
he's a butterball.
There we go, baby.
What is it?
101.
Yeah!
We got a 100 incher, baby!
Told you that fat thing
was gonna take up some room.
Woo!
That is
the Outlaw's fish.
Oh, boy.
We beat the midnight
a few minutes before,
so we get to go
fishing tomorrow.
We need every day we
can get right now.
First one of the year is gonna
be a big one for us, I hope.
I'm here.
Jimmie, it's
good to see you.
You made it just in
the nick of time.
We did.
We made it before midnight.
Good fish.
I can't wait to see him.
Let's bring up here
and check him out.
I feel really good
about the fact that we got a
bite, period.
So feels good to be back
at the dock with a fish,
and it's the first day and I
hope we have a great season.
We're gonna have a
kick butt season.
What do we got for a weight?
436. All right.
Good deal, guys.
Pretty work.
Pretty work.
Let's check him
out and see what he looks
like on the inside.
So what have we been
looking at for prices lately?
Well, COVID, you know,
has been affecting the market.
A lot of
restaurants are closed.
People aren't going out.
The prices are soft for sure.
However, there's not very many
fish on the market right now
and this got a nice
meat texture and I like
the color there.
You know, unfortunately,
I don't see tons of fat,
like I'm a
little disappointed.
Let's take a look at the core.
I like that.
Oh, it looks nice.
It looks
like raspberry jelly.
That's a really
beautiful core.
Yeah, it's really nice.
It's a nice fish, Jimmie.
Well,
what do you think?
Happy to have him.
I feel like...
I can get y'all $8
a pound for this.
All right, cool.
We'll take $8.
We'll take 8 bucks.
Yeah, I'm
happy to have it.
I'll take another one just like
it tomorrow if you can do it.
I hope we're
right back here tomorrow.
All right.
I hope it's earlier.
I hope I see you
in the morning.
That'd be great.
Really, really
fortunate that we got a bite.
And I feel like my team
kinda came together
for me at the end.
It's a really, really good
feel to have a fish this early
in the season and be ahead
of a bunch of the boats.
We're the Hog Wild.
We're big fast
and first class.
Dear Lord, we got
a drizzly overcast morning,
but it's a great
morning for a bite.
Well, we
know we got a special place in
your heart because
so many of your
disciples were fishermen.
So you know us better
than anybody and we
thank you for that.
Saying
a prayer over the radio is
something that
was started years ago.
And it started a tradition
and that tradition gradually
expanded to different
people saying the prayer.
It's what we do.
It's a southern thing.
It's the way that we
got to start the day.
We ask
that you be with our loved ones.
We ask Lord that you just
watch out and put your hand of
protection around them.
I ask and pray these and
all things in the sweet
precious name of Jesus.
Amen.
Amen, Shack.
Thank you.
Amen, Shack.
Amen.
Doghouse,
Britton Shackleford.
Yes,
Fishin' frenzy.
Where are you?
What are you doing?
How was your evening?
It was a nice evening.
We did not catch a
fish. Need one today.
Okay. I got you.
How about the Rocket?
They didn't spend
the night, did they?
They did, man.
Miserable night for him.
Yeah, I bet they
could use a little shelter.
You could
say that again.
That's awful.
Yeah, last night
was absolutely miserable.
If we can make this
happen and catch a fish,
it'd be worth it paying off.
That's for sure.
Right now,
we're out here just...
in the general area,
of where the...
Gulf Stream is going
to be each day.
The stream
moves because of...
the winds and
the currents changing...
but it's generally in the same
area throughout the day.
We got any ballyhoos out?
Oh yeah.
About time
to catch us a tuna.
.
What you got there, Shane?
I don't
know what it is.
It's fightin'.
You want
me to reel him in?
You ready?
Yup.
A few people got
a jump on us yesterday.
We really need
this to be a bluefin.
It'd make the whole
miserable night worthwhile.
If anybody in this
fleet's due one, it's us.
You good, Daniel?
I'd feel
better if we get her.
Fingers crossed.
It'll be our ticket home.
Oh, that was a
tuna, I'm pretty sure.
That's our ticket home.
Be right for us, baby.
I'm pretty tired.
Oh, that was a
tuna, I'm pretty sure.
I know you're out
of it, but dude,
that's our ticket home.
Got to keep
the pressure on him.
Come on,
seventy-four incher.
Bump it. Color.
Big one, ain't he?
Big bite.
There he is.
Put a dart in him.
Tail gaff. Head gaff him.
Whatever.
Here. Over in him.
Tail rope.
Tail rope. Tail rope.
Where's the tail rope?
.
Come on, baby.
Come on. Come on, man.
Cinched!
Woo! Woo!
That's what it's about!
Yeah!
Stick and stay, make it pay!
Hell yeah, brother.
Good job.
Good job, dude.
Woo! On the board.
Ready?
Yeah.
One two three.
Oh, yeah.
Bigger than
we thought he was.
Oh yeah, he is
now property of the
Rasta Rocket, boys.
Welcome
aboard, big fella.
Man, what is that?
92 inches. Yeah, boys.
If there's one thing that dog
loves more than chicken nuggets,
it's a tuna in the boat.
Yeah, baby!
Now there's only one thing to
do but take this behemoth
back to Wanchese.
Back in business, boys.
Outlaw
ain't playing around.
Chopper!
How's it going, Scotty?
Long time no see.
Yes, sir.
It's been awhile.
You can't keep the
Outlaws away, huh?
Yup, we're
glad to be back.
We got a nice one.
Looks
pretty big, too, man.
Wanna get this thing
up and check it out?
Yeah, let's do it.
Look
at that, Scotty.
Chopper,
what do you think, buddy?
Chopper
wanted him, too.
That's the
smaller version.
What do we got, Scott?
We're looking
at 469 pounds dressed.
Yeah!
Nice.
There you go.
Yeah!
I told you, yeah!
For the first fish, baby!
Come on! Woo!
Well, how about
we check this thing out?
Yes, sir. Let's do it.
Let's do it.
There's just a
lot of fat in this fish.
So much fat and
it's so greasy.
There you go.
You know, look at
Chopper's eyes and nose.
He's
drooling already.
Yeah, it's a good fish.
Good fat.
Good color.
But this is what
really matters.
You guys might be
all right here.
All right.
Good news.
You guys
did pretty good.
I hope to keep
seeing fish like this.
What are you
thinking, Scotty?
You guys
are looking at.
First fish, Scotty.
11 bucks a pound.
Yeah! Yeah!
That's what I'm talking about!
Come one! Woo!
We're really
happy we caught this fish.
It's a diamond.
We're excited to get back out
and try and catch another one
just like it.
This is our first
fish of the season.
We're not stopping here.
So these boys
better get ready.
Dinner is on me, Choppy.
Well, boys.
We got it done, it may have
took two days but we did it.
We got a tuna.
We ain't wussies.
There you go.
Bill!
Boys!
What's going on, man?
What's up?
Always love seeing you guys.
Number one is
on the books and boy,
it was a miserable trip.
Cold.
Can you
feel your fingers?
I don't think
she can feel her paws.
I'm trying to warm
them up for her.
Well, let's go ahead and
get this thing up here and get
Minnie warmed up.
Let's do it.
As long as she's fat.
Definitely a round fish.
There you go.
Conditions
the past two days have been
absolutely brutal.
I'm talking about
miserable of the miserable.
We stuck it out, so
I mean I'm over the
moon right this second.
What we
looking like, Bill?
408 pounds.
Yeah!
Hey, good job, guys.
Well, let's see
how much it's really worth.
Let's do it.
Guys, wow, this is a really
nice looking tail cut.
Look how thick that
wall is right there.
Yes.
And you got a fat all
through the minors coming a
little bit up into the majors.
That's just a
really oily fish.
Let's see what
the old core looks like.
Ooh, Man.
Oh, moi-gosh.
Look how
translucent it is.
Yeah, this is
just a killer fish.
The markets, they haven't
seen a whole lot yet,
all that said...
Come on, now.
You're killing me.
What's the price?
Yeah, this
is just a killer fish.
The markets, they haven't seen
a whole lot yet, all that said.
Come on now.
You're killing me.
What's the price?
$14 a pound.
Yeah, dude.
Definitely.
To start it out, I mean.
Yeah. Good job, guys.
Good job.
Good job, dude.
See you tomorrow.
Hey, y'all
be safe out there.
Pleasure, dude.
Congratulations, guys.
First fish.
Way to start it off strong.
We're the
underdog and we know it,
but $14 at 400 pounds
that could be enough
to set us on top.
And that's a big statement.
We're here to prove that we're
just as good as all of these
bigger boats and keep rocking
it because that's how the
Rasta Rocket does.
There's only one thing
left do, ice up, gas up,
and get back out there
and get you another one.
That's right.
Someone needs to let
the tunas know that they're
supposed to give us a bite.
Someone needs
to send them a memo.
They ain't got it yet.
No.
This is right here,
our plot line where
we stayed all morning
around these bites, so hopefully
we'll get us a bite here.
Get that stick out.
Aye, aye, Cap.
I'm in
the mark right now.
Being the first
mate on the Doghouse means I do
whatever the Captain says.
The Doghouse is a
very tight ship.
Britton is very easy
to get along with.
I have enjoyed working
with him for the last year.
One, two.
Definitely
want to catch a fish.
We need to catch a fish,
just get back in the pack.
Just a tremendous amount of
expense getting ready to go
for the season.
Need a fish for my boys.
Need a fish to get
rid of some bills.
I got some
porpoise over here.
Mammals are a
really good sign.
You catch tunas
around mammals a lot.
They feed on the same food.
But mammals are too
smart to eat our baits,
but the tunas, the tunas will.
You catch tunas around
dolphin and whales a lot.
The
conditions are never the same,
so being able to
adjust to what the
conditions are each day.
It's not something you
can just guess about.
You have to know
exactly what you're doing.
You have to have a
certain instinct.
Without Britton doing his job,
Bo and I don't even get
a chance to perform.
.
Mark right there.
Single fish mark right there.
Come on, land hit it!
Here comes another mark.
Being a captain is a
lot of responsibility.
It's making sure that my boat
is in good working condition.
It's making sure
that my crew are happy,
that they're safe, that
they're fishing hard.
But there is a question in
your mind when you start with
a new crew about whether
that crew is gonna mesh.
Here you go.
Follow this thing.
So far I'm super
impressed with both of them.
There might be three or four
different packs of them,
I don't know.
Hey, those are
bluefins right there, dude.
Look, bluefins
right here, dude.
Those are tunas right there.
I'm getting.
I'm putting you on 'em.
A ton of bluefins
on the surface right
here beside us.
About to drag our
squids right over top of it.
So you
want to jig the stick,
pulling up and down on the
line to make the plastic
squids look alive
to the bluefin.
Come on, Lord.
Give me something here.
There he is!
Oh !
Get away from that thing.
!
Stop the boat.
Stop the boat!
What was that?
Oh !
What happened there?
The main line snapped.
I don't like that.
I don't like that at all.
That line is
just floating out there.
All right.
We got to get
around and get the ball.
Yeah, get
around get the ball.
This is not good.
The
main line is attached to the
bandit reel on one end,
and the bird and
poly-ball on the other,
but with it broken, the fish
still has the hook in his mouth,
but the only thing attached
is that bird and poly-ball.
We got to get out there,
grab it with a gaff,
and reconnect it to the bandit
reel before that fish takes
off and takes the bird
and poly-ball with it.
What are
we gonna do here, Bo?
Crank
everything on backwards.
Okay.
Gaff that ball.
What
part did it break?
Halfway down the spool.
It just decided it didn't want
to be with us no more, so.
Cap, slow down.
We're coming up to the ball.
Getting close.
Getting close now.
Careful guys.
We don't wanna lose it.
We need this one, man.
Gaff that ball.
Getting close.
Getting close now.
Careful guys.
We don't want to lose it.
I don't like that mess.
We need
this one, man.
Yeah,
we're getting there.
All right. Hold that.
We circled back
around and got the ball.
We're going backwards on
him, but this is very,
very peculiar to do.
Get it straight!
Oh, I got him hooked up.
That fish doesn't
have that weight or that
poly-ball floating him,
so we're just floating it
straight on the line here now.
We're good right here.
Everything is good, okay.
About 50 feet away.
We got color.
Forward.
Yeah, stick his ass.
Throw it!
Throw it!
It's in there.
Good job, Cap.
Gaff that one.
Okay.
Oh, that
looks like a good one.
Got him?
Got him.
Whoa! Whoa!
Come on now.
Hurry up.
Get me another
gaff in his head.
Come put the
live line on him.
Got him, Cap?
Let him go.
I got him.
I got to get
up on this cleat here.
Awesome job.
Good job.
For the catastrophe
we were dealt, that
went pretty good.
Welcome
to bluefining, Catlin.
I wouldn't
have it any other way.
I'm excited. Happy.
Glad to be
playing the game now.
First
fish of the season.
We've got to really concentrate
on catching a quality fish now
because we don't know
how the market's gonna be.
And that's why we got him on
this swim hook right here.
A swim hook that fish
will gradually calm down.
That amino acid
will leave their meat.
And the quality of the
meat's gonna be much better.
Ready?
Oh, butterball.
Butterball, boy!
Woo, welcome to it.
Yes sir.
Huh.
50 different things that
could have gone wrong.
My guys handled it.
No hoot and hollering,
oh my gosh, whatever,
just go to work.
Let's measure this thing.
94, buddy. 94.
That's a nice.
Nice first.
Nice first one, buddy.
Good job.
Great job.
We're
playing the game now.
Thank you, Jesus.
We're in the game.
I'm happy.
Show me the money.
Micah, Eric, what's happening?
Hey, Doghouse.
How's it going, fellas?
So good to see y'all.
Yeah, welcome back.
First fish of the season.
First
fish of the season.
We earned it.
Check it out.
Check it out.
Get it off the boat.
I got a new crew.
Cat and Bo.
They did exceptionally well.
What do you got, Micah?
368.
368. Yeah.
Awesome, guys.
See what you got.
Beautiful fish, fellas.
Beautiful fish.
Not bad.
Let's take a
closer look at this.
It's got a deep red color,
which is beautiful.
We love that cherry color.
We love that dark, dark red.
There is a lot of fat.
So like when you're in the
grocery store and see you the
fat in a rib eye, that's
exactly what we see here.
This is a premium fish.
Thank you.
Bottom line.
Bottom line...
I'm gonna pay you
$15 on this fish.
15 bucks.
Awesome.
Better
than five grand.
Yeah.
Really appreciate it.
Thank you so much.
Good job, guys.
Thank you.
Hopefully we'll
see y'all tomorrow.
All right, we'll
see you guys. Thanks.
Y'all
have a good night.
It's our
first fish, 15 bucks a pound.
Better than five grand.
You know, we spent a lot
of money trying to get the
boat ready to go.
This is gonna pay that and
both of my crew are gonna
have a nice check.
It's huge.
It's a wonderful,
wonderful way to start.
You cook, he'll drive, and
I'll just sit inside and look
out the windows.
As the season opens,
the smallest boat in the fleet,
Rasta Rocket
gets the largest payday.
But less than $200 behind is
the Doghouse followed by
the helping hands of
Offshore Outlaw.
Meanwhile, the young guns on
Hog Wild have a respectable
first showing,
as well as the new
Reel E' Bugging,
and former
champion Fishin' Frenzy.
While local veteran Little Shell
fails to score a bluefin.
I'm competing for the guys
in the cockpit and the
bills on the table.
So fishing hard, being
blessed with a catch,
all of that is vital.
When I'm catching, I
wanna keep on catching.
I wanna keep on producing.
I wanna be a gracious winner.
I've got
a reputation to uphold.
I've always
caught a lot of fish,
I always push hard,
and this year,
I got some boats that are
definitely gonna be pushing,
but I've won four season here.
It's no secret that I'm
one of the top boats.
My slow start
sucked, but I've been low,
I've been last,
and I've come back.
Here we go, it's
just getting started.
Yeah, we'll have to go
out there in rough weather.
Stay out in the ocean,
live out in the ocean.
Some kind of crazy
and that's bluefining.
There's a lot on the
line personally for me.
We showed up here and we
competed two years ago and
we won this thing.
And then we come out
the following year
and we came in last.
If we can come back this year
and spank all the competition.
I know I can catch as
many fish as anybody
in the fleet, period.
Being the
young guns, we're gonna be the
future to this industry.
These guys aren't
gonna be around forever.
Somebody's got
to take it over.
We just want to prove to them
that we have what it takes.
Everybody
fishing in this competition
wants to win
like there's not a
doubt in my mind.
So, if we can pull this off
and take the number one spot,
it would be quite
an accomplishment.
Woo!
We look to
beat all of them this year.
We don't have a
target on anybody's back.
We're running our own race and
we want to win just as bad as
any of these other guys, but
you got to be a little crazy
to get the job done.
Captioned by Cotter Media Group.