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Josh: WE GONNA GO RIGHT HERE, ANDY?
COMING IN HOT.
[ ICE CRACKING ]
AND WE ARE AT THE DOCK.
WHOA.
MAN OVERBOARD!
MAN OVERBOARD!
Man: WHO IS IT?!
[ MID-TEMPO ROCK MUSIC PLAYS ]
[ SQUAWKING ]
Narrator: JANUARY, DUTCH HARBOR, ALASKA.
BACK AT IT. READY FOR OPIES.
2012.
Neese: IF THE END OF BLUE CRAB'S ANY KIND OF PRECURSOR
OF WHAT IT'S GONNA BE,
I THINK IT'S GONNA BE A COLD, BRUTAL [BLEEP]
Narrator: THE HARSHEST WINTER IN DECADES
IS SINKING ITS TEETH INTO THE FLEET.
Man: MOTHER NATURE'S PISSED.
WE HAD IT EASY FOR KING CRAB.
WE'RE IN FOR SOME PAIN, I THINK.
Narrator: WITH $160 MILLION OF OPILIO CRAB TO CATCH...
Keith: GOT PROBABLY WHAT'S GONNA BE
THE BIGGEST CRAB SEASON WE'VE HAD
FOR PRICE AND VOLUME IN THE LAST 15 YEARS.
Narrator: ...FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION.
Campbell: THIS IS A BIG MONEY SEASON FOR THE FLEET.
AND IF WE CAN'T GET THIS CRAB IN AND GET IT DELIVERED,
THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF GUYS IN TROUBLE.
Narrator: AT THE SOUTHERN END OF DUTCH HARBOR ON THE WIZARD...
BLUE CRAB AND RED CRAB WAS A [BLEEP] DISASTER FOR ME.
Narrator: ...CAPTAIN KEITH COLBURN IS COMING OFF
THE WORST KING CRAB SEASON OF HIS CAREER.
Keith: I'M PLAYING CATCH-UP RIGHT NOW.
THIS IS THE SEASON I NEED.
I'VE GOT $750,000 INVESTED IN THIS BOAT.
YOU KNOW WHY?
SO THAT WHEN I GET A CHANCE TO HIT A REAL BIG SEASON,
I CAN KICK EVERYBODY'S [BLEEP] ***.
Narrator: THE SKIPPER'S BOAT IS TUNED UP AND READY FOR BATTLE.
BUT HIS CREW IS A MESS.
Monte: I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW IF I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO THROW THE HOOK OR NOT.
Narrator: KEITH'S BROTHER, MONTE,
IS RECOVERING FROM SURGERY.
WE'LL SEE HOW THE ARM DOES. YOU KNOW, IT'S STIFF AND SORE.
IT'S GONNA BE A BATTLE, I THINK, FOR ME.
WE'LL SEE.
Narrator: AND ENGINEER LENNY LEKANOFF
IS NURSING A FRESH WOUND.
Lekanoff: THIS IS NOT AN IDEAL WAY TO START A LONG SEASON.
I AM DREADING IT ALREADY GOING OUT ON THIS NEXT TRIP.
THIS SEASON, I TRIED TO GO SHORT-HANDED
AND DIDN'T HAVE MONTE WITH ME, AND LOOK WHAT HAPPENED.
GOT ONE NEW GUY IN ROGER.
IT'S NOT GONNA BE EASY FOR HIM.
Roger: I GUESS YOU COULD SAY I'VE BEEN YOUNG AND DUMB
FOR ALL MY 30 YEARS.
TIME TO BUCKLE DOWN AND DO WHAT I GOT TO DO.
Man: I CAN'T EVEN COUNT
ALL THE GREENHORNS THAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH.
SICK AND TIRED [BLEEP] ALL THESE NEW GREENHORNS,
YOU KNOW?
Keith: THIS IS THE SEASON I NEED TO BREAK OUT.
EVERYTHING WORKS OUT,
WE'RE GONNA CATCH OVER 2.2 MILLION POUNDS.
THAT'S $4.5 MILLION,
THE MOST MONEY THE WIZARD'S EVER PUT IN ON AN OPIE SEASON EVER
IF WE CATCH THE CRAB WE CAN CATCH.
Narrator: ACROSS DUTCH HARBOR...
...THE SCRAMBLE TO PREP FOR DEPARTURE
IS RUNNING FULL TILT.
YEAH, THERE'S NO MESH RIGHT THERE.
THAT'S A HUGE OPIE LEAK.
YEAH! OPIE! 2012! [BLEEP]
WHOO!
Narrator: ON THE RAMBLIN' ROSE...
[ Telephone ringing ]
...CAPTAIN ELLIOTT NEESE HAS MORE ON HIS MIND THAN CRAB.
[ Ringing continues ]
HE'S TRYING TO REACH HIS EX-GIRLFRIEND,
THE MOTHER OF HIS TWO CHILDREN.
WOMAN: The number you have reached --
[BLEEP]
Narrator: THE COUPLE SPLIT UP IN THE OFF SEASON.
I LOST MY GIRLFRIEND OF A LONG TIME.
I LOST MY KIDS. I LOST MY HOUSE.
THE MONEY'S GOOD.
MONEY ISN'T EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW.
Man: I DON'T THINK HIS HEAD'S
RIGHT HERE IN THE MOMENT RIGHT NOW.
YEAH, WE HAD A PRETTY GRUELING BLUE-CRAB SEASON.
NOW WE'RE ROLLING RIGHT INTO OPIES.
Narrator: THIS OPIE SEASON IS A CHANCE
FOR THE CREW TO SHAKE OFF THEIR BLUE-CRAB HANGOVER.
I'M TRYING TO STAY POSITIVE AND NOT GET TOO BURNED OUT.
Narrator: DURING KING SEASON...
...THE SKIPPER COULDN'T FIND THE CRAB...
GOT NO CHOICE BUT TO PLAY THE GAME.
Narrator: ...SO HE DROVE HIS MEN TO THE BRINK.
HE'S GONNA [BLEEP] KILL US.
Neese: GET DOWN. GET DOWN.
Narrator: NOW ELLIOTT'S CAREER HANGS IN THE BALANCE.
Neese: SO, THE OWNERS,
THEY WERE A LITTLE PISSED OFF ABOUT OUR BLUE-CRAB SEASON.
WE HAVE A LOT OF CRAB TO CATCH OVER HERE THIS YEAR.
IF WE DON'T CATCH IT,
I THINK THIS MIGHT BE THE LAST YEAR
YOU SEE ME IN THE BERING SEA.
Narrator: BUT THE CAPTAIN WILL HAVE TO SAVE HIS JOB
WITHOUT THE HELP OF HIS RIGHT-HAND MAN,
DECK BOSS KEVIN "KADO" DAVIS.
KADO HAD A HORRIBLE ATTITUDE,
SO I TOLD HIM IF HE CAN'T FIX HIS ATTITUDE [BLEEP]
I MEAN, HE CAN GO AHEAD AND LEAVE.
AND HE LEFT.
Narrator: DOWN THE DOCK...
I'VE BEEN WALKING AROUND DUTCH HARBOR LOOKING FOR A JOB.
IF I DON'T FIND ANOTHER JOB, I'M OUT SOME MONEY.
AND I HEARD THE SEABROOKE WAS HIRING,
SO I'M ABOUT TO GO IN THERE AND ASK JUNIOR WHAT HE THINKS,
IF MAYBE I CAN HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ON HIS BOAT.
HEY. HOW YOU GUYS DOING?
WHAT'S GOING ON, BROTHER?
GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
SO, YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING FOR A HAND.
[ SIGHS ]
WE'RE LOOKING FOR A LONG-TERM GUY.
I'M NOT A YELLER, A SCREAMER, A BELITTLER.
I JUST EXPECT YOU TO GIVE ME 110%.
IT'S ALL I ASK.
YOU WILL GET WORKED *** THIS BOAT.
I MEAN, WE'RE NOT THE TOP BOAT FOR NOTHING.
SO, THAT'S WHAT WE GOT TO OFFER.
NOW, THE QUESTION IS, IS DO YOU WANT IT?
WHAT IF I WOULD SAY I CAN GIVE YOU ONE YEAR,
AND THEN WE'LL TAKE IT FROM THERE.
THAT SOUNDS GOOD TO US.
YOU'RE IN.
Campbell: WHEN YOU GET AN OPPORTUNITY LIKE THIS
TO GET A GOOD GUY THAT COMES ALONG,
YOU GOT TO *** IT UP.
Davis: SO, NOT ONLY DID I JUST, YOU KNOW, GET ON A BOAT,
I GOT ON A GOOD BOAT,
SO I THINK EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON.
SO, YOU KNOW, MAYBE IT WAS TIME THAT I GOT OFF THE RAMBLIN' ROSE
AND, YOU KNOW, EXPAND MY HORIZONS.
Narrator: WITH JUST 14 HOURS BEFORE THE FLEET DEPARTS...
Sig: 25 POTS SITTING RIGHT THERE.
WE'LL JUST PICK THEM AND GO.
Narrator: ...CAPTAIN SIG HANSEN WANTS HIS LAST POTS
ON BOARD THE NORTHWESTERN -- NOW.
BUT IT'S GONNA TAKE YOU [BLEEP] SIX HOURS TO GET THEM OUT.
I DON'T CARE.
YOU GUYS ARE IDIOTS!
YOU THINK I'M MAKING A STINK, AND I'M NOT.
IT'S FINE WITH ME.
YOU'RE AN IDIOT!
WE'RE ALL IDIOTS!
I'M AN IDIOT!
WE'RE ALL IDIOTS.
WHAT HE DOESN'T REMEMBER IS I'VE BEEN THERE FOR 24 YEARS.
I'VE STACKED THESE POTS.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE BIG STACK UP THERE,
THE POTS THAT SIG WANTS ARE BURIED IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.
THERE'S ONLY ONE GUY WITH A LOADER
THAT'S GETTING STUCK EVERY THIRD POT.
Sig: HE'S NOT GOD.
HE'S A [BLEEP] DECKHAND.
AND THAT'S IT.
[ Chuckling ] Edgar: I'M SO SICK OF THIS.
BUT I'M OVER IT.
WE'RE HERE GRABBING GEAR, GET 25 POTS, GO FISH,
FILL THE BOAT, MAKE MONEY, AND BE HAPPY AGAIN.
Sig: HAVING EDGAR ON BOARD IS A COMFORTING FEELING.
YOU FEEL SAFER, YOU KNOW, THAT THE DECK'S GONNA RUN SMOOTH.
BUT GOD HELP YOU IF IT DOESN'T GO HIS WAY.
NORWEGIANS, AND I'M A CROATIAN.
BROTHERS ARGUE. PEOPLE AREN'T USED TO THAT.
IT'S ONE MINUTE ARGUE, AND THE NEXT ONE HUG.
THEY DON'T HUG, BUT --
[ LAUGHS ]
Bradley: THIS YEAR, THE QUOTA'S BIGGER,
SO MAKES SENSE TO HAVE SOME EXTRA POTS TO PLAY WITH.
WELL, IT'S 4:00 IN THE MORNING. WE GOT OUR POTS ON.
IT TOOK US A WHOLE HOUR.
BUT WE'RE THERE. WE'RE GOOD. WE GOT OUR POTS.
CAN WE NOW PLEASE JUST GET OUT OF HERE
LIKE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO AND GO FISH?
OH, BOY, OH, BOY, OH, BOY, OH, BOY.
Narrator: ACROSS DUTCH ON THE TIME BANDIT,
CAPTAIN ANDY HILLSTRAND MOVES DOWN HARBOR
TO PICK UP THE LAST OF HIS POTS.
Andy: IT'S BRUTAL COLD OUT RIGHT NOW.
IT'S, LIKE, PROBABLY FIVE ABOVE ZERO RIGHT NOW.
Josh: WE GONNA GO RIGHT HERE, ANDY?
COMING IN HOT.
[ ICE CRACKING ]
AND WE ARE AT THE DOCK.
WHOA!
MAN OVERBOARD!
WHO IS IT?!
[ ICE CRACKING ]
AND WE ARE AT THE DOCK.
WHOA!
MAN OVERBOARD!
MAN OVERBOARD!
WHO IS IT?!
HURRY UP!
GET THE LIFE RING OFF THE BOW!
Narrator: DECKHAND TRAVIS LOFLAND
HAS FALLEN OVERBOARD INTO THE FREEZING WATER.
Fourtner: DAMN IT!
COME ON!
HE'S BEEN IN THE DAMN WATER TOO LONG!
HERE!
[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]
IT'S ON RIGHT NOW!
STARBOARD PORT.
[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]
Fourtner: HANG ON THE LINE!
HANG ON THE LINE, BROTHER! THEY'RE COMING.
WHERE IS HE?
HE'S RIGHT HERE!
GET HIM OUT THE DAMN WATER!
SLING, TRAVIS. PUT THE SLING ON.
FIRE OUT!
FIRE OUT!
[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]
HERE HE COMES!
ON THE DECK.
Narrator: TRAVIS IS OUT OF THE WATER...
THAT'LL WAKE YOU UP.
Narrator: ...BUT NOT OUT OF DANGER.
GET HIM IN THE HOUSE!
Narrator: AFTER NEARLY 3 MINUTES IN THE 28-DEGREE BERING SEA,
HE'S SUFFERING FROM HYPOTHERMIA
AND IS ON THE VERGE OF GOING INTO SHOCK.
YEP.
Andy: OKAY, GET READY! TIE THE [BLEEP] UP!
ROGER!
EVERYBODY, BE CAREFUL!
I WENT TO JUMP AND MY [BLEEP] FOOT SLIPPED,
AND IN I WENT.
TRAVIS WAS IN THE WATER FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES.
IT DROPPED HIS CORE TEMPERATURE A COUPLE GOOD DEGREES.
SO, GOT TO TRY TO KEEP HIM WARM,
GET HIS BODY TEMPERATURE BACK UP.
Andy: DON'T EVER DO THAT AGAIN!
DON'T EVER DO THAT AGAIN!
WE REACTED TOO SLOW.
AND YOU GOT TO WEAR A [BLEEP] VEST
WHEN YOU JUMP OVER TO TIE UP THE BOAT.
TRAVIS CAME CLOSE TO DYING RIGHT THERE.
THAT TOOK US THREE MINUTES PROBABLY
TO GET HIM OUT OF THAT WATER.
HE'S ON THE EDGE OF DYING.
[BLEEP]
GETS YOUR HEART GOING. HITS YOU IN THAT LITTLE PLACE.
SOMEHOW HE LOST HIS FOOTING AND WENT OVER THE SIDE.
SCARED THE [BLEEP] OUT OF ALL OF US.
TOOK WAY TOO LONG TO GET HIM OUT OF THE WATER.
Andy: IT FELT LIKE IT WAS 10 MINUTES.
THAT GUY COULD HAVE DIED RIGHT BETWEEN THAT DOCK.
ANOTHER MINUTE, HE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LIFT HIS ARMS.
JUST UNACCEPTABLE.
THAT'S THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER BEEN IN THE WATER.
HOPEFULLY THE LAST.
WOW.
WE'RE DONE.
THERE AIN'T NOTHING BAD GONNA HAPPEN ON THIS BOAT ANYMORE.
Narrator: DAWN, DAY OF DEPARTURE.
GOING OVER TO ELLIOTT'S BOAT TO PAY A LITTLE VISIT TO HIM.
Narrator: JUNIOR HAS A POINT OF FISHERMAN'S HONOR TO RESOLVE
BEFORE HE LEAVES DOCK.
I HIRED KADO, WHICH WAS KIND OF HIS DECK BOSS.
SOUNDS LIKE HE'D MADE A CLEAN BREAK FROM ELLIOTT.
BUT THE ONE THING YOU DON'T DO IN THIS INDUSTRY IS POACH CREW.
I DON'T LIKE IT WHEN PEOPLE DO IT TO ME,
SO I DON'T WANT ELLIOTT THINKING THAT'S WHAT I'VE DONE.
WHAT'S JUNIOR DOING?
[ GROANS ]
WHAT'S GOING ON, MAN?
PRETTY GOOD.
WELL, I JUST WANTED TO COME OVER AND LET YOU KNOW
THAT KADO CAME BY.
I NEEDED A GUY FOR BOB, SO, YOU KNOW, I HIRED HIM.
YOU KNOW I'M NOT A CREW POACHER,
SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS --
THAT'S ONE RESPECT THAT I GIVE TO ALL CAPTAINS
WHEN I HIRE A GUY FROM ANOTHER BOAT.
I MEAN, I GOT NO PROBLEM WITH YOU TAKING HIM,
BUT I'M WARNING YOU.
ALL MY GUYS, WE'RE GLAD HE'S GONE
'CAUSE HE HAD THE WORST [BLEEP] ATTITUDE WE EVER SEEN.
I KNOW.
OKAY, MAN, WELL, I GOT TO GET ROLLING, SO...
ALL RIGHT.
YEP.
Neese: KADO'S ON THE SEABROOKE.
IF HE [BLEEP] HATED WORKING FOR ME,
HE'S GONNA [BLEEP] HATE WORKING FOR THAT [BLEEP]
Narrator: THE CAPTAINS' LAST MOMENTS AT DOCK...
...ARE INTERRUPTED BY AN OMINOUS WEATHER REPORT.
Wichrowski: NORTH, NORTH, NORTH, NORTH.
WE GOT A WEEK OF NORTHERLIES.
Narrator: RELENTLESS NORTHERN WINDS
BRING FORTH A SINISTER FOE.
EVERY WINTER, THE DESCENDING POLAR ICE PACK
THREATENS THE FISHING GROUNDS.
THIS YEAR, STEADY NORTHERLIES
ARE PUSHING THE ICE FARTHER AND FASTER
INTO THE PATH OF THE FLEET.
1972, THE ICE COVERED THE WHOLE BERING SEA
ALL THE WAY DOWN TO UNIMAK PASS.
THERE WAS NO OPEN GROUND.
AND THEY'RE PREDICTING
THAT IT COULD ACTUALLY BE WORSE THAN 1972.
IF THAT HAPPENS, WE'RE SCREWED.
Wichrowski: THIS IS NOT GONNA BE FUN.
THESE GUYS, THEY'RE GONNA BE HATING THIS.
Sig: TIME'S RUNNING OUT.
ICE IS COMING DOWN, AND IT'S GOT LEGS ON IT, MAN.
IT'S RUNNING.
Narrator: WITH THEIR FISHING WINDOW RAPIDLY CLOSING...
OKAY, GUYS, LET'S THROW THE LINES.
LET'S GET OUT OF HERE.
TIME TO CUT IT LOOSE, BOYS!
Narrator: ...THE FLEET HEADS OUT.
LET'S GO!
Wichrowski: THIS IS THE WINTER FISH --
ICE, BIG STORMS, POTS FREEZING UP ON DECK.
WE HAVE THREE MONTHS OF HELL COMING UP.
MY DAD ALWAYS USED TO SAY HIS IDEA OF GOING TO HELL
WAS HAULING OPIE POTS FOR ETERNITY.
KIND OF SEE WHERE HE'S COMING FROM.
Keith: ICE IS LOOMING.
I'VE JUST HAD AN UNEASY FEELING ABOUT THIS TRIP.
Narrator: WITH $160 MILLION OF OPILIO QUOTA AT STAKE,
THE MEN HAVE TO CATCH THEIR CRAB BEFORE THE ICE SHUTS THEM DOWN.
Sig: IT'S GONNA BE A LONG ONE.
COLD ONE.
I JUST HOPE THE GUYS DON'T FOLD.
Johnathan: GO FISHING, BABY.
WE ARE GOING FISHING, BROTHER.
YEE-HA!
Neese: BOYS, YOU READY FOR THE SEASON OR WHAT?
YEAH!
START OUR SEASON, BABY!
OPIES. HERE WE GO.
[ ALARM BEEPING ]
Narrator: ON THE SEABROOKE...
CHECK THAT TEMPERATURE AGAIN.
[ BEEPING CONTINUES ]
Narrator: DURING THE KING SEASON,
JUNIOR REPLACED HIS STARBOARD ENGINE AT A COST OF $65,000.
BUT NOW THE VESSEL'S PORT ENGINE,
A 30-YEAR-OLD WAR HORSE, IS OVERHEATING.
Campbell: ENGINE'S AT A DEAD IDLE.
IF IT GETS UP TO 220 DEGREES,
IT'LL TAKE THAT ENGINE OUT BECAUSE IT'S TURNING SO FAST.
WE JUST SPENT A [BLEEP] LOAD OF MONEY
AND A TON OF TIME IN TOWN FIXING THE OTHER SIDE,
AND IT'S WORKING GREAT, AND NOW THIS SIDE'S FAILING.
Narrator: PLAGUED WITH A SECOND FAILING ENGINE
IN AS MANY MONTHS...
ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTED RIGHT NOW.
Narrator: ...JUNIOR TURNS THE BOAT AND HEADS BACK HOME...
Campbell: I NEEDED THIS TRIP.
Narrator: ...HALTING THE SEABROOKE'S SEASON
BEFORE IT STARTS.
Campbell: THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT SEASON
I THINK I'VE EVER FISHED.
AND I'VE ALREADY GOT MY BACK UP AGAINST A WALL.
Narrator: 295 MILES TO THE NORTHWEST OF DUTCH HARBOR
IS THE 125-FOOT NORTHWESTERN.
Sig: FIRST TRIP'S ALWAYS THE TOUGHEST.
FINDING CRAB AND MOVING AROUND AND TRYING TO PLAY THE WEATHER.
KING CRAB WAS A FUN SEASON, MAN.
IT WAS SHORT AND SWEET. WE GOT ON THEM RIGHT AWAY.
Narrator: CAPTAIN SIG HANSEN APPROACHES HIS FISHING GROUNDS
DUE WEST OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS.
IN CONTRAST, WE'VE GOT A LONG SEASON AHEAD OF US.
THE QUOTA'S DARN NEAR DOUBLE AS LAST YEAR.
WE DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY OF TIME RIGHT NOW.
THE ICE EDGE IS ALREADY COMING DOWN.
HOLY CRAP, MY HANDS HURT FROM BEING FROZEN.
Edgar: GOD, IT'S 2012.
WAS FISHING OPIES IN '88.
NEVER CHANGES.
Sig: ALL RIGHT.
OKAY. YOU GUYS READY?
YES, SIR!
GOOD LUCK. SET THEM WHEN YOU'RE READY.
FIRST POT.
IT FEELS GOOD GETTING THESE POTS OFF, MAN.
NOW YOU GOT ANTICIPATION JUST LETTING THEM SOAK.
EACH STRING GETS TO TELL A STORY
AND YOU GET THE THRILL OF THE HUNT.
Edgar: A LITTLE SNOWY UP HERE.
THIS REMINDS ME HOW MUCH I HATE, I MEAN, LOVE OPIES.
OVER 1.3 MILLION POUNDS.
KIND OF WANT TO GET AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.
Sig: THIS IS ALL ABOUT SETTING UP FOR A DECENT PICK ON OUR RETURN.
KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED
THAT THERE'S SOMETHING AROUND TO WORK ON.
HERE GOES THE LAST POT.
WHOO!
ALL RIGHT, WE ARE FISHING.
FINALLY.
WHAT DO YOU GUYS CALL THAT?
SPEED SETTING?
I WOULD GET TO BED.
WE'RE GONNA START HAULING REAL EARLY.
GIVE THEM THE BAD NEWS FIRST.
Narrator: AS THE CREW PREPARES THE DECK
TO HAUL THEIR FIRST OPILIO CRAB POTS...
IT'S OKAY, JAKE. WE GOT IT.
Narrator: ...DECK BOSS EDGAR HANSEN
NOTICES JAKE HARRIS IS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.
JAKE'S THE FIRST ONE OFF DECK SO FAR EVERY TIME I'VE NOTICED,
SO I DON'T KNOW.
HE'S ALREADY GETTING UNDER MY SKIN.
Jake: IT'S GONNA BE A LONG ONE.
THIS IS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG RIGHT NOW.
I FIND MYSELF THINKING ABOUT THE CORNELIA
WHEN I'M OUTSIDE QUITE A BIT.
PRETTY MUCH EVERY DIME THAT JOSH AND I ARE MAKING
WE'RE TRYING TO GET THE BOAT BACK.
HOPEFULLY BY NEXT YEAR, IT'LL BE FISHING AGAIN.
BUT WE'LL SEE.
GOT IT?
THAT'S OKAY! WE GOT IT!
IT'S ALL RIGHT.
GUARANTEE YOU THAT MUCH.
Narrator: 135 MILES SOUTHEAST...
...THE TIME BANDIT.
WELL, RIGHT NOW,
WE'RE JUST SOUTH OF ST. GEORGE ISLAND.
WE'VE ICED UP TWICE NOW HEAVILY.
IT'S JUST BEEN A NIGHTMARE. EVERYTHING'S FROZEN SOLID.
I LOOK LIKE I'M FROM THE ICE AGE.
Narrator: HALFWAY TO HIS FISHING GROUNDS,
CAPTAIN ANDY HILLSTRAND HAS ORDERED HIS CREW
TO DE-ICE THE BOAT AND LIGHTEN THE LOAD.
THIS IS OPENING DAY OF OPILIO, 2012,
AND WE ARE BEATING ICE OFF THE BOAT HERE.
LOOK AT THAT CHUNK OF ICE HE'S MOVING OFF THE POT.
THE WHOLE BOAT'S FULL OF THAT.
IT'S A DANGER ZONE.
ONE OF THOSE CHUNKS BREAKS FREE, IT WILL SNAP YOUR NECK.
OH, LOOK AT THAT. WE GOT A DECK.
RIGHT NOW, I CAN KIND FEEL THE BOAT'S KIND OF STILL HEAVY.
BUT WHEN WE TAKE ALL THIS ICE OFF THE BOAT,
WE'RE PROBABLY 50,000 POUNDS LIGHTER.
Man: 1,000 POUND CRAB POTS ARE NOW 1,400, 1,500 POUNDS.
IF THIS IS ANY PRELUDE
TO WHAT WE'RE GONNA SEE OVER THE NEXT SEVEN WEEKS...
Narrator: DE-ICING THE BOAT COULD TAKE HOURS.
THIS IS CHAOS.
Narrator: BUT ON THE TIME BANDIT,
THEY'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR A CREATIVE SHORTCUT.
THEY'RE THINKING THAT A MORTAR
MAY HAVE ENOUGH POWER TO BLOW THIS THING UP.
I DON'T REALLY KNOW IF THIS IS GONNA BE A GOOD IDEA.
Andy: OOH.
Fourtner: YOU BETTER BACK UP.
OHH!
OHH!
OH, I JUST BROKE OUR COILER.
YEP.
[ CHUCKLES ]
OUR LIFE JUST GOT MISERABLE.
DEVASTATION.
WE JUST SNAPPED THE ARM OFF OUR COILER.
WE HAD ABOUT A 6,000-POUND CHUNK OF ICE
FALL FROM UP THERE AND HIT IT, BROKE IT.
IMAGINE THAT WAS YOUR HEAD.
Narrator: THE ICE IS GONE, BUT NOW SO IS THE COILER.
THAT'S GONNA MAKE THIS TRIP DEFINITELY A LIVING HELL
IF WE DON'T HAVE A COILER.
Andy: THAT COILER RIGHT THERE MAKES ONE GUY'S JOB A LOT EASIER,
'CAUSE HE JUST THROWS IT IN THERE AND IT COILS ITSELF.
NOW YOU'LL BE THE GUY DOING THIS.
BACK TO THE STONE AGE, MY FRIENDS.
Andy: YEAH, WHO MISSED THEIR PHYSICS CLASS?
WHAT'S THE LAW OF GRAVITY?
WHAT GOES UP COMES DOWN.
[BLEEP]
HOW MUCH DOES A COILER COST? ANYBODY KNOW?
10 GRAND.
[BLEEP]
Andy: YOU GOT TO USE YOUR HEAD A LITTLE BIT.
WE'VE KIND OF HAD SOME BAD THINGS
ALREADY HAPPEN TO US THIS YEAR.
MAN OVERBOARD!
WHOA!
WE HAVEN'T EVEN STARTED. THIS IS JUST GETTING OUT HERE.
SO, THEY'LL BE HAND-COILING FOR A WHOLE TRIP.
NOTHING ABOUT THE START OF THE SEASON
HAS BEEN IDEAL AT ALL.
IT'S JUST BEEN A NIGHTMARE.
Narrator: 135 MILES NORTHWEST OF DUTCH HARBOR...
IT'S OKAY.
...ON THE 103-FOOT KODIAK...
WELL, WE'RE JUST ABOUT READY
TO KICK THE FIRST LOAD OVER FOR THIS OPIE SEASON.
THERE YOU GO.
Narrator: ...AFTER A 30-HOUR STEAM,
CAPTAIN WILD BILL WICHROWSKI HAS ARRIVED AT HIS FISHING GROUNDS.
CREW'S READY TO GO.
ALL THE GEAR LOOKS PRETTY GOOD SHAPE, SO...
I'M EXCITED AND OPTIMISTIC.
Man: LET'S GO, LET'S GO, LET'S GO!
HUSTLE!
FEELS PRETTY GOOD TO BE FISHING AGAIN.
HERE WE GO.
Wichrowski: KING CRAB WAS GOOD.
IT WAS A GOOD SEASON, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
IT'S IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR.
I REALLY HOPE TO KEEP IT ROLLING HERE.
Narrator: WILD BILL HAD HIS BEST KING SEASON IN YEARS.
WHOO!
Narrator: BUT TENSIONS RAN HIGH WITH HIS SON, ZACH.
IN THE LAST THREE OR FOUR DAYS,
YOU'VE BASICALLY TOLD ME TO [BLEEP] OFF TWICE.
YOU TOLD ME TO [BLEEP] OFF HERE.
YOU TOLD ME TO [BLEEP] OFF ON DECK.
DO YOU THINK YOU'VE GOTTEN THAT GOOD AT THIS JOB?
NO, I DON'T.
ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS I'M HERE IS TO GET ZACH SQUARED AWAY.
HE NEEDS TO START TAKING CHARGE.
IT'S NOT JUST ON THIS DECK.
I WANT HIM TO START TAKING CHARGE OF HIS LIFE.
IT'S -- I THINK WHAT IT IS,
I'M MAKING UP FOR THE STUFF I DIDN'T GET TO TEACH HIM.
OKAY, HOLD IT. HOLD IT.
ON THE BACK SIDE.
COME ON, YOU GUYS.
I'M GOING INTO THE DANGER ZONE. GIVE ME A PUSH.
GOING INTO THE DANGER ZONE. DO NOT LET THIS POT KILL ME.
WHOA!
Yeah.
HEY [BLEEP] GRAB THAT [BLEEP] HOOK.
WE GOT IT.
HE COULD HAVE BEEN CRUSHED IF IT HAD ANY MORE MOMENTUM.
THAT'S, YOU KNOW, 800 POUNDS.
Narrator: THE WEIGHT OF THE ICED-UP POT
SNAPPED THE SECURING LINE,
SENDING 900 POUNDS CRASHING TO THE RAIL
AND NEARLY TAKING ZACH OUT.
Larson: I WAS THINKING,
"THIS IS GONNA HURT.
MY DAD'S GONNA BE PISSED."
Wichrowski: HOLY SMOKES.
IF IT HURT MY KID,
THAT WOULD BE A TOUGH ONE TO LIVE WITH.
Man: LAST POT!
WHOO!
Wichrowski: I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD
TO GETTING ON THEM, GETTING IT DONE.
I JUST NEED TO GET THROUGH THIS SEASON.
FOR ME AND THE KODIAK, BEST-CASE SCENARIO IS
KEEP THINGS ROLLING LIKE THEY WERE DURING KING CRAB.
WE'RE OVER.
Wichrowski: IT'S ALL UP IN THE AIR FROM HERE.
YOU'RE A HERO OR A ZERO.
FIRST STRING OF THE SEASON DONE.
Narrator: 175 MILES TO THE NORTHWEST...
ON THE 108-FOOT RAMBLIN' ROSE...
WHY DOES THE INITIAL SET ALWAYS GOT TO BE SO [BLEEP]
I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
Narrator: ...CAPTAIN ELLIOTT NEESE
IS APPROACHING THE FISHING GROUNDS.
[ KEYPAD BEEPING ]
[ Telephone ringing ]
Narrator: BUT HIS MIND IS 800 MILES AWAY
WITH HIS EX-GIRLFRIEND.
WOMAN: Please leave your message for 365...
I ALWAYS TRY TO GET THROUGH IT DAY BY DAY.
I TALK TO HER EVERY NIGHT ON THE PHONE.
IT'S NOT THE SAME AS BEING THERE.
IT'S WEIRD THAT SOMEBODY CAN MAKE YOU THAT HAPPY.
OR THAT SAD, TOO.
I'M BURNT THE [BLEEP] OUT AND I HAVEN'T EVEN HAULED A POT YET.
THE FASTER WE GET THIS BOAT LOADED,
THE FASTER WE GET TO GO TO TOWN,
FASTER WE GET TO GO HOME.
Narrator: FOR CAPTAIN AND CREW,
THE NEW SEASON IS A CHANCE TO BREAK OUT OF THEIR SLUMP.
Steiner: WE HAD A REALLY GRUELING BLUE-CRAB SEASON.
HOPEFULLY WE CAN COME OUT HERE FOR OPIES
AND MAKE IT SHORT AND SWEET, GET ON GOOD NUMBERS.
ONLY ME AND STEIN RETURNING FROM LAST YEAR, SO...
Narrator: IN ADDITION TO LOSING DECK BOSS KADO,
ELLIOTT REPLACED HALF HIS CREW.
Dryden: WE GOT A GREENHORN.
HOPEFULLY HE CATCHES ON TO EVERYTHING.
I'M SO READY, MAN.
IT TOOK US AWHILE TO GET OUT HERE, BUT I'M GLAD WE'RE HERE.
WE NEED A FEW MORE MINUTES.
AH [BLEEP] GUESS I'LL CALL ONE MORE TIME.
WOMAN: Please leave your message for 365...
Narrator: STILL NO ANSWER.
[BLEEP] GO AHEAD AND POP THE CHAINS.
OH, HERE WE GO.
YOU GUYS READY?
YEAH.
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S BE SAFE, GUYS.
ALL RIGHT?
BE SAFE.
LET THEM FLY.
BE REAL NICE TO GET ALL 140 POTS IN THE WATER.
I'LL BE A LOT MORE EXCITED THAN I AM NOW.
FIRST POT. FINALLY GOT THIS SEASON STARTED.
BEEN LONG AWAITING IT.
Narrator: ONLY TWO POTS INTO THE SET...
KEVIN, GRAB THIS LINE.
Narrator: ...THE GREENHORN IS STRUGGLING
TO THROW THE BAGS FAR ENOUGH FROM THE BOAT.
[BLEEP] BAGS GOT TO GET OVER THE SIDE.
IT'S GONNA GET CAUGHT IN THE WHEEL.
I'M NOT GONNA BE VERY HAPPY.
GREENHORN CAN'T GET THE BAG OVER THE SIDE,
AND IF YOU DON'T GET THEM FAR ENOUGH,
THEY GET SUCKED INTO THE WHEEL.
[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]
[ KEYPAD BEEPING ]
[ Telephone ringing ]
[BLEEP]
Neese: HE'S DOING IT AGAIN.
GET THE BAG. DON'T WORRY ABOUT BAIT.
Neese: WE NEED TO GET [BLEEP] STRAIGHT.
AND I'M NOT A VERY HAPPY CAMPER.
Narrator: SIX HOURS INTO SETTING...
[ KEYPAD BEEPING ]
[ Telephone ringing ]
Narrator: ...THERE'S STILL NO ANSWER AT HOME.
Neese: THIS IS A JOB.
I JUST WANT TO GET IT DONE AND GO THE [BLEEP] HOME.
MAN: Get it off the diver. Don't throw it on the diver.
Narrator: AND THE GREENHORN CONTINUES TO STRUGGLE
TO CLEAR THE BUOYS OVER THE RAIL.
Neese: YOU DON'T NEED SOMEBODY
GETTING PAID MONEY TO [BLEEP] UP.
HE'LL EITHER LEARN OR HE'LL GO HOME.
ONE OF THE TWO.
HEADS UP!
[ KEYPAD BEEPING ]
WOMAN: Please leave your message for 365...
GET MORE AND MORE FRUSTRATED
EVERY TIME YOU CALL AND NOBODY [BLEEP] ANSWERS.
POTS IN THE WATER. I HATE CRAB FISHING.
GLAD I GOT A GLIMPSE OF IT EARLY 'CAUSE I DON'T WANT IT.
PRETTY LONELY, DISMAL LIFESTYLE.
GETTING TO THE AGE NOW
WHERE I NEED TO EITHER STICK WITH CRABBING
OR DO SOMETHING NEW,
'CAUSE A COUPLE MORE YEARS,
I'M GONNA BE TOO OLD TO DO ANYTHING ELSE.
TOO MUCH ALL HINGES ON A 5'9", 125-POUND BLONDE.
WOMAN: Please leave your message for 365...
Narrator: EVERY SKIPPER HAS POTS IN THE WATER.
NOW IT'S A RACE TO STUFF THE TANKS
BEFORE THE POLAR ICE PACK SWALLOWS THE GROUNDS.
GOT THIS GOOFY TRADITION OF BITING THE HEAD OFF A HERRING.
NICK IS DOING THIS TIME.
HE'S WIPING HIS HEAD IN THE FISH CRAP.
[ LAUGHS ]
I'M GONNA THROW UP JUST SMELLING THAT.
Edgar: TAKE ONE FOR THE GIPPER.
I'M GONNA THROW UP WATCHING HIM.
[ ALL GAG ]
OHH!
[ LAUGHTER ]
Narrator: 235 MILES NORTHWEST OF DUTCH HARBOR
ON THE 113-FOOT TIME BANDIT.
20 MINUTES, JOHN,
WE'LL BE PULLING THE FIRST POTS OF THE SEASON, BROTHER.
Narrator: CAPTAIN ANDY HILLSTRAND
IS PULLING UP ON A PROSPECT STRING HE SET 14 HOURS AGO.
IF I SEE 300 AVERAGE ON THESE POTS RIGHT HERE,
I'D BE PRETTY DARN HAPPY.
AND ANYTHING MORE THAN THAT WOULD BE "BOOYAH!"
Scott: HOPEFULLY WE HAVE BETTER FORTUNE COMING SOON.
'CAUSE RIGHT NOW, IT SUCKS.
Narrator: SO FAR THIS SEASON,
IF IT WEREN'T FOR BAD LUCK...
Man: WHOA!
Narrator: ... THE TIME BANDIT WOULDN'T HAVE ANY LUCK AT ALL.
OHH!
THE HITS JUST KEEP COMING.
WE GOT A REAL BIG WAKE-UP CALL WITH TRAVIS.
WE COULD HAVE SCREWED UP AND LOST A GUY
AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON BEFORE WE EVEN FISHED.
ALL RIGHT. FIRST POT.
Narrator: CAPTAIN AND CREW
ARE LOOKING TO TURN THEIR SEASON AROUND.
Andy: IF WE DON'T HIT THE CRAB RIGHT AWAY, WE'RE IN TROUBLE.
Narrator: BUT THEY'LL BE FISHING OLD SCHOOL
WITHOUT THE HELP OF THEIR COILER.
THEY WILL BE HAND-COILING EVERY POT.
START OF A LONG MORNING, MIKE.
THIS IS A BIG BUMMER, MAN.
THIS SLOWS US DOWN BIG TIME ON PRODUCTION.
HAND-COILING'S LIKE PUSHING YOUR CAR TO WORK.
Andy: THAT JUST GOES TO SHOW,
YOU SHOULD PROTECT YOUR COILER A LOT MORE THAN YOU DID,
'CAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU GOT UNTIL IT'S GONE.
JUST TAKE HER EASY.
DON'T HURT YOURSELF. BUILD UP YOUR SPEED SLOWLY.
IT AIN'T EVEN FUNNY.
COME ON, BABY.
OOH.
I DON'T SEE CRAB LEGS IN THE TOP.
NOT GOOD AT ALL.
THERE AIN'T NO CRAB THAT I'M SEEING IN THE POT.
THEY'RE STRUGGLING.
ZERO.
OUCH.
THE OPILIO HIGHWAY AIN'T LOOKING SO GOOD RIGHT NOW.
ONE URCHIN.
WE HAVE NO RHYTHM AT ALL.
THIS IS A TRAIN WRECK, ALL THIS GEAR THAT WAS SET HERE.
THAT'S ALL THE WAY.
JUST LIKE THE COILER TIRE GOES FASTER THAN THE CRAB LOCK,
YOUR ARMS HAVE TO GO FASTER THAN THE CRAB LOCK.
SO MIKE'S GETTING AN EDUCATION.
[ *** ]
BELT WENT AROUND MY NECK!
MIKE WANTS TO HAND-COIL RIGHT BY THE [BLEEP] RAIL.
WOULD HAVE FREAKING PULLED ME OVER THE SIDE OF THE BOAT BY MY NECK!
SO, WHEN HE LETS A LITTLE BIT OF SLACK ON THAT LINE,
IT CAUSES IT TO SLIP ON THE BLOCK.
THAT'S WHERE IT FELL OUT OF THE BLOCK.
GRAB ANYTHING. IT HAPPENED SO FAST.
EVERYTHING'S MESSED UP.
WE'VE HAD TOO MANY CLOSE CALLS THIS SEASON.
I DON'T PLAN ON LOSING MY LIFE
FOR A BUNCH OF STUPID [BLEEP] CRAB!
Narrator: 50 MILES TO THE NORTHWEST
ON THE 155-FOOT WIZARD...
NICE TO BE BACK.
[ LAUGHS ]
NICE TO BE BACK.
Narrator: ...THE CREW PREPARES TO HAUL
THEIR FIRST POTS OF THE SEASON...
Keith: LOOKING KIND OF LIKE OPIE WEATHER OUT THERE.
Narrator: ...IF THE BERING SEA WILL LET THEM.
SLOPPY, TOSSY, TURNY.
FIRST TRIP'S ALWAYS *** EVERYBODY.
Narrator: AND TWO OF KEITH'S BATTLE-TESTED HANDS
ALREADY FEEL THE PAIN.
MONTE AND HIS SHOULDER
STILL RECOVERING FROM A MAJOR SURGERY.
THIS IS GONNA BE A LONG SEASON FOR ME.
AND RIGHT NOW, LENNY CAN'T RUN A BLOCK A LOT DURING THIS SEASON
BECAUSE OF THAT HAND.
AND I DON'T WANT MONTE OVER THERE TRYING TO DO IT.
WE NEED TO FILL THIS BOAT.
SEE HOW IT HOLDS UP HERE.
FIRST POT OF THE SEASON COMING UP.
YEAH.
[ Chuckling ] ALWAYS BE NICE TO SEE SOME CRAB IN THE FIRST POT.
HARD.
USED TO IT.
HERE WE GO!
COME ON. WE NEED TO GET OFF TO A HOT START.
YEAH! HERE WE GO!
OH, BABY!
OOH, OOH, OOH!
Monte: IT LOOKS GOOD TO THE EYE!
450, 500, FIRST POT.
THAT'S A HELL OF A START RIGHT THERE.
LET'S JUST HOPE IT STAYS LIKE THAT THROUGH THE GEAR.
MONTE'S ALREADY FEELING IT. TODAY'S HIS FIRST SHIFT.
YEAH, BABY!
BUT WE'LL TAKE THAT.
THAT IS A [BLEEP] TABLEFUL OF CRAB RIGHT THERE.
KA-CHING.
WATCH THE RAIL, GUYS. COMING DOWN THE RAIL.
HEADS UP.
HOLY SMOKES!
HOW'S THAT SHOULDER FEEL, MOUSE?
IT'S GETTING KIND OF TIRED OF REACHING,
I'LL TELL YOU THAT.
THIS IS GONNA BE A LONG TRIP!
TRY AND GET THOSE TWO GUYS EASED INTO THE SEASON,
MONTE AND LENNY, THEN WE'LL BE FINE.
ALL RIGHT, GUYS.
I NEED A COUNT ON THIS POT. GIVE ME A GOOD COUNT.
535! 5-3-5!
WHOO-HOO!
RIGHT ON.
[ LAUGHS ]
HEADS UP!
IT'S ACTUALLY A LITTLE UNNERVING
BEING ON FISHING THIS GOOD RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE.
IF YOU START ON HOT FISHING,
THERE'S REALLY NOWHERE TO GO BUT DOWN.
[ CREAKING ]
Andy: GET EVERYBODY UP HERE!
ICE EVERYWHERE!
Man: RIGHT NOW, WE'RE IN DANGER.
OH, GOOD.
HOLY [BLEEP] LOOK AT THAT THING.
WATCH OUT!