Wicked Tuna

The fishermen of Gloucester, Mass., navigate the open seas in hopes of catching the first fish of the season. Dave Carraro, captain of FV-Tuna.com, finds his first fishing spot of the season, but his day is interrupted by an unwelcome visitor. Tyler McLaughlin, a New Hampshire native and the 24-year-old captain of the Pin Wheel, has headed south to invade Gloucester waters, with the expressed intent of catching more fish than Dave.

After an impressive first week against the veteran fleet, Tyler and the Pin Wheel gamble on making the 150-mile trip to Georges Bank. Meanwhile, for Kevin Leonowert, captain of the Christina, there's nothing better than the rush of harpooning. It's a high-octane chase where boats specially rigged with a high tower and a bow pulpit can identify schools of bluefin, take aim and nab the tuna of their choice.

The fleet has invested time and money in searching for places where bluefin tuna congregate and feed — locations known as “numbers”. But for the young crew of the Pin Wheel, the entire ocean is theirs for the taking, and Captain Tyler sets sail in search of new hot spots.

Let the games begin! It's tournament time in Gloucester, and with a big cash prize up for grabs and the best boats in New England joining the fray, it's the mother of all battles to catch the biggest bluefin. Tensions come to a head as the mischievous young crew of the Pin Wheel plays a prank on the biggest hothead in the fleet, Captain Ralph of the Odysea, and get more than they bargained for.

Sharks lead to a man vs. beast showdown in the North Atlantic. Huge great white sharks have been spotted in Gloucester waters. Captain Kevin is on full alert when a great white slams into the side of his fishing vessel Christina. When a harpoon line gets tangled in the Pin Wheel's propeller, Captain Tyler has no choice but to get in the water. With great whites able to detect trace amounts of blood from up to three miles away, he and his hard-won tuna catch are at high risk.

Old rivals try to settle scores while amateur fishermen are wreaking havoc. FV-Tuna.com maintains a narrow lead in the race to catch the biggest bluefin, but has to relocate because of amateur boats getting too close. Kevin is none too pleased when a weekend warrior runs over his anchor line. With repairs required, he tries to finish the day. Tyler gives his mates a week off but still heads out to pursue the chase; however, he encounters googans who slow him down and quickly frustrate him.

With the fishing season already half over, the captains have no choice but to head straight into a wicked storm. The Gloucester boats tail behind Pin Wheel; and Tuna.com knows that without risk, there's no reward, and they head full steam ahead. Hoping that the change in the weather will lead to a change in luck — and bigger fish – the captains get serious with the stakes this high and money to be made.

It's midway through the season, and the pressure to bring in a paycheck pushes the captains to their limits. Pin Wheel is still in the lead over Tuna.com. Trailing in third, Hard Merchandise is struggling with a boat that isn't exactly running like new and a crew that can't seem to catch a break on the water. And Odysea's single catch is putting serious pressure on Jason, the first mate, whose family is waiting for a paycheck back in Florida.

Tensions come to a head when captains and crew lock horns on the water. Tuna.com is back in the lead over Pin Wheel in week nine of the fishing season. The fishermen of Bounty Hunter are feeling the tension because of their lack of fish this season. Tyler is still reeling from his mates slacking off last week, and when they continue to misbehave on the water, he reaches his breaking point.

After an intense week, where Dave fired Paul as first mate on FV-tuna.com, the two friends-turned-foes are now ferociously competing against each other to see who will catch more fish. Navigating the open seas in hopes of catching the most fish, Paul aims to prove that he is fine on his own without Dave, so he asks his brother Bruce, a bluefin fishing legend, to join him onboard and help him outfish his old employer.

When new fishermen join the crew, who will make the grade and who will miss the boat? FV-Tuna.com is just clinging to its lead over Pin Wheel. New deckhand Garon is out for his first day on FV-Tuna.com and he's eager to prove himself. Paul's new boat, Lisa & Jake, is in its second week and has serious ground to make up to catch the other captains. With inexperienced deckhand Kevin costing them a fish, Paul is feeling the stress like never before.

As the summer comes to an end and the water temperature drops, the bluefin start their migration to the Mediterranean and the Gulf of Mexico, making the last three weeks of the season even tougher. Pin Wheel is just behind FV-Tuna.com, so Tyler makes a gamble on a long trip, hoping it'll pay off. With their boat near Canadian waters, the guys have to be extra careful to stay in U.S. territory or their catch won't be legal.

With only two weeks left in the season, just one fish is not enough for the Gloucester captains--and the lure of doubling their luck is tempting. FV-Tuna.com holds the lead for the fifth week in a row, followed closely by the young guns on The Pin Wheel. Paul, who recently left FV-Tuna.com to lead his own boat, is desperate for a win as a new captain--and is counting on the cash to provide for his family and young daughter.

In the first episode of a two-part season finale, Gloucester's reigning bluefin champion, Captain Dave Carraro starts the last week of the season nearly $20,000 ahead of his New Hampshire rival, the Pin Wheel. For young Captain Tyler, the goal is to prove himself to the veterans. Captain Paul Hebert of the Lisa & Jake wants to fulfill his goal of earning $50,000 in five weeks while Captain Marciano is desperate to put away money and revive a season marred by boat breakdowns and short fish.

In the second season finale, a storm brews on the horizon as the final week of the season continues. The FV-Tuna.com remains in the lead but hasn't caught a fish this week. Nearest rival Pin Wheel has two fish on deck from earlier in the week. Over on the Lisa & Jake, Paul caught three fish already and is on the way to reaching his $50,000 goal. The storm threatens the Hard Merchandise, but with one in the haul already they hook up again and fight for a second catch to end the season strong.