Jake: THEY'RE GETTING BIG, BOY. THEY'RE GETTING BIG.
IT'S HONESTLY VERY, VERY SCARY
TO HAVE ALL THE MONEY IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND
AND KNOW THAT IT COULD JUST SLIP AWAY.
IT'S GONNA BE A WAR AGAIN,
EXCEPT IT'S GONNA BE A WAR OF SURVIVAL.
♪ I DO WHATEVER I'VE GOT TO ♪
OOMPH, OOMPH, OOMPH!
♪ AIN'T NO LIMIT TO THE THINGS I DO ♪
Keith: IT'S GONNA TAKE MONTE A WHILE
TO GET HIS CRAB LEGS UNDER HIM.
HE'S GONNA HAVE TO SUCK IT UP AND GUT IT OUT
BECAUSE THIS THING IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST STORM OF THE SEASON.
♪ I WILL OVERCOME ♪
♪ I REFUSE TO RUN ♪
♪ I'M GONNA FIGHT FOR MY SURVIVAL ♪
RIGHT NOW, I'M GONNA WORK AS LONG AND HARD AS I CAN.
WE GET THOSE BIG SEAS,
THIS PLACE IS GONNA SHUT DOWN.
♪ BECAUSE I WILL FIGHT FOR ♪
♪ YES, I WILL FIGHT FOR ♪
I'M HURRYING, BUDDY. I'M GOING AS FAST AS I CAN.
-OH, NO! -OH, MY GOD.
-MOVE, MOVE, MOVE! -GET DOWN!
♪ SURVIVAL ♪
--Captions by VITAC-- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
Keith: SINCE WE LEFT...
HOLE IN THE BOAT, BAD WEATHER, EVERYTHING.
AFTER POPS DIED, WE PUT THE FLAG AT HALF-MAST.
Monte: YEAH.
IT'S BEEN AT HALF-MAST EVER SINCE.
OLD GLORY IS TAKING A BEATING.
Narrator: FOUR WEEKS AFTER THE PASSING OF GARY COLBURN...
HOW IS EVERYTHING ELSE HOLDING UP?
PRETTY GOOD.
...KEITH AND MONTE REUNITE.
-HEY! -HEY!
-WELCOME ABOARD! -WELCOME ABOARD!
Narrator: HIS FATHER'S AFFAIRS NOW IN ORDER
AND KEITH HOT OFF A TANK-BUSTING OPILIO DELIVERY,
MONTE RETURNS TO PUT A PIN IN THE WINTER SEASON.
-YOU DOING GOOD? -DOING REALLY GOOD.
-YEAH? -YEAH.
MISSED YOU, MAN.
YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN REALLY TOUGH.
IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK.
Man: WELCOME BACK, MONTE.
BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU GUYS.
I'M SO EXCITED TO SEE MY DAD BACK ON THE BOAT, MAN.
HE'S PROBABLY HURTING A LITTLE BIT
DEALING WITH THE DEATH OF MY GRANDPA,
BUT, YOU KNOW, FISHING IS GOOD FOR HIM.
YOU KNOW, IT GETS HIS MIND OFF IT.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? GET HIM OUT HERE ON THE BOAT.
IT'S JUST GOOD TO BE BACK WITH HIM.
HERE'S WHERE WE'RE AT, RIGHT HERE.
Narrator: FOR KEITH, HIS BROTHER'S RETURN
IS NOT A MOMENT TOO SOON.
JUST SO YOU KNOW,
WE ARE RACING A STORM,
SOUTHEAST 50 PLUS.
FOR MORE THAN A WEEK, A WALL OF HIGH PRESSURE
CONTINUES TO FUNNEL LOW-PRESSURE SYSTEMS NORTH,
LAYING THE TRACK FOR A FREIGHT TRAIN OF STORMS.
NOW FUELED BY THE ENERGY OF WARMER SOUTHERN WATERS,
A 200-MILE-WIDE TEMPEST, THE LARGEST YET, CAREENS NORTH
TOWARDS THE SOUTHERN OPILIO GROUNDS.
LET'S GET OUT THERE, OKAY?
HOW YOU GONNA WORK THIS ROTATION?
YOU JUST GONNA GO WITH AN EXTRA GUY,
18 HOURS A DAY, PRETTY MUCH?
RIGHT NOW, MY INTENT IS TO HAVE YOU, BASICALLY,
ON DECK 8, MAYBE 10 HOURS A DAY.
KEITH'S PLAN --
ADD MONTE TO THE LINEUP AND POWER THROUGH THE WEATHER.
THIS WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.
YOU KNOW, IT'D BE NICE TO GO TO SPLIT SHIFT, YOU KNOW,
BECAUSE 6 HOURS OUTSIDE AND 6 HOURS IN HERE,
YOU KNOW...
NO. I KNOW WHAT YOU LIKE.
DON'T WORRY. JUST...WE'LL...
HAVEN'T FIGURED IT OUT YET.
WE JUST NEED TO RAM THIS STUFF ON HERE
AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE.
Narrator: 229 MILES NORTH OF THE BUILDING SOUTHERN STORM,
ON THE OPILIO GROUNDS...
Bill: I'M ALL JACKED UP...
...LIKE A SQUIRREL MONKEY ON MOUNTAIN DEW.
Narrator: ...ABOARD THE SUMMER BAY...
Bill: ABOUT A HALF A MILE, JUST NEED A DECENT AVERAGE
FOR A COUPLE TRIPS THROUGH THE YEAR WHICH IS COOL.
WE SET BACK WHERE WE GOT MOST OF OUR CRAB THE LAST TRIP.
WE RECEIVED A GIGANTIC NUMBER, 471 AVERAGE.
Narrator: ON THE HEELS OF HARVESTING
A MONSTER TOWN PICK IN THE NORTH,
CAPTAIN WILD BILL WICHROWSKI BANKS ON THE SAME GROUNDS
TO KEEP PAYING OUT.
I JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH THESE FAST
BEFORE THE STORM HITS.
Narrator: NOW WITH A MAMMOTH LOW-PRESSURE SYSTEM CLOSING IN,
BILL SETS THE PACE TO RACE.
Bill: ALRIGHT, YOU GUYS.
WE'VE GOT ONE UP HERE ON THE BOW ABOUT 100 YARDS.
Man #2: LET'S GO!
YEAH, BABY!
LIFE IS GONNA BE EASY STREET.
YEAH!
COME ON, SHOW ME SOME LIFE.
COME ON, BABY.
-OH!
AH! THAT'S NO GOOD.
NO BUENO.
NO JOY.
SOMEBODY HAVE A NUMBER?
THIS ONE JUST DROPPED ON ITS ASS.
PLEASE, GOD, PLEASE.
OH. -WOW.
-AH, COME ON! -AW
NOT YET.
EVERYBODY OUT!
AH, NOT WHAT I WANTED TO SEE.
WE'VE HAD SUCH GOOD FISHING.
IT SUCKS.
WITH ANY LUCK, MAYBE GET A HIGHER AVERAGE
FOR THE WHOLE PICK.
SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
AH
THIS HAS BEEN MIND-BLOWING AND HIDEOUS HERE.
I HAVE TO START ALL OVER AGAIN.
Narrator: HIS NUMBERS BARELY BREAKING INTO DOUBLE DIGITS,
BILL IS BACK ON THE HUNT.
Bill: WHICH WAY, WHICH WAY, WHICH WAY?
DAMN IT.
GOT THE WEATHER COMING.
WELL, THE ONLY THING I CAN THINK OF IS,
I'M GONNA RUN UP THE LINE HERE AND SPREAD THESE OUT.
LET'S SEE, THAT IS 35 MILES HIGHER THAN I'VE EVER BEEN.
Narrator: WITH GALE-FORCE WINDS BARRELING UP FROM THE SOUTH,
BILL EYES A SPOT 200 MILES NORTHEAST...
Bill: IT'S A RISK, YOU KNOW. IT'S WINTERTIME.
IT'S A LITTLE DICEY.
Narrator: ...LOOKING TO GET IN AND GET OUT
BEFORE THE STORM TRAIN PULLS INTO TOWN.
BUT I'M A GAMBLER.
I SAY WE GO FOR IT.
OFF WE GO INTO THE WILD BLUE YONDER.
Narrator: 246 MILES SOUTH...
...A 920-MILLIBAR LOW-PRESSURE SYSTEM
THUNDERS ONTO THE OPILIO GROUNDS.
ON THE SAGA...
I JUST WANT TO FIND THESE POTS
AND NOT KILL ANYBODY.
LOOKING FOR THEM, I DON'T SEE THEM.
THIS IS WHEN IT'S NOT FUN.
Narrator: ...BOGGED DOWN BY A STRING OF WEATHER DELAYS,
CAPTAIN JAKE ANDERSON
PLOWS THROUGH THE NORTHERN EDGE OF THE GALE-FORCE LOW.
Jake: PROCESSING PLANT CALLED ME AND SAID 7:00 A.M. TOMORROW,
SO I HAVE TO DO WHAT I CAN DO TODAY...
AND GO IN.
Narrator: NOW, WITH THE DELIVERY DATE ONLY 20 HOURS AWAY,
IT'S FISH OR FLOUNDER.
WATCH THE RAIL.
THIS IS GONNA BE
GET IT GOING, KYLE.
Narrator: WITH ONLY 40% OF HIS OPILIO CRAB QUOTA DELIVERED...
THE WEATHER RIGHT NOW IS TERRIBLE,
BUT HOPEFULLY THESE THINGS WORK OUT,
AND I'LL BE ABLE TO PURCHASE THE BOAT.
Narrator: ...FULL OR EMPTY POTS COULD BE THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN ACHIEVING AN OWNERSHIP STAKE IN THE SAGA...
OR NOT.
I'M RUNNING OUT OF TIME BECAUSE THE WEATHER
IS GONNA GET WORSE.
WHOO! GOT THEM!
WHOO!
SO MUCH CRAB.
YEAH, BABY!
350, 400 IS ON 36 HOURS.
CHEERS, GUYS! CRAB CHEER!
AH!
HOPEFULLY, THIS WILL GO PRETTY QUICK.
DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE NUMBERS, STEVEN.
♪ IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD! ♪
DON'T PLAY AROUND.
YOU GOT TO BE FAST WHEN COMES OUT.
WATCH OUT!
Narrator: ON THE SAGA...
Jake: WATCH OUT. WATCH OUT. WATCH OUT!
WHOA!
DAMN IT! AH.
OH
EVERYBODY OKAY? ROGER.
YEAH, ROGER.
Narrator: WHILE JAKE STRUGGLES TO NAVIGATE
THROUGH A LOW-PRESSURE FREIGHT TRAIN,
A MONSTER SURGE ENGULFS THE RAIL,
RAVAGING THE CREW.
ARE THEY OKAY TO DO THIS LIKE THIS?
WELL, THEY SAY, " YEAH."
BERING SEA, MAN, THAT'S HOW IT GETS OUT HERE.
Jake: ALL THESE POTS ARE SET TO CATCH CRAB.
THEY'RE NOT SET FOR THE WEATHER.
I KNEW THAT TODAY WAS GONNA BE JUST LIKE IT IS TODAY.
I JUST DON'T LIKE COMING IN WITH ANYTHING LESS THAN A TANK.
I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY OTHER OPTION
BUT JUST TO GO UNTIL I CAN'T.
LET'S GO!
Narrator: AS DAY GIVES IN TO NIGHT...
WHOO!
OH, IT LOOKS GOOD.
YEAH!
...JAKE AND THE SAGACREW PUSH THROUGH THEIR REMAINING POTS.
-YEAH! -YEAH!
THIS MAKES IT SEEM THAT MUCH CLOSER TO HOME,
GETTING ALL THE CRAB.
350.
YEAH, BABY!
WHOO!
THAT'S EXHILARATING.
THAT'S CRAB FISHING.
-YEAH, BABY! -WHOO!
WHAT'S THE NUMBER?
340.
WE ARE FULL, MY FRIENDS, FULL!
WE DID IT!
OH, THANK GOD, JUST IN TIME.
I GOT TO GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE.
Narrator: WITH OVER 100,000 POUNDS IN THE TANKS...
Jake: I'VE GOT 8 HOURS TO GET TO ST. PAUL.
A LOT OF THINGS CAN HAPPEN BETWEEN NOW
AND WHEN I OFF-LOAD THESE CRAB.
Narrator: ...JAKE PLOTS A COURSE
TO THE NOTORIOUS ST. PAUL INLAND.
IT'S ONE OF THE HARDEST PORTS IN THE COUNTRY
TO TIE UP BECAUSE OF THE ICE,
BECAUSE OF THE WIND, BECAUSE OF THE CURRENTS.
AND IT'S HONESTLY VERY, VERY SCARY HOW VULNERABLE I AM
RIGHT NOW IN THIS POSITION,
TO HAVE ALL THE MONEY IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND
AND KNOW THAT IT COULD JUST SLIP AWAY IN AN INSTANT.
Narrator: 340 MILES TO THE FAR NORTHEAST,
ABOVE THE SOUTHERN STORM'S GRASP
AND ANY OTHER BOAT IN THE FLEET...
...IS THE SUMMER BAY.
Man #3: LOOK AT THIS.
OH, MAN, SO BEAUTIFUL.
LIKE A DREAM,
A REALLY COLD, WET DREAM.
HERE I GO.
COMING OVER.
WE'RE DEFINITELY SNOW CRABBING NOW.
Narrator: CAPTAIN WILD BILL FINDS REFUGE
FROM THE BUILDING BLOW'S RAGE
IN THE ICY EMBRACE OF THE ARCTIC.
Bill: TO GO FROM THAT CONFIDENT FEELING
OF HAVING TOTAL CONTROL OF THE GEAR
TO WHAT I FELT LIKE ONLY STARTED CHECKING,
WHAT A OPPOSITE SENSATION.
I FELT HELPLESS AND LOST.
Narrator: WITH NO LEADS ON CRAB,
BILL EXPANDS HIS SEARCH TO VIRGIN GROUNDS
18 HOURS UP THE RUSSIAN LINE.
Bill: THIS IS, LIKE, 35 MILES HIGHER THAN I'VE EVER BEEN,
AND I'M JUST KIND OF SETTING
FROM 71 SHALLOWER, SEE HOW FAR THEY'RE GONNA GO.
I'M GONNA GO THREE TO THE MILE.
I'M LOOKING FOR CRAB.
I HAVE TO START ALL OVER AGAIN.
WHOA!
THIS IS A BIG BLOW.
LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO GO WEST OF US.
WOULD BE GREAT, YOU KNOW?
Narrator: HOPEFUL HE'LL SIDESTEP THE WORST OF THE WIND AND WAVES,
BILL LOOKS TO MAKE IT RAIN IN THE SNOW.
IT ALL COMES DOWN TO SAYING A PRAYER TO THE CRAB GODS
AND FINDING A BIOMASS THAT SENDS OUR BUTTS HOME.
HERE WE GO!
SO HOPEFULLY HIT A LITTLE BIT OF A PAYDAY
AND THEN GET OUT OF HERE.
Narrator: 60 MILES SOUTHWEST,
THE STORM TRAIN'S STEAMING ENGINE
PULLS INTO THE NORTHERN GROUNDS.
ON THE WIZARD...
IT'S GONNA BE A LITTLE BIT OF A GNARLY HAUL HERE,
THESE 22 POTS.
THIS WEATHER JUST KEEPS ON PICKING UP AND TAKING IT OFF.
Narrator: ...CAPTAIN KEITH COLBURN
CHARGES TO THE FIRST POT OF HIS 5-DAY TOWN SOAK.
Keith: REALLY SUCKS.
IT'S NOT THE SAFEST HAULING CONDITIONS RIGHT NOW,
BUT WITH ANY LUCK, WE CAN PUT 130,000
TO 140,000 POUNDS ON THIS BOAT IN THE FIRST PICK,
PROBABLY 4 1/2-, 5-DAY SOAK ON THE SCALE.
IF WE CAN DO THAT, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO FILL THIS BOAT.
Narrator: ON DECK...
I'M DOING GOOD.
IT'S GONNA TAKE A LITTLE DOING
TO GET BACK INTO THE GROOVE OF THIS.
...MONTE COLBURN REACQUAINTS HIMSELF WITH THE HALLMARKS
OF THE FISHERY -- PAIN AND SUFFERING.
YOU KNOW, I'M A LITTLE OLD FOR THIS DEAL.
Keith: IT'S GONNA TAKE MONTE A WHILE
TO GET HIS CRAB LEGS UNDER HIM.
HE BELONGS IN THE WHEELHOUSE DRIVING THE BOAT,
NOT WORKING DECK.
I TOLD HIM AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON,
I WAS GONNA GIVE HIM MORE CRAB TO CATCH,
BUT, YOU KNOW, HE'S GONNA HAVE TO SUCK IT UP
AND GUT IT OUT BECAUSE THIS TRIP IS GOING TO BE BRUTAL.
STILL TRYING TO KNOCK THE RUST OFF.
WE'LL GET THROUGH THE TRIP.
HERE IT IS.
I KNOW THERE'S SOME CRAB THERE.
I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH.
WE SHOULD GET 400s OUT OF THIS ON A LONG TOW.
-OH! -OH!
THIS IS WHAT I LIKE TO SEE!
OOMPH, OOMPH, OOMPH!
YEAH!
LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE LOADED, MAN.
GUYS, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR, GUYS.
THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO START ON.
RIGHT ON, RIGHT ON, RIGHT ON.
YEAH!
Monte: WELL, YOU CONTINUE LIKE THAT,
FILL THE BOAT UP PRETTY QUICK.
Keith: OKAY, GUYS, LET ME GET A COUNT HERE.
4-6-0.
4-6-0, ROGER THAT.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE AFTER.
SECOND POT, SECOND POT.
ALRIGHT.
OF COURSE, NOW IT SEEMS LIKE THE WIND AND RAIN
JUST KICKED UP EVEN MORE.
WATCH IT, WATCH IT!
HOLY SMOKES, THAT'S SOME BAD WEATHER.
THAT'S SERIOUS.
WATCH IT, GUYS!
HEAD'S UP, RAIL, RAIL, RAIL, RAIL, RAIL.
HANG ON. HANG ON THERE.
WATCH OUT. HANG ON! HANG ON!
Narrator: 520 MILES NORTH OF DUTCH HARBOR...
Keith: HOLY SMOKES.
Narrator: ...OVERTAKEN BY THE RELENTLESS SOUTHERN STORM.
THAT'S SOME BAD WEATHER. THAT'S SERIOUS WEATHER.
WATCH IT, GUYS.
HEAD'S UP, RAIL, RAIL, RAIL, RAIL, RAIL.
HANG ON. HANG ON THERE.
WATCH OUT. HANG ON! HANG ON!
WHOA!
EVERYBODY GOOD?
THAT ONE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF BITE TO IT, THAT WAVE THERE.
I GOT TO BE ON MY GAME HERE, HAULING THESE POTS
BECAUSE I'M GONNA TAKE THE WHOLE CREW OUT WITH WAVES.
YEAH!
NASTY NIGHT TO BE HAULING GEAR.
IT'S JUST STACKING UP.
THE WORST OF THE WEATHER ISN'T EVEN HERE YET.
RIGHT NOW, I THINK THE BOYS ARE BACK ONLINE.
KIND OF GOT DIALED IN WITH FOUR QUALITY HANDS AT THE TABLE.
MONTE IS OUT THERE WITH THEM.
THESE GUYS ARE REALLY STARTING TO MOW THROUGH THESE PILES
OF CRAB PRETTY FAST.
THE WEATHER IS REALLY GNARLY, BUT WE'LL GET THROUGH THE TRIP.
IT'S GONNA HURT.
I HAVE A SYMPATHETIC STREAK FOR MY BROTHER
WHEN I SEE HIM OUT THERE BEAT UP.
I TOLD HIM I WAS GONNA GIVE HIM MORE TIME HERE AT THE WHEEL,
AND I'M GONNA MAKE GOOD ON THAT, WHAT I TOLD HIM.
Narrator: 65 MILES FAR NORTHEAST...
...ON THE SUMMER BAY...
WHOO!
Bill: AYE, AYE, AYE.
IT WAS A WEIRD FEELING, KIND OF LIKE STANDING IN QUICKSAND.
IT SUCKED.
Narrator: ...EAGER TO GET BACK ON THE CRAB...
Bill: EVERYTHING I HAVE IS SET NORTHEAST.
THIS IS A BLIND SHOT, A RANDOM LOOK FOR CRAB.
Narrator: ...CAPTAIN WILD BILL WICHROWSKI STEAMED NORTH,
BETTING ON GROUNDS ABOVE THE APPROACHING GALE.
NEED SOME LOVE HERE SOMEWHERE TODAY, SOMETHING.
GIVE ME A BREAK HERE.
Travis: WE'RE HAULING THE FIRST STRING OF THE DAY.
I'M GONNA THROW A LITTLE HAIL MARY UP THERE,
SAY HI TO ALL MY CATHOLIC FRIENDS AND JESUS
BECAUSE YOU CAN'T FORGET ABOUT JESUS.
THROW THE HOOK. THROW THE HOOK.
Travis: FIRST POT OF THE DAY COMING UP.
THIS HERE IS GONNA KIND OF TELL THE STORY
ON HOW OUR DAY IS GONNA GO.
TIME WILL TELL.
Man #4: COME ON, CRAB!
Bill: COME ON, BABY, KEEPERS.
TWO FIDDY, COME ON, BABY, TWO FIDDY.
WHAT DO WE GOT HERE?
-COME ON. -WHOA!
-WHOO! -YEAH!
WELL, THAT WAS A NICE SURPRISE.
THERE'S SOME CRAB.
LOOKS LIKE WE'RE ON SOMETHING.
TWO...
FOUR... FOUR...
...FIVE.
MAKING ME A HAPPY GUY.
-YEAH. -COME ON!
OH, YEAH, BABY, BABY, BABY.
THERE'S A LITTLE VOLUME THERE, A LITTLE VOLUME.
OH, YEAH.
THANK YOU.
TWO-FIVE-EIGHT.
CAPTAIN WILD BILL STRIKES AGAIN.
WE COULD BE IN PRETTY FAIR SHAPE
BUT ANOTHER LITTLE WEATHER CHANGE HERE.
WE'LL KNOW MORE LATER TODAY.
WE GET THOSE BIG SEAS,
THIS PLACE IS GONNA SHUT DOWN
EVEN MORE THAN IT IS ALREADY.
Narrator: THE GOOD NEWS -- BILL FINALLY HIT THE JACKPOT.
THE BAD -- HE'S IN THE PATH OF A BOAT-CRUSHING STORM.
Bill: AND NOW I'M GONNA WORK AS LONG AND HARD AS I CAN.
KEEP DIGGING.
Narrator: 314 MILES TO THE SOUTH...
...ABOARD THE SAGA...
THIS IS WHY MAMA
DOESN'T EVER WANT YOU TO BE A FISHERMAN.
...CAPTAIN JAKE ANDERSON PREPARES TO NAVIGATE
THE RIPPING TIDES AND 20-FOOT BREAKERS
OF THE ST. PAUL INLAND.
JUST GOT TO ST. PAUL.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THE WEATHER RIGHT NOW IS TERRIBLE.
BEFORE ATTEMPTING, THE YOUNG SKIPPER GETS A QUICK REMINDER
OF WHO HE'S FIGHTING FOR.
I'M HURRYING, BUDDY. I'M GOING AS FAST AS I CAN.
I'M HURRYING, AIDEN. I'M HURRYING.
I LOVE YOU.
Bye.
NOTHING BETTER THAN GOING THROUGH DAYS LIKE THIS
WITH YOUR FAMILY.
Narrator: AFTER STUFFING HIS TANKS IN THE FACE
OF TOWERING 30-FEET SEAS...
Jake: I ALWAYS TAKE TYING UP IN ST. PAUL SERIOUS.
I GET NERVOUS EVEN WHEN IT'S FLAT COLUMN.
Narrator: ...JAKE MAKES HIS APPROACH
TO THE ROCKY ENTRANCE OF ST. PAUL HARBOR.
Jake: SEE THAT LITTLE SPOT RIGHT THERE?
THAT'S THE HOLE WE GOT TO GO INTO.
SO I GOT TO GET INTO THERE, TAKE A RIGHT,
AND HERE'S THE WAVES.
THEY'RE COMING IN LIKE THAT.
Narrator: MADE HOSTILE BY THE SOUTHERLY SWELL...
AND THE TIDE IS PROBABLY GONNA BE PUSHING ME
AGAINST THE ROCKS.
Narrator: ...JAKE MUST TIME THE CURLERS TO THREAD THE SAGA
THROUGH THE MOUTH OF THE JAGGED JETTY.
Jake: SEE, HERE'S A BIG SWELL RIGHT HERE.
AS WE GET SHALLOWER,
THESE SETS ARE GONNA COME IN.
Narrator: IF TOO LATE OR TOO EARLY,
WHITECAPS WILL BROADSIDE THE 198-TON SCHOONER.
IT'S NOT JUST DRIVING YOUR BOAT IN
AND TRYING TO KEEP IT STRAIGHT.
YOU HAVE TO TIME THE WAVES OUT.
YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE CURRENT
AND SEE WHICH WAY IT'S PUSHING YOU.
WORST-CASE SCENARIO --
WE PUT THE BOW ON THE ROCKS, AND WE ALL DIE.
THERE'S THE SWELL RIGHT THERE.
Man #5: OH, MY GOD!
GET DOWN!
OH, MY GOD!
Narrator: ON THE SAGA...
-OH, MY GOD. -GET DOWN!
Man #5: OH, MY GOD!
OH !
Narrator: ...CAPTAIN JAKE ANDERSON
NAVIGATES ST. PAUL INLET...
Narrator: ...IN THE THROES
OF A HULKING LOW-PRESSURE SYSTEM.
Jake: WE'RE GOOD NOW.
-WHOO! -YEAH!
OH
DUDE.
ME, DUDE.
ME RUNNING, DUDE.
HARD TO GET IN THERE
WHEN YOU GOT TIDE RIPPING YOU AROUND.
Narrator: PAST THE JAGGED JETTY AND THE SAFETY OF THE HARBOR,
JAKE HEADS FOR DOCK,
ON TIME AND READY FOR OFF-LOAD.
WELL, NOW I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN BE BACK UP
TO THE FISHING GROUNDS IN TWO DAYS.
WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO THE END OF THE SEASON.
I'M A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS, SO I JUST GOT TO STAY FOCUSED
AND NOT LET ANYTHING GET INSIDE MY HEAD.
THIS JOB IS...
THIS JOB CAN BE TOUGH SOMETIMES.
Narrator: 282 MILES FROM ST. PAUL,
A 200-MILE-WIDE NORTHBOUND LOW-PRESSURE SYSTEM
COLLIDES WITH THE BERING SEA'S ARCTIC FREEZE.
CAUGHT BETWEEN THESE TWO WEATHER TITANS
IS THE 155-FOOT WIZARD.
Keith: HERE'S THE PLAN -- YOU HAVE 22 POTS.
Monte: OKAY.
WE'RE GONNA MAKE US A 3-MILE LONG STRING.
IT SAYS STRAIGHT SOUTH,
RIGHT THROUGH THE MEAT OF EVERYTHING WE'VE SEEN.
OKAY, ROG.
Narrator: 140,000 POUNDS OF OPILIO CRAB
IN HIS TANKS AND IN NEED OF REST...
UM... YEAH, WELL,
WE HAVE OUR BEST FISHING THROUGH THAT VEIN.
SO, YEAH, IT'S JUST WHAT IT IS.
...CAPTAIN KEITH COLBURN RELINQUISHES THE HELM
TO BROTHER MONTE DURING A PITCH BLACK AND ANGRY SEA.
WE GOT ALL SOUTHERLIES.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA HAVE FOUR GOOD SETS
OF HANDS OUT THERE ON THIS SHIFT.
JUST KEEP AN EYE ON THESE GUYS.
ROGER THAT.
Narrator: MONTE'S MISSION --
SET BACK 22 POTS DIRECTLY INTO THE WEATHER.
AS MUCH AS I DON'T LIKE WORKING OUTSIDE,
THIS IS... KIND OF SUCKED.
I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT'S GONNA BLOW LIKE THIS,
BUT I HOPE IT'S NOT LONG.
DUMP IT WHEN YOU'RE READY.
HERE WE GO.
I GOT TO REALLY JUST LEAN ON THIS THROTTLE
TO GET THE BOAT TO EVEN PUSH INTO THIS WEATHER.
IT'S NOT NORMAL.
Narrator: USING MORE POWER TO STABILIZE THE BOAT,
MONTE IS BANKING ON THE EXTRA THRUST
TO HELP PILOT THROUGH THE CRESTING WHITECAPS.
THIS ISN'T THE IDEAL FIRST SHIFT AT THE WHEEL
I WAS HOPING FOR HERE.
THE WEATHER IS UP DRAMATICALLY, AND NOW WE'RE SETTING INTO IT.
IT'S A LITTLE DICEY.
A LITTLE MORE CHALLENGING IN THE DARK
WHEN YOU'RE IN THIS WEATHER,
REALLY HARD TO SEE MUCH OF WHAT'S OUT THERE.
IT'S KIND OF UNFORTUNATE, BUT THAT'S WHAT I DO.
I DRIVE AT NIGHT, SO IT'S GOING TO TAKE
A LITTLE GETTING USED TO, YOU KNOW?
GET THESE GUYS BACK IN THE HOUSE WHERE THEY BELONG.
YEAH, THIS IS NOT COOL, MAN. THIS IS NOT COOL.
WATCH OUT. WATCH OUT.
Narrator: ON THIS WEEK'S "SALTY TAKES"...
Bill: I JUST HAD A CROWN BREAK.
Man #6: OH, NO.
Narrator: ...THE DECKHANDS AREN'T THE ONLY ONES
FALLING APART THIS SEASON.
OH, MY GOD.
HEY, IT'S BILL.
I CAN'T FIND THE CRAB.
MAKE SURE YOU PUT THAT UNDER YOUR PILLOW, BOSS.
IT'S HIGH-DOLLAR DENTAL WORK THAT FAILED.
WHAT A DIFFERENCE THAT MAKES IN A PERSON, HUH?
WILD BILL...
HILLBILLY BILL.
THIS SUCKS.
PAID ALL THAT MONEY FOR THAT TOOTH.
THERE'S A DENTIST IN MEXICO THAT'S GONNA PAY.
Narrator: UNFORTUNATELY FOR BILL, THE TOOTH FAIRY BRINGS
NOT ONLY CRAB BUT A STORM.
Narrator: ON THE WIZARD...
A LITTLE MORE CHALLENGING IN THE DARK
WHEN YOU'RE IN THIS WEATHER.
IT'S GONNA TAKE A LITTLE GETTING USED TO, YOU KNOW.
Narrator: ...CAUGHT IN
AN UNRELENTING LOW-PRESSURE SYSTEM...
Monte: THIS IS NOT COOL, MAN. THIS IS NOT COOL.
Narrator: ...CO-CAPTAIN MONTE COLBURN SETS INTO THE WEATHER,
THROTTLING TO STABILIZE THE BOAT...
WATCH OUT. WATCH OUT.
HEADS UP! HEADS UP!
Narrator: ...INADVERTENTLY POWERING INTO THE FACE
OF A 40-FOOT ROGUE WAVE.
-WHOA. -OH
KIDDING ME, RIGHT?
EVERYBODY OKAY?
EVERYBODY'S OKAY.
HEY, WE'RE OBVIOUSLY
GONNA BE SLOWING HER DOWN HERE A NOTCH.
WE JUST TOOK A BIG ONE OVER THE BOW WHILE WE WERE SETTING HERE.
I THINK IT TOOK JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY OFF THEIR FEET.
Narrator: A CURLING SWELL THE SIZE OF AN APARTMENT BUILDING
BREAKS OVER THE WIZARD'SBOW,
POUNDING THE DECK WITH 30,000 GALLONS OF ARCTIC-SEA WATER,
NEARLY WASHING 22-YEAR-OLD GREENHORN
TODD GATEMAN OVERBOARD.
PROBABLY THE CLOSEST I'VE BEEN TO GOING OVERBOARD.
IT WAS A LITTLE SCARY.
WHAT WAS THAT? WHAT HAPPENED THERE?
Monte: ONE
JUST TRIED TO COME OVER THE NOSE ON US THERE.
IT'S...
BIG GREEN ONE?
YEAH, JUST... THING JUST KIND OF STOOD UP.
I THINK A COUPLE GUYS ENDED UP DOWN BY THE TABLE THERE.
IT KIND OF EXPLODED ON THE BOW.
NOT VERY COOL.
DIDN'T REALLY SEE THE SON OF A BITCH COMING IN THE DARK.
IT'S TOUGH. I, OBVIOUSLY, NEED TO SLOW DOWN.
ALRIGHT. YEAH.
I MEAN, YOU CAN ANGLE IT A LITTLE BIT.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO STRAIGHT SOUTH.
OKAY.
IT'S STACKING UP.
YEAH, NO DOUBT.
ALRIGHT.
WELCOME BACK.
OH, YEAH.
Narrator: WHILE LIFE ON THE BERING SEA ISN'T WARM,
SOFT OR FUZZY...
I'M REALLY HAPPY TO BE BACK BECAUSE AT HOME, YOU KNOW,
ALL I WAS DOING WAS DEALING WITH MY FATHER'S PASSING.
YOU KNOW, TO GET TO THINK ABOUT SOMETHING DIFFERENT HERE...
Narrator: ...THE 40-FOOT WAVES AND 55-KNOT WINDS
COULD BE JUST THE RESPITE MONTE NEEDS.
Monte: GET THROUGH THEM HERE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS WEATHER IS GONNA DO.
IT'S...I DON'T EVEN THINK IT'S GOTTEN GOING YET.
I THINK IT'S GONNA GET WORSE AS THE NIGHT GOES ON.
MAN, WHAT A NIGHT.
Narrator: 65 MILES NORTHEAST...
...ON THE SUMMER BAY...
GOT IT RIGHT HERE!
NOW THE POTS ARE JUST COMING UP HUGE.
WE'RE ON THE MEAT PILE, FOR SURE.
Bill: GANGBUSTERS.
THESE ARE THE FULL-SIZE MONGOS.
Narrator: ...CAPTAIN WILD BILL'S ARCTIC EXPEDITION
YIELDS POT AFTER POT OF OPILIO PREY.
Man #7: 6-21, HIGH POT. WHOO!
WOO-HOO!
Bill: WE'RE DOING JUST FINE, BUT, YOU KNOW,
THEY COME OUT WITH A FORECAST, AND IT UPDATES EVERY DAY.
WE GOT A -- SO A WEATHER PATTERN
COMING THAT SOUNDS DOWNRIGHT UGLY.
Narrator: IN THE PATH OF THE STORM SYSTEM'S NORTHERN MARCH,
CAPTAIN WILD BILL'S ARCTIC SAFE HAVEN IS SOON TO BE UNDER FIRE.
THAT'S WHAT DREAMS ARE MADE OF.
IF YOU LIVE IN A CONDO BUILDING, LOOK UP AT THE FIFTH FLOOR.
THAT'S HOW HIGH THESE WAVES ARE.
I'LL FISH IN MOST ANYTHING,
BUT I'M NOT FISHING IN 35-FOOT SWELLS.
THAT AIN'T THE WAY I'M GONNA DIE.
OH, YEAH, A BEAUTIFUL CRAB.
PROBABLY THE BEST EFFORTS WE'LL SEE
UNTIL THE END OF THIS THING,
BUT WE GOT A BLOW COMING.
IT'S JUST... IT'S NOT GONNA WORK.
WE'RE GETTING OUR ASSES KICKED.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO SCURRY.
MAN.
Narrator: AFTER EFFECTIVELY OUTFOXING THE STORM
FOR 72 HOURS, MASSIVE 35-FOOT SEAS
PUSH THE VETERAN CAPTAIN OFF HIS OPILIO HOARD,
SENDING HIM TUCK-TAIL TOWARD TOWN.
COME BACK OUT WHEN IT'S DONE.
TAKE WHAT I GET OUT OF 'EM.
PUT ME INTO A CLINICAL DEPRESSION.
WE AIN'T GONNA SEE CRAB LIKE THAT AGAIN
FOR A LONG TIME, I FEEL LIKE.
IT SUCKS.
Bill: IT WAS A PRETTY GRAB
AND PRETTY DECENT NUMBERS FOR 24 HOURS.
IT WAS HEADED TO BE EPIC,
BUT NO!
CAN'T FINISH EPIC.
IF THE JOB WAS EASY, EVERYBODY WOULD DO IT.