Original subtitles

THIS IS A TOTAL ANOMALY.

WE'RE STUCK IN THE STORM PATH.

FROM LOS ANGELES ALL THE WAY TO ANCHORAGE, ALASKA,

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 3,000 MILES.

YOU'VE GOT NOTHING BUT HIGH-PRESSURE SYSTEMS.

EVERY SINGLE STORM IS HITTING, BOUNCING OFF AND GOING NORTH.

BOING.

BOING.

BOING.

AND WE HAPPEN TO BE TRAPPED, LITERALLY,

EVERY SINGLE STORM TRACKING RIGHT THROUGH US.

50 KNOTS. 40, 50-FOOT SEAS.

IT'S UGLY.

YOU CAN FEEL THE TEMPERATURE DROPPING.

THE ICE PACK IS MOVING CLOSER.

IT'S GONNA GET COLDER AND DARKER,

AND THE ICE IS BACK WITH A VENGEANCE.

ALL HELL IS GOING TO BREAK LOOSE OUT HERE.

OOH.

GOOD LUCK.

SHUT THIS ALL THE WAY.

I'VE ALREADY GOT ENOUGH BAD NEWS OFF THAT COMPUTER FOR ONE NIGHT.

--Captions by VITAC-- www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Narrator: IN THE FAR NORTH,

Man: WHOO!

Narrator: ...ON THE WIZARD...

Keith: THOSE HIGH-PRESSURE SYSTEMS AREN'T GOING ANYWHERE.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE GETTING NO RELIEF.

PRETTY SERIOUS.

Narrator: ...A FREAKISH WEATHER SYSTEM THREATENS THE GROUNDS

AND THE FLEET.

A WALL OF HIGH-PRESSURE LINES THE WESTERN SEABOARD,

FUNNELING LOW-PRESSURE SYSTEMS NORTH.

THE RESULT -- A FREIGHT TRAIN OF STORMS

AIMED DIRECTLY FOR THE OPILIO GROUNDS,

INTO THE FACE OF THE FLEET.

Man: WHOA.

WE'VE GOT A STORM BLOWING THROUGH RIGHT NOW,

35-FOOT SEAS, 21 DEGREES,

BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS WE'RE ON REALLY GOOD FISHING.

-ALL RIGHT. -ALL RIGHT, THEN.

Man:

Narrator: DESPITE THE BAD WEATHER...

WHOO!

Keith: WE WENT NORTHEAST.

IT'S JUST A MOUNTAIN OF CRAB,

AND IT JUST KEEPS COMING AND COMING AND COMING.

Narrator: ...CAPTAIN KEITH COLBURN

IS RIDING A QUOTA-BUSTING

500-CRAB-PER-POT AVERAGE.

Keith: THE BOYS HAVE WORKED FOR IT, MAN.

THIS HAS BEEN A TOUGH TRIP.

STARTED WITH NOTHING BUT DOOM, GLOOM, BREAKDOWNS,

LEAKY BOATS, NO CRAB.

YEAH, YOU CAN'T START ANY WORSE THAN WE STARTED.

WE'RE GETTING NO RELIEF FROM THE WEATHER.

I HAVE TO GO TO TOWN AND DELIVER.

Narrator: FINALLY EYEING A SUCCESSFUL OFFLOAD,

KEITH'S OUT OF TIME AND EXCUSES.

, BOYS.

POW-TOW.

RIGHT ON, 675, MAN.

WE ARE ON THEM.

Man:

-WHOO! -YEAH.

HEY.

DAMN IT.

GET OUT. GET OUT.

I GOT IT. I GOT IT.

THERE WE GO. OH, BOY. OH, BOY. WATCH OUT.

-AH! -UH-OH.

FREDDY JUST GOT BOPPED.

YOU ALL RIGHT?

THAT LAST POT GOT UNDER THE BOAT A LITTLE BIT,

HAD A LOT OF TENSION ON IT,

AND THEN THE BUOY WENT FLYING OVER THE RAIL,

AND I THINK FREDDY'S HAND GOT POPPED PRETTY HARD.

HE'S STICKING HIS HAND OUT,

AND IT'S HANGING LIMP ON HIS SIDE.

IT'S -- THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON.

ROGER!

OUCH.

OUCH.

Keith: IS YOUR FINGER MOVING, EVERYTHING FINE?

-YEAH? -IT'S GOT --

IT'S GETTING KIND OF SENSITIVE, THE TIP, YOU KNOW?

YEAH, I'LL BET IT'S REAL SENSITIVE.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

Narrator: FREDDY'S SENSITIVITY COMES FROM A SUBUNGUAL HEMATOMA.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WITHOUT A DICTIONARY,

A BURST BLOOD VESSEL UNDER HIS FINGERNAIL.

NEED TO PUT A NEEDLE IN IT?

-CAN WE DO THAT? -HELL YEAH, WE CAN DO THAT.

-YEAH. -THAT'S WHAT YOU DO.

JUST SQUEEZE IT. ALL THE BLOOD WILL COME OUT.

-IT'LL FEEL BRAND-NEW. -OKAY.

Narrator: TO KEEP FREDDY IN TOP FORM...

HEY, YOU DON'T HAVE A SHARP NEEDLE, DO YOU?

WELL, YEAH.

GIVE ME THE BIGGEST ONE YOU GOT.

Narrator: KEITH GOES FROM CAPTAIN TO AMATEUR MEDIC.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO PUSH REAL HARD BECAUSE IT'S GONNA BE HOT,

AND IT'S GONNA TRY AND MELT.

MAYBE TWIST A LITTLE BIT.

YOU'LL FEEL IT POP THROUGH AND WHEN IT DOES,

IT'LL SQUEEZE A BUNCH OF THAT BLOOD OUT.

IT'LL BE HAPPY BECAUSE ALL THAT PAIN GOES AWAY REAL FAST.

I'LL LET YOU HANG ONTO THIS.

YEAH. YEAH. GO FOR IT. JUST GO FOR IT.

OKAY. JUST POKE.

-OH. -YEP.

-THERE YOU GO. -MNH-MNH.

-OOH. -OH, YEAH.

NOPE, YEP. IT'S COMING OUT NOW.

MM, MM, MM.

YEAH, YOU LIKE THAT?

-WHOA. -EW.

OH. IT'S CRAZY.

-GOOD STUFF, HUH? -OH, THAT'S -- THANK YOU, BOSS.

HAVE YOUR FINGERS BACK.

-WOW. -OKAY.

Keith: JUST UNDER FOUR MILES.

WITH ANY LUCK, WE SHOULD HAVE A PRETTY GOOD PICK.

Narrator: 170 MILES SOUTHWEST...

Man: IT'S GETTING COLDER THAN

Narrator: ...THE NORTHWESTERNBUCKS

A BUILDING SEA IN HER FIRST STORM

SINCE ELSA FIVE DAYS AGO.

SUCKS.

YOU KNOW, 30-KNOT WINDS, 15-FOOTERS.

WE DO HAVE THE ICE WHICH IS LOOMING OVERHEAD, LITERALLY.

NOW WE JUST WANT TO GET THIS DAMN THING FULL AND GET IN.

Nick: THE CONDITIONS ARE WORSENING RIGHT NOW.

SO SHOULD BE AN INTERESTING EVENING.

-GO AHEAD.

Narrator: LIKE KEITH, CAPTAIN SIG HANSEN

SUFFERED THROUGH BAD NUMBERS IN THE SOUTH

BEFORE STRIKING IT RICH ON THE NORTHERN GROUNDS.

WHOO, WHOO.

I REALLY DON'T LIKE FISHING THIS FAR NORTH.

I NEVER HAVE.

BUT WE WENT THROUGH OUR GEAR, AND WE SET IT BACK.

WHEN YOU SET BACK AFTER A LONG SOAK,

SOMETIMES NEW CRAB MOVE IN. YOU JUST DON'T KNOW.

LET'S GO. COME ON.

WHOO!

OH, YEAH.

THIS MORNING IS JUST STARTING OFF GANGBUSTERS.

I MEAN, THAT TABLE IS FULL.

YEAH, BUDDY.

WHOO!

325.

YEAH.

WHOO!

YEAH, WE'RE ON THE MONSTER.

Narrator: GETTING DIRTY WITH THE BOYS...

IT'S EASIER FOR THE GUYS WHEN I'M ON BOARD

BECAUSE I HELP OUT A LOT,

BUT I'M MAINLY HERE TO LEARN THE ROPES OF THE BUSINESS

AND EVENTUALLY TAKE OVER ONE DAY.

Narrator: ...RELIEF SKIPPER AND SIG'S DAUGHTER,

MANDY HANSEN.

Sig: THIS IS GOING PRETTY GOOD, I GOT TO SAY.

I WANT TO JUST KEEP IN MY GRID AND WORK THE GEAR.

I WANT MANDY TO BE A LOT MORE HANDS-ON THIS YEAR,

AND SO TAKES PRACTICE.

Narrator: 30-KNOT WINDS AND POUNDING SEAS

ARE PERFECT CONDITIONS TO GET A MASTER CLASS

FROM, WELL, THE MASTER.

ALL YOU GOT TO WORRY ABOUT IS...THROTTLE.

THROTTLE WHEN I GO DOWN.

BACK OFF WHEN I GO UP.

LIKE THERE, I WAS GOING INTO IT.

I BACKED OFF. IF I KEPT ON THE THROTTLE,

I WOULD HAVE SMASHED IT TWICE AS HARD, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

-YEAH. -IT'S ALL THROTTLE.

BA, BA.

DON'T HURT ANYBODY.

Narrator: HER CHALLENGE -- NAVIGATE FROM POT TO POT

WHILE PROTECTING THE CREW FROM THE WEATHER

BY TIMING THE THROTTLE TO MINIMIZE THE MASSIVE BREAKERS.

THIS IS 25, 30 KNOTS, PROBABLY 15-FOOT.

THAT'S WHEN IT GETS TRICKY.

OH, MY GOD.

-YOU'RE NOT NERVOUS? -NO.

YOU SHOULD BE.

LITTLE BIT OF POWER.

WATCH THE WAVE.

GOT TO BACK OFF A LITTLE BIT.

OH.

OH, LOOK OUT.

CAPTAIN MANDY'S AT THE HELM.

COUPLE OF SECONDS LATE.

REMEMBER, YOU WANT TO BE AT LEAST THREE SECONDS AHEAD,

EVERY MOVE YOU MAKE, BECAUSE THE ACTION OF THE BOAT

TAKES SO MUCH MORE TIME. -RIGHT.

200 TONS OF STEEL YOU HAVE TO MOVE.

IT'S NOT A CAR.

WORRY ABOUT THE PEOPLE ON DECK.

YEAH.

GO AHEAD.

WATCH THE WAVE.

BREAK. NOW.

WHOA!

-WHOA. -WHOA.

OH, MY GOD...

CAREFUL. GO EASY.

WHOO!

OH, WATCH OUT.

Sig: SLOW DOWN.

SEE THAT?

LOOK. OOH.

OOH, OOH, OOH.

-WHOA! -WHOA.

Narrator: ON THE NORTHWESTERN...

Sig: SLOW DOWN.

YOU GOT BIG ONES COMING RIGHT THERE.

SEE THAT? LOOK. OOH, OOH, OOH, OOH.

WHOA. WATCH OUT.

WHOA!

Narrator: AT THE HELM IN HEAVY SEAS,

MANDY ATTEMPTS TO TIME THE THROTTLE

WITH THE SWELL AND GETS BIT.

DIDN'T SEE THAT COMING, DID YOU?

AFTER A WHILE, YOU'LL KNOW HOW TO KIND OF

CORRECT IT BEFORE IT HAPPENS

BECAUSE YOU'LL KNOW WHAT THE WAVE'S GONNA DO TO YOU.

YEAH.

GO.

GOT TO BACK OFF A LITTLE BIT.

SEE? IF YOU HAD IT IN GEAR,

THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A MUCH BIGGER SURGE.

BIG ONE.

ALL RIGHT. TAKE IT OUT OF GEAR.

WHOO-HOO!

GO.

OKAY. NOW SHE'S COMING.

THERE YOU GO.

WELL DONE.

-WHOO! -WHOO!

-WHOO! -THERE YOU GO.

PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.

WHOO!

-THIS THE LAST ONE? -YEAH.

THAT WAS THE LAST ONE, GUYS.

COOL. THANK YOU.

OKAY. GOOD JOB.

IT WENT REALLY WELL.

YOU KNOW, WE HAD SOME PRETTY BIG WEATHER HERE.

IT WAS 25, 30 WITH PROBABLY 12, 15-FOOT SEAS.

THERE WAS SOME GOOD LUMPS, SO SHE DID GREAT.

ONE OF THESE DAYS, SHE WANTS TO RUN THE BOAT HERSELF,

BUT I'D LIKE TO KNOW THAT SHE'S READY

AND CAPABLE WHEN THAT DAY COMES.

SHE'S JUST GOT TO DO IT.

SO WE'LL KEEP DIALING IN,

LOOKING FOR THE STRONGER SIGNS.

GOING OVER.

Sig: TRY ONE MORE TIME HERE.

Narrator: 10 MILES NORTHWEST...

STARTING TO PICK UP HERE.

IT'S GONNA TURN FROM FREEZING SPRAY TO HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY,

ESPECIALLY WAY UP HERE IN THE NORTH COUNTRY WHERE WE ARE,

SO THAT'S NOTHING TO MESS WITH.

BE ON YOUR TOES, MAN.

Narrator: ...A SERIES OF BUILDING BLOWS

TAKE DEAD AIM AT CAPTAIN STEVE "HARLEY" DAVIDSON

AND THE SOUTHERN WIND.

Harley: I CAN SEE IT ON MY RADAR.

OH, BOY.

SOMETHING IS PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, I'M GETTING --

I CAN SEE A DEFINITE LINE OF SOMETHING.

EVER SINCE WE COMING UP TO THIS NORTHERN AREA,

IT'S BEEN A GREAT HIT UP HERE.

WE'VE BEEN GETTING BIG NUMBERS,

27,000 CRAB AVERAGE PER DAY.

THAT'S OVER $100,000 A DAY THAT WE'RE MAKING FOR THE BOAT.

WASN'T EASY, THESE LAST COUPLE DAYS,

BUT FISHING BEEN REALLY GOOD.

Narrator: A FEW MORE DAYS IN THE NORTH COUNTRY...

JUST GRIND IT OUT, TOP OFF AND GO HOME.

Narrator: ...WILL SEND THE SOUTHERN WIND

BACK TO TOWN STUFFED WITH A TANK-BUSTING OPILIO PAYDAY.

TODAY, I GOT THOSE POTS THAT I ROLLED.

TYPICALLY, WHEN I COME TO A STRING, EVEN IF IT'S GOOD,

I'LL MOVE IT OVER A LITTLE HALF MILE,

GET ON SOME FRESH GROUND.

THIS STRING, I JUST ROLLED IT RIGHT WHERE IT WAS.

Narrator: THE VETERAN SKIPPER DOUBLED DOWN

AND IS NOW BANG OR BUST.

OKAY. HERE COMES. FIRST POT COMING UP, GUYS.

OH...

WHOO! YEAH!

FIRST POT OF THAT SET THAT WE ROLLED.

HOPING FOR SOMETHING GOOD, MAN.

LAST TIME ON THIS POT, I HAD 440 BEFORE I ROLLED IT,

SO WHAT AM I GOING TO GET THIS TIME?

AW.

THERE'S STILL LIFE HERE.

WE'LL SEE HOW MUCH.

Man: 150. 1-5-0.

SEEMS LIKE I LOST HALF MY CRAB THERE.

SEEING PRETTY CRAB, BUT NOT A LOT OF THEM.

I HOPE I CAN GET BETTER, BUT I'M GETTING SOMETHING.

THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

-NOT AT ALL. -THIS THE SECOND POT.

IT LOOKS MAYBE A LITTLE WEAKER.

...5.

UGH, HEY.

THIS LOOKS LIKE THERE AIN'T MUCH HERE.

ON A ROLL BACK.

Harley: BOTTOM MIGHT BE STARTING TO GET WORE OUT.

BEFORE, THESE WERE, LIKE, 500, 500 AND 440, 510.

I'M THINKING THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S TIME TO MOVE THEM.

Narrator: HIS HONEY HOLE TAPPED OUT,

AND THE WEATHER GETTING WORSE BY THE MINUTE,

THE VETERAN SKIPPER NEEDS A NEW LINE OF ATTACK.

I GOT AN IDEA I'D LIKE TO GO TRY AND SEE IF IT WORK OUT FOR ME.

THE FISHING IS USUALLY PRETTY GOOD RIGHT NEXT TO THE SEA ICE.

THERE'S A LOT OF SEA LIFE THERE.

THERE'S LOTS OF PLANKTON,

AND THE CRAB ARE RUNNING RIGHT WITH IT, TOO.

IF IT'S NOT MOVING REALLY HARD,

IT COULD BE REAL LUCRATIVE.

OKAY, GUYS. THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH.

I WANT TO HEAD OVER TO THE SEA ICE,

FINISH THIS QUOTA OFF AND PUT THIS SEASON TO REST.

Narrator: FISHING THE ICE EDGE CAN BRING GREAT REWARD.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO REACT TO THAT.

IT'S JUST A...

Narrator: BUT THE CREW WOULD RATHER STICK

AND STAY THAN STACK AND FREEZE.

JUST GRIND IT OUT WHERE WE'RE AT,

BUT ROLL THE DICE IN THE ICE, I GUESS.

COULD COME EASY, OR IT COULD BE A STRUGGLE,

BUT THESE GUYS ARE GONNA HAVE TO KIND OF TOUGHEN UP.

CAPTAIN SAYS SOMETHING, THAT'S IT.

Narrator: COMING UP...

IF THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG, GET OUT OF HERE.

WOW, LOOK AT THIS.

WE'RE RIGHT ON THE EDGE, THAT'S FOR SURE.

GIVE IT A SHOT, I GUESS.

THREE, TWO, ONE, BOOM.

WHOO-HOO!

Narrator: AS THE FREIGHT TRAIN OF LOW-PRESSURE SYSTEMS BARRELS

TOWARDS THE GROUNDS,

250 MILES REMOVED FROM THE HOWLING GALE

IN THE SAFETY OF ST. PAUL HARBOR...

YEAH, WE'RE ALMOST DONE WITH THE OFFLOAD HERE AT ST. PAUL.

BUGS LOOK REAL GOOD.

I THINK THE NUMBERS ARE GOING TO BE SPOT-ON ALMOST,

REAL CLOSE.

WE WERE IN OUR BEST FISHING EVER.

WE, I THINK, THREE DAYS, WE PUT 100,000 POUNDS,

OR CLOSE TO 100,000 POUNDS, OF CRAB ON.

IT WAS A LITTLE SCARY AT TIMES, BUT WE GOT IT DONE.

Narrator: TAKING ADVANTAGE OF MAMMOTH FISHING UP NORTH,

SUMMER BAY CAPTAIN "WILD" BILL WICHROWSKI GROSSES $400,000

ON HIS FIRST OPILIO DELIVERY.

WE HAD FOUR NEW GUYS AND NICK AND ME, BUT NICK GOT BANGED UP.

Narrator: BUT BILL'S SUCCESSFUL FIRST OFFLOAD COMES AT A COST.

COMING IN.

OW

Narrator: WHILE SETTING,

DECK BOSS NICK McGLASHAN INJURED HIS ARM,

FORCING THE VETERAN HAND OFF DECK AND OUT OF COMMISSION.

Nick: GONNA GO TO THE CLINIC AND SEE WHAT THEY SAY.

YOU KNOW, LIKE, WHAT IF I DO HAVE TO LEAVE?

Narrator: NOW, WITH NICK ONCE AGAIN ON

THE INJURED RESERVE LIST,

THE SUMMER BAY COULD FACE THE REMAINDER

OF THE WINTER SEASON SHORTHANDED.

Wild Bill: YOU READY, BUDDY?

YEAH. ME EITHER.

BUT IF THEY SEE SOMETHING IS WRONG,

GET THE OUT OF HERE.

YOU WILL HELP ME OUT IF YOU STAY,

BUT IF THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG, GET OUT OF HERE.

I MEAN IT FROM MY HEART, MAN.

DON'T JUST SAY, "WELL, I'M GOING TO STAY ANYWAY

BECAUSE IT'S NOT HAPPENING."

I'M GONNA FINISH NO MATTER WHAT,

BUT LIFE WOULD BE A LOT EASIER IF I HAD NICK ON BOARD.

Narrator: 375 MILES NORTH...

...OUT OF THE REACH OF THE STORM TRAIN'S FIERCE WIND AND WAVES...

...BUT IN THE GRIP OF THE POLAR DEEP FREEZE...

WOW. LOOK AT THIS.

IT REMINDS ME OF BACK HOME IN MINNESOTA, BUT BACK HOME,

WE GOT TO DRILL HOLES IN IT TO GET ANYTHING OUT OF IT.

THIS IS KIND OF DIFFERENT.

HOPEFULLY WE GET SOME CRAB, BUT UNCLE STEVE NEVER SAID

NOTHING ABOUT GOING FISHING UP ON THE ICE.

Narrator: AT THE HELM...

WE HAVEN'T REALLY HAD TO DEAL WITH THIS ICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

I MEAN, IT'S AN INCH THICK RIGHT HERE, WHERE THAT RED STUFF IS.

THAT'S PRETTY BIG STUFF.

Narrator: ...SOUTHERN WINDCAPTAIN

STEVE "HARLEY" DAVIDSON CARVES

THROUGH THE ICE PACK'S NUTRIENT-RICH NORTHERN FLOW.

Harley: I'VE HAD SUCCESS RIGHT IN THIS AREA BEFORE.

THE CRAB ARE REAL PLENTIFUL USUALLY RIGHT BY THE ICE EDGE.

VALUABLE SPOT TO FISH, BUT IT'S KIND OF A NIGHTMARE

BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO PLAY

CAT AND MOUSE WITH THE ICE.

THERE'S BIGGER STUFF BEHIND THIS,

AND IF IT KEEPS COMING,

IT STARTS GETTING BIG LIKE BUILDINGS,

AND I CAN'T DRIVE IN THAT.

THIS BOAT HAS GOT 3/4-INCH STEEL ON THE HULL HERE,

AND EVEN BANGING INTO THIS STUFF,

IT'S NOT MEANT FOR THAT.

I'M JUST TRYING TO GET ON THE EDGE OF IT

AND SEE WHAT I CAN CATCH.

Narrator: FOR HARLEY, THE VISION OF STUFFED POTS

OUTWEIGHS THE RISK OF THE ICE.

Danny: GIVE ME A BREAK.

THAT ICE COMES, I MEAN, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FIND ANYTHING.

Narrator: BUT IN THE GALLEY, HIS CREW GIVES THE PLAN

THE COLD SHOULDER.

YOU GUYS DON'T UNDERSTAND.

THIS ICE COMES DOWN, YOU'RE UP HERE FOREVER.

-TRYING TO FIND YOUR GEAR. -IT DRAGS YOUR POTS.

IF WE AROUND IN THIS ICE AND IT STARTS GOING NORTHERLY,

NORTHEAST AT ALL, WE'RE SCREWED.

Narrator: WHEN MOVING SEA ICE COVERS CRAB GEAR,

IT CAN PULL THE BUOYS AND THEIR POTS BELOW,

HAULING IT FOR MILES, DESTROYING THE BAIT AND THE CATCH.

BUT DRAGGED INTO THE DEEP,

THE BUOYS SINK BELOW THE WATERLINE,

MAKING THE GEAR UNRECOVERABLE.

WE HAUL THREE OR FOUR POTS,

AND THEN YOU'LL SEE AN ICE FLOW, AND THEY'RE GONE.

I'VE FISHED LIKE THAT BEFORE, AND IT'S HORRIBLE.

IT'S A BIG GAMBLE.

Harley: SEEMS LIKE WE MIGHT BE IN A GOOD SPOT TO SET A STRING,

SEE IF THEY CAN SORT OUT IF THERE'S ANY LIFE RIGHT HERE.

TYPICALLY, WHEN THERE'S NOBODY UP HERE,

THERE'S NOBODY UP HERE FOR A REASON.

HE'S GOT HIGH HOPES. GIVE IT A SHOT, I GUESS.

ROLL THE DICE IN THE ICE.

OKAY, GUYS. LET'S SET THIS STUFF UP.

Harley: OH, IT'S MY LUCKY POT, NUMBER 23.

THREE, TWO, ONE, BOOM.

-GOING OVER! -HERE WE GO.

WHOO!

-OH.

Narrator: UM, IS THAT SUPPOSED TO DO THAT?

WE'RE RIGHT ON THE EDGE. THAT'S FOR SURE.

LANDED UPRIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

ISN'T THAT CRAZY?

Narrator: AH, THERE SHE GOES.

-OVER.

REALLY HOPE THERE'S SOMETHING HERE.

OH.

Narrator: WHILE THE FIRST IN A STRING OF LOW-PRESSURE SYSTEMS

WREAKS HAVOC ON THE GROUNDS...

Wild Bill: NOW WE'RE GONNA PICK UP NICK.

THEY'RE DONE WITH THE DIAGNOSTICS.

Narrator: IN ST. PAUL HARBOR, CAPTAIN "WILD BILL"

BRACES FOR THE MEDICAL VERDICT ON HIS DECK BOSS' INJURED ARM.

UH-OH. NEW SLING.

HOW'D THAT GO?

WELL, THE BAD NEWS IS THAT

I HYPEREXTENDED AND DISLOCATED MY ELBOW.

OH, MY GOD.

BUT GOOD NEWS IS THAT I GET TO STAY.

THAT'S AWESOME. I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.

I WAS REALLY WORRIED THAT IT WAS SOMETHING

THAT WAS GOING TO BE A LITTLE LASTING.

YEAH, THIS HURT.

MY LIFE JUST GOT EASIER,

EVEN IF YOU JUST COME OUT AND RUN THE CRANE.

I'M JUST HAPPY I GET TO STAY.

Narrator: FOR NICK, THE ONLY THING BETTER

THAN THE ALL-CLEAR...

I FLY OUT TONIGHT.

SHUT THE

Narrator: ...IS A LITTLE FUN AT THE CREW'S EXPENSE.

Nick: HEY, I LEAVE TONIGHT.

CAN YOU GRAB MY BAG DOWN THERE FOR ME?

IT'S DIAGNOSED?

-IT'S NOT GOOD IF YOU'RE OUT. -WOW.

WHAT DO THEY THINK IT IS?

IT'S FINE.

AH, FUNNY GUY. FUNNY GUY.

I'M EXCITED TO GO OUT AND MAKE THIS HAPPEN AS QUICKLY

AND AS EFFICIENTLY AS I CAN.

Narrator: AFTER TWO DAYS AT DOCK...

YEAH, LET THEM GO.

Narrator: ...BILL HEADS BACK TO HIS POTS

SOAKING ON THE NORTHERN GROUNDS...

ALL RIGHT. IS THAT BOB CLEAR?

BOB IS CLEAR.

BOB IS CLEAR. GO.

Narrator: ...AND DIRECTLY INTO THE STORM'S LINE OF FIRE.

Wild Bill: 50 KNOTS, 40, 50-FOOT SEAS.

THAT'S AN ASS-KICKER.

IT WILL BE NICE GOING OUT WITH NICK BACK ON DECK,

AND I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN GET THE CRAB WE NEED,

BUT YOU NEVER KNOW.

Narrator: 288 MILES NORTH OF ST. PAUL,

THE WIZARD IS IN THE THICK OF IT.

THE WEATHER HAS COME UP, HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY AND 35-FOOT SEAS.

YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST -- OH, IT JUST WEARS YOU OUT, MAN.

I GOT TO STAY ON MY GAME, SEE IF THERE'S REALLY GOOD FISHING

OR IF THE SPOT IS ALL FIZZLED OUT.

Narrator: CAPTAIN KEITH COLBURN BEATS THROUGH THE BREAKERS

TO THE TRIP'S FINAL 10-POT STRING.

GETTING A LITTLE HAIRY.

JUST SEEMS LIKE WE CAN'T GET A BREAK

FROM THIS WEATHER THIS YEAR.

SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

COMING UP.

SO, AT THIS POINT RIGHT NOW, WE ARE RACING THE CLOCK.

HOPEFULLY, THIS STRING WILL HOLD UP AT 400s.

IF IT DOES, WE'LL DEFINITELY PUT THE BOOTS TO THOSE TANKS.

Narrator: AFTER FACING DOWN WEATHER,

EMPTY POTS, BREAKDOWNS,

AND A SMASHED FINGER...

NOW WE GOING TO BE LOADED.

WE'RE ON THE MOTHER LODE, BABY.

Narrator: ...CAPTAIN KEITH AND CREW TANK AN IMPRESSIVE

408,000 POUNDS OF OPILIO.

I MEAN, WITH ANY LUCK, GET CRAB ON BOARD AND HEAD TO ST. PAUL.

Narrator: AND WITH AN OFFLOAD IN JUST 30 HOURS,

KEITH AIMS TO HAUL THE FINAL CRAB OF A BRUTAL TRIP.

YEAH!

Keith: POW, BANG.

MAN, THAT'S ROCK STAR THERE, MAN.

LIFE IS GOOD.

OH!

IT'S GOT ME, JOHN. BIG BOY.

YEAH!

4-3-0.

YEAH, BABY!

THERE WE GO. 400 COUNTS.

LOADING THEM UP WITH FISH FOR BASICALLY WHAT'S GOING TO AMOUNT

TO 1, 2, 3, PROBABLY A 4 OR 5-DAY SOAK.

GOING OVER!

GETTING CLOSE TO ENDING OUR FIRST OPIE TRIP HERE.

WE'RE SETTING ALL OF OUR GEAR TO GO BACK TO TOWN.

YEAH!

WHOO!

Keith: 450.

550.

600.

650.

OKAY. LAST POT.

RIGHT ON.

WE PUT 260,000, 270,000 POUNDS ON HERE IN THREE DAYS.

Narrator: WITH 33% OF HIS QUOTA NOW ON BOARD...

YEAH, BABY!

Narrator: ...KEITH BATTENS DOWN THE HATCHES AND HEADS TO TOWN.

Keith: NEXT STOP, ST. PAUL.

Narrator: 126 MILES NORTHWEST,

WELL ABOVE THE STORM TRACK,

IN THE SHADOW OF THE POLAR ICE PACK...

Harley: LET'S SEE IF THERE'S ANY HOPE FOR LIFE.

YOU KNOW, I SPREAD OUT SOME POTS HERE, YOU KNOW,

RIGHT ON THE ICE EDGE, BUT IT'S ALL JUST MOVED OFF.

GETTING ALL THIS WESTERLY WIND, SO IT'S BRING IT OFF

TO THE EAST, WHICH IS A GOOD THING.

IT'S JUST OPENING UP MORE GROUNDS.

Narrator: ...SOUTHERN WIND CAPTAIN STEVE "HARLEY" DAVIDSON

RETURNS TO GEAR HE SET ONTO THE ICE 18 HOURS AGO.

I GOT A BIG MONSTER OF A BOAT, AND I'M PROTECTED,

SO I CAN GO RIGHT UP TO THE ICE, AND THERE'S NOBODY FOR MILES,

SO THIS'LL BE ALL OURS IF WE CAN FIND SOMETHING HERE.

THERE HE IS.

Narrator: THE FIRST POT SURVIVED THE ICE.

OKAY, GUYS. LET'S SEE WHAT WE GOT HERE.

Narrator: BUT DID IT CATCH ANY CRAB?

WHOO!

HYAH!

FIRST POT COMING UP.

I DON'T KNOW, MAN. I'VE NEVER BEEN OUT HERE.

THEY SAID IT'S PAID OFF IN PAST YEARS,

BUT NOBODY IS OUT HERE,

SO IT'S EITHER GONNA BE REALLY GOOD OR REALLY BAD.

YOU DON'T KNOW.

Narrator: THIS WEEK, ON "SALTY TAKES"...

WHAT IS THAT THING?

Narrator: ...120 MILES FROM THE NEAREST LAND MASS...

I'VE SEEN A LOT AROUND THE PORTS AND STUFF,

BUT NEVER REALLY SEEN THEM ON ICE BEFORE.

Narrator: ...NATURE COMES FACE-TO-FACE WITH MAN.

Narrator: AND NATURE DOESN'T LIKE WHAT SHE SEES.

JUST LIKE THAT, HE GONE.

Narrator: OH, YEAH, NATURE?

HOW ABOUT THE 408,000 POUNDS OF WHITE-BELLY OPILIO CRAB

IN KEITH'S TANK?

WE'RE GONNA BE EATING SOME NATURE.

Man: FIRST POT COMING UP.

Narrator: ON THE SOUTHERN WIND...

I DON'T KNOW, MAN. NOBODY IS OUT HERE,

SO IT'S EITHER GONNA BE REALLY GOOD OR REALLY BAD.

YOU DON'T KNOW.

Narrator: CAPTAIN STEVE "HARLEY" DAVIDSON RECOVERED

HIS FIRST POT FROM THE ICE,

BUT "DOES IT HAVE CRAB?" IS ANOTHER QUESTION.

ARE WE IN THEM, PISTOL PETE?

LOT OF SMALL.

-LOT OF COD.

LOOKS A LITTLE SMALL.

MALE. THOSE SMALL BABY MALE, HUH?

I MEAN, THESE THINGS ARE REALLY SMALL,

THREE OR FOUR YEARS AWAY, I WOULD GUESS.

Narrator: LEGAL OPILIO CRAB ARE 3.1 INCHES FROM EDGE TO EDGE.

THAT TAKES BETWEEN SEVEN TO NINE YEARS

IN THE BERING SEA INCUBATOR.

IT'S A NURSERY HERE.

I DON'T SEE ONE KEEPER ON THIS WHOLE TABLE.

THAT IS HORRIFIC.

THIS REALLY SUCKS.

I MEAN, KEEPERS.

-ZERO. -ZERO.

SO A BUST.

YEAH, OKAY. THAT'S RIGHT. GET THIS NEXT ONE UP.

MAYBE I JUST HIT A LITTLE BAD SPOT, YOU KNOW,

I GUESS IS THE THING TO HOPE.

LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN GET HERE.

NO.

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

MAN. NOTHING.

STILL JUST THE BABIES AND THE COD FISH.

Narrator: THE GOOD NEWS -- THE ICE FLOW RECEDED,

LEAVING HARLEY'S POTS IN OPEN WATER.

YEAH, MAN. ZEROS ALL DAY IS PRETTY BOGUS.

Narrator: THE BAD NEWS -- THE KEEPERS NEVER SHOWED UP.

WE KNOW WHERE THEY'RE NOT.

WE'RE STACKING THEM, MAN. THIS IS HORRIBLE.

THAT'S THE RISK, YOU KNOW?

YOU'VE BURNT THE FUEL TO COME OUT HERE,

TRY SOMETHING THAT NOBODY ELSE IS TRYING.

MOST OF THE TIME, THERE'S A REASON,

BUT GOT TO STILL TRY.

BOO.

JUST OPEN THE DOOR AND THROW THEM OUT.

Harley: YOU CAN'T MAKE ALL THE RIGHT MOVES.

THAT'S A FACT.

Narrator: 165 MILES SOUTH...

Man: WHOO-HOO!

Narrator: ...OVERRUN BY THE STORM TRAIN...

I'M TELLING YOU GUYS, IT'S GOING TO BE A UP RIDE.

TIME TO BE FISHING.

Narrator: AFTER A TWO-DAY STEAM,

SUMMER BAYCAPTAIN "WILD" BILL WICHROWSKI

PUSHES HIS WAY TO THE TOP OF HIS FIRST STRING...

WE HAD TREMENDOUS FISHING WHEN WE LEFT,

BUT, TYPICALLY, YOU DON'T LEAVE GEAR IN THE WATER FOR A WEEK

AND COME BACK AND FIND AS GOOD OR BETTER RESULTS.

Narrator: ...HOPING HIS CRAB WEREN'T SCARED OFF BY THE BLOW.

GOT ANY HOLES AT ALL, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO IN THEM.

DOOR IS NOT TIGHT, THEY'RE GONNA GET OUT.

COMING UP.

-WHOO! -YEAH!

I REALLY HOPE THESE ARE THREE OR BETTER.

COME ON.

-OH, YEAH. -YEAH!

-YEAH! -WHOO!

-YEAH, BABY. -THAT'S A LOT OF CRAB.

THAT'S NOT TOO BAD.

-WHOO! -YEAH, BABY.

THAT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.

I NEVER THOUGHT THEY'D HOLD THAT MUCH.

-YEAH. -WHOO!

OH, YEAH.

-WHOO! -THAT'S GREAT.

6-2-5.

SIX AND A QUARTER, BABY.

NEVER DREAMED WE'D BE SEEING 600 ON THESE.

Narrator: THE VETERAN CAPTAIN TIMED HIS TRIP PERFECTLY.

HIS REWARD -- A 450-CRAB-PER-POT AVERAGE.

THIS SHOULD BE ABOUT A 10,000-POUND STRING.

IT'S GONNA TAKE A WHILE TO GET THROUGH THESE.

THE GUYS ARE GOING TO WHUPPED.

-YEAH! -WHOO!

BUT IF IT STAYS LIKE THIS, WE GOT IT.

Narrator: AS THE FREIGHT TRAIN OF STORMS

THUNDERS DOWN THE TRACK...

-OH, YEAH. -WHOO!

ALL RIGHT.

Narrator: ...SIG AND THE NORTHWESTERN

HOP ABOARD...

-WHOO! - YEAH.

Narrator: ...BUCKING THE HIGH SEAS...

-HOLY

Narrator: ...FOR EVEN HIGHER NUMBERS.

WHOO!

THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I'VE SET THIS STRING BACK,

SO I'M JUST GOING TO KEEP LAYING THEM.

WE'LL GIVE IT ANOTHER GO HERE.

Narrator: ON THE SOUTHERN WIND,

HARLEY SIDESTEPS THE BREAKERS...

Harley: PRETTY WEAK.

Narrator: ...AND THE KEEPERS.

YOU'D THINK I WOULD HAVE GOT A LITTLE BETTER, BUT DIDN'T.

NEVER COMES EASY.

YOU TRY. YOU TRY.

THAT'S ALL YOU CAN DO IS KEEP TRYING.

GOD, THOSE HIGH-PRESSURE SYSTEMS ARE STILL PUSHING

THE LOW RIGHT UP OUR THROATS.

Narrator: FOR THE VIGILANT AND THE BRAVE...

SAME THING, YOU SEE ALL THESE HIGHS ARE JUST PILED UP.

THAT ONES IS EVEN STRENGTHENING RIGHT OFF OF VANCOUVER, CANADA.

Narrator: ...THE BATTLE HAS JUST BEGUN.

THE STORMS ARE GOING TO KEEP TRACKING RIGHT THROUGH US,

WHICH IS NOT GOOD.

HERE SHE COMES.

Narrator: STILL TO COME THIS SEASON...

-HANG ON.

PROBABLY THE BIGGEST STORM OF THE SEASON.

UH-OH. OH, NO.

THE WHOLE BOAT IS DEAD.

WE'RE NOT GIVING UP.

WE ARE GOING TO FINISH THIS TRIP.

-LOOK, HEADS UP!