05x01 - Everything on the Line

[bunniefuu]

Narrator: this season
on "deadliest catch,"

For our captains,
everything's at stake...

[ Indistinct shouting ]

[ Cheering ]

Yeah, man!

Narrator: ...fortune...

Sig: we just dumped
800,000 bucks into this thing.

Edgar: I know.
We got to pay
for it.

...reputation...

Keith: mouse,
I'm being an [bleep]

'Cause everything I own
is on the line here.

...and lives.

Keith:
red sky in the morning.

I got a bad feeling today.

You guys, abort, abort.

Well, what does that
exactly mean?

Everybody hang on,
hang on.

[ Alarm blaring ]
hello?

Florence: yeah.

I got something going on
that I got to deal with, okay?

Okay.

The morning
of 22nd of october,

We received a request from
the united states coast guard --

The assist in the recovery
of the occupants of the vessel.

Thanks for being with me.
All right?

[ Sniffles ]

Okay.

I love you.

I love you.

There's a gumby suit
on our right.

Man in the water.

Captions paid for by
discovery communications

Narrator:
after eight days,

Steaming from ports
across the lower 48...

...the elite alaskan
king crab-fishing fleet returns.

$84 Million is on the line.

Welcome back
to dutch harbor, alaska.

Man: come on, kid,
we don't have all day.

Hey, make sure
they're all tagged.

You're good.

Heads up
over there.

Sig: reality check --

We just dumped
800,000 bucks into this thing.

I know.
We got to pay
for it now.

Just don't
stress me out, period.

I wouldn't do that.

Narrator: after 30 years
on the bering sea,

The aging crab fleet
has begun to falter.

To breathe life
back into the boats,

Millions of dollars
were spent at the shipyards.

On the wizard...

We've got $5,000
in the air system,

And we got an air leak again --
have you heard it?

I know you're doing
what you're doing

To try and keep the cost
down, but we got to get
the boat out of town.

We got to do it now.

Try and get these guys
to understand

That there's
some urgency here.

Come on, guys,
let's pick up the pace.

Narrator:
...the bank isn't the only
pressure riding keith's heels.

A 22-year tobacco habit

Has finally caught up
with the skipper.

There's a biopsy
that's pending right now,

And I'm supposed
to get it tomorrow.

He's been monitoring
some stuff in my mouth

Over the course
of the last couple of years

From my chewing-tobacco habit.

I don't know
if it's precancerous,

If it's actually cancerous --
I don't know.

You know, if they tell me
I got to go in

And have some additional
whatever done to my mouth,

I mean, I'm gonna have to bail.

Narrator: as keith faces
his own mortality,

On the cornelia marie...

All right, you guys,
let's get these pots on.

We got to get out of here.

Narrator:
...captain phil harris

Is back with his boys,
josh and jake,

And now prepares
for the comeback of his career.

Jake: good to have
you back, pops.

Thank you, bubba.

Thanks.
I appreciate it.

Decided that
you couldn't start a season

Without this awesome,
awesome little gel thing

Of sparkling
mullet rub.

[ Laughter ]

I hope that's not supposed
to be me.

Never leave home
without it.

I was gonna draw a harley tattoo
on the side, but --

This is dual action.
This is the real deal.

[ Laughter ]

Phil: yeah, I'm excited.

You know, it's --
it's been a long time.

It's been eight months
since I've been on a boat.

So I'm ready to go fishing.

Narrator: during last year's
opilio season,

Phil narrowly escaped death

After a massive blood clot
passed through his heart.

I can't breathe.
I can't breathe.

It was really close.

You know, they kind of said

It was like 100 to 1
that I made it through that.

So I was pretty lucky.
It's great to be back.

The eagles are flying.
It's warm out.

It's nice.
It's like home.

Narrator: and at home,
some things, well, never change.

We may have an issue.

Well, I'm looking
for all of our bait sacks,

And apparently they seem
to [bleep] grown legs.

Oh, come on.

I wish I could tell you
something.

At the end of last season,
phil entrusted jake and josh

To carefully stow
the fishing gear...

Including the bait sacks.

I'm not gonna turn around
and spend

Another $2,000, $3,000
on bait sacks

Because you guys are too [bleep]
lame to put them somewhere.

Go grab some help
and go look, find them.

We stacked these shots
in here, dude.

Why would we, like,
stack all this stuff

On top of [bleep]
bait sacks?

It's not something
that we would do.

So being back there and trying
to move all that [bleep]

Right now is [bleep]
pointless, because --

Well,
they're not in there,

So obviously
they got to be in here.

Well, yeah, but obviously

You didn't even put them
in this container.

You drug them in that container
with all the bait jars.

And so why the [bleep]
would they be

At the bottom of the pile
in this container?

Unless you want to take the
money out of your paycheck,
[bleep] find [bleep] sacks.

This is what dad wants,
and we're gonna do it.
Okay, I know, I know.

Well, if you know,
then don't argue it.

20 [Bleep] sacks.

You're gonna see [bleep]
bait sacks, you know?

Everything
was right here.

Yeah, you're getting
[bleep] cute.

Josh: he's gonna
blame this on me.

Oh, man.

Narrator:
the missing bait sacks

Just cost dear old dad
another 5 grand.

With 12 hours until the skippers
leave for the grounds,

Crews work through the night
to transform

316 Tons
of hulking, rusting steel

Into crab-fishing machines.

60 Pots to go.

I've got a good feeling
about this year.

Meanwhile, the skippers
have other plans.

Johnathan: we're going
to the burn barrel.

All the captains,
every year, we -- we all --

We all gather
by the burn barrel.

Argh.
It's a bit
of tradition.

Our fathers' fathers' fathers
gathered by the burn barrel.

[ Laughter ]

They call up and they go,

"Hey, we want to come up
and stay with you."

"Yeah, what's the catch?
I'm not giving you money.

I haven't got any [bleep]
so, what -- what do you want?"

You know?

I just took away
their major food groups there.

The liquor cabinet's
empty.

Yeah,
and I ain't got no booze,

'Cause you drank it all
last time you were here.

All kidding around, I thank god
every day I got those guys.

See, man, you look good.
You look good, brother.

It is good to have you back.
You're looking real good.

I'll tell you what, I thought
that was it for sure.

How you doing, keith?

I've got sores
in my cheek,

And I keep biting
my lip and stuff.

Sig: does it feel like you've
got a knife in your ribs?
You can't breathe.

I just feel like I got
a knife in there.

Well, is anybody
in this group healthy?
I am.

Andy? Well, right on.
Good deal.

Seriously, when you look
at this whole industry

And what it's become
and all that,

There's legacies
that go way back.

Oh, yeah.

And all of a sudden, it's
all starting to change, man.

Johnathan: there isn't that
many really young captains
any more, you know.

There ain't no more.

We got scotty.
He's a good kid.

But you still have five people's
lives in your hands

On deck there, and it ain't
just driving a boat.

And you got to ask yourself
if you'd go out on deck

When he's running the boat --
would you?

Would you work for him?

Sig: family can be
a pain in the a*s.

I think you can attest to that.
You can attest to that.

You can definitely attest
to that.

My old man was not exactly
peaches and cream,

But it builds character.

If they don't like my character,
kiss my a*s.

Phil: but you know what?
It's also good.

I got an opportunity to spend
some time with my kids.

And how many people
get to do this?

Well, listen, I hope everybody
has a great season this year.

Hopefully we can go out

And get it done.

We'll show them how it's done
skipper style over here.

Keith: all right,
everyone put it right there.

Get them all in there
all at once.
I'm burning.

Hey, good luck
this season.

Yeah,
that would be nice.

[ Laughter ]

[ Cheering ]

Narrator:
later that night...

We're looking pretty good
this year going into the season.

Johnathan: you know
the difference between
god and the captain?

Phil: what's that?
Even god knows
he's not a captain.

...the final order
of business --

This season's
captains' wager.

So, the rules --
you're gonna take a 6 1/2-by,

And you're gonna
haul it five times.

The first five times you haul it
are the five scores you get.

So that's it.
And we designate the pot.

Yeah. It has to be
the same 6 1/2-by.

You can soak it
as long as you want?

Whatever you want.

Yeah, you can soak it
for a month.

Now, in the event that your pot
is lost, you're out.

You only get --
oh, yeah.

Now, wait a minute.

What if the wizard
runs my pot over?

Then you're done.

How much you guys
want to ante up?

What do you want
to throw in there?

1,000 Bucks.

Let's make it interesting.
A grand?

Yep.
$1,000 A boat.

That's a good bet.
Guys...

That is a win.
That's a [bleep] good bet.

Narrator: the crew who rakes in
the highest number of keepers

In five separately designated
captain's pots

Will win $4,000.

Let's get a round
of duck farts.
All right.

The skippers seal the deal
with a traditional duck fart --

A healthy mixture
of baileys and crown royal.

Here's to mud in your eye.

Hey, guys,
stay safe out there.

Thank you.
I will.

Oh, you b*stard.

Refill this.
[ Laughs ]

Hey, hey,
hey, hey, hey.

[ Laughs ]

Don't ever let that
happen again. Hey!

[ Laughter ]

Yeah, man!

That all you got?

[ Cheering, laughter ]

[ Gulls calling ]

[ Seals barking ]

Man:
gale warning for tuesday.

Narrator: 9:00 a.m.

So, I'm ready to go.
I'm ready to catch some crab.

Narrator: opening day.

With only four hours

Until the skippers leave
the safety of dutch harbor,

The countdown to the 2008
alaskan king crab season

Officially begins.

Hey, you guys,
hurry it up and get those
freakin' pots on board.

We got to get going.

Stacking on the gear.

[ Beeping ]

I been ready for months
to go fishing.

It's time to make some money
to pay the bills.

Good.

Narrator:
across the docks,

The time bandit crew hustles
to stack on the last 20 pots.

Around here, it's who can do it
the first, the fastest.

The last of our crab pots
are on the dock.

We're looking pretty good.

Get that filed down
and come over and help me.

I'm just a spring chicken,
russell.

I know. That's why you have
to work harder than me.

The difference between me
and mike is

I know when to sit down.

Narrator:
captain johnathan has rehired

Seasoned deckhand
28-year-old mike fourtner.

Johnathan: the reason
why we need mike back

Is because he runs
this boat in the summer.

And us brothers don't want
to do that duty anymore,

'Cause we're gone
from town enough.

Narrator: after sitting out
two king crab seasons,

Mike's returning to the deck,

But his sights are set
on the wheelhouse.

John and andy --
a couple of years ago,

They sent me to seattle
to get my captain's license

To be officially licensed
to run this boat.

I believe that they will
end up staying home

In the next few years.

And who runs the boat
when they stay home?

Well, we'll see.

Michael.
Yeah?

You're not a hillstrand,
are you?
No.

Maybe if I change my name
to hillstrand,

Then I'll be able
to drive a crab boat.

[ Laughs ]

Narrator:
who will take the helm

When johnathan and andy
step down

Is on the crew's mind.

But right now,
they should be thinking

About just staying employed.

Jobs ain't easy
to find out here,

So everyone's
gonna have to buck up.

Narrator: the next natural man
in line for the throne

Is johnathan's son, scott.

Whoever does
the least work out there

Is gonna lose their job, so...

I can't say nothing.
I want my job.

[ Laughter ]

The best thing I can do is
just keep a good attitude.

I either like it, love it,
or fly the [bleep] out of here.

We got to do what's best
for this boat.

We can't be friends.

Even if my brothers aren't doing
their job, they're gone.

So it doesn't matter
if you're family or what.

It's the way it works out here.

Weakest link, bye-bye.

There goes mike fourtner
up in the air.

Set me down.

Narrator: and in the spirit
of every man for himself...

Just set me
the [bleep] down!

Narrator:
...let the games begin.

Get those pots on!
We got to get out of here!

Let's go!

Set me
the [bleep] down!

Narrator: scotty may be
at the controls now...

He's down there right now, man.
Let's get him.

...but it's not long
before the older hillstrands

Remind mike of his place
on the boat.

All right.
I'm gonna get this [bleep]

[ Laughs ]

Don't start
in the wrong spot.

Oh, I'm not fast,
I can tell you that.

All right.
Okay!

[ Laughter ]

Welcome.
Welcome back.

Welcome back, mike.
Welcome back, baby.

That's a lot
of [bleep] flour.

[ Laughter ]

You look like a pancake.

That took the air out of my
freakin' lungs when it hit me.

[ Laughter ]

Welcome back, mike!

Welcome back.
We love you, mike.

Yeah!

Narrator: while the hillstrands
give mike

A warm welcome reception...

Down the dock on the wizard,

Captain keith colburn is waiting
on a call from his doctor

And the results of his biopsy.

Monte:
it's been kind of a long day

Waiting for the call, you know.

And if he's got a problem,
he's gonna have to go home.

I mean, I'm pretty worried about
him, to tell you the truth.

I --
god, I hope he's okay.

You know, he's the closest --

The closest person to me
in the whole world, you know?

This call has got to
be one of the toughest
moments of his life.

[ Gulls calling ]

[ Cellphone ringing ]

Keith: hello?

Dr. Audia: keith?

Yes.

Hey, it's dr. Audia.

So, we got
your biopsy report back.

I mean, it is concerning.
It's not normal.

But...looks like
it came back

As mild
epithelial dysplasia.

It's not cancerous,
so relax.

All right, that's --
I was gonna say

That's an awful long word.

As soon as you start putting,
you know,

Four or five syllables together,
it gets me concerned.

Yeah, yeah,
so this is one of those

Where you kind of get
a second chance, you know --

Get-out-of-jail-free-card
kind of deal.

So, see you then.
All right. Bye.

Ah, that's good news.
Wow.

Hello?
Florence: yeah.

Hi, honey. I just got
off the phone with dr. Audia.

And there's no -- there's no
cancerous tissue or anything.

So I'm good to go on that.
All right?

[ Sobs ]

Okay.

I've not shown how much I was
worried about this, honey,

'Cause I didn't want you
to freak out about me.

I've been trying
to hide it as well,

But they said it was
a mild epithelial dysplasia,

And it's like --
you know, he told me

It's basically
a get-out-of-jail-free card.

But, you know,
there is some --

You know,
mouth's trying to combat

All the poison
I'm putting in it.

So, I got to --
I got to quit.

I love you.

I love you.

Woman: attention all mariners,
channels 6 and 16.

On behalf
of the city of unalaska

And the port of dutch harbor,

Please stand by
for the blessing of the fleet.

On behalf of the faith community
of unalaska,

We wish to share
this blessing with you.

Our prayers are with you
as you leave port

And continue our prayers
for your safe return.

We thank god, the father,
maker of the universe,

For the unity and order
of created things.

We give thanks for all the
resources of the earth and sea,

For the ships
which distribute them,

For fishermen
and all who leave

Their homes and communities
to serve others,

For the skills of seamanship,

And for all engaged
in the fishing industry.

As he walked
by the sea of galilee,

He saw two brothers
mending their nets

And calling them immediately.

[ Cellphone rings ]

What's up?

And he said to them,
"follow me,

And I will make you
fishers of men."

Immediately they left
their nets and followed him.

No. No way.

Jesus understands

The difficulty
and hazards of fishing

And perhaps wanted
to communicate that challenge

For those who follow him.

Well, what does that
exactly mean?

There's still some blood clot --
what does that mean?

As you leave port,
understand that christ himself

Understands the difficulties
of the work,

And as we share
this lesson...

Am I gonna be able
to fish, or what?

This is my career, man.

We thank god for fishermen

And for all engaged
in the fishing industry.

We pray
for our own country.

What do you mean
you can die?

Let us pray.

Creator and father of all,
we pray for those

Who go down to the sea
in ships

And serve you
upon the bering sea.

Well, I got a boatload
of people here

That are all depending on me
to go fishing.

May the spirit
carry you safe.

Okay.

Amen.

Amen.
Amen.

Jesus.

[ Sighs ]

We are officially ready
to set sail.

Sig: all right, we're off.
We are out of here.

We are officially
gone fishing.

Johnathan:
come on, guys.

Kick some a*s.

[ Gulls calling ]

It's go time, baby.

Go time.

So, we got
a tight start, guys.

Phil: that was the doctor,
and he just says,

"You know, you go out, you're
taking a great big chance

On something going wrong."

I don't know
what I'm gonna do.

I don't know what I'm gonna do.
What am I gonna do?

Narrator:
at the docks in dutch harbor,

Captain phil is wrestling
with a life-or-death decision.

Phil:
so, what's up?

Is this it? Am I gonna be able
to fish, or what?

New test results show phil's
still not out of the woods.

The trip to sea could k*ll him.

Phil: I mean,
this is my livelihood, man.

I mean, if you stay back
and don't go now, am I done?

Am I over?

I don't want to go out there

And have something go wrong.

It certainly isn't worth it.

Well, I got to go down
and talk to these guys,

And I got to talk to murray,
and...god.

Hey, fellas.

Everybody want to come over
and sit down for a second?

Uh,
the doctor just called,

And, uh, I still have
some problems.

I have some blood clots,

And it's best
that I don't go fishing.

I mean,
something could happen

And either
bleed to death out there

Or have another embolism.

I'm just shaken.

I thought that this
was gonna be a-okay

And we were all good,
and everything isn't so okay.

Will you take the boat?

Well, of course,
I'll take the boat for you.

We'll take care
of the boat.

I'm sorry, guys.

Hey, thanks.

Gamrath:
I was really hoping that
everything was gonna be okay,

Because I wasn't
prepared for this, so...

Josh: unexpected.
Unexpected.

Jake: kind of sad news.

He's been saying that he's been
changing his diet

And doing a couple more things,
you know,

But it's been so long

That he's got to start doing
a little bit more, you know.

He's gonna have to start doing
some major life changes.

But we're gonna miss him
when we're out fishing.

Phil:
god, I just can't believe it.

I don't know
what I'm gonna do.

I just never let my brain
go there that I couldn't go.

You know, I've always managed
to pull it off,

Always, no matter what.

That's all I've ever done.
That's my whole life.

And it's going away.

[ Horn blows ]

It's all coming down,
coming unglued.

Narrator: after steaming ahead
for 20 hours,

One boat is the first
to cover the 200 miles

And reach the fishing grounds.

Just yell at me
when you're about ready,

And I'll tell you
to dump it.

Man: roger.

Andy: okay.

Narrator: the time bandit

Is on the southern end
of the crab grounds.

And captain johnathan
is looking

For lightning to strike twice
in the same place.

Johnathan: and this is where
we found the crab last year.

They filled the boat up
in 30 hours.

Because I've been out here
crab fishing for 28 years,

And I know which way
these little b*stards
are moving right now,

This is right
where they should be.

Knocking on wood.

Narrator: johnathan plans

To set out two 10-pot
prospect strings.

Just let her rip.

Fourtner:
show on the road. Yeah!

Watch your feet!

Narrator: with the first pot
off the launcher,

The time bandit's 2008 king crab
season officially begins.

Just like that.

Johnathan: crab fish --

That's what I've been waiting
all year to do.

Going over.

Going over.

Yeah.
[ Laughs ]

Dump another one
if you're ready.

Roger!

Right on, buddy.

Going over.

It's going over.

Narrator: steaming towards
the southern end

Of the fishing grounds

120 Miles to the southeast
is the 155-foot wizard.

Okay, we got to stretch them out
about a pot a mile or so,

Right, gary?

Narrator:
captain keith colburn

Hopes his luck continues

And hedges his bets on one
of last year's fishing holes.

Keith: we had gear
through here last year.

We didn't catch squat.

But it doesn't mean
that the crab

Aren't gonna be here this year,

So I'm thinking
this is just an area

I need to cover just in case.

Pull!

Get your bait set up,
one on each tunnel,

Spread out
really well, right?

Roger.

They're all going
in the same direction.

You reach up,
just snap, snap.

All right.

Narrator:
coming up on "deadliest catch,"

Bad crabbing...

It's not really
what I was hoping for.

Narrator:
...leaves a bad taste.

[ Spits ]

Narrator: and later...
Man: get him out.

...a skipper down.

Narrator: 289 miles
to the north of dutch harbor

Is the 125-foot northwestern.

As dawn breaks
on the bering sea,

Captain sig hansen has broken
away from the rest of the fleet.

Sig: not a lot of guys
around this area.

I'm northeast of all the guys
that were down by the island.

It's just
I want to start from here,

Run up the line,
and then just spread them out.

And hopefully, you know,
we find something.

Narrator:
but first it's time to honor

The boat's longest standing
norwegian tradition.

Sig: the guys remembered

To bite the head
off the herring this year.

And now
they're gonna draw straws,

'Cause nobody wants to bite
the head off the thing

This time around.

Hey. We're gonna draw zip ties
for the herring.

And they challenged me
to go down there and do it.

I mean, I'm a fisherman,
so why not?

I just don't want
to draw the short straw.

Put a white one
in there.

You ready to take one
for the team?

All right.

You rigged it.

No.
No,
there's no way.

One, two, three,
four, five, six.

They're all
different lengths.

Let me mix them.
I don't trust you.

Well, I don't trust you.
You're the skipper.

I want to go first.

You want to go first?
Captain first.

Well, yeah,
'cause, I mean,

I got more chances
of not getting it.

Man: see, that's why
the canvas bag is there.

[ Laughter ]

Ah!

[ Laughter ]

Oh, my god,
no way.

Yeah! Yeah!

You got the short one.
You got the short one.

[ Laughter ]

Yeah. Yeah.

[ Spitting ]

[ Cheering, laughter ]

That tastes like crap.

Man: that was the best.
He had six chances.

Dude, if that's the way my luck
is gonna go, that's not good.

Oh, that's nasty.

Those guys.

There's no way
we can lose now.
Oh, yeah.

Now they're starting
to get all pumped up.

That was badass.

That's what we want.

Ready to go
crab fishing?

[ Cheering ]

Edgar: right on.

Let her go.

First pot.

Northwestern!

Now my coffee
tastes like herring.

Narrator: 100 miles to
the southeast, on the wizard...

I'm gonna go through these first
two strings. We'll see.

Narrator: ...captain keith

Approaches
his first prospect pot

After letting it soak
for 14 hours.

About to throw the hook
on the first test pot
of the season.

[ Cellphone rings ]

Keith:
who's calling me now?

Keith's wife, who also helps
run his books,

Has some bad news.

He's broke.

All right, well,
that sucks,

Because that means
we're dipping into money

That we weren't supposed
to be getting into.

Honey, you know what?

I got to get going.
I got to get busy here.

Keith:
this year, catching my quota

In a timely manner is more
important than it's ever been.

Man: this is it.
This is a nice shot.

I won't miss this one,
knock on wood.

Narrator: keith poured
over $400,000 into the boat.

Now he needs
to start making it back...

Fast.

[Bleep] damn it.

I guess we're not hitting them
for the time being.

I got faith.
I got faith.

Monte:
optimism is key.

More pots, more gear to haul,
and we will find them.

Man: out of these pots,
how many you think we'll get?

One keeper.

We keep these numbers,
we'll be here until february.

Keith: the first five pots
of the season have come back

Zero, zero, zero, one,
and a whopping three count.

Not looking good.

Man: so our biggest challenge
thus far

Isn't sleep deprivation
or starvation,

It's finding the crab.

Keith: I haven't seen anything
that warrants

Trying to leave any gear here.

So we're throwing it all on
and moving up the hill with it.

That's not really what I was
hoping for to start this season.

Narrator:
coming up, strain...and stress.

Whoa, whoa,
whoa, whoa, whoa.

You got to be [bleep]
kidding me!

I got to go figure out
what the [bleep] this is.

I'm out of here.

It's just a tint of red skies
in the morning.

Sailors take warning.

So it's supposed to blow,
I guess.

But it's sure beautiful now.

Narrator:
255 miles to the north,

Cornelia marie relief skipper
murray gamrath

Finally arrives
at the fishing grounds.

They just put a whole bunch of
money into the boat this year.

Quicker I can catch it,
the more money we're gonna make.

Phil: I've never missed
a king crab season in 33 years,

So I'm not looking forward
to missing this one.

Gamrath:
the one thing I have to do

Is to get myself
in a fishing mind-set now.

And that is
very, very difficult,

'Cause I wasn't prepared
for this.

I hope those guys
are doing well out there.

Okay.

Narrator: 70 miles
to the northeast, on the wizard,

Captain keith's luck
hasn't improved.

Keith:
we've been stacking

And not really hauling a whole
lot of productive gear.

I feel like
the clock is ticking.

I feel like, you know, like
we've been spinning our wheels.

[ Creaking ]

You got to be [bleep]
kidding me!

Right at the bridle?
Right at the knot?

Did it get cut?
What happened?

Narrator:
the inch-and-a-half-thick
line snaps.

The pot, along
with its king crab bounty,

Falls back into the ocean.

You see,
that's a brand-new cut.

This is --
it's a zinc, right?
That's a zinc.

Keith suspects
a jagged edge of steel

Attaching one of the zincs to
the hull is chafing the lines.

And that's
why they're losing pots.

The wizard has
30-inch zinc plates

Attached to its steel hull.

The zinc is called
a sacrificial metal,

Which means it sacrifices
itself to corrosion

Which would otherwise
eat away at the hull.

Oh, it's gonna take out [bleep]
the whole line,

And we're gonna lose gear.

I mean, the last pot we lost
was 2 grand.

We could lose more money
every day on that

Than we could make money.

Now, with no money
in the bank,

Keith cannot afford to sacrifice
any more of his gear.

Stop, stop, stop.

Is that cutting it right now?
It is, isn't it?

Narrator: fishing comes
to a grinding halt.

Keith:
I'm gonna get screwed, man.

I'm gonna end up having to drive
this boat all the way to town

And lose two days of fishing

Because of that damn snag
on the bottom of the boat.

Probably cost me 50 grand
in the process.

Narrator: keith's only option,
besides throwing in the towel,

Is an open-water dive
in the bering sea.

Keith: I've never dove on a boat
out here, drifting around.

It's just kind of gnarly
because the boat's doing this,

And you've got your
neutral buoyancy underwater.

You got to be very careful
that you don't, you know,

Get slammed or smashed
up against the boat.

Narrator:
now, keith's decision --

Empty bank or empty tank?

As the first pots of the season
are set out to soak,

The wizard is the first to pull
the king crab bounty aboard.

Narrator: 210 miles
to the north of dutch harbor,

The time bandit has arrived

At the top
of one of its test strings.

This is right about 2 miles

From where we had
our hot spot last year.

Oh!
Look at that shot!

Narrator: captain johnathan
hauls on an 18-hour soak.

I see white.
White is good.

[ Cheering ]

Oh, yeah! Yeah, man!
[Bleep] dang!

Spanking them bad, baby!
That's over 100.

[ Laughs ]

[ Cheering ]

Same spot as last year,
right in the middle.

Yeah!

I got to go outside, man.

This is
what I was looking for.

Johnathan:
yeah, russell.

John wayne, right here --
john wayne hillstrand.

Narrator:
the first pot over the rail

Has $3,000 worth of keepers.

Well, we're starting the same
way we left off last year.

That's good fun.

I don't think
it could have happened

To a better bunch
of guys.

96! 96!

Oh, 96, baby!

Narrator: now,
with the remaining 102 pots

He has on deck,

Johnathan plans
on carpet-bombing the area.

[Bleep] landed
right on them this year.

They were in the same spot
as they were last year.

That doesn't happen
all the time.

Off to the best start
we've ever had.

I got the best crew
I've ever had.

Best weather we've ever had.

So we're happy.
We're happy on this boat.

Let the games begin.

Narrator:
but not everyone

Is experiencing
johnathan's good fortune.

152 Miles to the east,

The wizard drifts
in 5-foot swells.

Keith: I mean, I've dove
all over the place,

But not on a 150-foot boat
in 42-degree water temperatures

In the middle of the bering sea.

Narrator:
feeling the crunch of the bank,

Empty crab tanks,

And the potential
of losing more gear,

Captain keith
decides to dive.

You got it!

Man:
all kinds of dangerous stuff
can happen diving by a boat.

This is no joking matter.

We want to be very careful
while we're doing this.

Man #2: there's all kinds
of stuff that can go wrong.

Stuff happens
all the time on the water.

And what we're doing is
probably not considered

The safest thing in the world.

The boat -- as you can see,
it's heaving pretty good.

So, I mean, you've got
a moving object like this.

That's my biggest concern.

It's just the boat
doing [bleep]

Narrator:
keith's only lifeline

Is an inch-thick rope
that runs underneath the boat.

Without the tag line,
I'm on my own.

On three.

One. Two.

Narrator:
keith descends to a place

From where few men return --

The bering sea.

Beneath the heaving hull,

Keith finds the loose zinc

That has been cutting
into his lines.

Good news --
the zinc is still attached.

It's not as bad
as keith thought.

Monte: obviously a lot of stress
from doing this.

I'm worried about him.

Narrator: but as keith starts
heading to the surface,

The 499-ton vessel takes a roll
right into the skipper's skull.

Man: right here.
He's coming up.

Man #2:
all right, I see him.

Yeah, he's right here.

Monte: you all right?

I just need to get
out of the water.

Roger.

I [bleep]
slammed my head coming out.

Man: get him out.

We got the life sling
coming.

How is he, crosby?

[ Groans ]

Keith, you okay?
Keith, you all right?

[Bleep]
bleeding badly.

[Bleep] nailed yourself.

Keep him down.
Why don't you just keep seated
for a second?

Stay down
for a little bit.

Man: why not?
Why not?

Keith,
you can't go anywhere.