Before complaining about the market price of Alaska king crab, check out this gripping documentary series, revealing the mortal perils and intense discomfort that fishing crews face to catch the delicacy; those perils include 40-foot waves, 700-pound crab pots that can easily crush a careless crewman, and freezing temperatures around the clock.
The crab fishing fleet sets off again to brave the Bering Sea and cash in on king crab. But first, Northwestern must quickly make much needed repairs.(S04,E01)
The crews are off to stake their claims on coveted grounds, but the sea is not giving up its bounty easily. After only 48 hours, one rookie is starting to fall apart.(S04,E02)
A breakdown forces Edgar to make a dangerous repair. Questionable counting makes Sig lose his temper. On Cornelia Marie, Phil's failing health impacts the crew.(S04,E03)
Greenhorns, skippers, and family fishing dynasties begin to crack. On Northwestern, Sig and Edgar have a contest to see who can fish the longest without sleep.(S04,E04)
Tempers flare onboard Wizard and Northwestern. Phil's health deteriorates and Early Dawn runs headlong into high seas when its greenhorn falls asleep at the wheel.(S04,E05)
With a few weeks of the season left, the fate of every deckhand's paycheque lies with their captain. Capt. Johnathan has had good fishing but a string of bad luck.(S04,E06)
The crab fishermen continue to fight Arctic weather, brutal waves, and a ticking clock for big money in this modern-day gold rush from which they may never return.(S04,E07)
As the king crab season winds down, an exhausted crew fills the Northwestern's crab tanks and Wizard and Time Bandit race for the "String of the Week" prize.(S04,E08)
Opilio season begins. A dual storm system challenges a patched Cornelia Marie and almost costs Time Bandit two men. A medical emergency brings in the U.S. Coast Guard.(S04,E09)
A routine Coast Guard rescue becomes a battle against nature. Fatigue is causing mistakes on Northwestern and on the Wizard, Greenhorn Moi locks horns with Captain Keith.(S04,E10)
On Time Bandit, Capt. Johnathan has an accident while flaunting his deck skills, and Lenny from Wizard barely escapes a huge wave.(S04,E11)
A huge storm tears up the decks of the three of the trawlers. On Cornelia Marie, Capt. Phil injures his ribs and begins coughing blood, but refuses medical attention.(S04,E12)
Captain Phil heads for the hospital and Murray struggles to take over the helm. The Northwestern strains its crane to the breaking point and Wizard springs a serious leak...
Northwestern fights the ice pack. The Wizard sets off with tempers flaring and a new greenhorn. Time Bandit has a near fatal mistake and a tough choice.(S04,E14)
Arctic ice descends as the fleet makes its final push. Cornelia Marie's crew suffers from Bering Sea dementia while Time Bandit's crew is at its breaking point.(S04,E15)
The captains race to catch the last remaining quotas and Scottie makes a near-fatal mistake working the hydraulic system. An ominous message comes across the radio.(S04,E16)