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.
As the new crab season opens Captains poach deckhands, families fall out and the fleet loses a fishing boat. Who can keep their cool and land a bumper catch?(S06,E01)
Deckhand Freddie celebrates a bumper catch on the Cornelia Marie by smearing cod blood across his face - but will his rituals protect their run of good luck?(S06,E02)
As two massive storm systems head towards the crab fleet, Sig and Edgar fall out on the Northwestern. Plus, it's Jake's birthday - will he have a chance to celebrate?(S06,E03)
Sig and Phil want their own deckhands back. But after their men fall into the freezing water in a high seas transfer, will they be able to fish them out?(S06,E04)
The Time Bandit is close to their quota, but will an approaching storm stop them going home? And the crew questions Sig's sanity as he pushes on to unfamiliar waters.(S06,E05)
When the Time Bandit heads towards an offloading port, the crew is confronted with storms and sandbars. Can they keep their boat from sinking and save their crab?(S06,E06)
The race is on to fix up the Cornelia Rose - but it looks like the crew will miss the start of the season. Plus, will Edgar's bad back force him to quit?(S06,E07)
Days of ice bashing brings the whole fleet to its knees, and on the Northwestern, Jake is injured in the struggle to keep up with Sig's manic pace.(S06,E08)
A distress call is issued when a man on a vessel suffers a heart attack and the coastguard attempts a dramatic rescue in huge seas, with low fuel and low visibility.(S06,E09)
The Time Bandit and the Cornelia Rose are pulling in huge hauls of crab. But Captain Phil's high spirits crash when he uncovers his son Jake's terrible secret.(S06,E10)
Crisis hits the Cornelia Marie when Captain Phil falls ill. Meanwhile, on the Northwestern, Jake is upset by disturbing details about his dad's disappearance.(S06,E11)
When Skipper Phil Harris is airlifted to hospital in Anchorage his son Josh is torn between staying at his bedside and chasing the rest of their crab quota.(S06,E12)
The fleet is beset by crisis. Skipper Phil fights for his life as his sons fight each other and sick of false promises Captain Sig's brother thinks of quitting.(S06,E13)
Captain Phil loses his battle for life while the fleet are out fighting a massive storm. When they find out they resolve to celebrate his life - crabber style!(S06,E15)
Edgar Hansen is fed up with a 22 year marathon of pain, and finally confronts older brother Sig. While the Opilio Season ends with a harrowing mayday.(S06,E16)