'Deadliest Catch' Season 17 Episode 1: Is the captains' pact to find 2.6M pounds of king crab doomed to fail?
For the captains of the ' Deadliest Catch', Covid-19 has proved to be a real setback. For the fisheries, each year, they rely on information by Alaska Fish and Game which conducts an annual pre-season crab survey, enabling them to locate king crab with better precision. Otherwise, it's like finding a needle in a haystack, as Captain Sig Hansen puts it.
The pressure is considerably on, seeing that if the fleets don't pull in the 2.6 million pounds king crab quota, then the fishery stands to close. The pressure is on, as a lot rides on this season.
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With massive numbers to fill and limited fishing vessels making it out to sea, Captain Sig Hansen proposes an unlike solution -- a partnership between the captains. This does not entirely sit well with everyone, seeing that crabbing in the Bering Sea follows the simple rule of finding your spot and catching your quota, without giving out information. But with no prior survey or details at hand, the fishing vessels are truly going in blind, more so than ever.
Captain Sig rounds up all the rest of the captains, including Johnathan Hillstrand, the retired captain of the Time Bandit, seeing that they need all hands on deck. Not everyone seems on board with the idea of sharing information and forming an alliance, but as Captain Josh Harris of the Cornelia Marie puts it -- the old ways of "find your spot, keep it, don't tell anybody" is an option they don't have anymore.
Why is Capt Harris not on his ship, Cornelia Marie?
With Capt Johnathan Hillstrand coming out of retirement, it was important for him to put together a crew. While Capt Hillstrand's relief captain was usually his brother, Andy Hillstrand, Andy ended up contracting Covid-19. With a position to fill, Capt Hillstrand extends an offer to Capt Josh Harris of the Cornelia Marie. Capt McManus is hesitant about the offer, but seeing that Capt Josh himself believes that he has more to learn and the fact that Capt Hillstrand was there during their own trying times, the deal made sense. Plus, with Capt McManus manning the Cornelia Marie, the ship was in safe hands. However, when the Time Bandit pulled in terrible numbers, they were quick to phone into the Cornelia Marie, with Capt McManus not too keen on sharing his intel, seeing that after pulling in blanks, he managed to pull in some decent crab quota. But the Time Bandit decides to sneak up on the Cornelia Marie, in case the ship is withholding information.
Why does Capt Keith Colburn not trust Capt Sig Hansen?
During the alliance, the most resistance came for Capt Keith Colburn of the Wizard. His logic was simple, he did not trust Capt Hansen when it came to giving out information. Capt Keith explained it in a simple manner -- Capt Hansen uses the radio to draw out every bit of information, he never gives out information and finally, once he gets a good fishery, he turns off his radio. His doubts are nearly confirmed when the Northwestern hits the motherload and Capt Hansen avoids phoning in, even though the other ships try to contact relentlessly. After getting a count on his pods, he responds to the others and relays information, while withholding some of his findings -- seeing that he believes there is more King Crab in the trenches of the Sombrero strip, where he is fishing. His relief capt and daughter, Mandy isn't thrilled with him giving out information, but he assures her that he's given them information but not details.
Did relief Capt Mandy Hansen make a secret deal with Capt Anderson?
Mandy doesn't seem to agree with her step-father and captain. She gets in touch quickly with Capt Anderson of the Saga, informing him that there is a trench with sizeable depth and a good haul. He is quick to make his way to the Sombrero to drop his own pods there. Capt Hansen on finding out is far from pleased. Mandy doesn't come clean to him with the fact that she shared their coordinates, implying that she just told Capt Anderson about the trench and that he was like family to her -- she was helping him out so that he could be of use to her later. To Capt Hansen, he thinks that's he's having his area encroached.
Does Capt Scott Campbell Jr have secret information?
Capt Scott Campbell Jr of the Lady Alaska seems to be the only one with a semblance of the survey information that allows the captains to fish accurately. He tries to strike up a deal with Capt Colburn, for a part of his catch. Capt Colburn is quick to turn it down as he doesn't believe in putting in the hard work for information that may not even be accurate. After Capt Campbell pulls in blanks in his designated spot, he decides to go off and follow his own lead. With Capt Colburn pulling blanks too, he is adamant not to cave and phone in Capt Campbell.
Where is the Capt 'Wild' Bill Wichrowski and the Summer Bay?
While the rest of the fleets are already pulling in their hauls, the crew of the Summer Bay has not even left the docks, seeing that crew member Nick McGlashan fell violently ill. It's thought to be a Covid-19 scare, but he tests negative and turns out, he just had the bug. However, seeing that McGlashan passed away in December last year, it makes this season harder to watch.
Catch Season 17 of 'Deadliest Catch' on Tuesdays at 8 pm ET/PT on Discovery. You can also stream the same on Discovery+.