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'Wicked Tuna': TJ Ott's dogs are lucky mascots, fans are sick of seeing pets onboard and say 'show is ruined'

'So sick of dogs and relatives on the boat. It has ruined the original series,' a fan commented

In this week's episode of 'Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks', the fishermen are depending on skills and a whole lot of luck to bring on board a catch that will fetch them good money. But that's not the case with everyone. While most teams are invested in the idea that fishing is driven by luck, there are some who believe that only skill and knowledge will help them to fish better. 

TJ Ott, the captain of Hot Tuna, is someone who has faith in luck, miracles and fishing skills. "Skill is important, but there's always luck involvement," TJ said and added that his dogs on board are lucky for him but that was until Tyler and Marissa "Merm" McLaughlin found a shoal of tunas around their boat. "Praying to the Tuna gods so that we don't fall behind," Tyler said while Merm continued fishing.

But the Hot Tuna was a happy team in the end. They found their fish and so did the McLaughlins. And they have no qualms in dedicating their catch to luck and the Tuna gods. Both are neck-to-neck on the leading board with McLaughlin's Pinwheel just a few thousand dollars behind.

Meanwhile, fans on Facebook have expressed their problem with having dogs on board. Some of them have pointed out that the dogs yipping while the fishermen tried to catch a fish mimicked the sound of a "nail on a chalkboard". However, there were some who thought it was the producers' decision to bring pets onboard and there was nothing the cast members could have done. 

"I agree on the dogs, I have to change the channel when they start yipping. Its like nails on the chalkboard to many people. Other than the dogs, I love all the crews and the show. Wish I could sit through an entire episode," a viewer commented while another expressed: "So sick of dogs and relatives on the boat. It has ruined the original series."

"I live in the town they filmed in. The show has gone so far downhill not worth watching," a user posted. "Tbh it's their decision to have pets or relatives on the boat. you said it has ruined the original, well if you have a problem with that, maybe you need to look at the production and what they get the crews to do and say... from what I heard, some of them are not happy," a fan argued.

Catch all the new episodes of 'Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks' on National Geographic every Sunday at 9/8c. For more information, check your local listings.