After a disappointing North Atlantic bluefin tuna season, Captain Dave Marciano of the Hard Merchandise and Captain TJ Ott of the Hot Tuna travel south full steam into the waters of the Outer Banks, N.C., to extend their season and salvage their losses. In the South, the competition is fiercer and the stakes are higher than ever before. The 500-mile steam is a huge gamble on what could be a massive payday … or a huge financial loss.

The Southern captains fear a full-scale Yankee invasion of their waters when another Northern boat — the Pin Wheel with Captain Tyler McLaughlin — comes steaming into the Outer Banks. This trip, McLaughlin is desperate to make up for the embarrassing last-place finish he landed last season, and to help him he adds Paul Hebert onboard as co-captain. As the Pin Wheel steams in, they're greeted with gunshots by the Southerners, showing there is no room for Southern hospitality.

With six of the finest tuna fisherman traversing the Outer Banks in the hunt for bluefin, competition gets super competitive. The strict bluefin quota is rapidly starting to fill, and time is of the essence for all the captains. Dave Marciano has been unable to land a single catch and fears the huge gamble he made in traveling south will not pay off. If he doesn't catch a fish in the next two days, he won't be able to afford to stay in the Carolinas and will have to head back to Gloucester.

Weather in the Outer Banks takes a turn for the worse, pitting man against sea as the turbulent Atlantic Ocean threatens the fishermen's quest for bluefin tuna. With ominous weather looming and the bluefin quota quickly filling, the pressure is on for the Northern and Southern boats to act fast or risk financial — or nautical — disaster. The Fishin' Frenzy leads the fleet and Captain Greg Mayer uses his knowledge of the Carolina waters to head out early before the windy weather escalates.

With more than a third of the North Carolina bluefin tuna quota already filled, all of the fleet feels the pressure to fish at every opportunity. So when an Atlantic Ocean winter storm system whips up rough seas and ices in the local harbor, it forces northern and southern captains to take huge risks to fish in dangerous conditions for their catch.

A rivalry flares up between two top boats; a captain attempts to shake his losing streak; and a trip south must be paid for by hauling in more fish.

The Wahoo's lead is challenged as the Pin Wheel edges up the scoreboard. Elsewhere, mechanical troubles and bad fishing keep the rest of the ships from catching up.

The captain of the Doghouse charters boat cruises for supplemental income while the rest of the fleet continue to compete for leadership of the scoreboard.

Pin Wheel and rivals Fishin' Frenzy and Wahoo lead the race with seven tuna each. Captain Greg Mayer of Fishin' Frenzy is desperate for catches to reclaim their top spot, while the Wahoo brothers Reed and Banks Meredith are determined to stay in the top spot. Pin Wheel Co-Captains Tyler McLaughlin and Paul Hebert are a stone's throw away from beating all of the Southern boats in their own backyard. Doghouse, Hard Merchandise and Hot Tuna struggle to haul in fish for the remainder of the season.

Wahoo leads the fleet, but local rival Fishin' Frenzy and invader Pin Wheel are serious threats for the top spot. Hard Merchandise needs one more bluefin to make the expensive trip south profitable, while Doghouse and Hot Tuna fight to earn one final paycheck to salvage their seasons. When captain Greg Mayer of Fishin' Frenzy receives the official call that the quota will close the next day at midnight, everyone races to catch more bluefin and reach the buyers in time to make the final sale.

It’s opening day of the Outer Banks bluefin season, and the captains battle it out to make the season’s first catch.

After colliding with Bonner Bridge, Captain Marciano and Captain Griffin struggle to regroup. The boats are banged up, but it’s too early to tell whether they can salvage their seasons or if they’ll have to hang up their rods.

Charlie Griffin joins the crew of the Reels of Fortune before picking up his boat from the mechanics. Later, the northern captains play a prank on Tyler McLaughlin.

Fishin' Frenzy have a slight lead over Reels of Fortune; Hot Tuna asks Reel Action for assistance; Doghouse is relying on their greenhorn to bring in the catch.

At the start of the 11th day on the water in North Carolina, treacherous winter weather in the Outer Banks fishing grounds forces captains to push their limits. Southern boat Reels of Fortune holds a meager lead over last year’s local champion Fishin’ Frenzy, while northern boat Hard Merchandise and local all-female team Reel Action have yet to catch a fish.

In North Carolina’s bluefin tuna fleet, family is at the forefront of the fight to fish hard and make money. On Fishin’ Frenzy, First Mate Nick Gowitzka faces a family emergency unfolding on land that tests his resolve on the water. And Captain Dave Marciano of Hard Merchandise draws on the support of his wife and daughter far away in Gloucester, Massachusetts, as well as a local family fishing operation to help him get through his slump.

In this episode of Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks, seven crews face the Outer Banks hoping to reel in a fish big enough to keep. But with the luck they have had, prospects are not looking so good. The Fishin’ Frenzy crew lucks out with a big catch and cashes in. With barely a bite, the Doghouse is forced to head in and trust that another day at sea will bring them a big catch. The Hot Tuna crew hopes that their dry spell will end and, with the final reel, they catch one of their largest tuna yet, cashing in over $9,000 for it.

With the North Carolina season coming to a close and Reels of Fortune battling Fishin’ Frenzy for the top spot, all of the crews desperately struggle to land a fish and secure a paycheck. The Reel Action crew fights to catch up but takes a serious blow when they snag a shark; Tyler and Paul lose a “monstah” paycheck; and Dave and the crew of Hard Merchandise attempt to finally end their dry spell, or they’ll have to cut the season short and head back to Gloucester.

With just five days left before the close of the season, the fleet is feeling the pressure. An accident leaves the Reel Action stuck at the dock, giving Captain Tami and her crew a late start, and tensions onboard reach a boiling point. Meanwhile, the Doghouse and Fishin’ Frenzy have the top spot in sight and are scrambling to keep catching before time runs out. And Captain Griff on the Reels of Fortune finds himself in a dangerous situation while navigating Oregon Inlet — a battle where experience and quick thinking are all that stand between life and death.

It’s the final two days of the season, and three Southern boats — the Fishin’ Frenzy, the Reels of Fortune and the Doghouse — are all within striking distance of the top spot. As the clock ticks down, the captains are desperate to put meat on deck. The stakes have never been higher: one pulled hook means disaster, but one last catch can mean going home a champion.

It’s bluefin tuna season in the Outer Banks. The fleet is excited to haul in these lucrative giants again — but new obstacles lie ahead.

As the bluefin season takes off, the treacherous waters of the Outer Banks claim another victim, and the Fishin’ Frenzy and Hot Tuna are first on the scene.

The unpredictable waters cause more problems for boats in the Outer Banks. The captains feel the pressure as the season starts to slip away from them.

With the fishing migration in an unpredictable state, the captains resort to espionage for information but end up with more than they bargained for.

The fifth week of the fishing season becomes a battle for the best fishing spots. The waters turn turbulent as boats go head-to-head to prove their superiority. When old and new rivals clash on the high seas, the pressure is on to land a fish first using strength and intellect.