male announcer:
ON AMERICA'S GULF COAST... THE FORTUNES OF AN ENTIRE
INDUSTRY ARE ON THE LINE. - IT'S MY STYLE
OF SHRIMPING. I'VE ALWAYS
GONE AFTER BIG SHRIMP. announcer: BUT THE SEA
GUARDS ITS TREASURE. - WATCH OUT, BOBBY!
GET BACK, IT'S GONNA POP! announcer:
THERE ARE BIG STAKES ATTACHED TO SOMETHING SO SMALL. - WE LOSE MORE PEOPLE
IN THE GULF OF MEXICO, EVERY YEAR,
THAN THEY DO IN ALASKA. announcer:
THE MEN OF BAYOU LA BATRE WILL RISK IT ALL,
EVERY DAY AND NIGHT, FOR THEIR HOMES,
THEIR FAMILIES... - THAT'S MY WORLD,
RIGHT THERE. announcer: AND AN AMERICAN
WAY OF LIFE. - LORD, HAVE MERCY. announcer: AND THEY'LL DO IT
ON THEIR OWN TERMS. - A NORMAL DAY IN PARADISE. announcer: THIS IS HOW
WE SHRIMP IN AMERICA. [dramatic music] ♪ ♪ THIS IS BAYOU LA BATRE,
ALABAMA. IT'S JUST SEVEN DAYS
TO THE MOST IMPORTANT EVENT OF THE AMERICAN
SHRIMPING SEASON... THE TEXAS OPEN. SHRIMPIN' HAPPENS
YEAR-ROUND IN THE GULF. BUT TEXAS IS
THE ONLY GULF STATE TO CLOSE ITS WATERS
FOR A FEW MONTHS SO THE SHRIMP
CAN GROW BIGGER. BIGGER SHRIMP
MEANS A BIGGER PAYDAY FOR THOSE
WHO GET THERE FIRST. - JOE, TIE AND GET THAT
ON THAT CLEAT! MY GOD, COME ON!
QUIT ACTIN' LIKE GREENHORNS! announcer: DOMINICK FICARINO
IS A FOURTH-GENERATION SHRIMPER. HE OWNS A FLEET
OF SHRIMP BOATS, AND HIS TOWN DEPENDS
ON HIS SUCCESS. - I'VE LIVED IN BAYOU LA BATRE
MY ENTIRE LIFE. FISHING'S A WAY OF LIFE HERE.
NO OTHER WAY. announcer: WHILE OTHERS
HAVE QUIT, THESE MEN ARE FIGHTING TO KEEP THEIR INDUSTRY,
AND THEIR TOWN, ALIVE. - FIRST, I WANNA THANK
ALL Y'ALL FOR BEING HERE, BEING PART OF A GOOD OPERATION
HERE TODAY. announcer: WITH 90%
OF THE SHRIMP NOW COMING
FROM OUTSIDE THE USA, THE QUESTION IS:
CAN BAYOU LA BATRE REBOUND FROM THE DEVASTATING
ONE-TWO PUNCH OF KATRINA
AND THE BP OIL SPILL? - AS Y'ALL KNOW,
WE BEEN KINDA TAKING A LITTLE BRUTAL KICKING
SINCE KATRINA. WE BEEN FIGHTING
THE OIL SPILL ISSUE, SO I KINDA FEEL LIKE
WE WAY BEHIND, BOYS, AND WE GOT TO CATCH UP. WE LOOKING
FOR A LOT OF SHRIMP IN TEXAS. WE REALLY HAVE A LOT
TO MAKE UP THIS YEAR. YOU KNOW, UH... A LOT OF OUR DADDIES
AND GRANDFATHERS FISHED IN THIS TOWN,
AND, YOU KNOW, FISHING INDUSTRY,
A LOT OF PEOPLE BELIEVE, IS GONNA GO AWAY. I DON'T. I BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE LIKE
OURSELVES IS BRINGING IT BACK. SO I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT THAT WE GO OUT AND SET THE PACE
FOR THE TOWN, SET THE PACE
FOR THE GULF FISHING INDUSTRY. SO LET'S ALL PUT
OUR HEART IN IT THIS TIME, AND DO WHAT WE CAN
TO LIFT IT UP. A LOT OF MORALE WHEN WE GO OUT
THERE, AND LET'S GO GET 'EM. - OW!
[cheers and applause] announcer: ON A GOOD YEAR,
DOMINICK'S FLEET CAN MAKE UP TO 25% OF ITS YEARLY
TAKE IN THE TEXAS OPEN. - TIME TO GO. announcer: THIS YEAR,
IT'S MAKE OR BREAK. - LET'S ROLL. announcer: THE MEN
LEAVE THEIR FAMILIES FOR FIVE WEEKS AT A TIME. IT WILL TAKE THE FLEET
SEVEN DAYS TO MAKE THE 400-MILE TRIP
TO TEXAS WATERS. THEY WILL LEARN
THE EXACT DAY AND TIME IT OFFICIALLY OPENS LATER, BUT FOR NOW,
EACH CAPTAIN HAS TO DECIDE IF HE CAN TAKE THE TIME
TO SHRIMP ALONG THE WAY AND STILL GET IN POSITION TO BEAT THE COMPETITION
TO THE STARTING LINE. FISHERMEN ARE KNOWN
FOR THEIR SUPERSTITIONS... AND THE CREW
ON THE 105-FOOT<i> MISS HANNAH,</i> DOMINICK'S TOP-PRODUCING BOAT,
ARE NO DIFFERENT. THEY PERFORM A LITTLE RITUAL
WITH SOME LOW-TECH FIREWORKS TO WARD OFF BAD LUCK. - GOT TO GET THE MONKEY
OUT OF THE BOAT! [firecrackers popping] - YEAH!
THAT'S HOW YOU KNOW! [fireworks whistling] - YEAH! - WE JUST SCARED THE MONKEY
OFF THE BOAT, HOPEFULLY. - MAYBE HE'LL JUMP
ON SOMEBODY ELSE'S BOAT AND GIVE US
SOME GOOD LUCK. [whistling, popping] announcer: THE 95-FOOT<i>
MISS BARBARA</i> IS CAPTAINED BY BULLFROG. AT JUST 32 YEARS OLD, BULLFROG IS DOMINICK'S
YOUNGEST AND COCKIEST LEADER. - I DON'T CARE
OR GIVE A [bleep] WHAT ANYBODY ELSE
THINKS ABOUT ME. announcer: HE MAY
GET TEASED A LOT, BUT BULLFROG KNOWS
HOW TO FIND SHRIMP. BUT JUST A FEW MILES OUTSIDE
THE BREAKWATERS, BULLFROG ENCOUNTERS
A PROBLEM. - JUST WHAT
IN THE HELL IS THIS? announcer: ON THE HORIZON,
A SMALL BOAT APPROACHES. - ALWAYS SOMETHING. announcer: ANY DELAY
IS BAD NEWS. IN THIS CASE,
A TEAM FROM NOAA, THE NATIONAL OCEANIC
ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, WANTS TO CHECK THEM OUT. - HOW Y'ALL DOING?
WATCH Y'ALL'S STEP. - YES, SIR. announcer: THEY WANNA KNOW IF THE<i> MISS BARBARA'S</i>
SHRIMPIN' NETS ARE PROPERLY FITTED WITH TEDS--
TURTLE EXCLUDER DEVICES. - YES, SIR. YES, SIR. announcer: WHEN THE ANGLE
OF THE TEDS ARE SET CORRECTLY, THEY ALLOW SAFE PASSAGE
FOR ENDANGERED SEA TURTLES SO THEY DON'T
GET STUCK IN THE NET, WHILE STILL ALLOWING
THE NET TO CAPTURE SHRIMP. THE PROBLEM IS THEY CAN ALSO
TANGLE AND TEAR NETS, COSTING THE CREW THOUSANDS
OF DOLLARS IN LOST SHRIMP
AND DAMAGED EQUIPMENT. IF THERE IS ANY VIOLATION,
THE BOAT COULD GET A HUGE FINE, AND BE FORCED HOME
BEFORE THEIR TRIP EVEN STARTS. FAST-TALKING BULLFROG HOPES TO DISSUADE
THE AGENTS FROM BOARDING. - I'VE SEEN TIMES
WHEN THEY COME ON, AND IT WAS SOME KIND OF
JUST LITTLE BULLCRAP THAT TOOK
THREE TIMES LONGER THAN IT SHOULD'VE DONE
FOR NO REASON, YOU KNOW. YEAH, Y'ALL HAVE
A GOOD TIME OUT HERE, Y'ALL BE SAFE TOO. WE'LL SEE Y'ALL. announcer: BULLFROG'S ALABAMA
BAYOU CHARM SEEMS TO WORK. THE AGENTS AGREE TO LET HIM CHECK THE ANGLES
ON HIS TEDS HIMSELF, SAVING VALUABLE TIME
IN THE RACE TO TEXAS. BACK IN BAYOU LA BATRE, DOMINICK HEARS
ABOUT THE NOAA AGENTS. - IT'S IMPORTANT TO US
TO GET OUT HERE AND NOT LOSE TIME
WITH THESE GUYS. I MEAN, JUST LIKE NOW,
WE'RE ON OUR WAY TO TEXAS, AND WE GONNA MAKE THIS TRIP,
AND WE GOT TO BE THERE ON TIME. I MEAN, A DAY OFF'S
$10,000 A DAY. announcer:
BULLFROG WAS ABLE TO TALK HIS WAY
OUT OF AN INSPECTION. BUT JUST ONE MILE
BEHIND HIM, BULLFROG'S FORMER BOSS
AND DOMINICK'S TOP GUN, CAPTAIN REDBONE,
ISN'T SO LUCKY. - THIS DOES NOT LOOK GOOD. announcer: CAPTAIN REDBONE
IS A 35-YEAR VETERAN WHO DOESN'T MIX WELL
WITH AUTHORITY. HIS ENCOUNTER WITH NOAA RESULTS IN THEM BOARDING
THE<i> MISS HANNAH.</i> - HOLD IT. - GOT IT! - DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE ANGLE'S
SUPPOSED TO BE, CAPTAIN? announcer: VALUABLE TIME
IS TICKING AWAY. - IT'S A PAIN IN THE DELAYING OUR GAME,
RIGHT HERE. THIS [bleep]
[bleep] ME OFF. - BUNCH OF MESS. - ALL RIGHT. announcer:<i> MISS HANNAH</i>
IS TEMPORARILY SHUT DOWN. THE BOAT FACES FINES
IN EXCESS OF 15 GRAND. - Y'ALL BE CAREFUL
GETTING OFF THE BOAT. announcer: NOW, THEY MUST
FIX THE NETS THEMSELVES OUT ON THE WATER BEFORE THEY CAN
PULL UP A SINGLE SHRIMP. - OH, MAN. announcer:
BUT THAT WILL TAKE TIME. AND IN THIS BUSINESS,
TIME IS SHRIMP, AND SHRIMP IS MONEY. THE RACE TO THE TEXAS OPEN
WON'T BE EASY. EACH OF THE BOATS
ENCOUNTERS THEIR OWN TROUBLES. - THERE'S A BAD TEAR AND
OPEN NET RIGHT OFF THE BAT. - UH, IT'S FIRST DRAG,
RIGHT HERE. - AIN'T SO GOOD, IS IT? - THIS IS
A VERY BAD INFECTION. - GET YOU A PUSH STICK
AND SHOVE IT OVER! [crashes] announcer:
DOMINICK'S BOATS ARE 12 HOURS INTO THEIR SEVEN-DAY JOURNEY
TO THE TEXAS OPEN. IT'S THE BIGGEST SHRIMPING
EVENT OF THE YEAR. THE HOPES OF THEIR
ALABAMA TOWN, BAYOU LA BATRE,
SAIL WITH THE FLEET. ON THE<i> MISS BARBARA...</i> YOUNG CAPTAIN BULLFROG
HAS A HEALTHY HEAD START ON THE REST OF THE FLEET. SO HE DECIDES
TO SLOW DOWN AND TAKE A CHANCE
ON CATCHING SOME EXTRA SHRIMP BEFORE THEY GET TO TEXAS. - I'LL JUST START DRAGGING, AND DRAG THE WAY
TO WHERE I WANT TO GO, 'CAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW
OUT THERE. WATCH THAT WHIP LINE,
MIKE MOE. announcer: BULLFROG KNOWS
THIS AREA HAS BIG SHRIMP, BUT IT ALSO HAS
A TREACHEROUS BOTTOM THAT COULD DESTROY HIS NETS
BEFORE HE EVEN GETS TO TEXAS. MODERN SHRIMPING
WAS DEVISED IN 1913, AND HASN'T
CHANGED MUCH SINCE. SHRIMP FEED
ON THE SEA FLOOR, SO TO CATCH THEM,
WEIGHTED NETS ARE DROPPED AND THEN DRAGGED
ALONG THE BOTTOM, COLLECTING THE SHRIMP IN A BAG
AT THE END OF THE NET. BUT DRAGGING THE SEA FLOOR
IS RISKY BUSINESS... NETS CAN BE CAUGHT ON DEBRIS,
CAUSING THEM TO RIP, THEIR CATCH TO BE LOST,
OR WORSE-- SPIN THE BOAT AROUND,
CAUSING IT TO CAPSIZE, ENDANGERING THE CREW. - YOU DONE YET? announcer: HE TELLS DECKHANDS
MIKEY MOE AND MICHAEL SEAN TO GET A SMALLER NET,
CALLED A "TRY NET," READY TO TEST
THE SHRIMPING. RATHER THAN DRAG
A LARGE NET FOR FOUR HOURS OR MORE, THE SMALLER NET IS DRAGGED
FOR LESS THAN ONE. BULLFROG WILL KNOW
FROM WHAT THEY BRING UP IF THIS IS A GOOD SPOT. SHRIMPING IS MORE PRODUCTIVE
WHEN IT'S DARK, BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN THEY FEED
AND ARE MORE ACTIVE. SO BULLFROG WAITS UNTIL SUNDOWN
TO PULL HIS TRY NET. IT REVEALS A DECENT AMOUNT
OF BROWN SHRIMP... BUT IN KEEPING
WITH FISHING SUPERSTITION, THE CAPTAIN RETURNS
HIS FIRST CATCH TO THE SEA FOR GOOD LUCK. THE TRY HAS A DECENT CATCH
OF BROWN SHRIMP, SO BULLFROG DECIDES TO GAMBLE
AND SET OUT THE LARGE NETS. THE GULF IS FULL OF BROWN,
WHITE, AND PINK SHRIMP. DURING THE TEXAS OPEN, THE BROWN SHRIMP
TYPICALLY BRING MORE MONEY, WHICH IS WHAT
THE FLEET IS AFTER. - ALL RIGHT. announcer: BULLFROG'S GAMBLE
FOR A QUICK CATCH OF SALTWATER GOLD
RUNS INTO TROUBLE. HIS LARGEST NET
IS ALREADY HUNG UP, AND IT'S PULLING THE BOAT. - A LOT OF TIMES
YOU NEVER SEE IT. - THINK WE HUNG UP. announcer: THE CREW
WORKS TOGETHER TO BRING THE NET
TO THE DECK, BUT THEY DIDN'T
CATCH BROWN SHRIMP... THEY GOT MUD. THE WEIGHT
OF THE MUD ALONE CAN OFTEN TEAR A NET
OR SNAP A ROPE. THOUGH THE CATCH TONIGHT
IS A DISAPPOINTMENT, BULLFROG IS FORTUNATE
THAT NOTHING IS DAMAGED. - YOU PUT A NET ON THE BOTTOM,
DOWN THERE, IT DON'T BELONG
TO YOU NO MORE. THE BOTTOM WANTS IT,
IT'LL TAKE IT FROM YOU. announcer:
WITH THE MUD WASHED, THE CREW RETURNS THEIR NETS
TO THE SEA FLOOR. - LET IT GO. LET IT GO.
- BOOM! announcer: BUT IT WILL BE
ANOTHER FOUR HOURS BEFORE THEY SEE
WHAT RICHES THE OCEAN HAS
TO OFFER THEM TONIGHT. THEIR RESULTS SO FAR
ARE WASTED TIME, AND A RETURN TO THE GULF
OF SOME HUNDRED POUNDS OF MUD-LADEN SHRIMP. EARLY THE NEXT MORNING,
ANOTHER OF DOMINICK'S BOATS, THE 95-FOOT<i> MISS ASHLEIGH,</i> IS READY TO DROP
THEIR FIRST NETS OF THE TRIP. IF ANYONE NEEDS SUCCESS
AT THE TEXAS OPEN, IT'S THE<i> MISS ASHLEIGH</i>
SKIPPER 52-YEAR-OLD
CAPTAIN ROUNDHEAD. FOR ALMOST A DECADE,
HE WAS DOMINICK'S TOP CAPTAIN, BUT HE STRUGGLED THE LAST
FEW YEARS TO TURN A PROFIT, AND NOW HE THINKS HIS JOB
IS ON THE LINE. - YOU DON'T PRODUCE LIKE
A LOT OF YOUR BOAT OWNERS KNOW YOU CAN PRODUCE, THEY'LL--THEY'LL FIND 'EM
SOMEBODY ELSE. BUT SUCCESS IS NOT
ALL ABOUT FISHING. COMPUTERS HELP THE CAPTAIN
LOCATE THE BEST SHRIMPING SPOTS. - APPLICATION ERROR. announcer: THE BOAT'S
COMPUTER SYSTEM IS DOWN, AND HIS RIGHT HAND,
HIS SON JONATHAN... ISN'T BEING MUCH HELP. THE COMPUTER SYSTEM
IS ESSENTIAL IN PLOTTING THEIR TRIP
AND TELLING THEM WHERE THEY CAUGHT SHRIMP
IN THE PAST. BUT COMPUTER REPAIR IS NOT
A FISHERMAN'S STRONG SUIT. FRUSTRATION BETWEEN ROUNDHEAD
AND HIS SON JONATHAN ALWAYS ROCKETS
TO FLARING TEMPERS. IF THEY CAN'T GET
THE SYSTEM BACK, THEY MIGHT AS WELL
GO HOME. - THAT DON'T MEAN
I MESSED YOUR COMPUTER UP. ALL'S I DID--
I DIDN'T UNHOOK IT. I DID NOT UNHOOK
YOUR COMPUTER. WHENEVER HE GETS MAD
AT EVERYBODY, HE TAKES IT OUT ON ME. YEAH, HE DOES ALL THE HOLLERING
AT ME, YOU KNOW. - LIL' ROUNDHEAD'S BEEN WORKING
WITH ME FOR SEVEN, EIGHT YEARS. SOMETHING LIKE THAT. HE'S BEEN THE SAME
THE WHOLE TIME. SO I JUST HAVE TO
STAY AFTER HIM. AND I'LL TELL HIM, I SAID, "JUST 'CAUSE YOU MY SON, "YOU NOT GONNA GET
NO SPECIAL PRIVILEGES. I MEAN, YOU GONNA WORK
JUST LIKE OTHER MAN WORKS." - "PLEASE INSERT...NEVIONICS."
WHATEVER THAT WORD IS. - I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS.
- I DON'T EITHER. I KNEW I SHOULDN'T HAVE
LET YOU FOOL WITH THIS. announcer: ROUNDHEAD EVENTUALLY
GETS THE SYSTEM BACK ONLINE... WITH NO HELP
FROM HIS SON. - HERE WE GO. announcer: BUT WHAT CAPTAIN
ROUNDHEAD DOESN'T KNOW IS JONATHAN HAS A BIGGER ISSUE
THAN GETTING ALONG WITH HIS DAD. announcer: BY NOON,
CAPTAIN ROUNDHEAD IS READY TO PICK UP
THE PACE. BUT JONATHAN
HAS DISAPPEARED. SECRETLY TENDING HIS FOOT. - GET UP, NOW, I KNOW YOU AIN'T
THAT SLEEPY, HOSS. - I'M UP, HOSS. - NO, YOU'RE NOT.
COME ON, HOSS, LET'S GO. GOT TO RAISE A LOT OF CAIN
IN HIM SOMETIMES. announcer:
JONATHAN IS DETERMINED TO KEEP HIS INJURY
SECRET FROM HIS DAD. BUT WITH EVERY MILE
THEY GET FROM SHORE, AND FURTHER AWAY FROM THE
HOSPITAL THAT COULD TREAT HIM, THE RISKS INTENSIFY. JONATHAN'S JEOPARDIZING
NOT ONLY HIS HEALTH, BUT THE LIVELIHOOD OF HIS FATHER
AND THE CREW. announcer: IT'S DAY THREE
IN THE RACE TO THE TEXAS OPEN. AND SO FAR,
EVERY CAPTAIN'S HAD PROBLEMS. ON THE<i> MISS ASHLEIGH,</i> ROUNDHEAD
HAS ANOTHER EQUIPMENT PROBLEM. THE SHIP'S BRINE TANK, ESSENTIAL FOR PROPERLY
FREEZING THE SHRIMP, IS BROKEN. - WHOO! announcer: SHRIMP NOT FROZEN
RIGHT AFTER IT'S CAUGHT WILL EVENTUALLY GO BAD,
AND CAN'T BE SOLD. IF THE BRINE TANK
CAN'T BE FIXED, IT'S ANOTHER NAIL
IN THE COFFIN. THE SYSTEM RELIES ON A DELICATE BALANCE
OF SALT TO WORK RIGHT. IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S
NOT ENOUGH SALINITY, SO THE COOLING COILS
HAVE FROZEN OVER. - WELL, WE MIGHT'VE
AGITATED IT TOO MUCH, AND IT LOST ITS SALT. announcer:
THE CAPTAIN IS QUICK TO BLAME HIS DECKHAND
JOE COVAS. HE MAY BE A 26-YEAR
SHRIMPIN' VETERAN, BUT JOE'S NOT KNOWN
FOR HIS ATTENTION TO DETAIL. - I KNOW IT, YEAH.
I KNOW. announcer:
51 MILES NORTHEAST, DOMINICK'S TOP-PRODUCING BOAT
THE<i> MISS HANNAH</i> IS 24 HOURS BEHIND. REDBONE,
AND HIS SONS CHAD AND RED, ARE STILL FIXING THE NETS
TO COMPLY WITH NOAA REGULATIONS. - IF IT'S GONNA BE FIXED,
IT'S GONNA BE FIXED RIGHT. - RED'S A MASTER AT THIS. I BELIEVE HE COULD
DO THIS IN HIS SLEEP. announcer: NIGHT,
THE BEST SHRIMPING TIME, IS FAST-APPROACHING, AND THEY'RE NOT CLOSE
TO CASTING THEIR NETS. ANOTHER NIGHT
OF NO SHRIMPING MEANS ANOTHER NIGHT
OF LOST CASH. 30 MILES WEST
OF THE<i> MISS HANNAH,</i> YOUNG CAPTAIN BULLFROG'S
BEEN WORKING HIS CREW 36 HOURS NONSTOP. THE CREW IS TIRED,
AND HOPING FOR AN EASY NIGHT. BUT AN EXHAUSTED BULLFROG FORGETS TO TELL HIS CREW THAT HE WANTS THEM
TO DE-HEAD ALL THE SHRIMP, NO MATTER WHAT THE SIZE. THOUGH THIS IS MORE WORK
FOR AN ALREADY WEARY CREW, IT COULD PAY OFF. HEADED SHRIMP ARE WORTH
$3 MORE A POUND. WITH THE HOPE
FOR A TOTAL HAUL IN THE TENS OF THOUSANDS
OF POUNDS, THEIR EFFORTS ADD
TO A LOT OF MONEY. DESIRE FOR SLEEP WINS OUT
OVER DESIRE FOR CASH. AS THE CREW DECIDES TO LEAVE
THE HEADS ON FOR THIS CATCH, CAPTAIN BULLFROG
TAKES ACTION. - WE ARE HEADING THEM SHRIMP.
THEY BETTER BE HEADING 'EM. HEY! announcer:
MOST OF BULLFROG'S CREW IS MADE UP OF GUYS
HE'S KNOWN FOR YEARS. A DYNAMIC THAT CAN MAKE
GIVING ORDERS LIKE THIS A BIT MORE DIFFICULT. IT'S A SMALL MISCOMMUNICATION, BUT AFTER 36 HOURS
OF STRAIGHT WORK, IT'S LEFT THE CREW
IN A SOUR MOOD. BUT BULLFROG ISN'T PHASED BY THE DECKHANDS'
DISCONTENT. MEANWHILE, THE<i> MISS ASHLEIGH</i> IS "X" MILES
TO THE SOUTHWEST. THE FREEZER PROBLEM
IS AT LEAST TEMPORARILY SOLVED, AND CAPTAIN ROUNDHEAD IS LOOKING
WHERE TO DROP HIS NETS. ROUNDHEAD RUNS A DIFFERENT SHIP
THAN BULLFROG, AND DECIDES TO GIVE HIS CREW
SOME MUCH NEEDED REST... EXCEPT FOR DECKHAND
JOE COVAS. THE CAPTAIN LEAVES HIM
IN CHARGE OF STEERING THE BOAT AND WATCHING THE NET LINE. [computer beeps] BUT JOE FAILS TO NOTICE THAT THE BOAT IS PULLING
TO ITS PORT SIDE, RESULTING IN A RUDE
WAKE-UP CALL. [machinery groans] THE TURTLE EXCLUDER DEVICE
IS TWISTED SO THE NETS HAVE BEEN DRAGGING
ON THE OCEAN FLOOR, CATCHING DEBRIS
AND SLOWLY LISTING THE BOAT. - UH-OH. - THAT'S A QUARTER
OF YOUR CATCH. THAT ONE THERE'S GONNA BE
A QUARTER OF YOUR CATCH. announcer: AND HE LAYS THE BLAME
SQUARELY ON JOE. - ACTING LIKE A GREENHORN. MAN'S SITTING UP HERE, TORE UP A NET AND AIN'T WATCHING
THE INDICATOR OR SOMETHING. I DON'T KNOW
WHAT HIS PROBLEM IS. announcer: THE FIRST NET
HAS SOME CATCH... BUT IT'S ALL FISH. CAPTAIN ROUNDHEAD
IS NOT PLEASED, AND IS SURE THE SECOND NET
WILL BE THE SAME. - GOD! announcer: WHEN THE NEXT NET
COMES UP--DISASTER. THE NET, WHICH COST $2,800,
IS TORN TO PIECES. [ropes creaking] BUT THAT'S NOT ALL. THE HEAVY WOODEN
STABILIZERS USED TO KEEP
THE NETS OPEN UNDERWATER HAVE BECOME
HUNG ON THE WICKET. THEY'VE TURNED
INTO DEADLY BLUDGEONS. [crashes] THE SHREDDED NETS ARE HOPELESSLY TANGLED
IN THE WINCH PULL. IT'S A TOTAL LOSS. - THIS IS BAD, TEARING UP A NET
RIGHT OFF THE BAT. WE'RE NOT CATCHING NO SHRIMP
ON TOP OF IT. [crashes] GOT TO TAKE 'EM OFF. announcer: TANGLED TEDS,
TORN NETS, AND A CATCH FULL OF FISH. ANOTHER STRIKE
AGAINST CAPTAIN ROUNDHEAD. - I MEAN, IT DOES,
IT REALLY MAKES ME MAD. announcer: WITH ALL HELL
BREAKING LOOSE ON THE<i> MISS ASHLEIGH,</i> CAPTAIN ROUNDHEAD'S
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE KICKS IN AS HE GOES INTO OVERDRIVE. - GIVE ME THE HOOK!
TAKE IT OUT! SWING IT OVER, DON'T PULL IT
BACK OUT OF THE WAY, JOE! COME ON, JONNY,
PICK UP WITH IT! TIE IT OFF ON THE CLEAT. TIE IT OFF ON THIS CLEAT
RIGHT HERE. CRAZY.
THIS IS PITIFUL. ESPECIALLY JOE COVAS. announcer: ONLY THREE DAYS
INTO THEIR JOURNEY TO TEXAS, AND IT ALREADY LOOKS
LIKE ROUNDHEAD'S TRIP MIGHT BE HIS LAST. announcer: THE FLEET
OUT OF BAYOU LA BATRE IS JUST OVER HALFWAY THROUGH
THEIR SEVEN-DAY JOURNEY. THEY'RE STILL WAITING
FOR THE TEXAS PARKS AND THE WILDLIFE
DEPARTMENT TO ANNOUNCE THE DAY
AND START TIME OF THE OPEN. SCORES OF SHIPS FROM TOWNS
ALL OVER THE GULF ARE RUSHING TOWARD
THE LONE STAR STATE IN HOPES OF MAKING IT TO THEIR
FAVORITE FISHING HOLES FIRST. DOMINICK'S BOATS HAVE RUN INTO
MORE TROUBLE THAN USUAL. ON THE<i> MISS ASHLEIGH,</i> JONATHAN'S
MIND IS NOT ON SHRIMPING, BUT ON HIS FOOT,
WHICH IS GETTING WORSE. - EWW! GOODNESS! SAFETY IS GONNA BE
MY MAIN ISSUE FROM NOW ON. I GUESS YOU WOULDN'T
CALL THIS SAFETY THOUGH. YOU'D CALL THIS
JUST HAVING COMMON SENSE. announcer: JONATHAN
CANNOT HIDE HIS INJURY FROM HIS FATHER
ANY LONGER, ALTHOUGH HE HATES
TO ADMIT ANY WEAKNESS. - FOOT HURTS A LITTLE BIT. - YOU'LL BE ALL RIGHT? I MEAN, WE WERE DONE
TOO FAR TO TURN AROUND. I GOT TO LOOKING AT IT, AND I
SAID, "WELL, MAYBE YOU'RE RIGHT. IT MIGHT HEAL UP." - THAT'S WHAT I'M HOPING. announcer: CAPTAIN ROUNDHEAD
SENDS HIS SON DOWN TO THE GALLEY TO BANDAGE UP HIS FOOT. IT'S A LONG SHOT,
BUT IT'S THE ONLY CHANCE HE HAS TO STAY AT SEA
AND MAKE THE TEXAS OPEN. GOING BACK TO THE BAYOU
IS A LAST RESORT. MEANWHILE,
IN BAYOU LA BATRE, DOMINICK RECEIVES THE NEWS
HIS BOATS HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR. THE OFFICIAL START TIME
OF THE TEXAS OPEN, WHICH CHANGES EVERY YEAR,
IS LESS THAN 72 HOURS AWAY. - [groans] Y'ALL GONNA HEAR ME OUT THERE,
I'M GONNA LET Y'ALL KNOW, I'M SURE YOU ALREADY KNOW, BUT THE 15th
IS A CONFIRMED DATE. SO I KNOW Y'ALL GONNA BE
MOVING IN QUICKLY. announcer: HIS CAPTAINS NEED
AS MUCH WARNING AS POSSIBLE TO GET TO THE BEST
SHRIMPING HOLES FIRST. - HOW 'BOUT IT,
ROUNDHEAD, YOU READ ME? Y'ALL GOT CONFIRMATION
ON THE 15th AT 6:30, DIDN'T YOU? COME BACK. - 15th AT 6:30 THAT EVENING?
COME BACK. announcer: HE REACHES
CAPTAIN ROUNDHEAD, THEN CAPTAIN BULLFROG. - ALL RIGHT. announcer: BUT HIS THIRD CALL
TO CAPTAIN REDBONE GOES UNANSWERED. - HOW 'BOUT IT, MR. CHICKENBONE?
YOU UP THERE? CLEAR WITH MR. CHICKENBONE. I'M NOT GONNA PESTER HIM. I KNOW HE'S GOT THE MESSAGE,
AND IT'LL CONTINUE ON. - WHEN HE HEARS FROM ME--
DOMINICK DOES-- HE KNOWS THAT SOMETHING
BAD HAPPENED TO THE BOAT. THAT'S THE ONLY
TIME HE HEARS. announcer: IT TURNS OUT
THAT SHRIMPING IS WHAT REDBONE'S
GETTING READY TO DO. HE'S DETERMINED TO FIND
A COUPLE OF NETS OF GOLD BEFORE HITTING
TEXAS WATERS. - TRYING TO FIND SOME SHRIMP,
AND CATCH SOME SHRIMP. announcer: ON HIS FIRST DROP,
REDBONE, THE OLD MASTER, SETS HIS NETS FAR AWAY
FROM THE REST OF THE FLEET. THE LARGER,
MORE MATURE SHRIMP ARE KNOWN TO MIGRATE
TO DEEPER WATERS. AND THAT'S EXACTLY
WHERE HE'S SHRIMPING. - PULL 'EM ON UP.
SEE WHAT WE GOT. announcer: BUT HIS CATCH
IS FAR FROM GOLD. LOT OF CHEAP FISH,
AND ONE BIG SURPRISE. - NOW IT'S TIME
TO PICK SOME SHRIMP. - THAT AIN'T GOOD, IS IT?
- IT'LL GET BETTER. BIG SHRIMP,
THOUGH, BIG SHRIMP. $6-A-POUND SHRIMP,
RIGHT THERE. HARD WORK BRINGING SHRIMP
TO THE TABLE. LOT OF WORK FOR JUST
TWO SACKS OF SHRIMP. announcer: HAVING SHRIMPED
THROUGH THE NIGHT WITH NO FURTHER SUCCESS,
REDBONE'S CREW IS TIRED BEFORE THEY'VE EVEN MADE IT
TO TEXAS WATERS. - FIRST NIGHT
OF SHRIMPIN'... THAT'S WHAT YOUR HANDS
LOOK LIKE. THAT'S JUST
THE FIRST NIGHT. CRABS POKED ME,
SHRIMP POKED ME. OTHER FISH GOT FINS
THAT POKED ME. EVERYTHING. - SLOW 'EM DOWN, RED. announcer: NOT SATISFIED
WITH HIS NIGHT'S WORK, REDBONE WON'T
GIVE UP HIS PURSUIT OF THE SALTWATER GOLD. ALTHOUGH REDBONE
IS CONFIDENT THAT HE WILL HAVE
A SUCCESSFUL TRIP, THE STING OF COMING UP EMPTY
STILL HURTS. - I BELIEVE I'M THE ONLY IDIOT
STILL DRAGGING AROUND HERE. announcer: THAT'S
TWO BACK-TO-BACK FAILS FOR DOMINICK'S KEY PRODUCER. 46 MILES WEST
OF THE<i> MISS HANNAH,</i> CAPTAIN ROUNDHEAD
AND THE<i> MISS ASHLEIGH</i> ARE STARING DOWN THE BARREL
OF AN EVEN BIGGER PROBLEM... JONATHAN'S FOOT. - SON, YOU SHOULDA WENT TO
THE DOCTOR BEFORE WE COME OUT. YOU SHOULDA TOLD ME
YOU WAS BURNT. YOU COULDA WENT TO THE DOCTOR
THAT MORNING BEFORE WE COME OUT. YOU KNEW YOU COULDN'T COME OUT
HERE WITH NO BURNT-UP FOOT. WHAT'S IT LOOK LIKE NOW?
LET ME SEE IT. - YEAH, IT IS,
'CAUSE NOW I GOT TO GO IN. YOU SHOULDA TOLD ME
THIS MORNING. I COULDA BEEN BACK OUT. YOU DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA
HEAL UP BEFORE TEXAS? - I DON'T KNOW. - DON'T PUT ANY
OF THAT SALVE. - PUT IT EVERYWHERE. WELL, YOU PUT IT ON THEN!
I CAN'T SEE! - YOU CAN'T SEE?
YOU BLIND? I TOLD YOU PUT IT BACK HERE-- - PUT IT THERE. announcer: WITH THE TEXAS OPEN
JUST TWO DAYS AWAY, ROUNDHEAD HAS TO MAKE
A VERY TOUGH DECISION BETWEEN HIS FAMILY
AND HIS FORTUNE. announcer: IN LESS
THAN 36 HOURS, THE LONE STAR STATE WILL OPEN
TO WHAT EVERYONE ANTICIPATES WILL BE A BUMPER CROP
OF BIG SHRIMP. DOMINICK'S MOST SUCCESSFUL
SHRIMPER, CAPTAIN REDBONE, IS COUNTING ON FINDING
ONE BIG SCORE BEFORE HE GETS TO TEXAS. ON THE<i> MISS BARBARA,</i> CAPTAIN BULLFROG IS HEADING
STRAIGHT TO THE STARTING LINE. AND ON THE<i> MISS ASHLEIGH,</i> CAPTAIN ROUNDHEAD
HAS MADE A DECISION THAT COULD JEOPARDIZE
HIS CHANCES AT THE TEXAS OPEN. - HIS FOOT LOOKS LIKE
IT'S GETTING WORSE TO ME, SO I'M GOING TO CUT IT
A DAY SHORT TO BRING HIM IN TODAY. WITH IT SWELLING UP,
AND HIS FOOT GETTING RED, AND BLACK,
LOOKING LIKE THAT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS,
AND THAT'S KIND OF SCARING ME. announcer: RATHER THAN
HEAD THREE DAYS BACK TO BAYOU LA BATRE, ROUNDHEAD TURNS THE ASHLEIGH
TOWARDS THE NEAREST HOSPITAL, IN PORT FOURCHON,
LOUISIANA, 89 MILES
IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. WITH THE PORT
JUST A FEW HOURS AWAY, HE'S HOPING HE CAN
TURN AND BURN, AND STILL MAKE THE OPEN. - ONCE I SEEN HIS FOOT
GETTING WORSE, I HAD NO OTHER CHOICE. I MEAN, I KNEW THAT THEN. - NOW, THERE'S YOUR PAPA COMING,
RIGHT THERE. - WHERE? announcer: WAITING ONSHORE
IS JONATHAN'S MOTHER, SISTER, AND COUSIN DEDE,
JONATHAN'S REPLACEMENT ON DECK. - MAIN PRIORITY RIGHT NOW
IS GET HIM IN TO A DOCTOR, SO HE CAN GET CHECKED OUT. announcer: WITH HIS SON
DELIVERED ONSHORE, AND A NEW HAND ONBOARD, CAPTAIN ROUNDHEAD TURNS THE SHIP
BACK TOWARDS THE MIGHTY GULF, UNSURE OF WHAT LIES AHEAD. - ALL RIGHT,
I DROPPED HIM OFF. AND I KNEW I HAD
A LONG WAYS TO GO, AND A SHORT TIME
TO GET THERE. SO I PUT THE PEDAL TO THE METAL,
AND I LET 'ER RIP. announcer: IT'LL TAKE HIM
23 HOURS NONSTOP TO GET TO TEXAS WATERS. IT'S THE MORNING
OF THE TEXAS OPEN, AND ONLY CAPTAIN BULLFROG
OF THE<i> MISS BARBARA</i> HAS MADE IT
TO THE STARTING LINE. - 6:30 ROLLS AROUND,
AND THEN WE GONNA SEND OUT. YOU JUST GOT TO HOPE
YOU'RE IN THE RIGHT SPOT. THAT'S ALL IT IS. announcer:
OVER 50 NAUTICAL MILES AWAY, REDBONE DECIDES
TO CUT HIS LOSSES. - [knocks on window] LET THAT ROPE GO. announcer: AFTER 48 HOURS
OF GRUELING WORK, AND TWO FAILED ATTEMPTS AT GETTING A JUMP
ON THEIR CATCH... - HOLD IT. announcer: THE<i> MISS HANNAH</i>
IS FINALLY ON HER WAY TO JOIN HER SISTER BOATS. BACK IN LOUISIANA, A CHAGRINED JONATHAN
IS ABOUT TO LEARN THAT A TRIP TO THE DOCTOR
CAN BE EVEN MORE PAINFUL THAN SHRIMPING FOR HIS DAD. - MY DAD WAS-- HE WAS RELYING ON ME
TO COME OUT. YOU KNOW... ME BURNING MYSELF UP THE NIGHT
BEFORE I WAS SUPPOSED TO GO OUT KIND OF PUT A DAMPER
ON THE WHOLE SITUATION. - TURN THIS WAY
A LITTLE BIT FOR ME. IT'S BEGINNING
TO GET INFECTED. WE'RE GONNA NEED
TO, UM, CLEAN IT UP AND ABRADE SOME OF THESE
BLISTERS OFF YOUR FOOT. ONCE I STARTED ABRADING IT, IT WAS ACTUALLY DEEPER
THAN I EXPECTED. - TRY TO BE GENTLE. [whimpering] GOODNESS, GRACIOUS. - BUT IT'S BEGINNING
TO GET INFECTED, WHICH, UH,
CAN BE DIFFICULT. - OH, GOD! - LIKE I SAID,
IF IT STARTS TO SWELL, OR YOU HAVE FEVER, CHILLS, OR IT STARTS
TO SPREAD UP YOUR LEG, YOU NEED TO COME BACK IN AND LET ME
CALL THE DOCTOR ON CALL. - OKAY. - HE COULD'VE LOST HIS LEG,
IF NOT HIS LIFE. announcer: JONATHAN WON'T BE
SETTING SAIL FOR QUITE A WHILE. BACK AT SEA, CAPTAIN BULLFROG AND HIS<i>
MISS BARBARA</i> ARE IN POSITION, POISED FOR SUCCESS. - ALL RIGHTY. WE'RE OFFICIALLY
NOW READY FOR TEXAS. announcer: JUST A HALF-MILE
TO THE NORTH, REDBONE AND HIS
105-FOOT<i> MISS HANNAH</i> IS ALSO IN POSITION. - SUPPOSED TO START
30 MINUTES AFTER SUNSET. announcer: AS THE DAY
DRAGS ON, CAPTAIN ROUNDHEAD
IS STILL MISSING. THEN, JUST A HALF-HOUR
TILL SUNSET, A SHIP APPEARS
ON THE HORIZON, STEAMING FULL BORE
TOWARD THE STARTING LINE. THE<i> MISS ASHLEIGH.</i> AFTER THEY EACH
EXPERIENCED SOME BAD LUCK, THE MEN OF BAYOU LA BATRE
ARE SHOWING THEIR METTLE. CAPTAIN ROUNDHEAD
HAS ARRIVED. - I THOUGHT WE MIGHT
COULD MAKE THE OPENING, BUT THAT WAS A BIG IF. THIS TRIP RIGHT HERE
IS GONNA SHOW DOMINICK THAT I CAN STILL PRODUCE. announcer: ALL OF DOMINICK'S
BOATS MADE THE OPEN, AND ARE NOW IN PLACE, MINUTES AWAY
FROM THE OFFICIAL START TIME. IT'S HURRY UP AND WAIT, AS THE MEN DREAM OF THE
TEXAS OPEN THEY WANT TO HAVE: CATCHES FULL
OF SALTWATER GOLD. THE TYPE OF HAUL
THAT WILL BRING MONEY AND PRIDE BACK TO THEIR BOATS, BAYOU LA BATRE,
AND THEIR FAMILIES. AS THE CLOCK STRIKES 6:30,
THE TIME HAS COME. IT'S SHRIMPING TIME. - LET 'EM GO. - BUT WE'LL SEE HERE
IN A LITTLE WHILE. announcer: THE NETS ARE DROPPED
AS THEIR HOPES RISE. - IT'S--THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT,
THIS TRIP IS. AND WE GONNA GET 'EM. WE GONNA DO IT. I GOT ALL CONFIDENCE. announcer: FINALLY, NIGHT FALLS.
THE BEST TIME TO CATCH SHRIMP. AND IN THESE BOUNDLESS,
BLACK WATERS TEEMING WITH LIFE, DOMINICK'S MEN WILL FACE
PERSONAL DEMONS, AND HOPE FOR GOOD FORTUNE. - I CAN DO IT.
JUST GOTTA GET DOWN AND HUSTLE. - YEAH, I'M A LITTLE BIT
EXCITED. READY TO PICK UP. announcer: FOUR HOURS
INTO THE OPEN, AND THE FIRST NETS
ARE HOISTED UP. - THAT'LL DO IT.
- WHOO! [crashes] announcer: FIRST CATCH
OF THE NIGHT LOOKS GOOD. THIS IS JUST
THE FIRST STOP... - WHOO! announcer: ON AN ADVENTURE
THAT WILL DETERMINE WHAT FUTURE THESE WATERS
WILL HOLD FOR EACH OF THESE MEN, THEIR TOWN, AND THE FATE
OF AMERICAN SHRIMPING. - GOOD. REAL GOOD. - YEAH. GET 'EM AGAIN. - THAT'S WHAT I LIKE TO SEE,
RIGHT THERE. AFTER 35 YEARS,
THIS IS STILL A GOOD FEELING. I LOVE IT.
I LOVE IT. announcer: COMING UP
THIS SEASON ON... <i>BIG SHRIMPIN'...</i> IT'S ALL HANDS ON DECK... TO SAVE A DYING
AMERICAN INDUSTRY. OLD SALT CAPTAIN REDBONE
GAMBLES TO KEEP HIS REPUTATION ALIVE... WHILE YOUNG CAPTAIN BULLFROG IS OUT TO PROVE
HE CAN BE AS BIG AS THE REST, NO MATTER HOW HARD
HE HAS TO DRIVE HIS CREW. [clangs]
- MAN! announcer: AND DOWN-ON-HIS-LUCK
CAPTAIN ROUNDHEAD FIGHTS BACK TO PROVE HE HAS
WHAT IT TAKES. [electricity crackles] [thunder crashes] announcer: AS THEY WEATHER
EACH NEW CHALLENGE... - [grunts] announcer:
THERE'S ONE QUESTION. CAN THEY BRING HOME
THE SALTWATER GOLD... [boat clangs] THAT WILL SAVE THEIR TRADITIONS
AND THEIR TOWN?
