It's opening day of the Outer Banks bluefin season. Captain Charlie Grif Griffin may be new to the competition, but he's a legend in these waters. Despite the competition, he forms a friendship with Gloucester captain Dave Marciano. Grif offers to help Marciano navigate the treacherous currents that run through Oregon Inlet. It's a dangerous gamble -- if they make one wrong move, it could end both their seasons.

After colliding with Bonner Bridge, Captain Marciano and Captain Griffin struggle to regroup. Captain Tami Gray of the all-female Reel Action enters the competition. Tami knows that the only way to get respect is to earn it -- by putting meat on deck. On the Pinwheel, Captain Tyler McLaughlin encounters a mysterious explosion at sea -- a hazard that could jeopardize his fishing trip and cost him a paycheck.

Captain Griffin might be leading the fleet in the bluefin earning, but his boat has been having problems since his crash. When Charlie picks up his repaired boat, it comes with a $10,000 bill, so now he and his son Jake must catch that much in fish just to break even. Confident and cocky Captain Tyler McLaughlin is determined to finish out the season as the No. 1 boat, and will let nothing get in his way -- even the fishing lines of other boats.

Charlie and Jake Griffin, with a $10,000 boat repair bill hanging over their heads, are desperate for a payday. Captain TJ Ott reaches out to southern captain Tami Gray, of the all-female team Reel Action, hoping that a new friendship will lead to a wealth of local knowledge. Captain Britton Shackelford's chances of landing his second keeper tuna will come down to whether his greenhorn son Austin can come through in a dangerous situation.

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.

Seven crews face the Outer Banks hoping to reel in a fish big enough to keep. But with the luck they have had so far, prospects are not looking good. The Fishin' Frenzy crew hauls in a big catch and cashes in. With barely a bite, the Doghouse is forced to head in and hope for better another day. The Hot Tuna crew is eager for their dry spell to end, and with the final reel, they catch one of their largest tuna yet, cashing in for over $9,000.

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.

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. The Doghouse and Fishin' Frenzy have the top spot in sight and are scrambling to keep catching before time runs out. Captain Griff on the Reels of Fortune faces 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.