When the Jeffersonian team investigates the remains of a college psychology professor, the victim’s controversial social experiments on his grad students garners a list of highly motivated suspects. Meanwhile, Booth is sidelined with online traffic school, causing Brennan to team up with Aubrey, and Wendell struggles with his feelings towards a chemotherapy treatment nurse.
The Jeffersonian team unravels an unexpectedly competitive world of mini-golf as they try to piece together the murder of the sport’s superstar. Meanwhile, Brennan is worried her father Max is reverting to his criminal tendencies and “squintern” Wendell Bray, enlists Hodgins to help him fix his girlfriend’s family heirloom.
After receiving intelligence that the ports have been breached, placing the Navy and the Gulf Coast in harm's way, Pride and the NCIS team follow every angle to determine what has entered their city and how they can put a stop to the Broussard Syndicate, who seem to always be one step ahead of them. Dylan Walsh, Steven Weber and Stacy Keach guest star.
Pride is adamant the elusive "Baitfish" has returned and, in attempt to locate his nemesis, he has the team investigate crime scenes and chase leads from New Orleans to Charleston, SC.
To send a message to Pride, Baitfish murders someone close to the NCIS team, prompting a citywide manhunt for the elusive criminal. Dylan Walsh guest stars.