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Before complaining about the market price of Alaska king crab, check out this gripping documentary series, revealing the mortal perils and intense discomfort that fishing crews face on the Bering Sea to catch the delicacy. Those perils include 40-foot waves, 700-pound crab pots that can easily crush a careless crewman, and freezing temperatures around the clock.

Reality · 2005 · 43 min

Starring Sig Hansen , Edgar Hansen , Keith Colburn

EPISODE 1

Greenhorns

Fifteen hundred fishermen have converged on Dutch Harbor, Alaska, for the beginning of the Alaskan King Crab season. Each man is here to stake his claim on the 14,267,000 pounds of crab and the chance to earn a year's wages in just one week.

43 min · Apr 12, 2005
EPISODE 2

Sleepless Nights

After a long night of baiting and setting crab pots, the fishermen anxiously await the captain's call to begin fishing. The first pot pulled of the season sets the mood. The early losers agonize over strategy hoping to make up for a lost catch.

43 min · Apr 19, 2005
EPISODE 3

Lady Luck

It's hour 42 of the season and every captain feels the pressure. The Alaskan Department of Fish and Game announces an early closure to the season. Each boat has 24 hours to pull the pots they have in the water out.

43 min · Apr 26, 2005
EPISODE 4

Beat the Clock

With less than half a day left in the Alaskan king crab season, the crews race the clock to get as much crab as they can. When the race to unload begins, minutes can mean the difference between unloading immediately, and waiting in the harbor for days.

43 min · May 3, 2005
EPISODE 5

Dead of Winter

It is the dead of winter in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, where the days are a mere 6 hours long. The forecast for crab fishing is cold and dangerous. But opelio crab season is just about to begin and 171 boats begin the long journey to find them.

45 min · May 10, 2005
EPISODE 6

Man Overboard

The 2005 Opelio crab season didn't start it stumbled! The Big Valley sunk and its crew are still missing. "Good Samaritan" boats help search for survivors in the frigid Bering Sea. Soon though, it's 170 boats left fishing, and then tragedy strikes again.

43 min · May 17, 2005