Deadliest Catch

The latest episode of Deadliest Catch rejoins the rescue attempt on board the US Coast Guard helicopter as it struggles flying it’s rescued passenger back to Cold Bay.  Flying straight back through the center of the approaching low pressure system, means strong headwinds, and the ever increasing danger of icing up causing eventual engine failure.  In addition, the helicoptor is running low on fuel and would be literally flying on flumes when they arrived.  Deciding not to risk the lives of the entire crew to save one man, they turn around and return to St. Paul.  Luckily upon landing they meet a civilian pilot who agrees to fly the patient to Anchorage for medical attention.

Meanwhile on the Cornelia Marie, Capt. Phil and crew are still battling heavy seas running on only one good engine.  They decide to ride out the rest of the storm at anchor, but the heavy seas soon take their toll on the anchor line which only adds further to their list of needed repairs.  Aftor the storm subside they are able to slowly limp back to Dutch Harbor, where they are met by the local boat mechanic.  The prognosis is not good, as the actual problem cannot be determined, leaving Capt. Phil with a difficult decision to either fish the rest of the season on one good engine or call it quits while the engine can be completely taken apart and worked on.

Having similarly bad luck is Capt. Keith on the Wizard.  Although mechanically everything has been sound, the equipment has not been kept in proper shape and pots are being pulled up with holes and open doors.  Leading to the Captains frustration, is the greenhorn Moi who has given Captain about all he can take.  Captain Keith orders a quick meeting with the crew and lashes out at them as well as their work ethic.  The crew continues back to work but then the greenhorn makes a huge mistake and returns to the wheelhouse to confront the Captain in an episode he would soon regret.

Over on the Time Bandit, Capt. Andy had taken the advice of his brother Jonathan on where to drop their first strings.  The results are not overwhelming as they average only about 175 crabs per pot.  He decides to think for himself and moves the pots over to an area known as “Maggoo”.  After a full soak the crew is delighted to find much more crabs per pot, many as high as 1100 per pot.  Meanwhile luck on the Northwestern is almost as good as the weary crew as been pulling pots for 24 hours straight, while managing an average of around 675 crabs per pot.  Although the crew is tired they know they are far on their way to filling their tanks and cashing in on the thousands of dollars of “opillio” gold up for grabs.