Plot Synopsis

WICKED TUNA follows Gloucester, MA bluefin tuna fishermen, as they use sustainable methods that employ old-fashioned hook-and-rod to catch fish during the 10 weeks of peak fishing when the tuna are migrating and can be caught in the greatest numbers. Part adventurers and gamblers, part master fishermen and mechanics, these captains risk everything for one chance to score a "diamond," the tuna with the highest-quality, sashimi-grade meat that brings anywhere between $3,000 and $15,000 in peak season. The crews include: Tuna.com crew (Captain Dave Carraro, Sandro Maniaci, Paul Hebert); Bounty Hunter crew (Captain Bill Monte, Donna Monte, Scott Ferriero); Odysea crew (Captain Ralph Wilkins, 'Pirate' Kit Vallee); Christina crew (Captain Kevin Leonowert, Scott Prentiss, Blair Denman); and Hard Merchandise crew (Captain Dave Marciano, Jason Muenzner).

This series returned for its second season on Sunday, January 13, 2013 at 9pm ET on Nat Geo, featuring all five boats from Season 1, plus one extra vessel, the Pin Wheel, with Captain Tyler McLaughlin and first mates Adam Moser and Alex Whitney.

WICKED TUNA returned for its third season on Sunday, February 16, 2014 at 9pm ET/PT on Nat Geo, with Dave Marciano, Dave Carraro, Bill Monte, Tyler McLaughlin, and Paul Hebert being joined by two new captains: Bill Muniz of the Lilly and TJ Ott of Hot Tuna.

On Sunday, February 15, 2015 at 9pm ET/PT, Nat Geo premiered the fourth season of WICKED TUNA. Last season, Captain Dave Carraro of the FV-Tuna.com easily bested the rest of the fleet for the second time, while his rival, Captain Tyler McLaughlin of the Pin Wheel, suffered the worst season of his career. One captain is driven to repeat his success, the other is trying to save his reputation -- but both must watch out for their competition. Season 4 also welcomes back: Dave Marciano of the Hard Merchandise, who fared well in Gloucester last season but is disadvantaged by the age and speed of his vessel; Captain TJ Ott of the Hot Tuna, who is looking to redeem himself after a slow season last year and has enlisted the help of his younger brother, Mike, to get things back on track; Captain Paul Hebert, who is back at the helm of a new boat, the Kelly Ann, and is ready to make his mark this season; and fan favorites Captain Bill and Donna Monte of the Bounty Hunter. Season 4 also showcases newcomer boat Drama, captained by Paul Cheney, and the high-intensity action of harpoon season with veteran boat Lily, captained by Bill 'Hollywood' Muniz, facing off against Captain Greg Chorebanian of the Kristiana. Season 4 begins with opening day of the new bluefin season, and every captain in Gloucester is angling to bring in the first catch and send a powerful message to the rest of the fleet.

Season 5 of WICKED TUNA premiered on Monday, February 1, 2016 at 9pm ET/PT on Nat Geo. The fifth season picks up with some captains still struggling after a rough winter season captured in spinoff series WICKED TUNA: OUTER BANKS. After one of his best seasons ever in Gloucester and finishing on top of the fleet, Captain Dave Marciano of the Hard Merchandise decided to leave the Outer Banks early before a rough fishing season ate into his profits. Now back in familiar seas, Marciano is out to prove that last season's success in Gloucester was no fluke. Marciano isn't the only captain with something to prove. Captain Dave Carraro of the FV-Tuna.com finished in an embarrassing third place last season, and is determined to make sure that never happens again. This season, he has a new boat designed to better handle long trips at sea, ensuring that he can stay out for as long as necessary to regain first place. And after years of fishing as a mate or captaining other fishermen's vessels, Captain Paul Hebert is finally at the helm of his own boat, the Wicked Pissah. He's hired a first-rate crew to help him succeed, but after years of talking himself up on the docks, this season could make or break his reputation. Rounding out the fleet are fan favorites Captain Tyler McLaughlin of the Pinwheel and Captain TJ Ott of the Hot Tuna. The fifth season also showcases the high-intensity action of harpoon season with veteran boat Lily, captained by Bill "Hollywood" Muniz, facing off against his rival, Captain Greg Chorebanian of the Kristiana. This season, the fleet contends with some extra competition from the north, as newcomer Captain Pete Speeches of the Erin & Sarah leaves his home port in Maine to fish in Gloucester waters. Speeches is a skilled fisherman with decades of experience, and his arrival makes the local captains nervous. Speeches fishes with his oldest daughter, Erin, a recent college graduate who is embarking on her first season of commercial fishing.

Season 6 of WICKED TUNA premiered on Sunday, March 12, 2017 at 9pm ET/PT on Nat Geo. In the season opener, "The First Fish Is the Hardest," it's the opening week of the North Atlantic bluefin tuna season, and for the fishermen of Gloucester, Massachusetts, the summer ahead promises the chance for lucrative paydays. The elusive first fish of the season can bring big money and bragging rights for the lucky captain who lands it. Old rivals and a new competitor will battle for the No. 1 spot on the leaderboard. The race is on, and no one's going down without a fight. Then, in the second episode, it's a long-standing tradition in commercial fishing to treat other fishermen with respect, but not every captain plays by the rules. A good deed by Captain Tyler McLaughlin earns the Pinwheel some positive karma in return. Meanwhile, Captain Dave Carraro, frustrated with the FV-Tuna.com's dry spell, resorts to desperate measures. But what goes around comes around, and Dave's shady tactics could make his luck even worse.

WICKED TUNA returned for its seventh season on Sunday, March 11, 2018 at 9pm ET/PT on Nat Geo, with a 90-minute season opener. Last season, the competition to be the top-earning boat in Gloucester came down to the final weigh-in, with one captain pulling ahead by just $19. Now, a new season dawns and with it, new opportunities to settle old scores, forge fresh beginnings and bring in lucrative paychecks. And as the captains battle it out, the next generation of commercial fishermen find their place in the fleet. Season 7 finds the captains in need of redemption. Captain Dave Marciano of the Hard Merchandise is out to turn things around after a disappointing season in Gloucester last year, in which he caught only five fish and landed near the bottom of the leaderboard. Over on the Hot Tuna, Captain TJ Ott had a dismal season in the Outer Banks, finishing in an embarrassing last place. Meanwhile, Captain Tyler McLaughlin of the Pinwheel is on a hot streak. Armed with a new boat and a skilled mate, McLaughlin fished hard against a talented Southern fleet in the Outer Banks and came in a very close second, a haunting echo of his previous season in Gloucester, when he barely missed the top spot. In order to succeed, McLaughlin will have to best a skilled group of competitors, including last season's champion, Captain Dave Carraro of the FV-Tuna.com, who has claimed the top spot four times in the past six years and is confident he can repeat that success again this year.

Season 8 of WICKED TUNA premiered on Sunday, March 10, 2019 from 9-10:30pm ET/PT on Nat Geo, immediately following a one-hour special (8pm): "Season 7 Flashback" (8pm; 60-minute special): A recap of the previous season of WICKED TUNA, the series' seventh season. "Battle Cry" (9pm; 90-minute season premiere): It's opening day of the bluefin tuna season; after a mediocre performance in the Outer Banks, Capt. Dave Marciano is ready for his first season aboard his new boat, the Falcon; Capt. Tyler McLaughlin copes with the unexpected loss of his mate.

WICKED TUNA returned for its ninth season on Sunday, March 1, 2020 at 9pm ET/PT on Nat Geo, immediately following a one-hour special (8pm) that takes a look back at the previous season. In the 90-minute season opener, "The Enemy Among Us," veteran captains are challenged when they're pitted against a new fleet of outsiders, including: Bob Cook, captaining the Fat Tuna; Zack Plante and Charles Boivan captaining the F/V Wasabi; and Samuel Law and Carrie Law-Jones captaining the F/V Kraken.

The tenth season of WICKED TUNA debuted on Sunday, February 21, 2021 from 9-10:40pm ET/PT on Nat Geo, immediately following a one-hour special (8pm) that highlights the previous season. In Season 10, the coronavirus pandemic adds unprecedented challenges to this year's bluefin season. With restaurants closed and demand at an unprecedented low, the fishermen coordinate to keep the fish market afloat by not flooding the market with tuna. Season 10 captains include: reigning champ T.J. Ott (Hot Tuna); the winningest captain, Dave Carraro (FV-Tuna.com); Dave Marciano (Hard Merchandise); Paul Hebert (Wicked Pissah); Tyler McLaughlin (Pinwheel); Bob Cook (Fat Tuna); and new captains Jack Patrican (Time Flies) and Spurge Krasowski (Moonshine).

Season 11 of WICKED TUNA premiered on Sunday, February 27, 2022 from 9-10:30pm ET/PT on Nat Geo. All eight captains from last season return for the eleventh season. In the 90-minute season opener, "Back on the Hunt," Bluefin season opens and the fleet begins to bounce back after last year's bad economy.

On Sunday, February 26, 2023 at 9pm ET/PT, National Geographic Channel premiered the 12th season of WICKED TUNA, immediately followed by a second new episode at 10pm. Last year's season ended with a frenzied race to the finish, with four boats scrambling to catch the final fish that would make all the difference. Captain Bob Cook of the Fat Tuna (@CaptainBobCook) finished at the top of the fleet last season and is out to prove that his success was no fluke. But he will have to defend his title against a fleet of worthy competitors, including the youngest of the bunch, Captain Jack Patrican of Time Flies (@Time_Flies_Charters). Patrican was the runner-up last season, proving that experience isn't always necessary to finish at the top. Meanwhile, Captain Dave Carraro of the FV-Tuna.com (@TunaDotCom), has won the title more than anyone else in Gloucester, and the four-time champion is determined to use his experience to finish on top this year. Captain Tyler McLaughlin of the Pinwheel (@PinWheelFV) is also no stranger to winning and has a new boat that he believes will give him the competitive edge to bring home the title. And fan favorite Captain Dave Marciano of the Hard Merchandise (@FVHardMerch), coming off a strong season last year, returns in competitive spirits as he aims to prove his place at the top of the fleet. And looking to put last season behind them are Captain Paul Hebert of the Wicked Pissah (@PissahTunaPaul), who floundered after a falling out with his mate derailed his chances, and Captain T.J. Ott of the Hot Tuna (@tjhottuna), who struggled to compete while grieving with the passing of his beloved dog, Reba. But these Gloucester veterans will have to contend with a new captain who is already making big waves in the industry. Captain Michelle Bancewicz of the No Limits (@fv_no_limits) joins the fleet with her first mate Lea Pinaud. Bancewicz caused a splash last year after a video of her catching a 600 lb bluefin tuna by herself became a viral sensation, and she's got the skills and the drive to shake up the competition.

WICKED TUNA returned for its 13th season on Sunday, March 3, 2024 at 9pm ET/PT on National Geographic Channel. The 12-episdoe new season features eight fishing captains who are chasing bluefin tuna. The Season 12 champion, Captain T.J. Ott, returns to defend his second title. Captain Bob Cook, who was edged out for the last season's crown on the last catch, returns for redemption. Captain Dave Marciano is back on deck for another season, following the death of this father as well as his own health issues. Captain Michelle Bancewicz of No Limits looks to further her career during her second season on the series. The other captains in Season 13 are: Dave Carraro of FV-Tuna.com; Tyler McLaughlin of Pinwheel; Jack Patrican on Time Flies; and Paul Hebert of Wicked Pissah.
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On Sunday, May 26, 2024 at 9pm ET/PT, National Geographic Channel debuted "End of a Sea Monster Season," the Season 13 finale of WICKED TUNA, where three former champs battle for the win.