12 Hours of Good Weather and a Race Against Time
“I give about 12 hours of good weather, and hopefully we can get out of here before the storm shuts us down.” Captain Keith Colburn spoke with urgency, urging his crew to make the most of their window. “Come on, come on, down… catch me some crab!” he said with a determined smile.
As always, the Wizard crew was working hard to catch enough crabs. But this time, things were different. Against all odds, something incredible was about to happen, leading the crew to a shocking discovery that had never been seen before on their journey.
A Surprising Discovery
So what exactly happened at sea? How massive was their find? Stick around, because we’re about to dive into the story of how the Wizard crew landed crabs worth a million dollars during their most dangerous catch yet.
At first, Captain Keith and his crew found themselves in a tough spot. They were struggling to reach their goal of catching crabs worth a quarter of a million dollars. Despite their efforts, they only managed to haul in a fraction of what they intended. Keith, being the sharp strategist that he is, realized the urgency and knew they needed to act fast. With their crab pots returning empty, it became clear that the prime spot for catching crabs had likely shifted. They were stranded in the vast expanse of the American ocean without a reliable source of crabs. But Keith wasn’t ready to give up.
Taking Control and Changing Course
Keith made a decision that would change everything. “At some point, we’re going to have to pull the plug and not fish because it’s just going to be too bad,” he said. He initiated a thorough inspection of the tanks, delegating the helm to the relief captain, Monty. Keith went below deck to examine the situation. After a careful inspection, he came up with a new plan. He had pinpointed a potential hot spot for crab gathering.
Excited by the discovery, Keith quickly relayed the news to his crew. With a new course in mind, they altered their plans and aimed to seize the remaining 3/4 of their lucrative quota before it was too late.
Precision and New Help
Recognizing the need for precision, Captain Keith decided to start from the ocean floor and work his way up. He instructed the crew to deploy the fishing pots about 3/4 of a mile away, confident that this location would give them the best chance of success. But when he saw his deckhands struggling to keep up with the workload, Keith realized more help was needed.
He decided to give another chance to Jacob, a deckhand he had previously let go. Keith had a serious conversation with him, laying down some ground rules. Jacob apologized for his past mistakes and asked to pitch in. Keith agreed, but warned him that there was no room for more errors. The crew was back at it, working together to make the most of their shot.
The Big Catch
The Wizard crew returned to the hot spot Keith had identified and were met with a massive haul. The crabs they pulled in were the largest they had seen all season—234 crabs in total! Everyone was thrilled with the fantastic outcome, and Keith was especially pleased with the catch. He was also glad that Jacob had stepped up and worked hard alongside the rest of the crew.
The hard work and collaboration paid off. Despite the challenges they had faced, the Wizard crew had another successful fishing trip.
Weathering the Storm
But, as always, the Bearing Sea is unpredictable. Even with all the excitement from the successful catch, they had to deal with equipment failures and the growing storm. However, their resolve remained unshaken. As the weather worsened, Jacob made sure the pots were securely tied to avoid any accidents. He knew that if the weather got worse, unsecured pots could either be thrown overboard or cause injury to someone on deck.
As predicted, the weather took a turn for the worse, forcing Keith to instruct the crew to relocate the pots to a safer spot. Fortunately, thanks to Jacob’s diligence, the pots remained secure despite the worsening conditions. With the pots safely relocated, the crew resumed fishing, and luck was on their side. They continued to pull up pots, each one brimming with crabs, surpassing their target with a total of 170 pots.
Battling the Elements and Facing New Dangers
Captain Keith now had another challenge: battling strong winds and rough seas. The ship was weighed down by giant blocks of ice, and they were navigating dangerous waters near the Russian border. The crew was in a race against time to free the Wizard from the ice, but even more danger awaited. Poachers were trying to steal their catch, a new threat the crew had never encountered before. Despite their best efforts to fend off the intruders, the suspicious vessel kept following them, raising concerns for the safety of their haul.
To avoid detection, Keith and Rick decided to take evasive action. They switched off their AIS system and made a series of moves to shake off the poaching vessel. Eventually, their plan worked, and the suspicious ship retreated.
Unexpected Fire Aboard
As if navigating through freezing conditions and fending off poachers wasn’t enough, an unexpected fire broke out in the kitchen. The crew quickly sprang into action, and Roger took control, using the fire extinguisher to stop the blaze from escalating. They later traced the cause to an old, faulty heater, and with everyone safe, they made the necessary repairs to prevent future risks.
The Crew Behind The Wizard
Through all these challenges, the crew’s resilience shone through. Captain Keith’s leadership and the crew’s dedication ensured their success, even as they faced the most dangerous catch of their careers. Keith, Monty, Gary, Freddy, Roger, and the rest of the team formed a tight-knit group that could overcome anything the Bearing Sea threw at them.
The Wizard’s success isn’t just due to its size and capabilities; it’s the skilled and committed team that works together, day after day, to keep the ship running and secure those million-dollar catches. Despite the obstacles they face, the Wizard remains one of the top vessels in the fleet, a true testament to the crew’s hard work and determination.
