The Deadliest Catch: Are You Hooked?

I must say, when I first saw the trailers for The Deadliest Catch, I really wasn't impressed. A show about a bunch of tired, grouchy men on freezing crab ships just does not seem all that appealing. After watching an episode however, I've discovered it's a heart-wrenching show about the most dangerous job in the world.

The Deadliest Catch, for those who are uninitiated to the show, is a documentary show chronicling the lives of crab fishermen. The majority of the crab fishing done on Earth is done in the region of the Bering Sea, between Alaska and Russia, and it is truly an unforgiving job site. Wild storms, freezing temperatures, and unpredictable Mother Nature make the sought-after crab worth their weight in gold. There are two types of crab typically fished and sold: King crab, which is typically fished for in the earlier season, and opilio crab, which is harvested later in January. King crab fetch a higher premium, as they are the much larger and meatier of the two species, but both are very valuable.

The show highlights different fishing boats and their crews, not only displaying their fishing prowess, but their true, raw human emotion. Crab fishermen put their lives on the line every time they venture out into the ocean in search of their elusive prey, and it's evident in watching the show. Babies are born, family members are sick, injured and occasionally lost, all while these men chase the crab prize, yet they return year after year in hopes of striking it rich.