Deadliest Catch

S01E05 Dead of Winter

As the Opilio crab season approaches, the weather forecast predicts icy and perilous conditions. On a chilly, rainy January day—when daylight barely lasts six hours—171 vessels set sail from Dutch Harbor, Alaska, venturing up to 450 miles northwest in pursuit of crab. Shortly after departure, one captain is compelled to turn back for repairs due to smoke and heat, only to learn that a distress signal has been activated from a nearby boat. Meanwhile, gale warnings crackle over the radio, cautioning crews about the hazardous ice that could accumulate on the crab pots and potentially capsize their boats. At last, the season commences at noon, prompting the fleet to push aside their feelings and start fishing.