Swords

[kingair]

Premiers tonight on Discovery.

http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/swords/

This series enters the high risk world of New England's long line fishermen who risk all to catch an elusive prey in some of the most dangerous waters on the planet. They are uniformly tough and resilient and they need to be as every day could be their last.

They hunt swordfish -- magnificent giants of the deep that can weigh over a thousand pounds. The best time to catch these migratory fish is every Fall when they can be found in the waters around the Grand Banks off Newfoundland and the Georges Bank off the Gulf of Maine. These waters are also home to some of the wildest storms on earth. Cold fronts racing in from Canada meet hurricanes from the south and the results are a truly awe inspiring display of power by nature – the most famous example being "The Perfect Storm" of 1991.

This series follows four boats (The Eagle Eye II, Big Eye, Seahawk & Frances Ann) that head into these stormy waters hoping to hit the jackpot. The skippers of the boats use every ounce of experience and knowledge they have to try and find the fish. The risks are incredible. It costs around $60,000 to make the month long journey and they need to catch thousands of pounds of fish just to break even. One big fish can be worth as much as $20,000 so a trip can turn from disaster to success in seconds. Each skipper has his best spots and knows how to read the waters and temperatures to try and find the best fish. Once the fish are caught, it's a race back to market where the first back gets the highest prices.

This job is physically and mentally exhausting. Twenty hour days are the norm. Six inch hooks fly off the deck attached to a 40 mile long line and can take a deck hand down 100 feet deep in seconds. Fishing gear can be dragged away and destroyed by monster trawlers from foreign fleets who have no respect for fellow fishermen. And even if the crew catches plenty of fish, they still have to make it home alive.

The rewards are great but the risks are even greater. It's a gamble where lives are on the line.

[240 LTS]

Damn Shawn Hannity, I missed it!

There's always next week.

How was the first one?

[Lprizman]

saw it,,a little slow going, have to wait it out,,,,,

I have seen alot of people elsewhere bitching about the style of fishing,,,,

[DJWILLIAMS]

I missed it too, I will try and catch it next week. I love shows like that, and I especially loved the movie the Perfect Storm, I have watch that move hundreds of times!

David

[seagull22]

Caught part of the episode, showed that they do not just sling out line and spool in big fish, fish has to be worked with the big winch, at least the live ones. Still has the usual drama like the other shows.

Edited August 12, 2009 by seagull22

[240 LTS]

OK fellas, it's on again!

Jeff

[yottyboy]

I think all this was covered in the book "A Perfect Storm" followed by the film version. The real life version cannot be anywhere near as interesting or dramatic.

[crash1371]

I watched the 2 episodes last night it brought back a lot of memories for me as a commercial salmon fisherman.Nothing like long lining. But I do know desperation and taking chances. And that gut feeling.I do like to see how things are done with other fishing.I do hope that the bycatch does get released to make it another day with the circle hook

Edited August 19, 2009 by TimW Texas

[240 LTS]

How is this different than "Whale Wars"? Yes I know they aren't harpooning the swords and they are not an endangered species but they are brought aboard and prepped for the ice alive. In other words they don't kill them first then start the cutting. There was a bit not edited out last night where the "Prep" started as soon as the hook was out. He started cutting a fin off (gutting them alive) then the scene changed.

Don't get me wrong, I am not gong to get in my boat and go out there and try to stop them from doing what is legal, I'm just asking if you have a problem with the whalers, do you have a problem with the sword fisherman tactics.

Edited August 19, 2009 by 240 LTS

[autobaun70]

How is this different than "Whale Wars"? Yes I know they aren't harpooning the swords and they are not an endangered species but they are brought aboard and prepped for the ice alive. In other words they don't kill them first then start the cutting. There was a bit not edited out last night where the "Prep" started as soon as the hook was out. He started cutting a fin off (gutting them alive) then the scene changed.

Don't get me wrong, I am not gong to get in my boat and go out there and try to stop them from doing what is legal, I'm just asking if you have a problem with the whalers, do you have a problem with the sword fisherman tactics.

I haven't seen the show, and could personally care less about eating swords, however what you describe sounds like proper prep to me for a large fish, especially one that is going to be kept on board for more than a couple of hours. Not too much different than how you would prep a tuna.