Wicked Tuna

[Jim in CT]

New season started this past week. My wife, who cannot fathom why anyone goes fishing (other than to eat fresh fish, but she can't grasp what we put ourselves through, and all the waiting, and the Godforesaken hours), loves the show. It's one of only two shows we watch together (Walking Dead is the other).

I don't know anything about this fishery, I am sure a lot of stuff is sensationalized for ratings. But I like watching the captains all making fun of the trust fund baby / pothead on the Pinwheel, and I love watching that jolly, enormous guy on the 'Hot Tuna' with his 2 Rotweillers going berserk every time they hook up.

Does anyone know...are these captains, among the cream of the crop, in that fishery? Or are they just selected for being entertaining?

And how do you not root for Marciano on the Hard Merchandise?

[wdmso]

Originally Posted by Jim in CT

New season started this past week. My wife, who cannot fathom why anyone goes fishing (other than to eat fresh fish, but she can't grasp what we put ourselves through, and all the waiting, and the Godforesaken hours), loves the show. It's one of only two shows we watch together (Walking Dead is the other).

I don't know anything about this fishery, I am sure a lot of stuff is sensationalized for ratings. But I like watching the captains all making fun of the trust fund baby / pothead on the Pinwheel, and I love watching that jolly, enormous guy on the 'Hot Tuna' with his 2 Rotweillers going berserk every time they hook up.

Does anyone know...are these captains, among the cream of the crop, in that fishery? Or are they just selected for being entertaining?

And how do you not root for Marciano on the Hard Merchandise?

And how do you not root for Marciano on the Hard Merchandise?

I like him he just fishes the dot com guy he puts fish in the boat its all scripted

[Clammer]

Still gotta catch them

Dave c on the .com is a airplane pilot . so this is bonus money ....................... Dave marcinio should stay up north & skip the outta bank series .But then again someone told me ???? each boat gets 70K a series ><><>

[Jim in CT]

Originally Posted by wdmso

And how do you not root for Marciano on the Hard Merchandise?

I like him he just fishes the dot com guy he puts fish in the boat its all scripted

I am sure it is largely scripted.

Originally Posted by Clammer

Still gotta catch them

Dave c on the .com is a airplane pilot . so this is bonus money ....................... Dave marcinio should stay up north & skip the outta bank series .But then again someone told me ???? each boat gets 70K a series ><><>

This season's premiere, the kid on the Pinwheel supposedly fought a 500 pounder for 12 hours. If that wasn't scripted, that's pretty cool.

I am sure they get some kind of compensation like that, plus I am sure that with the TV exposure, the captains are selling merchandise on their websites and get appearance fees now. At one point it was the highest rated show on that network (National Geographic?).

[beamie]

It's a great show if you don't know the gig.

Sensationalized, scripted etc. not much reality in reality tv.

Nice to watch in the winter. Just divid all the prices by 3 at least. Yes sometimes some tuna take 12 hours to land. It happens but then you'll be lucky if the buyer says $2 a lb.

Still fun to watch.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[nightfighter]

Yes, the price per pound quoted is BS. Really don't see the reasoning to inflate those prices....
Saw Dave from dotcom and Ralph from seasons past at RISAA, but had no interest in even making eye contact, nevermind conversation or buying merchandise. Life is too short.
I wonder if Natgeo is ever going to show how they bleed, clean, and ice the fish properly to protect the meat quality.... They educate the viewer on every other aspect it seems except this.
I would like to see Sandro get his own gig. Even if they don't have cameras onboard. There are a number of guys who are as good or better than the captains on the show, but they would not consider having a film crew onboard.
I don't think they get that much (70k) per show. Whatever the number is, it is nowhere near what the Deadliest Catch captains get.

[Clammer]

Ross , I heard 70k per series ????

[nightfighter]

I stand corrected, Mike. Misread your post.

[Clammer]

no big deal ><>

[piemma]

Originally Posted by wdmso

And how do you not root for Marciano on the Hard Merchandise?

I like him he just fishes the dot com guy he puts fish in the boat its all scripted

I agree. Love that guy! He's the real deal.

[MakoMike]

According to Dave Marciano, there are a lot of goings on that they don't air on the show. Bleeding and icing tuna is just one of them. Notice you never see them rigging up? Ever see one of them use a bomb or a kite?

[Raider Ronnie]

Originally Posted by MakoMike

According to Dave Marciano, there are a lot of goings on that they don't air on the show. Bleeding and icing tuna is just one of them. Notice you never see them rigging up? Ever see one of them use a bomb or a kite?

Would people expect them to give their bank account numbers and passwords also ?
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[nightfighter]

Originally Posted by Raider Ronnie

Would people expect them to give their bank account numbers and passwords also ?
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

I find it difficult to see how processing a fish properly even remotely compares to the private information you list.......

[niko]

i'm pretty sure nat geo doesn't want to show the general public how a tuna gets processed. the peta/pew crowd would lose their minds, that might be fun

[beamie]

Kind of like when they were showing the harpoon boat they never mention the whole zapper thing and instant death to the fish. Don't think the public would go for that.........

[Guppy]

They'd love watching me stomp blue fish on the head with the heel on my knee highs, hook come out easy after that move....

[nightfighter]

Originally Posted by niko

i'm pretty sure nat geo doesn't want to show the general public how a tuna gets processed. the peta/pew crowd would lose their minds, that might be fun

Originally Posted by beamie

Kind of like when they were showing the harpoon boat they never mention the whole zapper thing and instant death to the fish. Don't think the public would go for that.........

All true, but it is NatGeo and reality TV...........

[niko]

Reality my ass
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[Raider Ronnie]

Originally Posted by nightfighter

I find it difficult to see how processing a fish properly even remotely compares to the private information you list.......

Why would anyone of them want to teach the viewers how to properly prep a fish, rig a dead/stick bait or rig tackle ???
It's the difference between guys who know what they are doing and making $ and those who don't and the fish ending up as cat food.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[Got Stripers]

Originally Posted by Guppy

They'd love watching me stomp blue fish on the head with the heel on my knee highs, hook come out easy after that move....

Did Clammer teach you that one

[Got Stripers]

Originally Posted by niko

Reality my ass
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Can't watch it, just does nothing for me, IMHO one of the best fishing shows ever was the Spanish Fly; man do I miss that show.

[Clammer]

notice I said nothing Bob ><><

[bassballer]

Originally Posted by Got Stripers

Can't watch it, just does nothing for me, IMHO one of the best fishing shows ever was the Spanish Fly; man do I miss that show.

Spanish fly was the all time great fishing show. Theres your difference. Wicked Tuna is not a Fishing show. Its a reality show about tuna fishing.

[Jim in CT]

Originally Posted by bassballer

Spanish fly was the all time great fishing show. Theres your difference. Wicked Tuna is not a Fishing show. Its a reality show about tuna fishing.

I also liked Walkers Cay Chronicles.

On Wicked Tuna, the captains never, ever haggle price with the buyer. On the show, the buyer says "I'll give you $X a pound", and the captain says "deal". There is never any back and forth. Is that how it goes in real life?

[Rockfish9]

Originally Posted by Jim in CT

I am sure it is largely scripted.



This season's premiere, the kid on the Pinwheel supposedly fought a 500 pounder for 12 hours. If that wasn't scripted, that's pretty cool.

I am sure they get some kind of compensation like that, plus I am sure that with the TV exposure, the captains are selling merchandise on their websites and get appearance fees now. At one point it was the highest rated show on that network (National Geographic?).

12 hours and the fish was primo..perfect core..I've cooked 'em in 45 minutes...

[Rockfish9]

Originally Posted by Got Stripers

Can't watch it, just does nothing for me, IMHO one of the best fishing shows ever was the Spanish Fly; man do I miss that show.

Jose' was awesome... X2 on missing that...I only got sucked into watching W.T. because there was NOTHIING else on.. and I needed to be bored to sleep..

[tlapinski]

Originally Posted by bassballer

Wicked Tuna is not a Fishing show. Its a reality show about tuna fishing.

BINGO! Anyone who thinks that WT is a fishing show doesn't really know fishing. I've spoken to a couple of the WT captains over the years and been filled in on some of the inner-workings of how they "get the shot" for the show. I never looked at the show the same after getting a look behind the curtain and pretty much never watch it now. Even my 4-year-old son finds it boring and he'll watch anything fishing-related on TV.

[Jim in CT]

Originally Posted by Rockfish9

12 hours and the fish was primo..perfect core..I've cooked 'em in 45 minutes...

The exertion causes some kind of acid buildup or something? I hadn't seen a fight nearly that long in the whole series, my wife was wondering if it would effect the quality of the meat.

Do you fish for them a lot? Must be something to see such an animal. Amazing beauty and power. I have a few small yellowfins under my belt, nothing like that. I also liked seeing the whales last night, lots of whales in some scenes..

I get that it's scripted and heavily edited, and I'm sure that experienced tuna fisherman find some of it laughably un-realistic.

I'm not watching it as a "how-to" instruction video for catching giants. But especially as an ignoramus, I do find a few aspects of the show to be entertaining and worth watching. I dunno, for me, it's worth watching just to see the wildlife, the beautiful New England harbors they go in and out of, and getting some kind of glimpse into what it's like...watching them catch bait, how the winner might catch a bakers' dozen fish over an entire season, seeing how much hard work goes into it, how hard it must be in the dark, in stormy weather..

And they are getting better with the photography - more underwater shots, more drone shots from above.

And I like watching TJ's Rottweillers go berserk every time they hook up.

[spinncognito]

Being from Gloucester I have watched a few of the landings and witnessed the filming of "Takes" to get the best reactions. It is entertainment and the scenery coming in and out of our harbor and river is very cool.

[buckman]

Originally Posted by Jim in CT

I also liked Walkers Cay Chronicles.

On Wicked Tuna, the captains never, ever haggle price with the buyer. On the show, the buyer says "I'll give you $X a pound", and the captain says "deal". There is never any back and forth. Is that how it goes in real life?

No , in real life you find out a week or more after you catch it , what you are getting and you're almost always disappointed .
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device