This Action-Packed Fishing Series Gives ‘Deadliest Catch’ a Run for Its Money

Ever since Deadliest Catch premiered, other reality shows have been hard-pressed to match the thrills it brings to the screen. After all, not many shows have a high-concept hook like “filming the trials fishermen endure during the crab fishing seasons.” Prior to Deadliest Catch, there was another show that packed plenty of adrenaline and sea life into its runtime, and that’s Addictive Fishing. Co-created by Captain Blair Wiggins and Kevin McCabe, Addictive Fishing features Wiggins traveling the globe in search of a variety of different fish. However, the fish he’s looking for tend to be gargantuan in size, leading to what Wiggins calls “rod-bendin’, drag-screamin’ television.”

‘Addictive Fishing’ Was Born Out of a Lifelong Friendship

The seeds for Addictive Fishing were planted during Wiggins and McCabe’s childhood, according to the official website. The two would meet up after school to go fishing, and ended up calling their catches “mogans,” a portmanteau of the word “biggans” (which Wiggins used as a Florida native) and “monsters” (what McCabe referred to, regarding the size of the fish). Years later, they reunited, pooling together McCabe’s experience as a television producer and Wiggins’ skill as a professional fishing guide to launch Addictive Fishing.

Addictive Fishing would also set the bar high in its premiere episode, which saw Wiggins going out to the Florida Keys to fish for barracuda. McCabe says there was one moment in filming the pilot where he knew he had a hit on his hands:

The highlight of this episode was a monster barracuda followed the lure up to the boat, breached the surface of the water on hookset and proceeded to peel off line at a blistering rate. One of the most epic barracuda runs I’ve ever seen and it happened right in front of the cameraman. I knew this was going to be a fun episode, and I knew that Addictive Fishing was going to be a huge success.

That feeling turned out to be prophetic. Addictive Fishing lasted for a grand total of 12 seasons and 20 years and managed to stand out due to a few key factors.

‘Addictive Fishing’ Offset Its Intense Fishing With an Approachable Host

Each episode of Addictive Fishing usually begins the same way: Wiggins will detail where exactly he is, and what kind of fish he plans to catch. What follows is probably the most 2000s-era opening theme ever, as footage shows Wiggins casting his line and whooping excitedly while he holds fish of varying sizes. Topping it all off is a guitar riff, along with some massive graphics — the most notable is the Addictive Fishing logo, which is bright orange and takes up a great deal of the screen. As far as TV intros go, it’s definitely attention-grabbing.

Addictive Fishing also doesn’t skimp on the display of “mogans” that Wiggins is hunting for. Throughout its run, he’d catch bluefin tuna, gator trout, and other impossibly huge fish. One episode even features him attempting to complete a “Grand Slam,” which is catching a tarpon, bonefish, and a permit at the same time. For context, these fish are referred to as “the big three” due to their popularity, and catching them all in a single day is a Herculean feat — something Wiggins managed to pull off. Addictive Fishing also showcases Wiggins’ easygoing nature, which really shines whenever he has a guest on board his boat. The various guests might vary in skill or age, but they all share Wiggins’ passion for fishing, and the banter is just as fun as the sport.

Blair Wiggins Continued His Outdoors Adventures After ‘Addictive Fishing’

Even though Addictive Fishing went off the air, Blair Wiggins is still hosting his own television show. Blair Wiggins Outdoors features Wiggins continuing to hunt down rare fish with fellow wildlife enthusiasts, but there’s also a new twist: He’ll share tips from his career with the audience and even instruct them on how to prepare the fish they catch. It’s a nice mix of the action-packed format he pioneered with Addictive Fishing, not to mention a unique angle that sets it apart from other fishing shows. After all, have you ever seen the Deadliest Catch crews talking about how they like their crab?