Brenna A Is Being Ripped Apart By Powerful Rouge Waves! | Deadliest Catch

Battling the Elements: A Young Captain’s Struggle in the Bearing Sea

The unpredictability of the weather can be just as brutal as the challenge of catching crabs in the Bearing Sea. For 23-year-old Captain Shawn DWI, his second season as a skipper has been a tough test of both skill and resilience. After a promising start with a big catch on his first set, things have quickly turned sour. With fishing numbers sliding almost as dramatically as the weather, Shawn is facing the harsh reality of life on the sea.

“I need good fishing,” Shawn says, frustration clear in his voice. “I’ve got to prove myself capable of catching these crabs by the end of the year for Sig. Sig took a big risk trusting me to catch it, and if we can get this stuff knocked out and do a good job, hopefully, that’ll lead to more crab. But right now, we’re having slow fishing.”

In addition to the poor fishing, the weather has been nothing short of hostile. The relentless waves and strong winds make the already dangerous work even more perilous. “It’s extra Bearing Sea today,” Shawn notes, as large waves crash against the boat. The conditions are pushing everyone to their limits.

Despite the challenges, the crew presses on. “I’m frankly pretty impressed with how these guys are doing in this weather,” says Shawn, watching his team work tirelessly on deck. “Come on, BR, watch yourself.” But things quickly take a dangerous turn when one of the crew members, Brit, misses a pocket with a pan on the sorting table, causing it to swing back dangerously. Quick thinking saves him from a potentially fatal accident.

“If that thing had swung back, it would have guillotined him for sure,” Shawn reflects. “It’s a reminder of how dangerous this job can be when the weather is as bad as it is.”

The relentless storm doesn’t show any signs of easing up, and the crew is forced to make a difficult decision. “The crab aren’t worth somebody getting hurt over,” Shawn says, acknowledging the immense risk they face. After battling the elements for hours, Shawn admits, “I can’t see what’s in front of me, so it’s not conducive to safe fishing. I don’t want to find out how good we really are in these conditions.”

As a young captain, the pressure is immense. “To have someone like Sig offer me this opportunity really establishes who I am in the industry,” Shawn shares. “I really only have this shot to make it, but at the end of the day, safety comes first.”

The weather is what makes this job so deadly, and Shawn isn’t willing to risk the safety of his crew for the sake of fishing. “It’s the 30-foot seas, the 50-knot winds, the freezing spray, the ice,” he explains. “Me coming up short is not as important as my crew’s safety.”

In the face of adversity, Shawn’s focus remains clear: they’ll hit it again tomorrow, and they’ll keep working until the boat is full. But for now, they must wait for the storm to pass.

The next morning, the forecast is grim. “Last night we had 35-knot winds and 30-foot seas. Now, it’s up to 50 knots with 31-foot seas,” Shawn updates his crew. “That’s just not worth it. We’re going to be shut down for the day.”

Despite the disappointment, the crew understands. “They get it,” Shawn says, though the frustration is still evident. “No one’s really happy about it, but we all know we have to be safe.”

But the worst is yet to come. As the crew waits for calmer weather, they are hit by a rogue wave—one of the most dangerous forces at sea. The 30-foot wave crashes over the port side, ripping the sorting table out of storage and creating chaos on deck.

“We’re trying to run from the weather, but we’re getting hit from all angles,” Shawn observes. “It doesn’t matter which direction we go, we’re getting hit. It really makes you realize how powerless we are against nature.”

The rogue wave, while destructive, serves as a stark reminder of the risks these fishermen face daily. “It’s never good to stop fishing, but we can’t control Mother Nature,” Shawn says. “Hopefully, we’ll have nice weather for the rest of the trip.”

As the storm continues to rage, Shawn and his crew hold onto the hope that the weather will eventually stabilize, and they’ll be able to get back to work. But in the world of crab fishing, survival—both for the crew and for the catch—depends not just on skill, but on the unpredictable moods of the Bearing Sea.