Freshman Skipper Sean Dwyer’s First Time In The Time Bandit’s Captain Seat! | Deadliest Catch

Against the Odds: Freshman Skipper Sean Dwyer Battles Damaged Gear and Heavy Seas to Find Early Success in Bering Sea Crab Season

Bering Sea – The raw, unforgiving expanse of the Bering Sea presented a formidable challenge to freshman skipper Sean Dwyer as he embarked on his inaugural crab fishing season at the helm of the Brenna A. Weeks of meticulous preparation culminated in a moment of both excitement and trepidation as Dwyer and his seasoned crew geared up to deploy their first strings of crab pots. For Dwyer, this wasn’t just another fishing trip; it was a crucial proving ground, an opportunity to demonstrate his mettle and justify the significant investment of quota entrusted to him by veteran Captain Sig Hansen.

“It’s exciting, I mean this is the first time setting my own crab pots,” Dwyer confessed, the weight of his new responsibility evident in his voice. Stepping into the demanding shoes of a Bering Sea captain, a role fraught with peril and requiring split-second decisions, Dwyer’s initial plan was grounded in hope and a deep understanding of the unpredictable nature of their quarry. “My strategy right now is just to set all this out and hope that it lands on crab.”

The stakes were undeniably high. Captain Sig Hansen, a legend in the crabbing world, had leased Dwyer a substantial 200,000 pounds of excess quota, a testament to his belief in the young skipper’s potential. However, this generous opportunity came with the implicit expectation of success. “This is my one chance,” Dwyer acknowledged with stark realism. “If I screw around, no one’s going to want to give me any more crab to catch.” The pressure to deliver a profitable return on Hansen’s investment loomed large, adding an extra layer of intensity to Dwyer’s first foray as captain.

The setting of the very first crab pot carried a profound personal significance for Dwyer. In a poignant tribute to his late father, he chose to “christen” the initial piece of gear. “I feel like my drive to carry on the business got stronger after he passed away,” Dwyer shared, his voice tinged with emotion. This season represented not just a professional undertaking but a continuation of his family’s legacy. In a time-honored maritime tradition, and in a nod to his father’s preferred libation, a bottle of Irish whiskey was selected for the christening ceremony. “We’re going to christen this first crap pot with a bottle of whiskey because that’s what my dad liked to drink to bring us good luck,” Dwyer explained to his crew.

Gathered on the deck, the weathered faces of the crew reflected a mix of anticipation and seasoned experience. Dwyer, with a blend of reverence and determination, smashed the whiskey bottle against the cold steel of the crab pot. “My old man loved Irish whiskey,” he declared, offering a silent toast to his father’s memory. “This one’s for the old man.” With the symbolic gesture complete, a palpable shift occurred on deck. The initial nervous energy transformed into a focused sense of purpose. “Alright, let’s get a gun ready boys, let’s get to work,” Dwyer commanded, his voice now carrying the authority of his new role as they prepared for the arduous task of deploying their valuable gear into the unforgiving sea.

The first pot, affectionately christened “The Whiskey Drink,” plunged into the churning water, marking the official start of Dwyer’s captaincy. As the crew methodically set the initial strings of pots, their movements honed by years of experience, Dwyer’s attention turned to the crucial task of meticulously tracking the location of each string by identifying the brightly colored buoys bobbing on the surface.

For Dwyer, this inaugural crab pot represented far more than just a piece of fishing equipment; it symbolized “10 years in the making,” a decade of learning, working his way up, and dreaming of this very moment. He was acutely aware of the scrutiny from his peers and veterans in the tight-knit crabbing community. “There’s definitely some people watching, you know, want to see if I make it or break it,” he admitted, acknowledging the immense pressure to succeed. With “a lot to prove,” Dwyer and his “band of misfits,” as he affectionately called his crew, navigated the heavy seas towards the retrieval of their first pot, anticipation hanging thick in the salty air.

As the vibrant yellow buoy marking their first pot came into view, a collective sense of anticipation swept across the deck. “That’s our gear in the drink!” a crew member called out over the roar of the wind and waves. “Like the fire get ‘er done!” As the hydraulic winch whirred, slowly bringing the heavy pot to the surface, the crew exchanged nervous glances. “Come on you boys, you ready? You ready?”

The moment of truth arrived as the pot broke the surface, dripping with icy seawater. “Here it comes baby, crab up!” a hopeful cry went up. Dwyer echoed the sentiment, his gaze fixed on the emerging trap. “This is it, this is uh the first pot of the whiskey string, hopefully our uh christening gave us full pots. I don’t want to haul blanks right off the bat, but stranger things have happened.”

However, their initial optimism was swiftly tempered by an unwelcome discovery. “Oh, what’s going on man? That sucks,” Dwyer exclaimed, his disappointment evident as the pot was hauled fully aboard, revealing a significant and disheartening gap in its wire mesh door. “Ten years in the making for that pot, it really sucks.” The damaged gear immediately raised concerns for the rookie captain, highlighting the constant battle against the harsh marine environment. “I don’t know in the water like that… didn’t realize that there… old, but I guess that’s uh, you know, new guy stuff. That makes me more nervous than anything.” The damaged pot served as a stark reminder of the myriad challenges that awaited him.

Despite the initial setback, the resilient spirit of the crew prevailed. The next pot hauled to the surface brought a wave of elation that washed away the earlier disappointment. “Oh yeah baby, there’s some crab in there! That’s sweet! This awesome!” Dwyer roared with relief and excitement as a significant number of prized Dungeness crab tumbled onto the sorting table. The initial count of 108 keepers sparked cheers and high-fives among the weary crew. “That’s awesome! I’m I’m really excited about that, that’s a good number to have. I want more!” Dwyer’s confidence visibly surged.

The subsequent hauls continued to deliver promising results, exceeding their initial hopes. One pot yielded an impressive 94 keepers, followed by an even more remarkable 145. “94 all keepers, all ver all day all night, we got him, we’re on ’em!” a jubilant crew member shouted, the fatigue momentarily forgotten in the thrill of the catch. “Let’s get these little buggers, the boys are happy, they’re all seeing why we we work so hard. Get those crab on board, put money in the tank!”

The unexpected abundance of crab even presented a logistical challenge. “Yes, we broke the table! We need a bigger sorting table!” Dwyer exclaimed with a laugh, recognizing the need for immediate modifications to handle their unexpectedly large and successful hauls. “Looks like we got some modifications to make to our sorting table. Hey, crab! This is a great problem to have!”

The early success fostered a strong sense of camaraderie and shared accomplishment among the captain and his crew. “We got crab bro! Yeah, we got crab! You’re the captain man, good job to you bro! We’re in the crab boys, made it!” a crew member enthusiastically congratulated Dwyer, his words echoing the collective relief and satisfaction on deck. The consistent hauls, with repeated counts of 145 keepers, solidified the promising start to Dwyer’s captaincy. “145, that’s money boys!” Dwyer declared, the initial anxieties and the minor setback of the damaged pot now overshadowed by the sweet taste of early success in the demanding and unpredictable world of Bering Sea crab fishing. The freshman skipper had faced his first test, battling damaged gear and the relentless ocean, and emerged with a hard-earned victory.