The Wizard Crew’s Struggle: Battling the Bering Sea and Their Own Doubts

The crew of The Wizard awakes from their first full night of sleep since leaving port, and the weight of the previous two weeks of bad fishing hangs heavily in the air. Captain Keith, exhausted and frustrated, knows that it’s time to turn things around. “I need to get this gear on some crab so these guys will at least regain some faith in the whole crab fishing experience,” he reflects, understanding the fragile morale of his crew. The past two weeks have been a relentless grind with little to show for it, and Keith feels the pressure.

After so many days of no success, crew morale has taken a hit. “I’m so tired of this ja party we’re having. Shing every day, man, it’s worn away at the crew morale,” Keith admits, feeling the toll of the constant setbacks. His crew is becoming restless, questioning not just the success of the trip but their captain’s decisions. “We don’t need much; we just want to go,” Keith adds, emphasizing their desire for even a small victory to restore their confidence.

In fishing, the crew often endures stretches of barren, “blank” days where no crabs are caught. “You drop blanks all day long for a week or two straight, pretty soon the crew’s going to start to wonder if I’ve lost my noggin or maybe lost my edge,” Keith confesses, acknowledging the personal doubts creeping in. He’s not just worried about the crew’s faith in him—he’s beginning to question himself too.

The situation becomes even more desperate when Keith heads toward one of the riskiest areas of the season: the Black Canyon. Known for its bounty of fat crabs, the canyon demands precision fishing. “We’re shooting at a really narrow little canyon here,” Keith says as he steers the boat toward the treacherous waters. “If my aim is off by just a meter, the pots will slam into the rocky sides and miss the crabs completely.”

This high-stakes move is a make-or-break moment for The Wizard. Keith knows that every single pot they drop counts. “We want to set fast, and he’s got to keep up,” Keith says, referring to his greenhorn, Paul, who is getting a tough test today. The crew needs to move quickly to get the pots in the water, but even a small mistake could result in disaster.

Tensions rise as the crew faces an unexpected close call. Paul, at the rail, almost gets pulled over by a massive 360-kilo anchor. “Hey, is everybody okay? Everybody all right?” Keith calls out, panic creeping into his voice. Paul had gotten his leg caught in the line, and for a moment, it seemed as though he might be dragged overboard. “That’s why you keep an eye on each other out here,” Keith reminds his crew, thankful that Paul was able to avoid a potentially fatal accident.

As the tension subsides, Keith can’t shake the growing sense of frustration. He’s having what he calls the worst run of bad luck in his career, and the crew’s exhaustion is evident. “I don’t think I’ve ever had a run of bad luck like this ever,” Keith confesses, his frustration clear. The decision to fish in Black Canyon is crucial, and Keith is running out of options. “Something’s got to give out here,” he says, hoping for a breakthrough.

But the canyon’s bounty doesn’t come easily. “We just have not found any crab,” Keith says as he surveys the lack of catches. “I don’t see how it can get any worse.” With only a few crabs in their pots, Keith’s worries deepen. “We got eight crabs. Woohoo, man, that’s bad,” he sighs, trying to keep his spirits up despite the dismal haul.

The desperation mounts. Keith, now running on fumes, is ready to do whatever it takes. “We’re just now finding this out… I don’t want to set on somebody else’s crap,” he says, revealing that the crew is running out of options and might need to fish in areas already used by other boats. It’s a decision that goes against Keith’s nature, but he knows that something has to change.

Amid the frustration, Keith’s brother, Monte, becomes a sounding board. “We’re just about done fishing for the season,” Keith says, revealing just how close they are to the edge. “This is the last shot.”

As the crew takes a brief break, Keith decides to make a bold move. He charts a new course, heading toward a partner boat’s location. It’s a gamble, but in these tough times, Keith needs to take any opportunity he can find. As they move toward new grounds, Keith reflects on his competitor, John Hillstrand, and the intense rivalry that has defined their relationship. “That guy’s territorial,” Keith says, noting that Hillstrand has likely already staked a claim on the area.

The stakes have never been higher. The Wizard’s entire red king crab season is at risk. Every move counts, and Keith knows that he must keep his nerves in check to pull off a victory. But even in the face of such pressure, Keith remains resolute. “Something’s got to give,” he mutters under his breath as the crew pushes forward.

For the crew of The Wizard, every day brings a new challenge, and every pot dropped is a reminder of just how perilous their work truly is. As the season progresses, they continue to battle both the Bering Sea and their own doubts, clinging to the hope that their perseverance will eventually lead to success.