Forget ‘Deadliest Catch’ and ‘Wicked Tuna’ — This New Discovery+ Show Is the Grittiest One Yet

For two decades, Deadliest Catch has been Discovery Channel’s pride and joy. The series, which recently celebrated Season 20, has given viewers an absolute adrenaline rush while capturing the high-stakes world of crabbing in the Bering Sea. With colorful characters that have guided viewers along the way, Deadliest Catch has been spun off and replicated numerous times. On National Geographic Channel, Wicked Tuna was the network’s answer to Deadliest Catch. Within 13 seasons, the series takes viewers on a tour of Gloucester, Massachusetts as commercial fishermen battle it out for the best Atlantic bluefin tuna. Could any other show race to capture their television glory?

Now, a new series is coming for both epic shows. On the network that brought you Deadliest Catch, in the same waters that Wicked Tuna called home, comes Harpoon Hunters. The series, which recently completed its first season on Discovery Channel, takes viewers on the ultimate ride as elite fishermen race through the waters of Cape Cod as they hunt the valuable Atlantic bluefin tuna using only 10-foot electrified spears. If you haven’t checked it out, buckle up and binge. You’re in for a wild ride.

‘Harpoon Hunters’ Focuses On Four Great Personalities

Harpoon Hunters bills itself as follows: “Each summer on Cape Cod, multi-generational fishing families race against the clock – and each other—to catch highly valuable Atlantic bluefin tuna using only 10-foot electrified spears. Time is of the essence as harpoon boats only have four weeks to catch as many fish as they can before the overall limit is met. With fish worth as much as $10K each, stakes are high for these expert fishermen to make ends meet for their families and beat the competition to take home these prize fish.” If this doesn’t catch your attention, perhaps you need some colorful personalities to hook you in.

The series follows some of the most elite fishermen battling it out as they each use years of experience and an array of techniques to spear their prey. These individuals are armed with nothing but a spear, grit, and sheer determination as they make their objective a reality. The Season 1 cast included Captain Dylan Caldwell, Captain Joe Dion, Captain Tyler Macallister, and Captain Nicholas “Niko” Chaprales.

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The four men are some of the best of the best in the industry and share their highs and lows on the show. With four varying perspectives, Harpoon Hunters gives you that Deadliest Catch-esque vantage by following each Captain and their ship. But the beauty is, when these individuals cross paths, they are destined to bring immense drama. Because the monetary stakes are incredibly high, it’s every man for themselves. If they suspect any wrongdoing, they will fight until the bitter end. It’s happened multiple times across the first set of episodes.

‘Harpoon Hunters’ Shows a Different Style of Fishing

For viewers of Deadliest Catch, they’re used to feeling that frigid cold through the raw emotions the crews experience. They can sense the treacherous waters and uncertain weather conditions that can destroy everything. They understand the dangers that individuals put themselves in.

It’s quite a different feel than what you’ll experience on Harpoon Hunters. Wicked Tuna is a more accessible entry point into the world of Harpoon Hunters, as the catch is the same, the location is essentially the same, but the method is slightly different. Rather than a classic fishing rod and line, Harpoon Hunters focus on spearfishing. The excitement of watching the teams launch the weapon into the water, it’s invigorating!

The way they catch their tuna is what sets Harpoon Hunters apart from Wicked Tuna. As Captain Niko shared in an interview, “It’s almost like a sniper waiting to take a shot. Your heart’s pounding through your chest, and you have to make that decision on when to throw.” Like he said, once you take a shot and miss, it’s complete disappointment as you have to reset and try again. Unlike the rods and reels on Harpoon Hunters, Captain Niko reminds viewers they are actively hunting their catch.

He said, “The dichotomy of the two industries is quite drastic, where, you know, on Wicked Tuna, they use rods and reels and they go out to one spot and they kind of commit to a spot for the day and wait for the fish to come to them. Whereas in the harpoon fishery, you know, we’re out there and we’re actively hunting the fish. So we’re trying to find them. And then, you know, once we find them… we’re holding the electric harpoon, and we’re trying to get in that perfect spot to land a shot. So it’s a very different style of fishery.”

Of course, the summer sun and glistening sea aren’t such a bad sight to see as viewers. While you may not be witnessing terrible winter storms knocking the boats around like on Deadliest Catch, Harpoon Hunters brings their own exhilaration through the method of their madness. Season 1 gave viewers the chance to witness the lucrative business while meeting and getting to know the Captains and their amazing crew. Should a second season order to greenlit, expect more of the same. The success of Deadliest Catch and Wicked Tuna has proven that there will always be a market of viewers eager to watch the action.