OBX Stars in Wicked Tuna North vs South
By Kip Tabb –
Bluefin tuna.
The Atlantic bluefin tuna is the one of the largest, most powerful and swiftest of any gamefish in the world. Regularly coming in at 61/2’ and 550 pounds, they are one of the most valuable commercially landed fish in the world.
They are also heavily regulated and difficult to catch.
Which creates the perfect scenario for the National Geographic realty show, Wicked Tuna. Now in its third season a twist has been added—Wicked Tuna: North vs South.
For the first two seasons the show followed fishermen calling Gloucester, MA their home. This year, the Gloucester crews came to the Outer Banks in January and faced off against the Outer Banks fishermen sailing from Wanchese.
The Pin Wheel Crew, Captain Tyler McLaughlin and Co-Captain Paul Hebert.
It was a whole new world to the Gloucester crews who, are used to going from dock to fishing grounds in an hour and from a protected harbor and well-marked channel.
“Oregon Inlet changes everything,” Co-Captain Paul Hebert of the Pin Wheel says. “Just getting in and out of it.”
The differences were more than just getting to the Gulf Stream where the Bluefin were running.
Greg Mayer captains Fishin’ Frenzy out of Wanchese and he’s been fishing these waters for over 20 years. “Down here,” he says. “It’s a completely different fisheries from what they do. They never trolled for fish. They come down here, they had to troll.”
Hebert agrees. “Here you’ve to to go look for the fish. You can’t just put your line in and wait.”
Fishin’ Frenzy crew, Captain Greg Mayer and First Mate Nick Gowitzka.
This past January brought some of the worst winter weather seen in years to the Outer Banks—but that didn’t stop the Bluefin. “It took a while for it to get started,” Mayer says. “But we caught some fish.”
A sentiment echoed by his competitor. “The fishing was incredible,” Hebert says.
The first episode of season three of Wicked Tuna: North vs South will air Sunday night at 10:00 p.m. on the National Geographic Channel. According to Hebert and Mayer there is a lot of effort that goes into it. “It’s competitive,” Mayer says. “There’s a lot of guys out there who want to be the best.”
There is also, though, a camaraderie among the competitors, though. “We’re all fishermen,” Mayer adds. “We’ll figure it out,” he says referring to the different skills needed in North Carolina waters. “But there’s a learning curve.”
