Trawlermen: Hunting the Catch

In this episode, it’s the last trip before Christmas and, with demand surging, fish prices are rising. Off the south coast of Cornwall, Ocean Pride is heading out in pursuit of pollock among the old sunken shipwrecks of the English Channel. 380 miles away on the Yorkshire coast, crabber Tydus is preparing to head out with hopes of a big pay day. The aim is to put six tons in the tank, a catch that this week could fetch well over £30,000. Off the south coast of Devon, Margaret of Ladram, one of Brixham’s most successful beam trawlers, is on the hunt for one of the most lucrative species in British waters, Dover sole.

Off the coast of Yorkshire, Siwrengale is heading out for the beginning of the North Sea whelk season. Skipper Darren Warters is on the hunt with sons Regan and Lewis. Asian demand has created a lucrative fishery in this small patch of the North Sea, but winter storms have badly damaged their pots. Miles of rope must be untangled before they can begin fishing in earnest.

Scalloper Golden Promise battles force-6 winds to reach newly opened scallop beds before rivals, hoping for a big payday—after covering £8,000 in fuel. Family-run trawler Adenia departs Lerwick to land 1,000 tonnes of mackerel in Norway within three days. Skipper George Anderson, with 11 crew (eight family), aims to sell to the high-value Asian sushi market, potentially earning £1 million. Meanwhile, skipper Ivan Toms and son Rhys work Maxine’s Pride, one of the UK’s oldest, smallest trawlers. Struggling to maintain their 35-year-old boat, they fish Cornwall’s inshore waters, hoping to earn enough for wages and vital repairs.

Crabber Tydus, after months of breakdowns, is finally back fishing. Skipper Stiggy pushes hard for a ten-tonne crab haul, battling crew injuries and a patched-up boat as he gambles on new southern grounds. On Budding Rose, trainee skipper Michael Bruce must prove himself under his father’s watch, navigating a pair trawler in rough North Sea weather, manoeuvring dangerously close to another vessel to join nets. In Newlyn, Karen of Ladram races out after a ten-day weather delay, hoping to corner the hake market—until a crew member falls ill and seals devastate their catch. Meanwhile, Sharon Vale heads to the Irish Sea’s rocky “peaks” for haddock, where skipper Trevor Annett trains rookies Raj and Damon on the job, risking it all for a big reward.

Emilia Jayne hunts cuttlefish in the world’s busiest shipping lane, where cargo ships rule the waters. Skipper Luke Selvey finds early success—but can he keep the hotspot secret? In Brixham, Margaret of Ladram leaves home turf as skipper Adam Cowan Dickie gambles on the Bristol Channel, chasing high-value Dover sole. Struggling with costs, he takes a risky shot at a shipwreck and the unstable ‘gravel pits’. In Scotland, Westro’s young skipper Stephen West battles storm-force winds alone. With early net hauls failing, he must choose: keep towing solo or team up with brother Andrew on Forever Faithful for a shot at success.

Storm Arwen threatens the entire UK fishing fleet. In the North Sea, pair trawlers Victory Rose and Our Lass must haul in sync—dangerous work as the storm builds. With boats rolling in heavy seas, James must choose: shelter in Shetland and risk being trapped, or head for Peterhead to land a partial catch. Four hundred miles south, Siwrengale leaves Bridlington with skipper Darren and sons Lewis and Reagan, racing to catch crab before the storm hits. As conditions worsen, they switch to hunting lobster—but staying upright becomes the real challenge. Meanwhile, Revival makes a last-minute dash for prawns. When the plan fails, skipper George Jack must decide whether to risk heading into the storm for a new catch—or play it safe.