Coldwater Cowboys

Captain Richard Gillett is risking boat and crew to reach the rich crab grounds before his competition. But his strategy involves punching through miles and miles of ice, and Richard knows better than anyone how dangerous that can be - back in '96 his boat struck an iceberg and sunk.

Richard loves the thrill of fishing for herring and the hefty paycheque that comes with it. And while he can nab that allotment in just a single cast of the net, finding the herring is next to impossible, even for this seasoned expert. His maniacal hunger forces him to take a gamble that puts his entire season and livelihood of his crew at risk.

An idealistic day of fishing takes a devastating turn for Richard when his tow skiff suddenly capsizes and becomes fully submerged under the boat. As the crew scrambles to recover the boat, they quickly realize a rare 10-thousand dollar piece of sonar equipment is busted, and they can't fish without it. But Richard's ultimate test comes when the buyer for his beloved herring backs out.

Richard's profitable capelin seining season is finally here, but finding these elusive fish is easier said than done. Immense concentration is essential if Richard is to hit the jackpot. But with Richard's 12-year-old son on board and struggling with severe seasickness, concentrating is no simple task.

For Richard, getting back at the hunt for herring proves near impossible. He needs to make up for a terrible season thus far and is hoping to turn a profit of $20,000 per day from here on in. But the local herring buyer throws Richard a curveball. Richard has no choice but to rule with an iron fist in an effort to bring his crewmates home a paycheck.

It's the beginning of mackerel season in Newfoundland and all our fishermen want a piece of the action. Richard hunts hard, hoping to fill his boat with mackerel. It's hard enough to find this tricky fish when things go well, but Richard and his crew come up against one snafu after another, from malfunctioning sonar to a jammed skiff motor.

It's late fall, and the mackerel aren't running at all on the northeast shore of Newfoundland. Fearful of losing his veteran crew, Richard has decided to take the biggest gamble of his career and head 200 nautical miles north to Labrador in search of the elusive and valuable fish. After laying down $10,000 on fuel and supplies, one of his most trusted crewmembers delivers crushing news the night before the big trip.

Donald is out to prove that he can stand up with the big boys. He races to Bonne Bay where reports of the biggest catches in memory are drawing in every boat in the region - all fighting for a share of the catch and the cash. But with so many boats in one spot, Donald has to make sure they don't all beat him to the catch.

Herring hotshot Richard Gillett is determined to pay off his boat, and a huge order for fish from a new buyer might just be the ticket. But first he has to out-smart and out-fish the competition.