Balaich Iasgach Alasga - Episode Guide

Veteran skippers Wes and Dan, along with the young but eager Gavin are feeling optimistic towards this year's salmon season, predicted to be one of the biggest in decades. The early optimism quickly turns to frustration as one of our veteran skippers gets caught fishing out of bounds by the Wildlife Troopers. Meanwhile, our green horn skipper Gavin is on the fish and pulls in a huge haul to end day one on top. Day two brings some of the worst weather to hit the inlet in years. With bills to pay and salmon to slay our skippers boldly brave the weather and high seas in hopes to bring home boats full of sockeye salmon.

In this episode, fishing has been open for the third day in a row. Skipper Gavin continues to lead the pack until he commits the rookie mistake, sleeping in. He rushes out of the river to beat the tide but gets caught on a sandbar. Skipper Dan on the Paragon is feeling the pinch of a slow season but fights for a spot on the line to finally score a big haul. Skipper Wes on the Night's Edge is also feeling the heat of a bad start to the season. He heads to a fishing location where he hears others are having success. When the net hits the water, it explodes with fish. The good fortune is short lived. As the crew hauls the fish filled net in, a hydraulic line bursts.

In this episode, the Alaska Department of Fish has opened the season for the fifth day in a row. Skipper Dan's fishing mojo has been missing all season long so he calls in his eleven year old son for luck! The net explodes with fish and Dan declares Calvin is their good luck charm. The day ends with the boat full and Dan has a hard time getting back into the river to offload. The Paragon makes it to the processing dock but is unable to offload. The rest of the fleet also had a huge fishing day and the processing plants are backed up.

As the season begins, some captains hit the fish hard, while others have a tough time even getting to the grounds. For the fishermen who are out, their experience or lack thereof is evident in their catches as the first day draws to a close. With one day down and many more hours of fishing ahead, each captain is happy to have gotten the season started, but they are still anxious for the big run.

It's the second day of fishing on Cook Inlet, and after getting a taste of the profits that can be earned on the first opening, the fishermen are looking to fill their boats with wild Alaskan salmon. Decisions are the mark of the day as the fishermen live and die by their judgment and intuition, and inner battles aren't their only woes on the water as they are also plagued by faulty gear.

It's the peak of salmon season. These are the days when a fisherman can unload $30,000 of salmon in a single day, so the competition can be fierce. Each captain makes the decision on where to drop their nets - some heed reports of the hot zone, while others defy the crowds. With an onslaught of fish, it's a race against time to pick them quickly and get the net back in the water before the fish leave the area.

The infamous tides wreak havoc. Taylor destroys his drive shaft in shallow waters. Wes allows his crew to sleep in, and the late start also finds him battling low tide. Sensible Captain Dino leaves port early to avoid the tides and his reward is a tremendous fishing day. Gavin is not so lucky when massive waves ravage his boat and he's delayed picking giant pieces of wood from his net.

Dino lets his crew sleep, but he finds himself in danger without a deckhand in sight. Taylor's patience is wearing thin as he pushes his crew even though they are visibly fatigued. Captain Wes has trouble finding the fish, and after getting corked, he decides to confront the culprits face to face. Gavin and Chris are exhausted from the long season and Gavin miscalculates the borders of the fishing zone.

On the last day of salmon fishing season Dino lands on a hotspot, but he must fend off desperate fishermen to keep it. Meanwhile, after an engine failure, Wes's day might be over before it begins. At the southern end of the fishing zone things get crowded for Taylor, and he must turn to his father for advice. And after a strong start, Gavin tears his net but refuses to give up.