'Wicked Tuna' Spin-Off To Feature Outer Banks Fishing Industry [NC Film]

Posted By Matt Artz on February 20, 2014

A new spin-off of the popular National Geographic Channel (NatGeo) series Wicked Tuna will feature the Outer Banks fishing industry, set to film in the area this winter.

Read on for the official press release!

National Geographic Channel President Howard T. Owens announced that the network has greenlit a spinoff of its highly rated series Wicked Tuna. The new series, Wicked Tuna: North vs. South [working title], also produced by Craig Piligian’s Pilgrim Studios, begins filming off the coast of the Outer Banks in North Carolina this winter and will premiere in the U.S. and globally this summer.

The original Wicked Tuna follows the cutthroat, high-stakes business of bluefin tuna fishing in Gloucester, Mass., as vessels and crews set sail in search of the smartest, fastest and most elusive fish in the ocean — and the big money that follows them. Although bluefin season came to an end in Gloucester on Dec. 31, it’s just about to get started in the Outer Banks.

When the new season of Wicked Tuna premieres this February on National Geographic Channel, some of the New England captains from the original series will have already ventured south to reach the evasive bluefin in the Southern Atlantic waters before their North Carolina counterparts beat them to the catch.

The weather is much more unpredictable in the Outer Banks during its January through March bluefin season, and the seas can be extremely rough. But if the captains can reach this “new frontier” and reel in some “monstah” fish before the government catch quota is reached (the quota was reached in mid-February last year), the winter months could potentially yield a greater catch than in Gloucester. In fishermen’s terms: a cash bonanza.

“Wicked Tuna is one of our strongest franchises, and taking our tuna fishermen down South allows us to explore a new region of America and new waters in the Atlantic,” says Owens. “We are taking the best New England fishermen from Gloucester to the Outer Banks to see how they fare against good old Southern boys who fish the old fashioned way off the beautiful shores of this epic country.”

Added Pilgrim Studios CEO and Executive Producer Craig Piligian, “The captains’ passion and commitment is what has made Wicked Tuna so compelling and what has resonated with viewers these last two seasons. As we head into season three, we could not be happier to be working with NatGeo to bring more attention to this fascinating industry as the crews head south for the next, even more intense phase of their catch.”

The spinoff series cast includes Wicked Tuna fan favorite Captain Dave Marciano of the fishing vessel “Hard Merchandise” and season three newcomer Captain TJ Ott of the “Hot Tuna.” Marciano and Ott will battle it out against seasoned local North Carolina bluefin fishermen in the hopes of landing a big payday.

In addition to offering an inside look at one of America’s oldest industries, Wicked Tuna and Wicked Tuna: North vs. South also shed light on important issues surrounding the fate of the bluefin tuna. As the scientific community debates how best to preserve the species, American fishermen, including the Wicked Tuna captains, continue to adhere to U.S. regulations that determine size limits and quotas for the season. 

Wicked Tuna and Wicked Tuna: North vs. South are produced for National Geographic Channel by Pilgrim Studios. For Pilgrim Studios, executive producers are Craig Piligian and Mike Nichols. For National Geographic Channel, executive producer is Robert Palumbo; vice president of production and development is Lynn Sadofsky; executive vice president of programming and strategy is Heather Moran; and president is Howard T. Owens.

The current season of Wicked Tuna airs on Sundays at 9pm on the National Geographic Channel (NatGeo).

The spin-off series Wicked Tuna: North vs. South, featuring the Outer Banks, will premiere on the National Geographic Channel this summer.

_______________________________