Ep 4. Cheating Death

In the Deadliest Catch season 3 episode 4, titled Cheating Death, the fishermen are still struggling to meet their quota for the crab fishing season, but an unexpected tragedy adds to their struggles. As the episode begins, The Time Bandit crew is dealing with a broken engine and frayed nerves. Captain Andy Hillstrand seems to be at his wits' end after days of bad luck. The Northwestern crew is also struggling, as they have yet to catch any king crab, which is making the captain, Sig Hansen, very anxious.

The episode takes a dramatic turn when the Alaskan Fishing Vessel Big Valley goes missing after a massive wave floods the deck, and the crew struggles to survive. The Coast Guard immediately launches a rescue mission, but the efforts to locate the vessel are hampered by a severe storm and poor visibility. The other crab boats in the fleet also join in the search, and the crewmembers anxiously await news of their fellow fishermen. This tragic incident shakes the fleet, and the captains and crews are left feeling vulnerable and shaken.

As the search continues, the other crab boats try to make up for lost time and catch as many crab as they can. The Wizard crew is having success, as they have filled their tank with king crab and are already heading back to port. However, their success is short-lived when the main engine fails, leaving the boat adrift in treacherous waters. This unexpected breakdown puts the lives of the crew members in jeopardy as they try to fix the engine in stormy waters.

Meanwhile, the Time Bandit and Northwestern crews are both struggling to catch crab. The Time Bandit crew manages to make a big catch, but it is short-lived when they realize that their pots are in the wrong location, and they must move them all. The Northwestern crew continues to experience bad luck, as their pots are coming up empty.

The episode culminates in a nail-biting rescue mission as the Coast Guard finally locates the Alaskan Fishing Vessel Big Valley. The crew members have survived for over 24 hours in the frigid Alaskan waters, but all of them are safely rescued. The incident serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers of crab fishing, and the fleet is left mourning the loss of one of their own.

As the episode ends, the viewers are left with a sense of respect for the bravery and dedication of the crab fishermen and the harsh realities of their chosen profession. Cheating Death is a powerful and emotional episode that highlights the dangers of the profession and the challenges that fishermen face every day in their quest to catch crab.