National Geographic Channel's WICKED TUNA: NORTH VS. SOUTH to Premiere 8/17

The long, cold winter has just hit New England, and while the bluefin tuna season has come to an end in Gloucester, Mass., it's just getting started in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. After a disappointing season, several of Gloucester's top fishermen head south to try to salvage their finances by fishing for the elusive bluefin tuna in unfamiliar Carolina waters before the experienced locals beat them to the catch. It's a whole new battlefield and the Northern captains must conquer new styles of fishing, treacherous waters and the wrath of the Outer Banks' top fishermen. They're gambling on what could be a massive payday ... or a huge financial loss.

On the heels of its third and highest-rated season for hit series Wicked Tuna, National Geographic Channel pits Gloucester's finest against good ol' Southern fishermen in an exciting new series, Wicked Tuna: North vs. South, premiering Sunday, Aug. 17, at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. The new series will air internationally on National Geographic Channel in 170 countries and 45 languages beginning this fall. For more information, visit www.natgeotv.com/wickedtuna and follow us on Twitter (@NGC_PR and @WickedTuna) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/WickedTunaTV).

In order to succeed, the Gloucester rod-and-reel veterans will need to master the different method of fishing - greensticking, in which artificial squid are trolled from a 30-foot fiberglass pole in order to entice bluefin swimming near the surface - and best a fleet of North Carolina captains battling for the same catches. Bluefin season in the Outer Banks only lasts a limited time, and there is a highly restricted government catch quota. But if the captains can reel in some "monstah" fish before the quota is reached, the winter months could potentially yield a greater catch than in Gloucester. In fishermen's terms: a cash bonanza.

The weather in the Outer Banks is notoriously unpredictable, so the New England captains must be ready for extremely rough seas, high winds and erratic currents. The Outer Banks is home to some of the most treacherous waters in the world, including the notorious Oregon Inlet - the main gateway to the open ocean, nicknamed "The Graveyard of the Atlantic." But Dangerous Waters aren't the only challenge that the New England captains have to contend with - they also have to deal with the hotheaded fleet from Wanchese, N.C. When it comes to bluefin tuna fishing, there's no such thing as Southern hospitality.

Wicked Tuna: North vs. South includes fan favorite Captain Dave Marciano and first mate Jay Muenzner of the fishing vessel the Hard Merchandise; the young, hot-headed Captain Tyler McLaughlin from the Pin Wheel; and season three newcomer Captain TJ Ott of the Hot Tuna. Marciano is heading to the Outer Banks and making the biggest BET of his career in order to provide for his family and keep his finances afloat. For McLaughlin, who went from being the Season 2 champion to an embarrassing last-place finish in Season 3, he's desperate to salvage his reputation and is teaming up with fan favorite Captain Paul Hebert to help him succeed. Meanwhile, Ott is looking to boost his year's catch by heading to the Outer Banks -"The one and only place in the world where the giants are biting this time of year," he says - along with his dad, Tim Sr., and first mate Jarrett Przybyszewski.

Marciano, McLaughlin and Ott will battle it out against the seasoned North Carolina bluefin fleet: Captain Greg Mayer of the Fishin' Frenzy, Captain Reed Meredith of the Wahoo and Captain Britton Shackelford of the Doghouse.

The Fishin' Frenzy has regularly been one of North Carolina's top-earning boats, and Mayer currently holds his reputation as the "captain to beat" in the Outer Banks. This year he's teamed up with Southern wild boy Nick Gowitzka, who'll stop at nothing when it comes to staying on top - even if it involves a little gunfire. Mayer also has an ongoing rivalry with Meredith, who fishes with his older brother and first mate Banks. Onboard the Doghouse, family man Shackelford is looking to catch as much fish as possible to provide for his wife and three kids. Teamed up with new first mate Caine Livesay, Shackelford will venture to the edge and fish in waters too dangerous for most boats in order to make a catch.

The Southern boats are not happy about the Yankee invasion of their waters, and will do whatever it takes to ensure the Northern boats don't steal their catch. With limited fish, rough seas and constant pressure to make a paycheck, the battle to win the war on Wicked Tuna: North vs. South promises to be anything but civil.

Premiere Episodes Include...

Wicked Tuna: North vs. South: Yankee Invasion Premieres Sunday, August 17, at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT After a disappointing North Atlantic bluefin tuna season, Captain Dave Marciano of the Hard Merchandise and Captain TJ Ott of the Hot Tuna travel south full steam into the waters of the Outer Banks, N.C., to extend their season and salvage their losses. In the South, the competition is fiercer and the stakes are higher than ever before. The 500-mile steam is a huge gamble on what could be a massive payday ... or a huge financial loss. In order to profit, the Northern captains have to overcome new fishing techniques, traverse unfamiliar waters and battle the toughest competitors in the North Carolina waters. When it comes to fishing in the Outer Banks, there's no such thing as Southern hospitality. Marciano, Ott and Tyler McLaughlin will Face Off against top captain Greg Mayer of the Fishin' Frenzy, the Meredith brothers of the Wahoo and the fearless Captain Britton Shackelford of the Doghouse. This battle with be anything but civil as the finest anglers from the North and South clash in The Hunt for bluefin.

Wicked Tuna: North vs. South: Southern Discomfort Premieres Sunday, August 24, at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT The Southern captains fear a full-scale Yankee invasion of their waters when another Northern boat - the Pin Wheel with Captain Tyler McLaughlin - comes steaming into the Outer Banks. This trip, McLaughlin is desperate to make up for the embarrassing last-place finish he landed last season, and to help him he adds Paul Hebert onboard as co-captain. As the Pin Wheel steams in, they're greeted with gunshots by the Southerners, showing there is no room for Southern hospitality in the Outer Banks during bluefin season. Meanwhile, Dave Marciano and his mate Jay Muenzner battle the dangerous Oregon Inlet when they first enter the Atlantic to fish, and mechanical troubles hit as soon as they hook their first catch of the season. The Meredith brothers have caught two fish so far and are in the lead. And Britton Shackelford puts his new mate, Caine Livesay, to the test.

Wicked Tuna: North vs. South: Bluefin or Bust Premieres Sunday, August 31, at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT With six of the finest tuna fisherman traversing the Outer Banks in The Hunt for bluefin, competition gets super competitive. The strict bluefin quota is rapidly starting to fill, and time is of the essence for all the captains. Dave Marciano has been unable to land a single catch and fears the huge gamble he made in traveling south will not pay off. If he doesn't catch a fish in the next two days, he won't be able to afford to stay in the Carolinas and will have to head back to Gloucester. Meanwhile, the Meredith brothers go head to head with Captain Greg Mayer of the Fishin' Frenzy. Mayer is now in the lead, keeping his rank as top captain of the Outer Banks. The Meredith brothers are desperate to catch a Monster Fish and boot Greg Mayer from the top spot.

Wicked Tuna: North vs. South is produced for National Geographic Channels by Pilgrim Studios. For Pilgrim Studios, executive producers are Craig Piligian and Mike Nichols. For National Geographic Channels, executive producer is Robert Palumbo, Vice president of production and development is Lynn Sadofsky, senior Vice president of production and development is Noel Siegel and executive Vice president of programming and strategy is Heather Moran.

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