Plot Synopsis

Four fishing vessels -- The Eagle Eye II; Sea Hawk; Big Eye; Frances Anne -- hunt for swordfish during the Fall season in the waters around the Grand Banks off Newfoundland and the Georges Bank off the Gulf of Maine. These crews must withstand engine failures, accidents, greenhorns, crew overboard, rogue waves, crossed lines and storms. Especially the storms. "The Perfect Storm" was based on a 1991 Halloween Nor'easter, a storm that destroyed the Andrea Gail and killed all six aboard. One of the captains in this series -- legendary swordfishing skipper Capt. Linda Greenlaw who leads the Sea Hawk and is the author of "The Hungry Ocean" -- was portrayed in the film "The Perfect Storm" by Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, and Linda survived the gale aboard the 100-foot Hannah Bowden, sister boat of the Andrea Gail. Even when they're landing swordfish, they have to contend with fishing borders. In September 2008 while she was fishing, Capt. Linda Greenlaw unknowingly ventured into Canadian waters. She was later fined $31,500, and the Canadian government also seized her swordfish catch. Why do these men and women brave storms searching for the perfect catch? One big fish can be worth as much as $20,000.