Thanks, I Hate It
‘Harpoon Hunters’ follows a group of Atlantic bluefin tuna fisherman from Cape Cod. It premieres Jan. 24.
A new Discovery Channel reality series that’s sure to appeal to fans of gritty shows like Deadliest Catch will set sail in 2025. Harpoon Hunters follows a group of tough-as-nails New England fishermen who navigate the high seas in search of valuable Atlantic bluefin tuna.
‘Harpoon Hunters’ premieres Jan. 24 on Discovery Channel
Harpoon Hunters premieres Friday, Jan. 24 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Discovery Channel. It highlights the multi-generational fishing families of Cape Cod, who race against the clock each summer to catch bluefin tuna using only 10-foot electrified spears.
The paydays can be large – as much as $10,000 for a single fish. But the window to catch their valuable prey is short. Each harpoon boat has only four weeks to bring in as many tuna as possible before the overall limit is met. Each expert fisherman – who are part of an elite group of just 20 to 30 professional harpooners – must fight to make ends meet and beat their rivals to take home prize fish.
“Armed with nothing but a spear and raw determination, these elite harpooners put everything on the line and it’s immensely thrilling to witness,” said Howard Lee, president of Discovery Networks, in a statement. “Joining a pantheon of iconic Discovery series that follow maverick jobs in epic settings, Harpoon Hunters also brings us into a high-octane world only a few get to experience in real-life.”
The newest fishing reality show might fill the void left by ‘Wicked Tuna’
The number of people who have the skills to harpoon tuna is small, and the quota they’re allowed each year is small. Still, none can imagine doing anything else.
“The thrill of harpooning blue fin tuna is the hunt,” one cast member says in the Harpoon Huntesr teaser .
While the stakes are high and the chase challenging, these fishermen love their way of life.
“I’m a crack addict when it comes to harpoon fish,” another admits. “You can make a lot of money.”
“This is my 40th year fishing,” one captain shares. “And I can’t ever not see myself doing this.”
Harpoon Hunters is the latest addition to Discovery’s lineup of reality shows about gritty, down-and-dirty jobs. Deadliest Catch, which follows crab fisherman in Alaska, has been going strong for nearly 20 years. The network is also home to Gold Rush and its various spinoffs, Moonshiners, Outback Opal Hunters, The Last Woodsmen, and Sin City Tow.
Harpoon Hunters could also fill the void left by the recently canceled Wicked Tuna. That show premiered in 2012 on National Geographic. It followed Atlantic bluefin fisherman working out of Gloucester, Mass. In August 2024, the network confirmed it had been canceled after 13 seasons.
For more on the entertainment world and exclusive interviews, subscribe to Showbiz Cheat Sheet’s YouTube channel.
