Today, I compiled my favorite fishing shows and documentaries. These docs cover some awesome trophy fish like tarpon (the “Silver King”), tuna (albacore, blue, yellow), salmon, swordfish, catfish, trout and more.
You’ll see spin fishing, bait fishin’, fly fishing, spear fishing and probably some other styles whose names I don’t know.
I included some fishing reality shows too (like River Monsters, Fishing with John and Deadliest Catch). I know. Some documentary snobs will cringe at that. But, hey, most of that footage is real (and this is my blog!).
Oh, and if you’re a fly fishing fan in particular, you might like my 13 Best Fly Fishing Documentaries article.
Ok, enjoy my list:
1) River Monsters
Release Date: 5 April 2009
River Monsters is “Jaws” meets “Crocodile Hunter”.
And it’s the best fishing show I’ve watched.
Jeremy Wade’s relentless aquatic pursuit grips you in this fishing show. Directed by Lisa Bosak Lucas (“Wild Frank”), this doc goes after legendary river creatures, often massive.
Thrills at every bend. A favorite episode of mine is the giant goonch catfish known to be “taking people”, as Wade says. (See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2Zh3JzfyJU). Wade builds a fire on the side of the river to attract the predator. He dives into the river (with fish on) to catch the person-sized (160 pound) fish that has shark teeth.
The Amazon’s notorious candiru is another great episode.
A typical scene:
“CAMERAMAN: Got something big?
WADE: Something… monstrous.”
Sea-lovers, thrill-seekers? Perfect. Casual viewers? Might be overwhelming. You’ll remember every murky tale. Dive in.
Watch River Monsters on HBO’s Max at https://play.max.com/show/fd511db7-d9af-4e47-8673-8acc1a03190a or Animal Planet or Discovery Channel.
2) Fishing with John
Release Date: November 20, 1991
Think “Bourdain’s Parts Unknown” but with an aquatic theme.
John Lurie (actor, musician) takes celebrity pals fishing. Willem Dafoe in Maine…Tom Waits.
Conversations are odd, humorous, candid:
“JOHN: Catch anything yet?
DAFOE: Just a cold.”
It might not cater to hardcore anglers. But it’s got plenty of funny moments. It is definitely the funniest fishing show out there.
It’s not on streaming services right now, but here are some free episodes on YouTube:
E1 with Jim Jarmusch (https://youtu.be/ZTi2xEhyUYc)
E2 with Tom Waits (https://youtu.be/sF4OkZ0B-q8)
E3 with Matt Dillon (https://youtu.be/yEtbsrJ3dVA)
E4 with William DaFoe (https://youtu.be/LMRQb-RRt5g)
E5 with Dennis Hopper (https://youtu.be/65p3PXNIsyY);
E6 with Dennis Hopper (part 2) (https://youtu.be/7dsFiR7SQxM)
3) The Lost World of Mr. Hardy
Throwback time (pun intended). I’m going to slow you down here… but (like in fishing) — worth it! )
“Lost World of Mr. Hardy” (1:36) profiles the “Rolls-Royce of tackle crafters” (the Hardy Brothers).
The main characters include:
- L.R. Hardy — he founded Hardy Brothers fishing tackle company in 1874 with his brother John. He’s Jim’s grandfather. He’s known for his innovative design.
- Appleby — he’s L.R. Hardy’s chauffeur. He fished with L.R. and filmed much of the footage in the doc.
- Jim Hardy — he’s the last of the Hardy family to work for the biz.
I love the 1920’s salmon fishing clips.
Andy Heatchote (“Of Fish and Foe”) and Heike Bachelier direct this one
Watch it for free on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIJ8YorFnMM
4) Providence
Confluence Films PROVIDENCE Trailer from CONFLUENCE FILMS on Vimeo.
Confluence’s fifth hit? “Providence”. After “Drift”, “Rise”, “Connect”, “Waypoints”, it’s a Seychelles saga.
Shot with FlyCastaway at Providence Atoll.
Team includes Jim Klug, Chris Patterson, Colin Witherill, Camille Egdorf, Gerhard Laubscher, Tim Babich. Fishing?
Banned for six years due not to overfishing but to… pirates.
Their catch list? Impressive. GT’s, bluefin trevally, bonefish, tigerfish… The twist? Somali pirates are baaaack.
You can watch Providence for Free on Vimeo at https://vimeo.com/417288062
5) Track of the Tuna
Mediterranean’s secret? A 4000-year tuna trek.
Once dubbed “ocean’s manna”, tuna face hurdles… hunters, fishing boats, even Great White Sharks.
I watched it for free on YouTube at https://youtu.be/TPE4ZYzruCs (same link as the video embed above).
6) Deadliest Catch
Release Date: April 12, 2025 to Present (2024)
Intensity. “Survivor” meets the high seas!
Thom Beers, the mind behind “Ice Road Truckers”, charts the perilous. Bering Sea.
Crab fishermen. Ruthless waves. Real danger. Every episode? A gamble. Life, death, giant crabs.
A typical exchange:
“CAPTAIN: This storm?
CREWMAN: Might be our last.”
Like Survivor, it does border on feeling like a reality show. But most of the best stuff they show can not be faked (especially the coast guard rescues — those are my favorite). Unbelievable.
Watch Deadliest Catch on HBO’s Max at https://play.max.com/show/0b0e7d13-ad3c-47f0-9d10-a7f322da9ed8, Discovery Channel and a bunch of other places here: https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/deadliest-catch
7) The End of the Line
“Finding Nemo” gets dark.
Most of the docs in this article are on the positive side of fishing. But there’s over-fishing too.
This National Geo doc is directed by Rupert Murray (Unknown White Male) and based in large part on The End of th Line book by Charles Clover. Actor Ted Danson narrates
We’re led through bluefin tuna’s alarming decline to the commercial nets capturing… everything to glimpses of Tokyo’s bustling fish auctions.
However, skeptics might claim “drama”. They’ll say it leans heavy on emotion, paints all fisheries with one brush.
Yet the graphics are disturbing. Especially when considering the timeline… Bluefin tuna — near extinction. By 2048, seas might be fishless. Think on that.
Watch it for free on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x42Ksy8gnBY
8) Low & Clear
J.T. and Xenie, once close friends, reunite for a week-long Canadian fishing trip… but things have changed.
Directed by Kahlil Hudson and Tyler Hughen (known for “Pull”), this 76-minute doc contrasts J.T.’s and Xenie’s approach to fishing.
Xenie values the journey, relishing every cast… J.T.? He craves the thrill of the catch.
In one scene, J.T. exclaims, “THIS isn’t just about fishing!” Xenie retorts, “Then WHAT is it?” Their past connection is clear…but strained.
Not everyone will relate. If slow, introspective tales aren’t your thing, steer clear.
It’s more than just a fishing story — it’s about friendship.
It looks like only Amazon Prime Video is carrying it right now (and you need to pay $3.99 to rent). Check here for all options to stream: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/low-and-clear
9) The Last Ocean
John Weller (photographer, activist) narrates. Penguins, whales, toothfish—nature’s symphony. Yet, commercial fishing looms large.
“The Last Ocean”… Director Peter Young (10 Billion — What’s on your Plate) puts his lens on Antarctica’s Ross Sea. 16,000 species
Raw, pristine. 16,000 species! Penguins waddle. Whales breach.
Yet, shadows loom… Commercial fishing’s grip tightens. Toothfish’s song might end…
Watch Last Ocean for free (with ads) on PlutoTV, Freevee, Tubi and The Roku Channel. See here for details: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/the-last-ocean
10) Against the Tide
Mumbai’s coast. Fishermen face twin beasts: industry and nature.
In “Against the Tide”, Sarvnik Kaur captures the struggle. It’s more than fishing. It’s survival against odds.
The Koli community, indigenous fishers, bear the brunt. Industry pressures? Growing. Climate change? Worse.
Rakhesh, a Koli fisher, anchors the story. His boat? Family’s lifeline. Their survival is hanging by a thread.
Watch it for free (with ads) on PlutoTV at https://pluto.tv/en/on-demand/movies/6021d4ab6a53f7001a3a8d4e or on Tubi (also with ads) at https://tubitv.com/movies/517851
11) Chasing Monsters
“Jaws meets Jurassic Park.”
The “Chasing Monsters” docuseries… It’s wild. Cyril Chauquet, the fearless host, reels us in.
The doc has 10 episodes (45 minutes a piece), each a thrilling tale to find a massive sea beast.
Chauquet… travels the globe. From the goliath groupers in the Florida Keys to Thailand’s freshwater stingrays. Stats?
A stingray weighing 800lbs. Chauquet faces a barracuda. Yes, it’s teeth-on-edge action. Insights abound. You learn the predator-prey dynamics. You see conservation struggles.
Not for the squeamish, some scenes… intense. The underwater cinematography? Stellar. Each episode? 45 minutes of gripping tales.
So, thrill-seekers and marine lovers, unite.
Watch it on Amazon Prime at https://tubitv.com/tv-shows/200018554
I also noticed that you can watch about 16 episodes for free on this guy’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BanijayWild/videos — just search “Chasing Monsters” on that page and you’ll see the episodes. Here’s one free one he uploaded in 2024 (Season 2, Episode 1): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrXsOTguByw
12) Red Gold
“Red Gold” isn’t your grandpa’s fishing documentary. No, sir. This is a film that grabs you by the waders and drags you into the icy, salmon-filled waters of Alaska’s Bristol Bay.
The stakes? Oh, just the survival of the world’s largest wild salmon fishery and the livelihoods of the folks who depend on it. The villain? The proposed Pebble Mine, looming over the pristine wilderness like a giant, gold-hungry monster.
Directors Ben Knight and Travis Rummel aren’t messing around. They’ve got a story to tell, and they’re going to make sure you feel it in your gut.
The cinematography? Stunning.
The salmon? Plentiful.
The sense of impending doom? Palpable.
“Red Gold” isn’t just a pretty postcard from the Alaskan wilderness. It’s a battle cry, a rallying call for the Native Alaskans, fishermen, and activists who refuse to let their way of life become a casualty of corporate greed.
Sure, the film’s message might hit you over the head harder than a spawning salmon, but that’s the point.
This isn’t a story for the faint of heart. It’s a wake-up call, a reminder that some things in this world are worth more than their weight in gold.
Watch “Red Gold” for free on Vimeo at https://vimeo.com/402799329
13) Tuktu: The Ten Thousand Fishes
I love finding random docs like this. I love “Tuktu” so much that I dedicated an entire Web page to it here: https://dailydoc.com/tuktu-the-ten-thousand-fishes/ (it’s got more details than I could fit here).
But here’s the shortened review:
“Tuktu” tells the story of the Netsilik tribe of Inuits in Nunavut, northern Canada.
This river adventure takes us back to the good old days when men were men, and fish were…well, still fish.
And ten thousand of these fish sustain the village through the Arctic winter.
The year is 1967, and we follow young Tuktu and his father as they journey to the “place of many fishes” on a crisp autumn morning.
This is serious business.
Spears are sharpened. Tents are made of seal skins.
What follows is a generations-old ritual of repairing the river weir, passed down from Tuktu’s ancestors.
You can stream “Tuktu: The Ten Thousand Fishes” by clicking the video embed above or here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6li84mjUZT8
I love this doc so
14) Man of Aran
Here’s another oldie: “Man of Aran”.
The opening scene shows the brutal onslaught of the sea on the locals as they bring in their boat and net.
The men battle a basking shark, arguably the largest shark in the Atlantic.
They hunt it with hand-thrown spears. It’s a 2-day battle in which the shark pulls the boat around the harbor.
The main use of the shark is for oil to burn their lamps. A giant cauldron is brought to the beach. The skin of the shark is rendered to oil.
Another awesome scene: The men are out at sea during a storm and as they try to paddle back in their ship is destroyed.
I know what some critics say (that some scenes are fabricated).That’s true, they brought in some actors to play the roles. But the best parts of the doc (the sea, fishing, cliffs, fishing, etc) are real.
I love this doc so much that I also dedicate a a 900-word review of it ( https://dailydoc.com/man-of-aran/).
It includes multiple free links to watch it as well as streaming options and some more insights into the controversy surrounding the film.
15) Artifishal
The 2019 film “Artifishal”… a powerful dive. Directed by Josh Murphy (known for “Remains”), it’s eye-opening on fish farming’s impact.
Murphy… sheds light on human intervention. Salmon farms, hatcheries, the wild versus the artificial.
Startling fact? Upwards of $1 billion is spent on these “solutions.”.
The villain? Blind industry ambition. The hero? Nature, with activists supporting. Climactic scene? Wild salmon struggling upstream—life and death evident.
Those craving happy endings might squirm. And you’re going to see fish get hit (hard).
Why watch? Understand our relationship with nature.
Watch it for free on Kanopy (with library card or student ID) at https://www.kanopy.com/en/product/artifishal. It looks like it’s on Tubi and Vudi too (check here for the latesthttps://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/artifishal
16) Silver King: The Birth of Big-Game Fishing
“Silver King” (56 minute) dives into the legacy of the world-renowned tarpon.
Picture this: April 18, 1885, William H. Wood lands a 93-pound tarpon off Sanibel Island (129 miles from the Florida Keys) using just a bamboo rod and a mullet (the first known big game fish caught on rod and reel!).
Wood goes on to catch not just 1 but 5″ “Silver Kings”.
There’s a reading of one of Wood’s catch that is a must-listen for any fan of fishing (start it at https://youtu.be/nKeJQb8jhgA?feature=shared&t=414).
This feat, spreading like wildfire, beckoned anglers globally – even Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Herbert Hoover.
Ever since, the tarpon’s allure has gripped many an angler’s soul. With snippets from rare archival reels, vintage 1930s-50s films, and stunning current footage, the doc weaves the saga of big-game fishing’s inception and today’s drive to safeguard this majestic species.
Watch it for free on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKeJQb8jhgA
17) The Age of Swordfish
This 1955 doc short (9 minutes) with Spanish sub-titles) is a joy to watch…if you like the sea or boats or fishing or singing.
It’s Sicilian men spear fishing swordfish. Check out how much more work they do then today’s fisher-folks. I’m cheering for them to catch one!
There are also fun scenes of women doing laundry on the beach
The original title was “Lu tempu di li pisci spat”a” — it’s directed by Vittorio De Seta.
Watch it for free at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bM3iScIjaPQ
18) Ice Cold Catch
Release Date: 2022
This Discovery/A&E docuseries
This Discovery/A&E docuseries on HBO Max follows a newly-engaged American defense contractor and a struggling British yacht stewardess.
The two leave their thankless jobs behind to pursue highly-paid fishing jobs in Iceland.
They discover a whole new realm of larger-than-life characters and unanticipated stakes.
The greenhorns must survive a grueling three-week trial. They’ve got to impress their captains and crew mates.
Only then might they earn a spot on board for the high season.
Watch it on HBO Max at https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/ice-cold-catch or on Fubo or Discovery+ or Spectrum. Check here for the latest streaming options: https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/ice-cold-catch
19) Sea Countrymen
Here’s another fishing short doc. (9 min.) by Vittorio De Seta.
It’s sicilian fisherman in Granitola, Trapani in 1955.
Soothing to watch.
Its original title was “Contadini del mare.”
20) Chasing the Taper
A few artisans still obsess over handcrafting bamboo fly rods. They sacrifice cash and even marriages to keep this handiwork dream alive.
“Chasing the Taper”profiles legendary bamboo rod companies like Leonard and T&T are profiled.
The only option I can find to watch Chasing the Taper is on Vimeo at https://vimeo.com/ondemand/chasingthetaper/219031832 (where it costs $20).
21) Addictive Fishing
“Addictive Fishing” is a high adrenaline (rockin’ music!) reality TV show that’s doing something right (they’re at 19 seasons as of 2023).
The quick 19 min. episodes are put on by the dynamic duo of:
- Captain Blair Wiggins (aka “Mogan Man”) (spent 12 years as a pro fishing guide before competing in tournaments and launching “Addictive Fishing”)
- Kevin McCabe (“Producerman”) — Worked for ESPN and NBC where he honed the “Addictive Fishing” adrenaline-charged style.
Wiggins and McCabe grew up on the barrier islands of Florida’s Space Coast.
Top watched episodes include the bloody hammerhead shark attack, monster tarpon (Florida Everglades National Park) and the Yellowfin tuna episode in Venice Louisiana.
Watch a bunch of their episodes and videos for free on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@addictivefishing/videoson it on Amazon (currently $1.99 per episode) at https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/0N8YMXSO55PVGAWJC6CEAQ8MT2/ref=atv_dl_rdr.
22) Battlefish
Release Date: September 21, 2018
“Battlefish” is like “Deadliest Catch” after a triple shot of espresso—amped up, adrenaline-packed, and with a touch more drama.
This Netflix series documents five fishing crews along the coasts of Washington and Oregon during the 2017 albacore tuna fishing season.
Some highlights from the 8 episodes:
- S1 E1: The Battle Begins — The albacore tuna fishing season kicks off with high hopes for some hefty hauls. Greenhorn Andre of the Judy S struggles to keep up with the experienced crew.
- S1 E2: The Eclipse — As a solar eclipse looms, everyone wonders how it will affect fishing conditions. The Intrepid makes its first foray of the season, while Andre’s attitude becomes a growing problem.
- S1 E3: Fisherman’s Code — Malissa joins the Judy S as a deckhand determined to prove she can “do the job better than a guy can.” Meanwhile, Aaron from the Oppor-Tuna-Ty mourns the loss of his daughter.
- S1 E4: Into the Deep End — With only a month and a half left in the season, the Intrepid crew discovers a hole in their boat, and the TNT deals with a broken freezer, adding to their challenges.
- S1 E5: Battle Cry — The Intrepid’s engine dies, adding to an already difficult season. Justin, captain of the Ashley Nicole, returns home for the birth of his second son.
- S1 E6: The 24 Hour War — Captain Jake is unsure about the Intrepid’s new deckhand, while on the Judy S, Malissa sustains a painful injury but refuses to let it slow her down.
- S1 E7: Storm Front — A storm is on the horizon, and with red skies in the morning, sailors take warning. The fleet must still take advantage of what remains of the season despite the impending weather.
- S1 E8: Final Battle — Hopes for one last big haul remain. Aaron from the Oppor-Tuna-Ty speaks for everyone when he says this has been his most challenging season yet.
Watch Battlefish on Netflix at https://www.netflix.com/title/80195173.
It’s a Netflix Original so it should be there to stay.
23) Wicked Tuna
Release Date: April 1, 2012 to Present (2024)
“Wicked Tuna” (directed by Doug Hamilton (“Sharkwater”) is a National Geographic TV series that’s been going since 2012. 15 seasons of episodes (44 minutes per).
It’s Gloucester, Massachusetts: Ground zero for the bluefin bonanza.
Teams are in a fierce race for their prize — the Atlantic bluefin tuna.
In one episode, Captain Dave Carraro (also appeared in “Deadliest Catch) of the FV Hard Merchandise loses his anchor in pursuit of “the big one”. He gets it: 900-pound tuna!
Watch Wicked Tuna on Disney+ (12 seasons), at https://www.disneyplus.com/series/wicked-tuna/7lmLCaHi7WOU or Hulu (3 seasons) at https://www.hulu.com/series/wicked-tuna-e75b5222-82d7-445a-9a06-9d85d3eec6bf. Check here for all the options: https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/wicked-tuna
24) Land of Little Rivers
Release Date: February 5, 2024
Fly fishing isn’t just a sport; it’s a religion.
And “Land of Little Rivers” is the gospel according to Bruce Concors and his merry band of fish fanatics.
The setting is The Catskills in Upstate, NY. As PaintedTrout says:
“The culture of America’s fly fishing history centered around upstate New York in the Catskills, where locals guided wealthy New Englanders (using new and improved bamboo rods) to fish with updated flies that floated on top of the water. Many refer to this time in the late 1800s as the “Catskill Dry Fly Revolution,” and it shaped fly fishing across the world for a century.This documentary is like if Ken Burns got his hands on “A River Runs Through It” and decided to have some fun.”
Source: https://www.paintedtrout.com/blogs/blog/the-secret-history/
First off, Bruce Concors. Imagine a retired businessman whose real passion is chasing trout with a fly rod. He’s the guy who can’t walk past a spiderweb without checking for bugs.
The visuals are stunning, sure, but it’s the characters that hook you. Enter Dave Brandt, the Yoda of fly fishing. He’s been doing this since before you were born, and his wisdom about tying flies and reading rivers bridges the old-school with the new.
Dave makes you want to grab a rod and head to Oneonta, New York, immediately.
Then there’s Rob Lewis, the human embodiment of a Labrador retriever if it loved beer and fly tying. Rob is all energy and laughs, guiding trips on the Delaware River and making sure everyone has a blast.
His stories are gold, whether he’s talking about prehistoric man’s diet (roadkill included) or his hippie lifestyle at the legendary Sugar Shak.
Rachel Finn, meanwhile, is here to remind us that fly fishing isn’t just a boys’ club. She’s one of the top guides in the country and can out-fish just about anyone.
The doc also gives us Ben Rinker, a biologist-turned-guide whose passion for the river’s ecosystem is both nerdy and noble.
“Land of Little Rivers” doesn’t shy away from the environmental challenges facing these waters.
Watch it for free on YouTube by clicking the video embed above or going here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MelJL5DxmC4
25) Alaska Gold
Release Date: January 24, 2012
This PBS Frontline doc is sometimes called “Alaska Gold: The Battle Over ‘Pebble Mine’ in Alaska’s Bristol Bay Region”.
This is the same story as is depicted in “Red Gold” profiled above
The locals say that opening day of fishing season in Bristol Bay is like Christmas.
It’s a place that’s “off the charts” for salmon (60 mil fish return from a spawning event).
But it also sits atop a treasure trove of minerals—copper, gold, and molybdenum—valued at over $300 billion.
Dun Dun Dun…!
Watch PBS Frontline’s “Alaska Gold” for free on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NNlVrcthXI.
26) The Riverbank
Release Date: April 2024
Here’s a short (37 min.) fly fishing film from Markus Hoffman and Tomas Skoging.
It’s a tale about life and fly fishing along a wild river in Swedish Lapland, shot during one magical week in late July 2023.
Picture pristine waters, vast landscapes, and the kind of tranquility that only the northernmost reaches of Sweden can offer.
Swedish Lapland, or Lappland, is a province in northernmost Sweden.
It borders Jämtland, Ångermanland, Västerbotten, Norrbotten, Norway, and Finland.
Nearly a quarter of Sweden’s land area is in Lappland.
Dive into this serene escape, where the art of fly fishing intertwines with the breathtaking beauty of the Swedish wilderness.
Credits: The story is by Markus Hoffman & Tomas Skoging. Narrated by Barry Ord Clarke. Filmed by Bengt Löfgren. Edited by Tomas Skoging. Music and sound by Fredrik Sundberg / PLOP.
Watch “The Riverbank” for free on YouTube by clicking the video embed above or at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PG21ddhLNl4
Fishing Documentaries on Netflix?
Netflix has suprisingly few pure fishing shows or documentaries.
I mentioned Battlefish above — that’s one.
Besides that, the closest thing to fishing docs that Netflix has (as I write this on May 17, 2024) are these three:
- Seaspiracy (about the harm humans do to the marine world)
- Blackfish (about the Sea World/Orca fiasco)
- MeatEater
MeatEater, which is mostly about hunting and eating, is perhaps the Netflix show with the most to offer on fishing.
It has so many great episodes involving fishing.
Here are the ones I know of:
MeatEater Show’s Fishing Episodes
Release Date: January 1, 2012
- Season 3, Episode 12: “Swamp Stew: Michigan Bow Fishing” (October 13, 2013) — Steven Rinella returns to his childhood hunting grounds in Michigan’s Muskegon Marsh to engage in bow-fishing for sucker, bowfin, and gar. During his journey, he showcases the rich array of wild foods available in this freshwater paradise.
- Season 4, Episode 1: “Sea Bear: Alaska Spring Bear and Seafood” (January 9, 2014) — Steven Rinella heads to his hunting and fishing shack located on the remote coastline of southeast Alaska’s Prince of Wales Island. While he hunts bears using a skiff and a canoe, he also collects a variety of prime seafood and reflects on his motivations as a bear hunter.
- Season 4, Episode 11: “Cold Water: Alaskan Seafood Cooking Special” (August 7, 2014) — Following a spring bear hunt near his cabin on Prince of Wales Island, Steven Rinella sets out to catch Dungeness crabs, spot prawn, and rockfish. He also digs for clams on the shore and demonstrates how to clean, prep, freeze, and store the seafood before preparing traditional and innovative dishes.
- Season 4, Episode 13: “Surf N Turk: Wisconsin Turkey & Carp” (August 21, 2014) — Steven Rinella visits Southeast Wisconsin to hunt for big eastern Toms with his buddy Jerod Fink. In addition to turkey hunting, they plan a Midwest turkey and fish fry, focusing on preparing and enjoying a meal that includes turkey and carp.
- Season 4, Episode 18: “Alaska Bear Hunt Part 2” (September 25, 2014) — As Steven Rinella and Rorke Denver continue their bear hunt in the Alaskan backcountry, they maneuver through dense thicket and successfully hunt bears. They then turn to fishing and foraging to complete their meal, showcasing the full backcountry experience.
- Season 5, Episode 5: “Welcome to the Jungle: Adventures in Bolivia Part 1” (February 5, 2015) — In this episode, Steven Rinella travels deep into the Amazon jungle in Bolivia to hunt and learn from the local indigenous cultures. He focuses on fishing and shares the experience of catching and preparing local fish.
- Season 5, Episode 15: “Cooking Special: Wild to Table: MeatEater Memorable Meals” (September 24, 2015) — Steven Rinella spends a day on a river in southwest Montana fishing for rainbow trout. He cooks the trout over a campfire and reflects on memorable meals from previous “MeatEater” episodes, including dishes like caveman-style sheep ribs and curiosity-induced coyote BBQ.
- Season 6, Episode 15: “Living Off the Water: Kentucky Fish” (September 29, 2016) — Steven Rinella and Kevin Murphy use various fishing techniques, including set lines, limb lines, trot lines, turtle traps, and bows and arrows, to catch fish in Kentucky waters. The episode highlights their methods and the rich bounty of the region.
- Season 7, Episode 4: “Prince of Wales: Fishing and Deer” (October 2, 2018) — On Prince of Wales Island in Alaska, Steven Rinella and former producer Morgan Fallon go fishing, stalk Sitka blacktail deer, and prepare a feast from their catch, demonstrating the region’s abundant resources.
- Season 7, Episode 9: “Guyana Part 1” (October 2, 2018) — Steven Rinella and his Macushi guides embark on an angling expedition along the Rewa River in Guyana. They catch exotic species such as black piranha and vampire fish, exploring the region’s unique aquatic life.
- Season 7, Episode 10: “Guyana Part 2” (October 2, 2018) — Continuing his journey in Guyana, Steven Rinella and his guides, Rovin and Dennis, fish for redtail catfish. Rinella also learns to craft arrows using curassow feathers, showcasing the local craftsmanship.
- Season 7, Episode 11: “Guyana Part 3” (October 2, 2018) — In the final leg of his Guyana journey, Steven Rinella and his team portage their boats around rapids to bow-fish for pacu, an herbivorous piranha. The episode captures the challenges and rewards of fishing in remote locations.
- Season 9, Part 1, Episode 1: “South Texas Redfish & Flounder” (September 16, 2020) — Steven Rinella heads to South Texas to catch redfish and flounder, showcasing the region’s fishing opportunities and culinary potential.
- Season 9, Part 2, Episode 2: “Alaska Fish” (February 16, 2021) — Steven Rinella embarks on a fishing adventure in Alaska, highlighting the diverse fish species and the methods used to catch them in the state’s pristine waters.
- Season 7, Episode 16: “Wild Game Master Class” (October 2, 2018) — Steven Rinella spends an episode in the kitchen, demonstrating how to prepare several of his favorite game dishes. These include turkey, trout, dove, and venison, offering viewers detailed insights into his cooking techniques and recipes.
Thanks for reading!
Rob Kelly
Chief Maniac, Daily Doc