Big Shrimpin
Series Premiere!
BIG SHRIMPIN’:
NO REST ‘TIL TEXAS
(History) – How could something so little – shrimp – cause a world of trouble? The new History series BIG SHRIMPIN’ follows a group of longtime shrimpers who are fighting to keep their way of life and fighting for their town of Bayou La Batre, Alabama. Theirs is a 24/7 job – it never stops. Their quarry is a tiny piece of gold – shrimp.
BIG SHRIMPIN’ will follow a collection of these characters are they battle each other, the weather and crew from other companies as they get ready for the Texas Open, the only area in the Gulf that closes its shrimping for a period of time each year. At the center is Dominic “The Dom,” the owner of a fleet of shrimp boats that ply the Gulf of Mexico. BIG SHRIMPIN’ focuses on three of his boats, one captained by a 35-year veteran who’s always been the top dog, another captained by Dom’s youngest helmer whose young turk crew believes they can get the biggest catch, and a father-son team who are trying to overcome some bad luck and get back on top. The competition is fierce among Dom’s boats, each crew working hard to bring in the biggest haul for the biggest payday. All feel the weight of making a living – for their town, their families, themselves, and an industry. Today, 90% of the shrimp eaten by Americans comes from countries other than the U.S.
No Rest ‘Til Texas: Deep in the heart of America’s shrimping industry, the men of Bayou La Batre, Alabama prepare for the most important day of their season – the start of the Texas Open in the Gulf of Mexico. Dominick’s three captains, known as Bullfrog, Redbone and Roundhead, race to the starting line and the potential saltwater gold that waits them. The past seasons have been tough and the stakes are high. Captain Bullfrog is a shrimp whisperer, determined to outperform his mentor, Captain Redbone, the grizzled veteran who is not giving an inch. Captain Roundhead has had a hard couple of season and is looking for redemption. They each run into trouble along the way and the decisions they each make to solve their problems says a lot about who they are.
About the shrimping industry:
Shrimping has been part of the Gulf since the 17th century when fisherman used vertical nets up to 600 feet in diameter to scoop up the delicacy. With the invention of the flat bottom “otter trawl” along with motorized engines, the territory and depth of shrimping expanded. Currently the U.S. harvests over a half million pounds of shrimp and imports another 200 million pounds a year, more than any other country.
Big Shrimpin’ premieres Thursday, November 17 at 10pm/2:01 am ET
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