In a dramatic final stretch of the king crab season, Captain Keith Coburn and his crew aboard the Wizard battled unpredictable challenges as they hauled in the last of their crab pots for what could be their quickest season on record.
With only 4,500 crabs left to load, Coburn rallied his men for a final push. “It’s not until you get to the dock that we celebrate. We’re always safe, safe, safe,” Coburn urged the crew. But as the final hauls were being made, a tangle with an old piece of troll gear nearly put the operation in jeopardy. The pot, snagged on something heavy on the seafloor, was putting a strain on the hauler. Crew members scrambled, trying to untangle it with the ever-present risk of injury. As Coburn warned, the line’s strain could tear through skin and bone, and getting caught in the equipment could prove fatal.
The tension was palpable, with crew members like Freddy and Kevin risking their safety to free the tangled gear. After a tense 30-minute battle, the crew was forced to cut their losses, abandoning a $1,000 pot and the crabs inside. “It sucks,” said Coburn, but added, “As long as nobody gets injured, it’s just part of the job.”
After the setback, the crew set their sights on the remaining pots. As they made their way through the last of the season’s strings, hopes were high, with the potential to end the season on a high note. The Wizard crew was fighting not only for the crabs but for the record books.
The tension broke when the next pot came up with a solid count: 44 crabs. Then, another pot brought in 61 crabs. “That’s a good count for 28 hours,” Coburn noted with a smile. But the true excitement came when the final pots revealed their haul. 106 crabs in one pot — a stunning result.
“That’s what we want. Smells like money,” laughed Coburn as the crew celebrated their triumph. The Wizard had made a remarkable comeback after battling government shutdowns, bad weather, and dangerous equipment malfunctions. The team’s hard work paid off, and with the final haul, they managed to bring in a total of 132,000 pounds of red crab in just 10 days.
“It’s been an amazing season,” Coburn said. “The fishing was phenomenal. I think we’ve broken records here today. The numbers are looking good, and the crew pulled together to make it happen.”
As the Wizard wrapped up their king crab season, it was clear that this year’s journey would go down in the books as one of their fastest and most successful, a true testament to their perseverance and teamwork. The crew’s quick thinking, determination, and skill helped them overcome challenges and finish strong, and with the final haul, the Wizard crew celebrated their victory — and the promise of a well-deserved rest after a grueling season.
