“Hooked” Coming Up On National Geographic
More often than not in my house, the TV is tuned to the National Geographic Channel. I was delighted when a representative from Nat Geo contacted me and asked if I would like to make a post about an upcoming show called Hooked. This is really looking like it will be a cool series of shows, airing between October 19th and 21st.
A summary:
HOOKED: FISH GONE WILD
Sunday, October 19, at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT
Using only a rod and a reel, New Zealand fishing celebrity Matt Watson snares the largest predatory fish on the planet, the great white shark. Working with the department of conservation, he’ll hook a great white, pull it to the boat and clip a tissue sample from its fin. The DNA will help scientists map the migrations, growth rates and genetic families of these apex predators. Then, head to Germany to get up close with Europe’s largest freshwater fish, the wels catfish. These aggressive bottom-feeders will devour just about anything, including animals above water! We’ll witness one man wrestle a 7-foot-long wels catfish with his bare hands. Next up, we’ll visit fishing mecca Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Here, a fishing adventurer catches record-sized marlin from his kayak. Big game kayak fishing is extremely dangerous. Even the most skilled sportsman can lose a limb, his boat or his life.
HOOKED: MAN VS. FISH
Sunday, October 19, at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT
Back in New Zealand, Matt Watson performs emergency surgery on a 5-foot-long, 150-pound dogtooth tuna. Injured during Matt’s struggle to bring it to the surface, the titanic tuna’s swim bladder filled with air, preventing the team from safely releasing the fish back into the water. In the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Key West, we’ll witness two sportsmen battle a massive lemon shark, bring it to shore to register their catch and then release the fish back into the wild. How do they do it? A unique onboard holding pen, specially designed to keep the shark in water while they race it to shore. Next, we’re off to Thailand, where it takes three grown men to net a massive armor-plated arapaima. Next, in the Gulf of Mexico, a teenager takes on a titanic tarpon. Finally, in Brazil, follow pro fisherman Jair Rigotti as he chases a lifelong obsession hooking the “mother fish” of the Amazon, a giant piraiba.
HOOKED: GONE MONSTER FISHING
Monday, October 20, at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT
We’ll head to Kennebunkport, Maine, for a fishing expedition with the former commander-in-chief, George H.W. Bush. Known for its massive size and armored jaws, the tarpon is certainly difficult to hook, but this former president doesn’t back down from a challenge watch his impressive battle with a bathtub-sized tarpon, using only a fly reel! Then, take a personal tour of the 41st president’s fishing shed, packed with his favorite fishing rods and lures.
In Southern California, experience the heart-racing showdown between Marylin Stephens and a record-breaking mako shark. See the angler’s worst fear come true when the hooked shark charges the boat and the hunter becomes the hunted! Next, in San Carlos Bay, Florida, home video shows angler Nelson Diaz make the catch of his career, hooking a goliath grouper that measures a jaw-dropping 7 feet long, 6 feet around, and weights an estimated 500 pounds. Finally, off the coast of Virginia, watch fishermen struggle with a stingray the size of an office cubicle and see the grueling tug-of-war between an angler and a bluefin tuna. The mega catch stretches an astounding 9 feet long and measures more than 6 feet around it takes several men to hoist the giant tuna.
MONSTER FISH OF THE MEKONG
Tuesday, October 21, at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT
Join National Geographic Explorer Zeb Hogan on a quest to save some of the biggest freshwater fish in the world. We’ll track the elusive and legendary freshwater stingray in northern Cambodia. These giant stingrays grow to mammoth proportions and Zeb Hogan gets up close and personal with one of them. Then, Hogan is off to Thailand to study the giant Mekong catfish, which can grow to be as large as a grizzly bear! Today, the giant Mekong catfish are in danger of extinction due to overfishing and rapid development along the great rivers of Asia. Using underwater tracking devices to locate their spawning grounds, Hogan attempts to unravel the mystery of where these titans of the deep breed. Then, witness a rare capture of a giant Mekong catfish and watch Hogan persuade local fisherman to release the endangered creature back into the wild.
More about Hooked:
The Hooked specials are produced for the National Geographic Channel by Michael Hoff Productions. For Michael Hoff Productions, series producers are Michael Hoff and Ashley Adams. For the National Geographic Channel, executive producer is Chris Valentini, senior vice president of special programming is Michael Cascio, and executive vice president of content is Steve Burns. Monster Fish of the Mekong is produced by IFA Films for National Geographic Channels International. For IFA Films, executive producer is Joe Phua. For National Geographic Channel producer is Ali Felix.
