NORTH CAROLINA'S BEST CAPTAINS SQUARE OFF AGAINST NEW ENGLAND'S TOP FISHERMEN IN THE FOURTH SEASON OF "WICKED TUNA: OUTER BANKS"

Tensions Rise and Tempers Flare as Dangerous Ocean Conditions Push Captains to Their Limits

Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks Premieres Sunday, July 30, at 10/9c on National Geographic

(Washington, D.C. - July 13, 2017) After a profitable season in Gloucester, Massachusetts, winter has fallen on New England and the prized bluefin tuna have migrated south to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, known as the "graveyard of the Atlantic." The Outer Banks - a notoriously dangerous spot with unpredictable, treacherous conditions - has lured two of Gloucester's top captains down to fish for bluefin alongside a fleet of the South's best fishermen. It's a high-risk enterprise that can reap major financial rewards for those with the fortitude to fish these waters. On the heels of the sixth season of its hit series Wicked Tuna, National Geographic Channel once again pits Gloucester's finest against the best Southern fishermen, in the fourth season of the exciting spinoff series Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks, premiering Sunday, July 30, at 10/9c. The series will also air on Nat Geo MUNDO beginning Thursday, August 3, at 8/7c. For more information, visit www.foxflash.com and follow us on Twitter (@NGC_PR and @WickedTuna) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/WickedTunaTV).

Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks begins its new season following the events captured in the Wicked Tuna season six finale, which saw Captain Tyler McLaughlin (@PinWheelFV) of the Pinwheel losing the top spot on the leaderboard by just $19. Bolstered by his success in Gloucester, McLaughlin has invested in a new, larger boat and is determined to make his mark in the Outer Banks this year. Meanwhile, after bowing out of some fishing trips due to weather, Captain TJ Ott (@tjHOTTUNA) of the Hot Tuna has developed a reputation for not fishing as hard as his competitors. Ott arrives in the Outer Banks with a fervent need to prove himself and is ready to finally break out of the middle of the pack.

McLaughlin and Ott will face some tough competition from experienced local fishermen, most notably Captain Greg Mayer (@FishinFrenzy) of the Fishin' Frenzy, who has claimed the top spot on the Outer Banks leaderboard for the past three seasons. Mayer is confident he can lead the fleet again, but the other captains are determined to best him. Captain Dale Lisi of the Foolish Pleasures, disappointed by last year's third-place finish, knows that he has what it takes to beat Mayer and will fish as hard as necessary to be the top-earning boat this year.

Captain Britton Shackelford (@DoghouseFVOBX) of the Doghouse went toe to toe with the others last season, all while helping his daughter cope with a cancer diagnosis. Now, with his daughter in remission, Shackelford is fishing with a newfound sense of purpose. And Captain Charlie Griffin of the Reels of Fortune is trying to shake off his bad luck from last season and bring home some big paychecks this year. Though considered by many to be the nicest guy in the fleet, Griffin will stop at nothing to take home the title.

Newcomer Captain Nick Gowitzka - Mayer's former first mate - joins the fleet this year at the helm of his own boat, the Little Shell. Knowing firsthand what it takes to be the best, Gowitzka wants to make a name for himself in his inaugural season, while ensuring he and his crew are able to bring home paychecks to help support their young families.

In addition to offering an inside look at one of America's oldest industries, Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks sheds light on important issues surrounding the fate of the bluefin tuna. As the scientific community debates how best to preserve the species, American fishermen, including the Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks captains, continue to adhere to U.S. regulations that determine size limits and quotas for the season. Viewers are encouraged to add their voices to the conversation via www.natgeotv.com/wickedtuna, which also features articles, links and message boards devoted to tuna and the oceans.

Premiere Episodes Include...

Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks: Fighting Frenzy Premieres Sunday, July 30, at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT It's opening week of the Atlantic bluefin tuna season in the Outer Banks, and Captain Greg Mayer has his sights on bringing in the first catch. Mayer has won the top spot the past three seasons in a row, and the other captains in the fleet are determined to best him this year. Can Mayer stay on top of the leaderboard even after losing his first mate, Nick Gowitzka, considered to be one of the best mates in the Outer Banks? Gowitzka, emboldened by his tenure on Mayer's winning vessel, has joined the fleet with his own boat this year - Little Shell - and he's first in line to dethrone Mayer and the Fishin' Frenzy.

Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks: Full Throttle Premieres Sunday, Aug. 6, at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT A terrifying incident at sea puts Captain TJ Ott of the Hot Tuna on edge, but bluefin tuna fishing is a risky profession, and his timidity may cost him the respect of the fleet - and some paychecks. Fishin' Frenzy's Captain Greg Mayer tries to hang on to his lead by stirring up trouble between Ott and Mayer's main competitor, Captain Tyler McLaughlin of the Pinwheel. Meanwhile, the Doghouse desperately tries to land its first fish of the season.

Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks: Karma's a Fish Premieres Sunday, Aug. 13, at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT Captain Greg Mayer of the Fishin' Frenzy is determined to come out on top again this year, and will do anything to keep his lead - including sabotaging another captain's hookup. But as the smaller boats in the fleet begin catching more and more bluefin, Mayer's luck may be running out. With the bluefin biting for everyone but Mayer, one underdog captain reels in the first triple catch of the season.

Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks is produced for National Geographic Channels by Pilgrim Media Group. Executive producers for Pilgrim Media Group are Craig Piligian and Mike Nichols. For National Geographic Channels, executive producer is Bengt Anderson, senior vice president of programming and development is Alan Eyres and president of original programming and production is Tim Pastore.

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About National Geographic Partners LLC

National Geographic Partners LLC (NGP), a joint venture between National Geographic and 21st Century Fox, is committed to bringing the world premium science, adventure and exploration content across an unrivaled portfolio of media assets. NGP combines the global National Geographic television channels (National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo MUNDO, Nat Geo PEOPLE) with National Geographic's media and consumer-oriented assets, including National Geographic magazines; National Geographic studios; related digital and social media platforms; books; maps; children's media; and ancillary activities that include travel, global experiences and events, archival sales, licensing and e-commerce businesses. Furthering knowledge and understanding of our world has been the core purpose of National Geographic for 128 years, and now we are committed to going deeper, pushing boundaries, going further for our consumers ... and reaching over 730 million people around the world in 172 countries and 43 languages every month as we do it. NGP returns 27 percent of our proceeds to the nonprofit National Geographic Society to fund work in the areas of science, exploration, conservation and education. For more information visit natgeotv.com or nationalgeographic.com, or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, YouTube, LinkedIn and Pinterest.

Pilgrim Media Group

Craig Piligian's Pilgrim Media Group, a Lionsgate company, produces a wide variety of unscripted and scripted programming for television, including "Fast N' Loud," "Street Outlaws," "Misfit Garage" and upcoming series "The Wheel" for Discovery; "My Big Fat Fabulous Life" for TLC; two-time NAACP Award winner "Welcome to Sweetie Pie's" for OWN; "Ghost Brothers" for Destination America; "Ghost Hunters" for Syfy; "Bring It!" and "Step It Up!" for Lifetime; "David Tutera's CELEBrations" for WE tv; Wicked Tuna and Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks for National Geographic Channel; and "Missing in Alaska" for History. Pilgrim also is in production on "The Runner," with executive producers Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, for go90. In the scripted realm, Pilgrim produces for Freeform the freshman series "Recovery Road." The company's original movies for Lifetime include "Amanda Knox: Murder on Trial in Italy"; "Abducted: The Carlina White Story," which earned a 2012 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture; and the crime thriller "Stalkers." For more information, check out pilgrimstudios.com.