National Geographic cancels Wicked Tuna after 13 seasons.

by Thinus Ferreira

National Geographic (DStv 181 / StarSat 220) has cancelled its reality show Wicked Tuna after 13 seasons.

The reality fishing series which started in April2012 was filmed in Gloucester, Massachusetts and followed commercial fishermen and their intense work trying to catch tuna, and led to a spinoff series, Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks which ran for 8 seasons between 2014 and 2021.

Wicked Tuna was produced by the Pilgrim Media Group for National Geographic, with Mike Nichols, Craig Piligian, Lynn Sadofsky and Michael Cascio as executive producers.

National Geographic's axing of Wicked Tuna is part of a massive Disney downsizing and cost-cutting process, negatively impacting National Geographic's programming output, as well as its staff, with another 60 workers at National Geographic who got fired by The Walt Disney Company at the beginning of this month.

"After thirteen seasons on the high seas and more than 200 incredible episodes, the long-running series Wicked Tuna has concluded its run on National Geographic," National Geographic says in a statement.

"The series celebrated one of America's oldest industries since first premiering on National Geographic in 2012 and made internationally recognisable stars out of the intrepid commercial fishermen who brave the unrelenting North Atlantic waters to catch the elusive bluefin tuna."

"As we reflect on 13 great seasons and 200+ episodes, our appreciation for our production partners at Pilgrim Media Group, our cast and crew, the Gloucester community and the show's dedicated fans is hard to put into words. It has been an incredible journey together and there are only two words that seem to fit the moment: Thank You."

ALSO READ: National Geographic hardest hit with 60 workers gone while it scales back programming as Disney Entertainment Television gets rid of another 140 staffers.

Wicked Tuna on National Geographic Channel renewed for a 4th season of the icy docu-reality series.

The popular docu-reality show Wicked Tuna on National Geographic Channel (DStv 181) has been renewed for a 4th season.

Wicked Tuna is produced by Pilgrim Studios, which is also producing the new spin-off series, Wicked Tuna: North vs South.

The new 4th season of Wicked Tuna is set to start on National Geographic Channel in 2015.

National Geographic Channel orders Wicked Tuna: North vs South as a new Wicked Tuna spin-off series.

National Geographic Channel (DStv 181) is creating a spin-off from its successful and popular docu-reality series Wicked Tuna, entitled Wicked Tuna: North vs South.

Wicked Tuna: North vs South will also be produced by Pilgrim Studios and filming will start within a few months off the coast of the Outer Banks in North Carolina.

Wicked Tuna follows the often dramatic exploits at sea of the bluefin tuna fishing boats in Gloucester, Massachussets.

"Wicked Tuna is one of our strongest franchises, and taking our tuna fishermen down South allows us to explore a new region of America and new waters in the Atlantic," says National Geographic president Howard T. Owens in a press statement.

"We are taking the best New England fishermen from Gloucester to the Outer Banks to see how they fare against good old Southern boys who fish the old fashioned way off the beautiful shores of this epic country".

Captain Dave Marciano from Wicked Tuna will appear in Wicked Tuna: North vs South, as well as Captain TJ Ott who joined Wicked Tuna from the 3rd season, and Tyler McLaughlin, captain of the Pin Wheel.

"The captains' passion and commitment is what has made Wicked Tuna so compelling and what has resonated with viewers these last two seasons," says Craig Piligian, executive producer of Wicked Tuna.

"As we head into season three, we could not be happier to be working with National Geographic Channel to bring more attention to this fascinating industry as the crews head south for the next, even more intense phase of their catch," says Craig Piligian.

National Geographic Channel taking to the blue-fin tuna waters as ships and crews hunt the elusive fish with new series Wicked Tuna.

National Geographic Channel (DStv 260) is producing a new TV show, Wicked Tuna, which will be seen in America from around April and in South Africa and the rest of the world later this year, following the real-world exploits of blue-fin tuna fishermen in Glouchester, Massachusetts.

Wicked Tuna, produced by Pilgrim Studios, follows the captains and crews who invest in catching the elusive, yet valued, fish for sale on fish markets. Wicked Tuna will follow the crews of  Tuna.Com, The Bounty Hunter, Hard Merchandise and Odysea with Craig Piligian as executive producer.

''Commercial tuna fishing is brutally competitive.With its limited season, the intelligence and prowess of the fish, and the sheer fact that they're worth so much, the livelihood of each vessel's crew can be made or broken in a month,'' says Craig Piligian in a statement announcing the new National Geographic Channel show.

''Pairing that kind of pressure with the harsh environment of Gloucester makes this one of the most intense and compelling series Pilgrim Studios has ever produced.''

''As a huge fan of the movie The Perfect Storm, I have always wanted to make a series that captured the raw authenticity of the characters in that movie,'' says Howard T. Owens, National Geographic Channel president. ''The tuna crews in this series immediately draw you in to their struggles and triumphs as they fight to make a living. One fish can literally be the difference between feeding your family or filing for bankruptcy.''