Billy Tyne is the captain of a sword-fishing-boat, the Andrea Gail in Gloucester. He has had a number of bad fishing days and decides to sail east for better fishing waters. Tyne ignores storm warnings and eventually finds the fish. His boats ice machine fails when it is needed most and the captain and his crew are left with a dilemma. Should they wait for the storm of the century to subside and ruin their catch or head for home through the treacherous storm and try to save their catch? Saving the catch will get them the money they so desperately need. The crews loved ones await anxiously on shore for their safe return.