Meet the cast of “Harpoon Hunters”, the latest dangerous-job reality show (exclusive)

If you're feeling a harpoon-sized hole in your TV viewing since Deadliest Catch's 20th season ended, well, you're in luck.

Harpoon Hunters is the latest offering from Discovery, and much like the Alaska-set reality series, the new show follows a group of maverick fishermen — albeit in the much warmer waters of Cape Cod, Mass. The prey is also quite different: the Atlantic bluefin tuna, which fishers catch using 10-foot electrified spears. Yes, it looks just as dramatic as it sounds.

Related: No fish guts, no glory: What it's like to be a Deadliest Catch deckhand for the day

Similar to Deadliest Catch, the fishers only have a few weeks out of the year and a limited quantity to fish. And at $10,000 a fish, they want to catch as many of those bluefin as they can.

"Armed with nothing but a spear and raw determination, these elite harpooners put everything on the line and it’s immensely thrilling to witness,” Howard Lee, president of Discovery Networks, says. “Joining a pantheon of iconic Discovery series that follow maverick jobs in epic settings, Harpoon Hunters also brings us into a high-octane world only a few get to experience in real life.”

In Entertainment Weekly's exclusive look at the series and cast, captains Dylan Caldwell, Joe Dion, Tyler Macallister, and Niko Chaprales set the stage for what viewers can expect.

Related: Deadliest Catch captains hilariously guess what item from a strip club belongs in a man cave on Celebrity Family Feud

"I'm a crack addict when it comes to harpoon fishing," Tyler says in EW's exclusive teaser, above. "You can make a lot of money."

Niko reminds us that fishermen aren't known for their humility. "There's really only 20 or 30 guys in the world that do this professionally, and do this well," he says in the teaser. "And I'm one of 'em."

Harpoon Hunters will drop anchor on the Discovery Channel on Jan. 24 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

Meet the cast and see exclusive images from the series below.

Capt. Dylan Caldwell, 56

Boat: Pine Box

With 20 years of experience, Dylan is one of the most respected harpooners in New England. Pulling in an astounding 50 Bluefin per season, it’s no wonder he once landed a monster tuna worth over $9,800. His boat is such a tuna-killing machine, he even named it "Pine Box" (because it’s a tuna’s final resting place). Whether it’s Bluefin, lobster, or sea bass, Dylan makes his living on the water year-round. And he must make every season count to support his wife and kids. Luckily, one of those kids, Emmett, will be harpooning alongside his old man this season.

Capt. Joe Dion, 38

Boat: Redrum

Growing up a “dock rat” in Green Harbor, Joe Dion was obsessed with fishing. As soon as he was old enough, he took any job he could find: cutting rope off of propellers, painting boat booms, helping fish buyers. At 13, he started fishing on charter boats. By 25, he captained his own harpoon boat. With Mike Miller (a.k.a. “The Hacker”) as his driver, Joe became one of the most successful harpooners in the fishery. Sadly, in 2022, his 11-year-old son and 7-year-old daughter were diagnosed with a rare form of muscular dystrophy. Joe sold his boat and took two seasons off to raise awareness for the disease. Now, with his family in a better place, he’s itching to get back on the water. With his old friend Mike by his side, Joe is ready to prove that lightning can strike twice.

Capt. Tyler Macallister, 56

Boat: Cynthia C2

One of the sharpest fishermen in the harpoon community, Tyler knows the fishery better than most captains. He harpooned his first tuna 40 years ago, boasts college degrees in both marine and general biology, and promotes the fishery every chance he gets. His boat, the Cynthia C2, features a 505HP Caterpillar engine, making it the quietest, stealthiest boat on the water. Married for 23 years, Tyler is currently putting his daughter through college. Luckily, he’s got a charter business to supplement his commercial fishing. But one bad harpoon season means he’s got to double down on those charters.

Capt. Nicholas "Niko" Chaprales, 37

Boat: Ezyduzit

Niko spent his childhood fishing with his dad, Bill, a legendary harpooner and advocate for harpooners’ rights. It’s no surprise that he ended up harpooning by his dad’s side as an adult. Sadly, Bill passed away in 2022. Now Niko is determined to carry on his father’s legacy, but with the Ezyduzit's track record of landing 50 Bluefin per season, he has a lot to live up to. Luckily, Niko is a fearsome competitor. Since age 14, he has taken part in Strong Man competitions. At 29, he won the IPL World Powerlifting Championship. This will be his first year captaining the Ezyduzit, and Niko is driven to score big for his dad.

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