Summary
Tyler McLaughlin has helmed the Pinwheel, a boat on the reality competition seriesWicked Tuna, since season 2.Wicked Tunapremiered in April 2012and has been ongoing since on the National Geographic Channel. The series, similar toDeadliest Catch, follows different crews of fishermen off the coast of Gloucester, Massachusetts, as they vie to catch the lucrative Atlantic bluefin tuna that inhabit the North Atlantic waters.Not everything inWicked Tunais real, but there’s no denying these are real fishermen putting their bodies on the line to earn their living.
As many as ten different boats appear in a season and most tend to only stay for a few seasons at most. However, there’s a core of boats and teams who have been on the show for multiple seasons.Tyler McLaughlin and his boatF/V Pinwheelhave been a staple of the series since 2013 and season 2, when the 55-foot-long Dixon boat appeared. Hailing from Rye, New Hampshire, McLaughlin was one of the youngest captains to appear on the show when he started, viaNationalFisherman, and has grown to be one of the more successful in the series.
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Yes, Tyler McLaughlin Still Owns The Pinwheel (& He Still Appears On Wicked Tuna)
Tyler Has Won Two Seasons Of The Show
Tyler McLaughlin still ownsPinwheeland continues to appear onWicked Tuna, as he should, considering he won two seasons of the show in 2013 and 2018, as well as placed second three more times.McLaughlin began his professional fishing career in 2011, starting off with a 35-foot boat. He ended up buying a bigger one when National Geographic signed him to a four-year contract, viaThe Cinemaholic. The young captain immediately made an impression with his fiery language and confident, bordering on cocky, attitude.
Pinwheelfirst and runner-up places onWicked Tuna
2
1
$100,861
16
4
$99,876
6
$98,561
15
7
$103,936
19
8
$119,741
18
However, McLaughlin had the talent to back up his words and knew if he wanted to make an impression on the show, he couldn’t let the older captains push him around, as he toldNew Hampshire Magazine,
“When you’re young and trying to break into an industry, put your stamp on it and try to make it your own, people are going to try to push you out. So I came in with a little bit of a mouth on me.”
McLaughlin continues to pilot hisPinwheel,so named for the circling movement a tuna does once it gets too tired to fight.Pinwheelcost McLaughlin in the range of $280,000, viaThe Sun, putting it as one of the most expensive on the show. That high cost has also ensured that the boat has rarely run into mechanical problems during the show’s run, and is essentially the same boat from season 2.
Dave Carraro, captain ofF/V FV-Tuna.comhas won the most seasons of the show with five first-place finishes.
Tyler McLaughlin’s Sister Marissa Also Works On The Pinwheel & Has Been On Wicked Tuna
Marissa Replaced The Late Nicholas “Duffy” Fudge
Tuna fishing is a family business for Tyler McLaughlin. His sister Marissa works onPinwheeland frequently appears onWicked Tuna.BothWicked Tunasiblings were introduced to fishing by their father, Marty, as Tyler toldNew Hampshire Magazine,
“My dad wanted to get tuna fish more than anything. No matter how many tantrums my sister and I threw, we were out there, trying to catch tuna.”
Marissa first appeared onWicked Tunain season 8 as Tyler’s first mate, a role she took on after the tragic passing of Tyler’s previous first mate, Nicholas “Duffy” Fudge. Marissa immediately proved herself a more than capable mate, and she also has her captain’s license. As his younger sister, Marissa isn’t afraid to tease her older brother, but she’s a consummate professional when she needs to be.
Marissa is also in charge of running thePinwheelInstagramaccount and frequently posts updates about the boat’s latest catches. The McLaughlin pairing has certainly been a successful one and their ability to work in tandem is a reason they’ve remained such a regular part ofWicked Tuna.
Wicked Tuna
Cast
Wicked Tuna is a reality television series that premiered in 2012, following commercial fishermen in Gloucester, Massachusetts as they hunt for the lucrative Atlantic bluefin tuna. The show documents the intense competition among the crews of various fishing vessels, highlighting the challenges and dangers of their profession. The series provides an insightful look into the economic and environmental pressures faced by those in the commercial fishing industry.
