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They are fishing for swordfish. The real crew of the Andrea Gail planned a swordfish trip to the Grand Banks off Newfoundland; cod is not the catch identified in the historical record.
What fish were they trying to catch?
The Andrea Gail was a commercial swordfishing boat. A U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office report, quoted in a 2012 McGeorge Law Review article, states that the crew intended to fish for swordfish in the Grand Banks area off Newfoundland, Canada. Read the law review article quoting the Coast Guard report.
![Twister / Poseidon / The Perfect Storm (Triple Feature) [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51-sMvyo+LL._SL160_.jpg)
![The Perfect Storm [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51kIC2WBSJL._SL160_.jpg)
![The Perfect Storm [Blu-ray] by Warner Home Video](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51lBjGLBzvL._SL160_.jpg)
What happened to the real Andrea Gail?
The boat departed Gloucester, Massachusetts, on September 20, 1991, with six crewmembers. The Coast Guard report says it began its return voyage on October 26–27; its owner reported it overdue on October 30. Searchers did not find the vessel or crew, who were presumed lost at sea. NOAA’s National Weather Service Heritage account records the Andrea Gail’s last reported position as about 180 miles northeast of Sable Island. That is not a confirmed wreck location. NOAA’s account of the storm and the Andrea Gail.
Because no one survived to report the vessel’s final moments, the film’s depictions of what happened aboard are dramatizations, not eyewitness testimony.
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Does the film show real swordfish?
No. In a 2000 CBS News interview, real-life swordfish boat captain Linda Greenlaw said, “No swordfish were used in the movie,” despite their realistic appearance on screen. Read the CBS News interview with Linda Greenlaw.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How are North Atlantic swordfish caught?
For context, NOAA Fisheries says pelagic longline is the main gear used in the commercial North Atlantic swordfish fishery. Rod-and-reel, harpoon, and buoy gear are also used. These are general fishery practices; they do not establish which gear the Andrea Gail used or what specific equipment is shown in the film. NOAA Fisheries’ North Atlantic swordfish overview.
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![Poseidon/The Perfect Storm Double Pack [Blu-ray] [2012] [Region Free]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51PTiUlnd1L._SL160_.jpg)
- The disk has English audio and subtitles.
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