The tuna clipper Star-Kist prepares to leave San Diego on a four-month voyage under skipper Joachim Qualen. Many of the crew of twelve are of Portuguese descent and have reenlisted for this trip. The engineer, radio man, bait man, cook, carpenter and net man are all willing to spend four months at sea, knowing that if the fishing is good, they should each receive approximately twenty-five hundred dollars. Also along on the voyage is Suzy, the ship's dog. After saying goodbye to their families, they leave port in late August and head for the coast of Panama, a ten day journey. Along the way, they prepare the long, bamboo poles they will use to catch the tuna. They also attempt to catch anchovetta, tuna fish bait. When sea birds alert them to the location of these fish, the crew throws out nets in a wide circle, then pulls them in.