Yellow Fin

Experienced tuna captain Mike Donovan and his father John are returning to the San Pedro harbor on their small fishing vessel Reliable , when the compressor fails, causing their huge catch to spoil. John blames Breck, the belligerent engineer, for the mishap and, after ordering Breck to dump the haul of the rotting fish, fires him. Although Reliable has suffered a run of bad luck, John warns his son that losing your nerve at sea is worse than bad luck. On another voyage, John accidentally falls overboard and badly injures his leg. After Mike dives in and rescues him, the Coast Guard flies John to a nearby hospital. Five weeks later, John's leg has healed, but he is comatose. John's doctor, Steve Elliot explains to Mike that his father's condition is a subconscious attempt to suppress the events of the accident and suggests that, to bring him out of this state, Mike should take John out on the boat. Later at the Sea Hawk Bar, Mike joins his loyal deckhands Mano and Murica for a drink and is affectionately greeted by feisty Latin waitress Nina. When Breck accuses Mike of fearing the sea and then insults John, a fistfight between the men ensues. After Mike triumphs, Nina insists on tending to his wounds. Nina reminds Mike that they were once sweethearts and now that she has found him again, she has no intention of losing him. She then kisses Mike. While visiting the hospital the next morning, Mike meets Steve's sister and hospital nurse Jean, who invites Mike for cocktails that evening. Mike does not accept, but later that night, on his way to pick up Nina for a date, Jean intercepts him and the two go for a drink. Later at the Sea Hawk, Mano and Murica are surprised to find Nina still waiting for Mike and ask Steve where Mike might be. Familiar with Jean's flirtatious behavior, Steve goes to the bar and privately advises Jean to stop toying with Mike's affections. The following morning when Mano and Murica try to recruit men for the next voyage, Breck scares their recruits with warnings that the Reliable is jinxed. Breck then tries to persuade the fishermen to join his boat, the Tuna Venture , which ships out the next day as well. The Reliable leaves next day and is soon caught in a dangerous storm which damages the engine. The next morning, the Reliable 's crew discovers a lifeboat adrift with the Tuna Venture 's three remaining crew, including Breck, who fixes Reliable 's engine, thus allowing them to all reach shore safely. Once on land, Jean tells Mike to sell the boat and pay his creditors so they might start a new life together on land. Mike refuses, prompting Jean to accuse him of letting the sea come between them. As Mike walks Jean home, Nina spots the couple and becomes jealous. The next morning Mike tells Mano and Murica that he is selling the boat because it is jinxed and he cannot pay for the damages it sustained during the storm. Concerned about their boss, the two men enlist the help of Sea Hawk owner Jan, who offers to invest the money needed to repair and provision the boat for its next journey. Nina then goes to the hospital to tell Mike about the offer and try to convince him to accept his friend's help. When Mike refuses, Nina accuses Jean of convincing him to sell the boat. Nina tells Mike that if he leaves his life on the sea, he will become a coward and Jean will hate him for it. Steve agrees with Nina and reminds Mike that the Reliable is the only chance Mike has to cure his father. Mike finally relents and prepares to sail the boat, but lacks an engineer for the trip. Just as Mike is about to give up, Breck arrives and offers his services, stating that he wants to make amends with Mike for John's sake. Soon after, John, still mute and lethargic, is loaded onto the prow of the boat by hospital attendants. When Nina comes to wish Mike good luck, he gives her a long farewell kiss. Once at the sea, a huge school of tuna jumps through the air just ahead of the boat, prompting John to waken from his trance and the other men to haul the fish in. Upon returning to the dock, Mike reports John's recovery to Jean and Steve, who are waiting on the pier. Jean responds, "Go back to the sea. It belongs to you." John then proudly walks down the pier, as Mike turns to embrace Nina.