Dave Marciano risks his life every time he goes out to sea to fish for tuna, which is an American staple thanks to sushi bars serving spicy tuna rolls and Subway's popular tuna fish sandwiches.

So it's no wonder the 54-year-old fisherman has found himself in a few scary situations that could have cost him his life.

On Friday the star of National Geographic's Wicked Tuna told DailyMail.com exclusively about a terrifying experience where he had to be rescued by other men at sea.  

Tough man: Dave Marciano, who stars on Wicked Tuna on National Geographic Channel, told DailyMail.com about his scariest experience at sea

Tough man: Dave Marciano, who stars on Wicked Tuna on National Geographic Channel, told DailyMail.com about his scariest experience at sea

His vessel: The fisherman said his boat sunk when he was 20 miles out at sea; here he is seen on his newer model

His vessel: The fisherman said his boat sunk when he was 20 miles out at sea; here he is seen on his newer model

'On January 13, 2003, I lost my first boat, the Angelica Joseph,' Dave told DailyMail.com.

'It was cold that day, freezing cold, and she sank 20 miles out at sea,' added the experienced sailor.

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'The Angelica Joseph was an old wooden lobster boat and she lost a plank. 

'The boat sank in 33 minutes from when we started first started taking on water to when we had to abandon ship. 

'We notified the Coast Guard that we were going down, but luckily there was another fisherman in close proximity who picked us out of the water.' 

He chalks up his quick rescue also to playing it cool. 

With a catch: 'On January 13, 2003, I lost my first boat, the Angelica Joseph,' Dave told DailyMail.com. 'It was cold that day, freezing cold, and she sank 20 miles out at sea,' added the experienced sailor

With a catch: 'On January 13, 2003, I lost my first boat, the Angelica Joseph,' Dave told DailyMail.com. 'It was cold that day, freezing cold, and she sank 20 miles out at sea,' added the experienced sailor

'We were smart about what we were doing, but we knew there was another boat out there,' assured Dave.

'Fishermen all look out for each other, it doesn’t matter if it’s your worst enemy. If you found yourself in that situation, you’d drop what you’re doing to help. 

With a job as stressful as his, Marciano makes sure to take some time to unwind everyday and he keeps it simple. 

'I like to come home, watch TV, relax. I remodeled my house recently and I put in a soaking tub, so that’s one of my favorite things,' he also told DailyMail.com.

Chilling: 'The boat sank in 33 minutes from when we started first started taking on water to when we had to abandon ship. We notified the Coast Guard that we were going down, but luckily there was another fisherman in close proximity who picked us out of the water,' he said. Seen in 2013

Chilling: 'The boat sank in 33 minutes from when we started first started taking on water to when we had to abandon ship. We notified the Coast Guard that we were going down, but luckily there was another fisherman in close proximity who picked us out of the water,' he said. Seen in 2013 

His co-stars: (L-R) Tyler McLaughlin, T.J. Ott, Dave and Paul Hebert speak onstage during the 'National Geographic Channel - Wicked Tuna' panel discussion at the TCAs

His co-stars: (L-R) Tyler McLaughlin, T.J. Ott, Dave and Paul Hebert speak onstage during the 'National Geographic Channel - Wicked Tuna' panel discussion at the TCAs

The season premiere of Wicked Tuna airs on National Geographic on Sunday. 

Filmed on location in Gloucester, Massachusetts, and the surrounding waters, Wicked Tuna follows a group of salty fishermen from the nation’s oldest seaport.

They make their living the way it’s been done for centuries — rod and reel fishing, one catch at a time — all in pursuit of the bluefin tuna. 

He played it cool: 'We were smart about what we were doing, but we knew there was another boat out there,' assured Dave

He played it cool: 'We were smart about what we were doing, but we knew there was another boat out there,' assured Dave

The series gives viewers an in-depth look at the fierce competition and major paydays of the country’s toughest captains.

Wicked Tuna’s ninth season finds the captains feeling the pressure after the government quota is reduced to one bluefin per day, according to a press release.

And the pressure to catch increases tenfold when three talented outsiders show up ready to compete against the veterans and take over the leaderboard. 

 Marciano of the Falcon and Captain Paul Hebert of the Wicked Pissah are both determined not to let the new captains interfere with their chances of success.

Wicked Tuna airs Sundays at 9 pm in the U.S. and returns Thursdays at 9pm this April in the U.K.

He knows his world: 'Fishermen all look out for each other, it doesn’t matter if it’s your worst enemy. If you found yourself in that situation, you’d drop what you’re doing to help,' he added

He knows his world: 'Fishermen all look out for each other, it doesn’t matter if it’s your worst enemy. If you found yourself in that situation, you’d drop what you’re doing to help,' he added 

 

 

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