As record-breaking heat descends on Southern Louisiana, Troy and Pickle rely on shaded lines along the edge of Lake Verret to protect their catch from the blistering sun. Jacob and Little Willie target deeper, cooler bayous to chase gators seeking protection from the heat. Daniel and Zak bait lines near gator dens, hoping to snag the beasts sticking close to home. Bruce and Anna are forced to offload their gators midway through the day to preserve their monster haul. Leron pushes his limits, battling heat exhaustion as Porkchop steps up to take charge.

Joey and Kallie take on Daniel and Zak in a high-stakes family competition, racing to catch the most gators and avoid cooking crab dinner for the losing team. Don and Calum struggle with small catches until they test a new knot-tying trick, hoping to land bigger gators and redeem themselves in Troy Landry's eyes. Ronnie brings his 98-year-old grandfather on the water for a special day of hunting, honoring family tradition despite the relentless rain. Bruce is forced to hunt solo after Anna is sidelined with a serious infection, pushing himself to the limit to fill his boat and keep the season alive.