What seemed to be an endless wait is over — Discovery Channel has officially set the premiere date for the long-awaited 21st season of Deadliest Catch.

Fans can finally get their adrenaline fix when Deadliest Catch returns on Aug. 1, introducing a brand-new challenge that promises even more perilous twists and turns for several crews braving Alaska’s icy waters. A good old-fashioned gold-star rush ensues after a few fishermen discover red monster king crab on the abandoned Adak Island. Eager to get to the untouched supply that could earn millions of dollars, the crews are pitted against one another in a race to see who can brave the unforgiving Bering Sea going further west than any ship has gone in over 30 years.

As always, the crews encounter danger both in the water and aboard their ships with equipment malfunctions, natural disasters throwing them into the life-threatening predicaments that fans of the show have become addicted to rooting for their favorite crews to overcome. With the new challenge in place, season 21 promises to offer one of the most exhilarating seasons yet, with countless cliffhangers and close calls bound to keep audiences locked in from the premiere at the end of the summer until well into the fall.

How Did ‘Deadliest Catch’ Season 20 End?

Image via Discovery Channel

Deadliest Catch Season 20 ended in peaceful triumph after a roller-coaster ride throughout the 19 weeks of the series with one captain encountering a killer whale pod, another dealing with a power outage, and a third navigating equipment failure at the worst possible time at sea. The nail-biting finale kept viewers on the edge of their seats but concluded with all three ships meeting their deadlines and managing to deliver their catches prior to the canneries closing. After ending on a particularly high, adrenaline-filled note, audiences were eager for the follow-up to such an explosive season 20.

The series continues to captivate viewers as Alaskan crab fishing remains one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. And for 20 seasons, Deadliest Catch fans have been hooked on the life-or-death stakes playing out on the Bering Sea. The Discovery Channel series has built its legacy on raw, unfiltered moments, from bloodied injuries to unfiltered crew chaos, often requiring heavy pixelation. The series’ initial theme song was the Jon Bon Jovi hit single, “Dead or Alive,” signifying the imminent danger the crew shoulders on a daily basis on the sea.

Deadliest Catch starts an all-new adventure with the pursuit of the red monster king crab on Friday, August 1 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Discovery.