Animal Planet is going fishing for the last time. Today, the network announced the ninth and final season of River Monsters will debut in April.
The docuseries follows angler and biologist Jeremy Wade on his “quest to find finned killers and discover which are predators, which are victims, and which are the stuff of myth and legend.”
The final season of River Monsters premieres on April 23rd at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
From Animal Planet:
After eight years, extreme angler and biologist Jeremy Wade is hanging up his fishing rod and the final season of RIVER MONSTERS will begin on Sunday, April 23 at 9PM ET/PT.
RIVER MONSTERS has followed Wade’s life-long quest to find finned killers and discover which are predators, which are victims, and which are the stuff of myth and legend. Since 2008, Wade has reeled in some of the rarest, most elusive and most dangerous creatures lurking beneath the water’s surface. And he’s back for One. More. Season.
“Jeremy has taken the Animal Planet audiences on the most incredible journeys over the past eight seasons and we know our viewers will miss those adventures,” said Patrice Andrews, General Manager of Animal Planet. “We will give River Monsters a glorious on-air farewell with its final season and specials that will celebrate one of our favorite shows.”
“Some shows can run forever, but our subject matter is finite. 10 years ago, I had a list in my head, which seemed impossibly ambitious at the time, but everything has now been ticked off – and then some. I have seen things beyond my wildest dreams, and sharing those moments with our loyal Animal Planet audiences has made them doubly special,” said Wade.
“Old fishermen never die – they only smell that way! We decided to stop while we were still fresh. Animal Planet has been a great partner and we’re excited about this final River Monsters season as Jeremy has saved the best until last,” said Icon Films Creative Director Harry Marshall.
Season nine of RIVER MONSTERS is Wade’s final chance to make his way to unexplored regions to pursue the last remaining cases in his file, to track down the few monster fish that have eluded him – and to settle some scores. This final season will be a mix of river missions, sea journeys, classic whodunits and personal quests. There will be terrifying new monsters, exciting new investigations and fascinating new science. As Wade travels further and explores deeper than ever before, he will also land the biggest fish of his career.
RIVER MONSTERS episodes this final season will include:
· Ice Cold Killer: Travelling from London to Greenland and on to Norway, Wade follows the trail of an unknown sea monster. Fishing through ice to extraordinary depths, he attempts to reel in this monster before the full fury of an Arctic storm hits.
· Coral Reef Killers: On the tropical island of Sulawesi, Indonesia, a tourist snorkeler and several local fishermen have been killed and injured by a mysterious sea creature that impales its victims. Wade travels to the scene to investigate, risking life and limb to solve the mystery before anyone else falls victim.
· Return of the Killer Catfish: On his first River Monsters investigation, Wade was propelled into a mountain river by a goonch catfish as big as himself. 10 years on, he fears such fish are now extinct until he hears a report from Nepal that sounds strangely familiar. Could the original river monster be back from the brink and back in business?
· Volcanic Island Terror: On a volcanic Pacific island, an ancient fishing community is being terrorized by something unknown in the water that’s been leaving behind mysterious puncture wounds on its victims. Can Wade uncover the identity of this fanged assailant?
· Malaysian Lake Monster: When two men mysteriously vanish on a remote lake in Malaysia, Wade sets out to track down the possible killer. Amid rumors of a giant fish on the loose, he follows the evidence into the last stronghold of an old adversary: the one river monster that he’s failed to catch.
· Killers from the Abyss: Wade takes on the biggest investigation of his career; to unravel what happened to over one thousand passengers of the RMS Laconia, torpedoed in the mid-Atlantic. To discover the culprits, he travels the globe, battling extraordinary fish, massive sharks and a deep-sea monster.
To commemorate the final season, fans will be able to vote online for their favorite RIVER MONSTERS episodes. Wade will then reveal the top fan favorites during a marathon leading up the season premiere. Both newcomers and tried and true diehard fans can catch up by streaming past seasons of RIVER MONSTERS on AnimalPlanetGO.com or by downloading the Animal Planet GO app. During the season, Animal Planet’s original digital series How to Catch a River Monster will return as Wade dives even deeper into the techniques, technologies and equipment used to hook each monster, along with the care and handling required for its release. Fans will also have the opportunity to submit questions to Wade via social media which will be answered on air each week, and for the first time can get a rare glimpse inside Wade’s life and adventures by following him on Instagram. Up to the minute updates throughout the final season of RIVER MONSTERS will also be shared on Facebook and Twitter.
RIVER MONSTERS is an Icon Films and Animal Planet co-production. Harry Marshall, Laura Marshall and Nicholas White serve as executive producers for Icon Films with Andie Clare as series producer. For Animal Planet, Lisa Lucas is executive producer with Patrick Keegan as supervising producer.”
What do you think? Do you watch River Monsters? Are you looking forward to the final season?
We absolutely love this show and really hate to see it go.. the 9th season is slightly disappointing, because it seems like it is just a compilation of the previous eight seasons.
Either way
Thanks Jeremy for the entertainment through the years!
Good luck in your next mission
I just read that River Monsters is coming to an end. They’re aren’t too many shows that my family can sit down together and watch but this one we could! I hate to see it end!
Crossett, Arkansas
What a bummer to see River Monster end . I truly enjoyed viewing every episode. I always got a good laugh at Jeremy. When things didn’t go so smooth for Jeremy and he was getting mad. lol
I’ve watched from day one, I’m a huge fan of Jeremy & the show. I really hate to see it end.
I am so disappointed to learn that the show “River Monsters” will not return after the ninth season. As a child my uncle who was a fisherman would take me fishing with him, and due to this, I have always been drawn to waterways. I love this show because it is so exciting and informative. I will miss the show very much. Thank you Jeremy Wade for taking us along with you on your many great adventures! I will miss them. Take care and be well…
I have watched River religiously. When I found out that this is the last season I cried. Jeremy Wade is and ALWAYS WILL BE. I’m watching the top 10 right now & CAN’T WAIT TILL the Season Premiere! Jeremy, ur the GREATEST & WILL MISSED!!!!!!
LOVE YOUR FAN,
ALLISON FABRYCKI
ELIZABETH,NJ
I have watch all the seasons of river monsters. I have watched as Jeremy has put himself in some dangerous and ruff terrain. I have also watched him land some amazing fish. From one fisherman to another. Thanks for going to those places. I wish I could have wetted a hook next to you.
I enjoy Jeremy as a host. He has passion as both an angler and a biologist and doesn’t demonize the fish he’s after. I’d love to see him host shark week and see it return to form instead of what it’s been turned into the last few years, which is basically a Jawsathon.
I love this show and I am sad to see it end. Jeremy is a great host. Besides being a clever and resourceful angler he has brought cultures, peoples and territories I will never meet or see into my home. He has shown us what rare and strange creatures exist in our world and has made so many contributions to science. Good Luck to all those involved in making this series. I will miss the weekly adventure.
I have always looked forward to seeing the next River Monsters season! I love the show. Jeremy makes every show not only interesting. They are also fun and exciting! I find myself cheering him on! I hope that you change your mind about ending one of the best shows on television. There are a lot of shows on TV, but none I enjoy and look forward to. Not like this!
I have enjoyed this show over the years and as a outdoor ranger by trade would have loved to be on these trips into the wilderness and beyond. That said not only was the show good for its purpose it was an aspiring escape for me. GOOD LUCK TO ALL, and may you continue in the areas of maybe rarely seen or weird marine/river life. It does not all have to be monsters.
I guess we don’t really know the true story of whether the show’s producers think it has run its course, or if it was Jeremy’s decision; the above explanation is purposely vague. But it has been a tremendously exciting and popular show, perhaps the most entertaining on Animal Planet ever. The other shows on this network cannot hold a candle to River Monsters. I hope Jeremy writes some books about his adventures over the years as well as some technical books on fishing in general.
Jeremy is wonderful. I’ve enjoyed every episode and I’ve seen them all several times. Plan to buy his book. I watch Animal Planet frequently and surprise myself by how often I use what I’ve learned from your programs in my middle-school classroom. Thank you.
I think it stinks that your canceling. Jeremy is a good man. Thanks Jeremy! Animal Planet, Boooo
OUHHHHHHH SO sad to see the show go because he did catch some AWESOME fish but it was a little boring the way he dragged out catching in most cases just the one fish !!!!!!! I like the show and wish they would keep it on a few more seasons just to learn all the different types of fish GOD put in the waters that make foe a wonderful meal !!!!!!!!!!