On a small fishing island off the coast of Maine, families have lived and worked off the sea for generations. Everyone knows each other. Birthright is akin to law and men inherit their fishing territories. Eben Cole (Thomas Hildreth), like the other fishermen, continues his family's legacy of harvesting lobsters from the waters surrounding the island. After causing a tragic accident at sea, Eben loses everything. After serving five years in prison he returns determined to win back the way of life he fought so hard to protect, but now Eben is an outcast, his ex-wife Cheryl (Amy Jo Johnson) wants nothing to do with him, fisherman see him as a harbinger of bad luck and he must fight to regain their trust... Only Popper (Philip Baker Hall), an old, weathered and gruff fisherman gives Eben a chance to become an Islander again.