When August rolls around, people in the Western Hemisphere are usually enjoying the last bits of summer and maybe even starting to think about September, fall and back to school. But August means something else to another massive group of people - it means Shark Week.
Every year, viewers wait for Discovery Channel's eight days of scheduled shows about everything to do with sharks. It's always a sad time when this week is over because fans just can't seem to get enough. Fortunately, there are plenty of shows that fans of Shark Week can watch that are available for streaming. So, if you've binged on everything Shark Week, but can't get enough, you have plenty of shows to watch to tide you over until next year.
River Monsters (2009 - 2017)
When it comes to catching rarely seen giants in bodies of water around the world, Jeremy Wade is the guy. For nine seasons, Wade entertained fans around the world by catching and releasing legendary and oftentimes, flesh-eating freshwater fish.
Wade is not only a professional angler, he's also a biologist, so he can give a little background information on where he's going and why he's trying to catch specific fish. He's had a few close calls and nearly lost some limbs, but always comes out on top. Wade gives an inside look into dark and mysterious bodies of water and the strange fish that live in them. It may not be all about sharks, but it's just as entertaining.
Shark Wranglers (2012)
The American reality television series, Shark Wranglers might have only lasted for one season, but it was a highly-rated show that shark fans could get into. Basing all of his finds in the Atlantic Ocean, Chris Fischer and his crew are on a mission to get into the mind of one of the world's deadliest predators: the great white shark.
Fischer and his crew are on the vessel named OCEARCH and often risk their lives to get a first-hand glimpse of these magnificent creatures so that people at home can really get an idea of how scary and powerful this type of shark is. But there's more - the crew has 40 days to catch and tag 50 great white sharks and do something no other crew has done before.
When Sharks Attack (2013 - 2020)
In case viewers have missed any of these jaw-dropping episodes, When Sharks Attack is also available after Shark Week is over. For six seasons, people around the world were brave enough to re-live their real-life nightmare of being attacked by a shark. Each episode focuses on a different story, but each and every one is fascinating, devastating and terrifying. No one thinks an attack by a shark will happen to them - until it happens to them.
From ocean photographers, surfers and tourists trying to have fun at the beach, these gripping testimonies reel viewers in and make them never want to step foot in an ocean again.
Saving Jaws (2019)
For fans that like documentaries that get an up-close and personal look at giant sharks, Saving Jaws is for them. Environmentalist Ocean Ramsey applies her knowledge and skills to handle sharks in this documentary, while showing shark fans the rare connection she has with them. The media has dubbed her "The Shark Whisperer," as she and her team battle the heartbreaking issue of the potential extinction of these majestic creatures.
Ramsey and her crew travel around the globe for 12 months, while researching, studying and expanding shark conservation efforts, working to protect the real-life Jaws, around the world. She wants to show people in other countries how important it is to save these animals, as they've been around for millions of years, Jaws might be scary, but he also needs to be protected.
Deadliest Catch (2005 - )
When a documentary follows the real-life high-sea adventures of Alaskan crab fishermen, it's going to be good television. Deadliest Catch might not be about sharks, but the gripping documentary series reveals the risks, discomfort and concerns the fishing crew faces on the Bering Sea.
The usual environment for this team is 40-foot waves, 700-pound crab pots and icy temperatures that never stop. This show has been on television since 2005, so viewers know they are in for a treat when they tune in.
Blue Planet II (2017)
Over a decade after the original Blue Planet premiered, Blue Planet II made its debut in 2017 on BBC Earth. Narrator David Attenborough is back to the world's oceans, taking viewers deep into the seas around the world that are filled with rare and unusual creatures of the depths. Attenborough brings to light the problems that the planet's oceans face and how humankind has a huge influence on these issues.
Like the original, this documentary is a breath-taking view into some of the ocean's darkest secrets - something viewers would never experience if not for documentaries like this one.
Monster Fish (2009 - 2018)
For almost a decade, Monster Fish has been on television, churning out season after season, filled with some of the largest fish on earth. Biologist Zeb Hogan is the main player in this series and he's in search of the largest fish on the planet.
Hogan uses his well-regarded methods of fishing to catch these fish and travel around the globe to exotic areas, in search of the next best thing.
Wicked Tuna (2012 - )
Wicked Tuna is one of the most popular shows on National Geographic and has been since its 2012 premiere. When teams of tuna fishermen battle the elements of the sea, weather and other issues that keep them from their catch, their main goal is to catch the biggest bluefin tuna. They are based in Gloucester, Massachusetts, and set their sites on the Atlantic Ocean.
This might be deemed as an American reality television series, but it also has an important message for its viewers. Wicked Tuna sheds light on issues surrounding the fate of the bluefin tuna and the importance of adhering to the regulations when it comes to size limits and quotas.
Fish Or Die (2019 - )
Fish or Die might not have numerous seasons, but it is picking up momentum.
When four diehard fishermen set their sights to be the first to fish the most remote waters on the earth, they also battle the elements, dodge local drug cartels and endure situations they definitely aren't used to.
Chasing Monsters (2015 - )
Since 2015, fishermen Cyril Chauquet takes viewers on an adventure when he seeks out the world's most giant underwater creatures in the coldest and most remote corners of the planet. Chasing Monsters sheds light on everything from the crystal-clear shark-infested waters of Florida to the Brazilian Amazon rivers, while Chauquet tests the boundaries between himself and the creatures he seeks. It's not just sharks he focuses on though, there's also giant catfish, alligators, and Mexican sailfish.
Another plus is that Chauquet dives into the cultures that are home to these creatures and their amazing sea dwellings beneath the waves.