Geez, I should've saved the fapping GIF for this one if that's the title we're going with

In this oddly named episode of Tsuritama, we’re on a boat as Yuki and his friends (and Akira) get a job working as fishermen alongside Ayumi-chan. However, will Yuki’s self-esteem begin to fail itself when he screws up the art of netting and will Haru keep it together with Akira parading around the boat? Time to find out, mofoka

We start off with Yuki, Natsuki, and Haru eating some good ol’ fashioned ‘merican food at Chillipot Burgers, the one burger place in anime that isn’t a McDowells or WacArnolds. That being said, Yuki proposes that they should buy new fishing rods because he feels bad for having to borrow them all the time. However, that requires money; money to be acquired through jobs, and as far as the Chillipot help wanted ad is concerned, Yuki already feels the nervous trickling down his spine.

It's ok, Yuki. Fast food establishments allow you to have nervous, pessimistic notions of all human life you encounter.

This is especially not helped when costs are up the ying-yang when it comes to fishing rods and all fishing rod accessories. However, a lucky streak is about to come as Haru is very good friends with Ayumi-chan who’s heart has softened from his companionship with our lovable alien friend to the point of turning from the Angry Pink Shirt Guy to the Awesome Pink Shirt Bro.

If I didn't know any better, I'd say they look like brothers with their matching blonde hair and pink shirts

This connection gives Natsuki the opportunity to ask Ayumi-chan for a job. While his hardened face gives Yuki mixed signals of judgement, Ayumi-chan eventually tells them that the three have passed and can come upon his ship so that they can all become men of the sea.

Even Haru and his cute drinky glass ( " ^ _ ^ " )

Meanwhile in Akira’s secret base, he is overlooking an educational video that Kuroko made to teach Misaki-oneesama about the Bermuda Triangle, hinting that maybe Haru is from the Triangle (it also gives Tsuritama an opportunity to give an awesome shout-out to Florida). This peaked fascination gives Akira the bright idea to go on the fishing boat along with the three

"It gives me a great chance to stalk all of you at the same time"

As they prepare to catch a ton of Mahi-Mahi that day, they go through some of the necessary info for this highly advanced fishing such as catching a fish with a net in a perpendicular motion and having to wear special goggles that allow Natsuki and other fisherman to see the fish through the water (but Haru isn’t able to get his hands on one til later on)

However, Yuki has to go and screw everything up as he ends up snapping his net after pulling it in a parallel motion instead of a perpendicular. The fisherman who lost his fish was uber pissed, especially since Yuki looked more irritated than he was, but Ayumi-chan was very amused at Yuki’s face.

And here’s a real Stonefish to compare Yuki’s face with:

Hello nightmares!

Akira is more enthused about fishing than anyone else on the boat, as he is seen reeling in a big one while exclaiming repeatedly “FEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSH!”, something I bet Tomokazu Sugita was very thrilled to do.

That feeling when my first thought during this scene was that this is Akira shouts when he's inside Haru

These happy feelings are brought to a grinding halt as Yuki is still having a bad time because he french fried when he was supposed to pizza with the net. Ayumi-chan tells him not to sweat it as everyone is tense their first time, but Yuki finds that his mistake is unforgivable and runs back home.

Yuki could win the Nobel Peace Prize and still find a way to be depressed about it

The next day, Yuki starts to remember Ayumi-chan’s motivation and his spirits are lifted back up as he is able to make his way to the dock where Akira was starting to doubt that he’d even show up.

"I do have a friend! Sure he's a duck, but nothing can replace him, you hear! NOTHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING!"

One would imagine that Yuki would still be moping around the boat, but his short search for inspiration had him coming back all guns blazing as he’s ready to take a stand and go at it with the nets.

I think Miyu Irino's voice hit soprano during this part

In particular, this stride comes full-force when he demands the other fisherman to “cast away”. Ayumi-chan has him yell this one last time so that he is able to soak in the gloriousness of the moment.

"I WANT HAM!"

And with that, everyone is able to Enoshima Bowl as Yuki shouts his favorite Tom Hanks film as he is rewarded with the paycheck he is proud of taking for once. This brings a long string of happiness for Yuki as they all continue going to catch fish despite Akira’s displeasure at the notion of having friends.

Now Yuki will be dreaming about lions

It ends with their continued visits to the dock but first, Haru telepathically communicates with Kate through the flowers as he tells Yuki that she said that he has found some great happiness throughout the past few days of netting for Ayumi-chan.

"Oh Kate, we can't talk about that with Yuki in front of us"

Overall, I’ve gotta say that this one was pretty heartwarming. While not too much happened with the main focus just on Yuki and friends getting a job on a boat and Yuki angsting about the net seemed like it was a bit too much, there is still alot of the Tsuritama charm that is retained in the episode with Akira starting to get accustomed to hanging out with the guys despite saying otherwise. It’s the little developments that really make the episode a feel-good one cause it’s great to see Yuki starting to gain confidence in his fishing ability and Natsuki and Akira warming up to social interaction that isn’t silence or scorn. It does help that they decided to make Haru extremely cute this time around and the seemingly cold Ayumi-chan is actually an awesome guy who is chummy with Haru and was the first to try and cheer Yuki up about his first mistake. Looking forward to seeing what’s in store next time.