When spoiled Tom Skelton (Peter Fonda) comes back home to Key West, Fla., he decides to put his wayward days behind him and start a business. Borrowing from his wealthy grandfather (Burgess Meredith), he opens a fishing guide service and immediately runs afoul of the competition. Blue collar guides Nichol Dance (Warren Oates) and Carter (Harry Dean Stanton) resent Tom, and try to pressure him into quitting. Tom retaliates by blowing up their boat, and the conflict only escalates from there.