Bering Sea Gold Season 19 Episode 7 Recap: Zeke’s Boulder Battle, Sean Hits Bedrock, and Chris Fights Engine Failure

The Nome mining fleet is running out of time, and every dive now carries high stakes. Bering Sea Gold Season 19 Episode 7 throws viewers straight into the action as rival crews battle shifting seas, crumbling equipment, and mounting pressure to hit their season goals. From Zeke Tenhoff wrestling with boulder fields to Shawn Pomeranke blasting through inland bedrock, each miner is pushed to the edge in pursuit of gold. With fortunes and futures on the line, Episode 7 delivers a tense mix of near‑disaster and breakthrough moments that set the tone for the final stretch of the season.

Zeke Tenhoff: Boulder Battles and Family Dynamics

Zeke began the episode reflecting on his family dynamic, noting that his brother Sam pursues music while he and Gabe devote themselves fully to gold mining. His immediate goal was ambitious—two dives in one day—but the work site was a minefield of massive boulders.

On the surface, Gabe worked constantly with the hydraulics and anchors, releasing and pulling five to ten feet at a time, often repeating the maneuvers in six‑foot increments. Zeke’s steady stream of requests made the process frustrating, but his persistence paid off. After carving a hole beneath the pile, he finally uncovered visible streaks of gold and surfaced with excitement, declaring, “We’re making money.” The chaotic back‑and‑forth turned into a crucial breakthrough for the crew.

Zeke operates on Claim 14 with a gold goal of 150 ounces ($375,000). By the end of Episode 7, his total sits at 71.44 ounces ($178,600). His mission is clear: pay off his dredge. Every ounce found under those boulders keeps him in the game.

Vernon Adkison: Pushing the Crew to the Limit

Vernon Adkison’s operation is based on Claim 56, where his goal is 200 ounces ($500,000). By Episode 7, he has reached 114.27 ounces ($285,675), with his mission centered on funding his retirement. To close the gap, Vernon launched one of his boldest strategies yet: an around‑the‑clock marathon.

He planned for Scott and Richie to rotate through two dives each, stretching the crew to 18 hours underwater. Early on, the nitrox machine faltered, running on only one cylinder and threatening to shut everything down. After repairs, diver Scott Foster of Wild Ranger Gold Co. descended to 45 feet, dropping onto hard sandstone and probing holes. One test pan revealed gold, though others came up empty, underlining the risk of wasted effort. Still, Vernon pressed on, convinced that extended shifts and sheer stamina would yield their strongest clean‑out of the summer.

Joe Fullwood: Leading the Offshore Race

Also mining on Claim 56, Joe Fullwood has been steadily pulling ahead of the offshore competition. His gold goal is 300 ounces ($750,000), and by Episode 7 he has already banked 287.52 ounces ($718,800). His mission is to fund a deep‑water dredge, and his remarkable progress makes him the offshore front‑runner. Joe’s near‑goal achievement puts him in striking distance of becoming the top earner at sea this season.

Shawn Pomeranke: Inland Bedrock Breakthrough

While most miners battle offshore, Shawn “Mr. Gold” Pomeranke has staked his fortune inland. By Episode 7, his crew has stripped the last of the overburden and finally hit black sand, leading to the shout, “Bedrock, baby.” Bedrock meant pay dirt, and Shawn’s immediate goal was to secure at least 100 ounces to prove they were on track.

The inland results dwarfed offshore totals. By the end of Episode 7, Shawn had amassed a staggering 1,839.02 ounces ($4,597,550)—a haul that set him apart as Nome’s undisputed leader. His mission is to carry forward Nome’s mining legacy, and with production finally rolling, Shawn looked unstoppable.

Reaper Nation (Kris Kelly): Racing to Finish the Season

Reaper Nation, led by Kris Kelly, operates on Claim X with one of the season’s loftiest goals—500 ounces ($1.25 million). By Episode 7, the Kellys had managed 108.7 ounces ($271,750), with a mission to uncover the deepest million‑dollar paystreak ever.

In this episode, their main dredge, the Mistress, remained under repair, forcing them to rely heavily on the Crawler. Earlier dives had revealed promising gold, but running only one vessel left them vulnerable. Heavy swells battered their side‑mounted sluice box on the All‑In, threatening to wash out pay dirt and damage the gear. They were forced to retreat, knowing both the Crawler and the Mistress would need to operate together for any shot at a late‑season comeback.

Chris McCully: Nuggets and Engine Trouble on the Tomcod

Chris McCully, working the Tomcod, entered the season with a goal of 300 ounces ($750,000). By Episode 7, he had mined 121.39 ounces ($303,475), with his mission focused on building a fleet of deep‑water crawlers.

After his earlier success finding Nome’s largest offshore nugget, Chris returned to his honey hole with high hopes. At first, signs looked good, but his pump engine suddenly overheated and failed. With no coolant left, Chris dumped his drinking water into the system, a desperate but effective move that kept the dredge running. Back on the bottom, he spotted more promising streaks of gold in ancient layers, but constant equipment strain made it clear how fragile his progress remained.

Crew Gold Totals by End of Episode 7

• Joe Fullwood (Claim 56): 287.52 oz ($718,800) out of 300 oz goal. Offshore leader with momentum toward funding his deep‑water dredge.
• Chris McCully (Tomcod): 121.39 oz ($303,475) out of 300 oz goal. Fighting breakdowns while pushing his crawler fleet mission.
• Vernon Adkison (Claim 56): 114.27 oz ($285,675) out of 200 oz goal. Pressing his crew with marathon nitrox dives to fund retirement.
• Kris Kelly (Claim X): 108.7 oz ($271,750) out of 500 oz goal. Still chasing the elusive million‑dollar paystreak while waiting on the Mistress.
• Zeke Tenhoff (Claim 14): 71.44 oz ($178,600) out of 150 oz goal. Grinding through boulder fields to pay off his dredge.
• Shawn Pomeranke (Inland): 1,839.02 oz ($4,597,550). The inland powerhouse, eclipsing all offshore competitors with massive production.